When the authorities arrested me on August 11, 1987, I didn’t have any idea that I was about to receive a master’s degree in resilience. I’d never been incarcerated before, yet as a 23-year-old, I faced charges that carried the potential of life in prison. After a jury trial, Judge Jack Tanner sentenced me to 45 years.
That reality forced me to confront the decisions that led me to a solitary cell. I had to introspect, asking:
- “Who am I, and who do I want to become?”
Reading a story in Plato’s Republic taught me how to ask those kinds of Socratic questions. Along the way, I learned one profound truth: a strong mindset can shape your financial destiny.
This article unpacks how I transformed adversity into opportunity, illustrating the sequential steps to a mindset shift and practical strategies that can help others—justice-impacted individuals, aspiring entrepreneurs, or anyone navigating a personal crisis.
Financial Success Begins with Mindset
Mindset is the interplay of attitude, beliefs, and focus that shapes how you perceive your environment. Financial struggles, much like my sentencing, can feel overwhelming, almost insurmountable. But a fixed, self-defeating perspective traps you in reactive behaviors, often causing people to focus solely on survival.
Looking at the finances of justice-impacted individuals, I noticed two distinct groups during my time in prison:
- The “Why me?” group, who blamed their circumstances and waited for external changes to fix their situations.
- The “What now?” group, who used their time intentionally to develop skills, self-discipline, and opportunities for financial growth post-release.
Your mindset—either focused on problems or solutions—determines which group you’ll join.
My Starting Point
Sitting in my solitary cell, I got inspired by reading several books, including Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. His philosophy that “everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the freedom to choose one’s attitude” restructured my way of thinking. I couldn’t control my confinement, but I could control my response.
By shifting my focus from grievance to growth, I took responsibility and resolved to use my sentence to transform not just my mindset, but my financial future.
Step 1. Shifting From “Survival Mode” to Strategic Thinking
Most people in financial distress operate in “survival mode,” struggling to cover basic needs. While this instinct serves an immediate purpose, it limits long-term progress. The first step toward financial independence is flipping the internal switch from survival to strategy by asking:
- What opportunities exist within my current situation?
- What steps can I take today that move me toward long-term goals?
Real-World Application During My Journey:
My first major shift was committing to educate myself. I couldn’t change my environment, but I could prepare for the day I would return to the world stronger and better equipped. Over 26 years, I earned multiple degrees, studied financial markets, and built a foundation to secure independence after release.
- Your Takeaway: Start where you are. Whether it’s reading books on financial literacy, seeking mentorship, or identifying small expenses to cut, begin crafting a plan beyond the immediate struggle.
Step 2. Daily Habits Compound Into Financial Transformation
When I began tracking daily routines in prison, I kept one core concept at heart: small, consistent actions lead to monumental change. Whether it was reading 50 pages of a book, writing letters, or journaling goals, I saw that even in confinement, my progress added up over time.
Financial Transformation Through Daily Action:
While incarcerated, I deepened my understanding of the stock market. I assigned my sister to open a brokerage account on my behalf, calling her daily with strategies to trade stocks. By focusing on high-beta internet stocks, I built additional wealth, creating opportunities even from behind bars.
Small, tactical steps daily led to financial strides I couldn’t have planned for at the outset.
Your Takeaway:
- Begin a simple financial tracker to assess spending habits.
- Contribute small amounts to savings or investment accounts. Growth isn’t linear, but consistency builds momentum.
Step 3. Accountability Metrics
True transformation only happens when you hold yourself accountable. While incarcerated, I used accountability logs to monitor my physical, intellectual, and financial progress. This discipline wasn’t imposed on me—it was a choice I made to measure whether my daily actions aligned with the person I wanted to become. In all the courses I create, I include lessons on the importance of building accountability metrics.
Key Lessons in Accountability:
- Setting clear benchmarks (e.g. saving $1,000 in six months or paying down two debts) makes financial progress measurable.
- Adjusting when strategies fall short keeps you moving forward instead of stalling in frustration.
Your Takeaway: Whether it’s creating a list of weekly financial goals or starting a habit of journaling progress, take responsibility for tracking your growth.
Step 4. Leverage Networks and Mentorship
Sitting behind bars, I learned that relationships (not isolation) fuel growth. My breakthrough came when I realized the value of mentorship. I reached out to educators, business leaders, and criminologists through handwritten letters. This network not only gave me practical advice but also set the stage for advocacy work years down the road.
Financial Application:
Success in financial transformation depends heavily on building relationships with people who can guide, challenge, and expand your knowledge. Early in my reentry, I sought out advice from financial planners, studied entrepreneurial models, and surrounded myself with like-minded individuals seeking wealth-building opportunities.
Your Takeaway: Spend time identifying who inspires you—whether it’s family, friends, or colleagues—then find ways to learn from them.
Step 5. Use Setbacks as Stepping Stones
When the stock market fluctuated, my initial gains in trade were reduced. But rather than dwelling on losses, I re-evaluated my strategy and used the setback as an opportunity to learn. Similarly, when my real estate ventures faced headwinds in California’s taxed environment, I shifted focus toward Bitcoin and artificial intelligence stocks for their projected long-term growth potential.
Real Financial Resilience Requires Adaptability:
No matter how disciplined you are, financial roadblocks will occur. What separates those who thrive is their ability to pivot under pressure.
Your Takeaway:
Treat financial missteps as feedback, not failure. Learn, pivot, and keep progressing.
Lessons From Mentors and Real-World Applications
Each stage of my financial and mental development came with guidance from mentors—both in books and in life. From Socrates (who taught me to reframe obstacles into opportunities) to Bruce McPherson (who quizzed me on published manuscripts until I became a better writer), I learned the value of seeking knowledge and implementing it effectively.
The difference between surviving prison and thriving post-incarceration? Following structured advice to build skill sets that matched the vision for my future.
Take Action Today
Building financial independence is not reserved for the privileged or the lucky—it’s a result of intentional mindset shifts, disciplined routines, and the relationships you nurture.
1. Reframe Your Limits:
Whatever challenges you’re facing today are opportunities for long-term growth.
2. Start Small, But Start Today:
One small budget adjustment or one insightful conversation can spark incredible momentum.
3. Commit and Adjust:
Success takes accountability and flexibility, not rigid perfection.
Self-Directed Learning Question
- What small financial habit can you adopt today that, if compounded over 5 years, could transform your life?
Whatever your circumstance, remind yourself of this truth I carried for 26 years behind walls and still live by today: A strong mindset paves the way to financial freedom. Now, it’s your turn to start paving yours.
