In every prison where I served time—whether it was a high-security penitentiary or a minimum-security camp—I saw people make the same mistake. They focused entirely on the time inside. They listened to slogans like, “Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time,” and worse, they accepted the belief that nothing outside those walls could be influenced. That belief system traps people in a cycle of regret and wasted potential.
If you’re going into the system, I encourage you to try a different approach. A more intentional strategy worked for me, and I’m convinced anyone can build a pathway to success if they invest the time to engineer the path.
🎓 LESSON: Live as the CEO of Your Life
Prison is designed to strip people of their identity. Although it’s possible that you’ll likely interact with some people who recognize that you share a common humanity, it’s best to go into the system with minimal expectations. That way, when you encounter others who treat you more like a number than a human, you won’t get discouraged. You’ll expect resistance, and know that you must pursue success anyway.
Other incarcerated people might say, “Just forget the outside world and do your time.” Remember, anyone offers such advice isn’t really your friend. They’re telling you that you belong in prison, and you should act like you belong in prison.
If you accept that mindset, you give up your power.
You must become the CEO of your life—even inside. CEOs create strategies. They anticipate challenges. They build teams. They act with vision. And they execute on a plan.
You’re not a case number. You’re not a statistic. You’re a person with a future. You future depends entirely on the decisions you make every day.
🛠 SELF-ADVOCACY GUIDE: What You Can Do Now
No matter where you are in your journey—pretrial, sentencing, or post-conviction—start building:
- A Clear Vision: What kind of life do you want on the other side of this experience?
- A Body of Work: Write. Document. Educate yourself. Build your profile at Prison Professors Talent.
- A Strategy for Reentry: Learn about administrative remedies, mitigation, and early release programs.
- An Online Presence: Create tools to show your rehabilitation—books, journals, goals, lessons learned.
- A Support System: Connect with mentors. If you need guidance, check out Justin Paperny’s free webinar at WhiteCollarAdvice.com/nonprofit.
📓 REFLECTION JOURNAL PROMPT:
What is the biggest mistake you could make during your time in the justice system—and what will you do to avoid it?
