Be Intentional

Success—whether in business, advocacy, or personal growth—doesn’t happen by accident. We need to be intentional to make things happen. A recent book I heard through my Audible subscription made this case, and I encourage others to read Peter Thiel’s Zero to One. In it, Thiel challenges readers to think differently, asking:

“What important truth do very few people agree with you on?”

That question stayed with me. What truth do I believe in, even if the majority of people reject my idea?

For me, the answer is clear: We need to rethink how we measure justice in the United States.

For centuries, our criminal justice system has relied on a myopic approach—punishment through confinement. When someone breaks the law, we separate them from society, lock them in cages, and assume this will lead to deterrence, rehabilitation, or justice. This strategy fails to deliver the results we want.

We build a strong society when we create systems that help reach their highest potential, encouraging them to abide by the social contract–as I learned from Rosseau.

If the goal of justice is to create law-abiding, productive citizens, then shouldn’t we incentivize those who work to improve themselves, take accountability, and prepare for a meaningful life after release? Few people agree with this idea. To overcome, I have to be intentional about proving why this approach will make our society stronger.

Zero to One

In Zero to One, Peter Thiel argues that most businesses operate by making incremental improvements—going from one to two, two to three. But the most innovative businesses create something entirely new—they go from zero to one.

“Brilliant thinking is rare, but courage is in even shorter supply than genius.”
– Peter Thiel, Zero to One

That’s what I want to do in criminal justice reform.

Rather than making small, incremental tweaks to an outdated system, we need to completely rethink how we measure justice. Instead of merely punishing failure, we should reward progress and incentivize excellence.

Thiel also argues that the most successful people and companies don’t just react to the world—they shape it. In an effort to emulate those leaders, I take intentional, methodical steps every day to advance this vision.

• I founded our nonprofit, Prison Professors Charitable, to educate justice-impacted people about how to create new opportunities.
• I use my personal story to show that rehabilitation isn’t just possible—it’s measurable.
• I engage with policymakers, business leaders, and students to shift the conversation from punishment to progress.

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
– Peter Drucker

I can’t control whether society will immediately accept these ideas. But I can control how relentlessly I pursue them. Anyone can see how intentionality shaped my life.

• While in prison, I was intentional about preparing for success. I didn’t just hope things would get better—I created a plan.
• When I left prison, I was intentional about building financial independence so I wouldn’t be dependent on others.
• Today, I am intentional about leading by example, proving that rehabilitation and contribution can be incentivized.

If I waited for the system to change before taking action, I’d still be waiting. Instead, I took control of my path. We can build a better future when we make intentional decisions. They all should align with how we define success, as I describe in the first module of our course, Preparing for Success after Prison.

Change doesn’t happen through wishful thinking. It happens when people take bold, deliberate steps toward the future they want to create. I am convinced that we can reshape how we define justice in America—not through theory, but through demonstration.

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
– Theodore Roosevelt

What about you?

Self-Directed Learning Question:

• What important truth do you believe in, even if few people agree with you? What intentional steps are you taking to turn that belief into reality?

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