Being Self-Directed

Why Self-Direction Matters

If you’re facing time in federal prison, one of the most important lessons at the earliest point is learning to be self-directed. No consultant, lawyer, or outside helper can walk the journey for you. Success comes from resourcefulness, critical thinking, and building a body of work that demonstrates your accountability, growth, and commitment to change.

I know this firsthand. During my 26 years in federal prison, I learned to define clear goals, build tools and tactics to reach them, and memorialize every step. Those efforts helped me influence my pathway to release and build a career after prison. That same mindset can help you.

Free Resources Over Consultants

At PrisonProfessors.org, everything is free. We created this nonprofit platform so people could prepare without spending thousands on consultants who often promise what they cannot deliver. On our site, you’ll find:

• Free courses
  
  
• Lessons on sentencing, PSRs, mitigation, and release planning
  
  
• AI tools to answer questions 24/7
  
  
• Profiles where you can document your journey
  
  

No one should outwork you in preparing for your future. You are the CEO of your life.

Building Your Record

The most effective advocacy tool you can build is a public record of effort. Our Profiles tool allows you to:

• Write a biography that shows who you are beyond your conviction. Share your background and life journey so others can understand your story and progress.
• Write journals that demonstrate reflection and growth. Document your thoughts, learning accomplishments, and daily growth to show accountability and self-awareness.
• Post book reports to highlight learning. Demonstrate learning by summarizing books and uploading proof of completed courses.
• Build a release plan for housing, employment, and community contribution. Outline your strategy for returning to society with clear goals for work, family, and community.
• Collect testimonials from people impacted by your work.

This record becomes time-stamped proof of your efforts—something lawyers, probation officers, and even BOP staff can point to when evaluating your readiness for programs, halfway house, or early release.

Examples of Self-Advocacy

When I was in prison, I:

• Earned an undergraduate and master’s degree
  
  
• Wrote a timeline documenting progress from 1987 through 2013
  
  
• Published books and courses that continue to help others
  
  
• Built support from outside organizations, including law schools that advocated for my release
  
  

You can do the same—without cost—by memorializing your journey on PrisonProfessors.org.

Key Takeaways

• Self-direction is essential for navigating federal prison successfully.
  
  
• Avoid predatory consultants; use free resources and AI tools.
  
  
• Build a documented body of work—biography, journals, book reports, release plan.
  
  
• The earlier you start, the stronger your record will be at sentencing, in custody, and on reentry.
  
  
• You are the CEO of your life. No one can build this pathway for you.
  
  

Self-Directed Exercise

Go to PrisonProfessors.org and create a profile. Then publish:

1. Biography (250–500 words): Who you are, what led to your case, and what you’ve learned.
   
   
2. Journal Entry: One reflection on how you’re preparing for success.
   
   
3. Book Report: Choose a book that strengthens your critical thinking and write what you learned.
   
   
4. Release Plan Draft: Outline housing, employment, and service commitments after prison.
   
   

These posts become permanent, verifiable evidence of your growth and preparation for liberty.

‍