Foundations

Every great structure begins with a foundation. Whether we’re talking about a building, a career, a financial portfolio, or a life, success depends on what we build beneath the surface. A weak foundation leads to collapse. A strong foundation supports growth, stability, and resilience.

I learned that lesson while serving 26 years in prison, and I continue to see its importance every day.

This weekend, Carole and I are in the San Francisco Bay Area, tending to a rental property we purchased as part of the investment portfolio we were building—our financial foundation for retirement.

But as markets change, so must our foundation.

Adapting

When we first invested in real estate, we were in acquisition mode. Acquiring real estate had been an essential component of our long-term financial strategy since I got out of prison. In fact, we purchased our first investment property within one week of my transition from prison to a halfway house in San Francisco.

For more than 12 years, Carole and I structured our retirement plan around building a foundation that would grow in strength from real estate transactions. We acquired and sold more than $10 million worth of assets. From the preparations I did while in prison, I made a commitment to work toward owning appreciating assets in appreciating markets, which would provide both cash flow and long-term wealth accumulation. Marshall Goldsmith taught me an invaluable lesson, however:

• The strategies that get you to one stage of success may need to change in order to reach the next stage of success.

We must acknowledge that when circumstances change, we may want to reassess our foundation, and consider whether we should adjust. Over the past year, shifts in California’s economy, insurance policies, and inflation rates forced me to consider whether real estate should still be a cornerstone of our retirement plan.

• Wildfires in California created vulnerabilities, making us dependent on unpredictable insurance rates.
• Inflation influenced interest rates, affecting cash flow and returns on investment.
• Liquidity became a concern—real estate, while valuable, is not as easy to liquidate as stocks or Bitcoin.

I had to reassess the foundation we were building for our future. After careful evaluation, I decided to transition away from real estate and refocus on liquid asset classes—specifically Bitcoin and artificial intelligence stocks.

This shift shows the importance I place on being willing to adjust, sometimes absorbing losses. Just as an architect reinforces a foundation before building higher, I had to adjust the financial structure supporting my long-term vision.

Biblical Influences

This principle isn’t new. It’s woven into history, philosophy, and even biblical wisdom. In the Book of Matthew, Jesus taught the parable of the wise and foolish builders:

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.”
– Matthew 7:24-27

What does this mean for us today?

It means we should build our lives, businesses, and financial futures on solid foundations, not temporary or unstable conditions.

• A career built on skill and adaptability will survive economic shifts.
• A financial plan built on long-term vision will weather market fluctuations.
• A life built on values, discipline, and integrity will stand strong in any storm.

I first applied this lesson while sitting in a county jail cell, facing decades in prison. I had a choice:

• I could waste my time and let the system dictate my future, or
• I could build a foundation that would support success after release.

I chose the latter.

From day one, I committed to three pillars of personal foundation-building:

1. Education – I pursued degrees, read hundreds of books, and studied leaders from history.
2. Contribution – I wrote, taught, and worked to create value for others, even while living inside prison boundaries.
3. Support Network – I built relationships with mentors, professionals, and people who could help me upon release.

Over time, that foundation shifted. Once I built my knowledge base and support system, I had to focus on how I would generate income after release.

I knew the job market wouldn’t be friendly to someone with a criminal record, so I took full responsibility for creating my own economic opportunities.

Since my release, I’ve adjusted my foundation multiple times—from real estate investments to digital publishing to equity markets. Each time, I assessed the external conditions, the structure I was building, and whether my foundation needed reinforcement.

Adapting

Leaders in every field understand that foundations must be flexible.

Jeff Bezos, when launching Amazon, initially focused on books—a niche market that allowed him to build an online retail system. Once that system was stable, he expanded into other markets—electronics, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence.

“What we need to do is always look into the future. When we figure out what we want to be, we must work backwards and create the path to get there.”
– Jeff Bezos

The same principle applies to personal and financial growth. Where do you want to be five years from now? And more importantly, is your current foundation strong enough to support that vision?

Assessing Your Foundation

If you’re serious about long-term success, ask yourself:

1. What foundation am I building today?
   • Is it based on education, financial stability, personal discipline, and strong relationships?
2. Is my foundation built to last?
   • Am I relying on short-term gains, or am I focused on long-term sustainability?
3. Am I prepared to adjust when conditions change?
   • What external risks or opportunities might influence my strategy in the future?

Strong foundations don’t mean rigidity—they mean stability with the ability to adapt.

The lessons I learned in prison, the decisions I make today, and the ongoing adjustments to my financial and personal strategies all reinforce one truth:

We must continuously evaluate our foundation to ensure it can support the structure of the life we want to build.

Self-Directed Learning Question:

• What foundation are you building today, and how will you ensure it remains strong enough to support your long-term goals?

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