Jab, Jab, Jab, Left Hook

Give, Give, Give — Then Build Change

When I first read Gary Vaynerchuk’s Jab, Jab, Jab, Left Hook, I was struck by its simplicity and depth. On the surface, it’s a book about social media strategy. But underneath, it’s a lesson in life, leadership, and transformation — one that I’ve applied to every aspect of our work at Prison Professors Charitable Corporation.

Vaynerchuk’s central message is that you must give before you ask. The “jabs” represent acts of generosity — consistent, authentic value you deliver to others. The “left hook” represents the moment you make an ask, whether it’s for support, engagement, or change.

In other words: impact begins with giving.

How the Lesson Shaped My Mission

When I read that book, I was serving time in prison. I didn’t have a platform or followers, but I did have time — time to learn, reflect, and build something that could one day make a difference.

The lesson I took from Jab, Jab, Jab, Left Hook concerned service. If I wanted to change how people viewed me — or how society viewed people in prison — I first had to give.

• I had to invest my energy into creating value for others.
• I had to write, teach, and share lessons that helped others prepare for success.
• Only then could I ask for understanding, for reform, for a second chance.

That principle became the foundation of everything I do today.

Before we ask policymakers to create more mechanisms for people to earn freedom through merit, we must show that people inside are working hard to become extraordinary and compelling.

• We give through the books we distribute.
• We give through free resources and platform we build.
• We give through every visit, every conversation, every piece of data we collect.

The Power of Consistent Giving

Gary’s message resonated with me because giving is a long game. While serving a 45-year term, I learned a great deal about the long game.

In prison, I didn’t have control over my environment, but I did have control over my mindset. I realized that transformation required patience — jabs — small, consistent actions that built trust and credibility over time.

When I started writing books, creating courses, and teaching others to prepare for success, I wasn’t looking for recognition. I was building a record of contribution.

Now, as I travel from prison to prison across the country, I still follow that same playbook:

• Jab — Offer free education.
  
  
• Jab — Help others build their profiles.
  
  
• Jab — Encourage journaling, reading, and release planning.
  
  
• Left Hook — Advocate for system-wide reform built on measurable proof of transformation.

Each “jab” plants a seed of change. Each act of giving builds momentum.

Applying the Lesson Today

Our work at Prison Professors mirrors this principle in action. We give first — through free programs, through our online platform, and through the in-person presentations I make inside prisons.

Every time I step into a prison, I invest personal resources — airfare, hotel stays, rental cars — to bring a message of hope and self-empowerment. That’s not a cost; it’s an investment in giving.

When we teach people how to build biographies, journals, book reports, and release plans, we’re not just helping them prepare for success — we’re building trust with the Bureau of Prisons, with courts, and with society.

Only after giving consistently can we make our collective “left hook” — our call for policy reform that rewards effort, discipline, and personal growth.

Becoming the Change

Gary Vaynerchuk wrote about social media, but his lesson applies to life behind bars, in business, and in advocacy: you can’t expect results without first delivering value.

For me, Jab, Jab, Jab, Left Hook reinforced a truth I learned through experience:

• If I wanted to change the system, I first had to change myself.
• If I wanted others to believe in rehabilitation, I had to model it.
• If I wanted to lead, I had to serve.

Every book I read, every person I meet, every lesson I teach — it’s all part of the same philosophy: give, give, give… then build.

A Challenge to Our Community

Wherever you are — whether you’re inside a prison or advocating for someone who is — think about your own “jabs.”

• What can you give today that will create value for others tomorrow?
• What record are you building that will show your growth, your learning, and your potential?

Change doesn’t happen through demands. It happens through consistent action and visible proof of progress.

At Prison Professors, we’re building the evidence base — one biography, one journal entry, one book report at a time.Together, we’re proving that transformation is real — and that those who give back, grow forward.