Planning

Success doesn’t happen by accident. It is a result of planning, preparation, and intentional effort. Every significant achievement in life—whether in business, personal growth, or overcoming adversity—begins with a vision and a clear plan to execute that vision.

I learned this lesson in prison, when I had nothing but time to think about the future I wanted to create. I had many memorable events during the 26 years I served, including one during my eighth year of confinement, when I had an experience that reinforced the power of planning.

It all started when I read an article in The Wall Street Journal by Professor John DiIulio of Princeton University. The article, titled “Let ‘em Rot,” focused on criminal justice policies. His words caught my attention, and I felt compelled to write him a letter. At the time, I didn’t know whether he would respond. I didn’t have any prior connection to him. But I wrote anyway, sharing my thoughts about the prison system and opportunities for reform.

To my surprise, Professor DiIulio wrote back. Over time, he became a mentor, offering insights that helped shape my thinking about advocacy, education, and system change.

When I later transferred from USP Atlanta to FCI McKean, I reached out to Professor DiIulio again. He shared that he was friends with the prison’s warden, Dennis Luther, and proposed an idea:

“What if I bring a group of Princeton students on a field trip to visit you in prison?”

The plan was simple but powerful:

• The students would hear directly from an incarcerated person about life inside the prison system.
• The warden, the professor, and I would engage in an open conversation about reform, reentry, and opportunities for change.

This wasn’t an event that happened overnight. It took months of planning.

• I had to coordinate with staff to ensure the visit could happen.
• Professor DiIulio had to organize students and prepare them for the experience.
• The warden had to approve the visit and logistics.

When the day finally arrived, about 25 people—students, professors, and prison administrators—walked through the gates of FCI McKean to meet with me. Imagine the perspective of the other people in prison. They saw me, an incarcerated person, walking through the facility, explaining the system to Princeton students and professors.

Some prisoners asked: “How is this guy in such a position when he’s doing time just like us?”

The answer was simple: I planned for it.

I wasn’t focused on prison politics or short-term status. I was focused on building my future. Skip, a shot caller in the prison, wasn’t happy about my involvement in this event.

• Skip’s plan focused on prison hierarchy—maintaining influence, controlling others, and playing the power game behind bars.
• My plan focused on preparing for life after prison—building relationships, educating myself, and setting the foundation for future opportunities.

I suspect Skip returned to society like most shot callers—with few opportunities, little preparation, and a hard road ahead. I returned to society with a plan—and that plan led to multiple income opportunities, business ventures, and advocacy work that continues today.

“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.”
– Benjamin Franklin

Planning isn’t just for business executives or government leaders. It’s for anyone who wants to change their life. If you:

• Want to increase your earning capacity, you need a plan to develop marketable skills.
• Want to lose weight, you need a plan for nutrition and exercise.
• Want to become an entrepreneur, you need a plan to test ideas, build products, and reach customers.

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”
– Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Success isn’t about where you are today—it’s about where you’re going and how you’re preparing for it.

If you don’t take control of your future, someone else will. Your life is a structure, and the blueprint is in your hands. Start today. Define what you want. Lay out the steps to get there. Adjust as necessary.

Self-Directed Learning Question:

• What specific steps are you taking today to plan for the future you want to build?

‍