Power of Journaling

What would be the best outcome for a person facing decades in prison?

I remember being locked in solitary confinement, waiting for the outcome of my trial, and trying to come up with an answer to that question. Fortunately, by reading, I could learn from leaders who taught me how to consider options. By the time my judge sentenced me to 45 years, I felt ready to begin rebuilding.

Authorities then transferred me inside the walls of a high-security penitentiary. Although I could be intentional about decisions I made, I didn’t have any power or control over the decisions that others made. Like anyone else, I had to live the CEO of my life, even if the world called me inmate #16377-004. 

To create a different future, I had to change how I thought, how I acted, and how I told my story. That’s when I started journaling. By journaling, I could create a body of work, and a track record that would speak for me when I couldn’t speak for myself.

Journaling became an intricate part of my strategy for success. And I believe it can be yours too.

Why I Journaled in Prison—And Still Do Today

During the 26 years I served, I wrote every day—not just about what I was doing, but about why I was doing it. I wrote about the books I was reading, the goals I was setting, the people I met, and the mindset I was shaping. I wrote to stay focused, to stay accountable, and to stay free—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

That habit of documenting my journey turned into something tangible. It became:

• A tool to persuade university administrators to admit me, even while I was still in prison.
• Evidence to help publishers bring my books to market.
• A pathway to build trust with mentors, business leaders, and philanthropists.
• A foundation to attract the love of my life, who married me in a prison visiting room.
• The seed for what would eventually grow into Prison Professors—a nonprofit that now reaches more than a million justice-impacted people every year.

Success began with the journal I kept.

Start Journaling—Today

If you’re going through a criminal investigation, facing sentencing, serving time, or supporting a loved one who is, you already know how heavy this journey can be. But you have more power than you think. The system may try to reduce you to a number, but you are more than your case, your conviction, or your past. You're a human being with potential, dignity, and a future worth fighting for.

Your journal can become your voice, or your opportunity to shape how others will see you:

• Judges
• Probation officers
• BOP case managers
• Future employers
• Scholarship or housing providers
• Even your own family and community

When you write consistently, you begin building a record of personal development that becomes hard to ignore. You prove that you’re not just serving time—you’re using time to grow.

How to Start: Simple Prompts, Real Impact

Journaling doesn’t require a college degree. You don’t need perfect grammar or writing talent. All you need is honesty and consistency. I offer a few guiding questions to members of our community at Prison Professors:

Daily Prompts:

• What did I do today that prepared me for a better future?
• What challenge am I facing, and how am I choosing to respond?
• What am I learning about myself right now?

Weekly Prompts:

• How do my current actions align with my long-term goals?
• In what ways am I investing in my personal development?
• What habits am I building (or breaking) this week?
  
  

Monthly Prompts:

• What kind of legacy am I building?
• Who am I becoming—and who do I want to be remembered as?
• What opportunities can I create by continuing to live intentionally?

Questions should become strategic tools—ways for you to clarify your values, demonstrate your growth, and strengthen your case for second chances.

Turning a Journal into a Platform

On our website, I share stories from my own journey and the people I met along the way. People like Justin, who I met in prison. Our friendship began inside a housing unit. I journaled about that interaction and how it evolved. Years later, that relationship became part of the infrastructure that helped me launch a nonprofit and build real business assets.

If you document your story, it becomes part of your power.

That’s why we built Prison Professors, a platform for you to start writing and publishing your story today—at no cost. You can build a public profile that demonstrates how you are working toward redemption, growth, and contribution. You don’t have to wait until you’re free to begin shaping your future.

Your Future and Your Decisions

No one can change the past. But you can absolutely change your trajectory. By journaling, you start planting seeds for future conversations—conversations that will affect your liberty, your opportunities, your relationships, and your ability to make an impact.

I’ve met and worked with billionaires, CEOs, educators, and policymakers. The only reason they chose to believe in me is because I showed them a track record—a written record—of values-based decision-making. That can be your story, too, if you start now.

Reflection Questions for You

Before you close this page, take a moment to reflect. These questions could be your next journal entry:

1. How do I define success—and what am I doing today to work toward it?
2. What challenges am I facing, and how can I respond in a way that builds credibility?
3. In what ways can I memorialize my growth and transformation?
4. How will my story inspire others, including decision-makers who influence my future?
5. What will my journal say about the person I’m becoming?
   
   

You don’t have to pay us for this information. Everything we offer at Prison Professors is 100% free. Why? Because I believe that everyone deserves a fair chance to prepare for success—even if the system doesn’t provide it.

Start journaling. Build your story. And architect the life you want to lead.

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