Action

Action is the discipline of working, especially when conditions are unfair, inconvenient, or discouraging. Life does not always unfold the way we expect. Obstacles appear that threaten to define our trajectory.

When we allow those obstacles to stop us, we surrender control over our future. The Straight-A Guide teaches a different approach. It teaches us to act in ways that align with a values-based, goal-oriented strategy, regardless of resistance.

Action Is the Bridge Between Vision and Results

Think of action like steering a ship through rough seas. You cannot control the weather, but you can control the heading. If you stop steering because the waves are strong, the ship drifts, potentially capsizing. If you keep steering, even slowly, you stay on course.

As the CEO of our life, our job is to stay on course, always moving in the direction of success.

Choosing Action Over Apathy

While serving decades in prison, I encountered countless moments when I had to choose action over apathy. I hated living in prison. But even worse, I worried about the inevitable challenges I would face after release unless I prepared in advance.

I realized that if I didn't take action, I would face another type of struggle after my release. That meant I would have to take incremental action steps, developing skills and resources that I could leverage to overcome the crisis of confinement.

Action Is Adaptation, Not Permission

When my supervisor prohibited me from using the computer for my coursework, I felt paralyzed by frustration. But frustration solves nothing. Yielding to resentment would not advance my preparation for life after prison.

That moment forced a choice. I had to live as if I was the CEO of my life, taking action steps that aligned with the plans I set.

Action is like water flowing around a rock. When one path is blocked, it finds another. It does not stop moving.

I began writing by hand on unlined paper, maintaining my daily goal of writing at least 1,000 words. The process was slower and required more effort. But it aligned with my long-term objective. No one would care how I learned to write in prison. They would only care whether I could deliver results after release.

Action Creates Momentum

That decision to focus on what I could control, rather than what the system would take away, replaced self-pity with progress.

Think of action like compound interest. Small deposits, made consistently, grow into something meaningful over time. Missed deposits stall growth. Action keeps the account moving forward.

If we want to change our lives, we must act—even when the system resists, even when conditions are unfair, and even when recognition is delayed.