“I’m more educated than you,” this defendant told me as I picked up the phone.
“Hmmm, have you been talking to my wife who loves to remind me that her Cornell degree is more valuable than my degree from USC?,” I asked.
“Sorry, I don’t mean to be off putting. I’ve put off making this call for quite some time and I guess I’m sort of insecure right now and I’m not sure what to say. My wife’s been watching your White Collar 101 videos, and she demanded I finally call you. Oh and I think USC is a good school, just not one I would have chosen.”
“Stop while you’re ahead!
Proverb 16:18 tells us, “Pride goes before destruction.”
I had too much pride to ask for help. I was also too stubborn. Those mistakes cost me an extra $200K in legal fees, and I served longer in federal prison then I should have. Worse, I made matters worse on my family.
This caller is the reason I got into this business. I was him–the only difference is he had the courage to make the call.
Schedule Your Complimentary Call Here…
Through our call I learned he had built a business in the construction industry. After learning that some of his colleagues were colluding with a competitor he did not stop the practice. Instead, he tried to fix it. In time, their competitor went to authorities to seek immunity. By trying to stop the colluding it proved he was aware of it. Hence, his guilty plea and looming prison term.
I asked him what he was hoping to learn from me. He told me that he became successful by studying leaders he admired. He spoke of his father and uncles. He told me that he admired me. Further, he said he felt that by working together, he’d be more likely to develop the skill set and values it would take to succeed through federal prison, federal probation, and beyond. In just a few minutes he went from bashing my alma mater to giving me the highest compliment I could receive.
I implore those trapped in struggle to think of who you admire most. What do their daily routines look like? What motivates them? What makes them tick?
I encourage you to find those leaders and emulate them, as I did. I tried to emulate people like my mom and Michael Santos. Further, I emulated those who died hundreds or thousands of years ago, like Montaigne, Socrates (click here to read blog I wrote about Socrates from prison), and Seneca (I’m currently listening to Tim Ferris’s audio books on Seneca). In time, I picked up some of their traits. I molded them to my liking. To be clear, I’m not putting myself in their class. I’m simply saying modeling some of their attributes rubbed off on me.
Go find that mentor, or leader you admire. Learn from them. Ask questions, and begin implementing what resonates with you at once. Don’t be too contemplative or procrastinate. Just take action.
Justin
Why a Release Plan Can Help You Prepare For The Halfway House and Home Confinement
For most people in federal prison, the transition home occurs in gradual stages, starting with time in a halfway house (aka Residential Reentry Center) and then transitioning to home confinement. Creating a robust release plan (assuming you want more liberty) is...
Keys To Successful Incarceration With Pre-Trial Services
In federal prison, hardly a moment passes without some prisoner blaming their judge, their lawyer, or the defendant who cooperated against them—anyone but themselves. If I hadn't found mentors, I think I might have been on the same track.Blaming others precludes us...
Preparing for Tomorrow: Why You Need a Release Plan Now
Looking for a shorter prison sentence or an early release? Click here to learn the importance of a release plan, a key piece of sentencing mitigation.
Meeting Michael Santos In A Minimum Security Camp
"How are you doing, young man? My name is Michael Santos," I heard him say."Well, considering I just got to prison, not great," I replied."How long are you here?" he asked."18 months," I said."Well, I will make a deal with you. I will serve every day of that sentence...
Fear Not: Applying 50 Cent’s Lessons to Prepare For Sentencing and Federal Prison
https://traffic.libsyn.com/whitecollaradvice/3_50th_Law.m4a Fear Not! I am grateful that I'm in a career that allows me to continue to invest time learning to become better at what I do and hopefully become better as a human being. To that end, I just finished...
CNN Exclusive: Justin Paperny Analyzes Sam Bankman-Fried’s 25-Year Sentence
https://youtu.be/KgP_9aRrEZs I was saddened to hear Sam Bankman-Fried say his useful life is over. Many individuals facing prison share that sentiment, and I certainly did during my own experience. Navigating through such challenging times requires learning from those...