A business student at USC asked me: “What was the best part about going to federal prison?” At first, I thought it was an odd question. All I could think about were the things I’d lost—my reputation, career, money, freedom. But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much I learned while serving time.
Lessons from Others
In federal prison, I met men who had been inside for decades, many for non-violent crimes. These were guys who had missed out on everything: family, friends, careers. But what stood out was their attitude. They weren’t bitter, and they didn’t spend their days complaining. They made the best of a bad situation. Meeting them made me realize how much time I had wasted feeling sorry for myself. I was only in for 18 months, but I had been acting like my life was over. These men, some who had served 20 or 30 years, didn’t have that attitude. That shift in perspective was huge for me.
Influences that Shaped Me
My business partner Michael Santos served 26 years. He introduced me to books that changed my mindset. Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning was a big one. Frankl was a Holocaust survivor who wrote about how you can find purpose even in the worst conditions. That hit me hard. I could keep focusing on what I lost, or I could start finding meaning in what I still had.
Michael also talked about John Locke’s idea of tabula rasa, or the concept of a clean slate. That was another turning point for me. I could either let my past define me, or I could see this as an opportunity to start over.
Focus on What Remains
The biggest shift for me came when I stopped focusing on everything that was gone and started appreciating what was still there. I had my parents, my friends, my health, and the chance to start fresh. Instead of obsessing over my losses, I began planning for what I could do when I got out.
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Justin Paperny
