When we look at the 1/3 of released individuals who remain free once they are released from prison we can identify similarities in their beliefs and behaviors. Winners think like other winners. “Losers” tend to share a similar mindset as well. Here are a few things you can focus on so that you can help increase the likelihood of your success and propel you far beyond your self-imposed limitations.

GOGI’s Seven Success Strategies

1) Sober Only - Sober individuals are less likely to commit crimes. Sober individuals make smarter decisions. Sober individuals keep jobs, have better relationships, and are more likely to earn the respect of others. If you choose to remain sober starting today and forever more, it is highly likely you will never return to prison. Some of you might think to yourself, “Coach, you have no idea what it is like in prison. I have to drink or I will go insane.” I am telling you right now that if you are not sober now it is not likely you will be sober when you return home. You need a sober foundation. It is nothing to put off until you get home. It won’t happen then. The pressure it too great. “Sober Only” means you think sober, talk sober, walk sober and only communicate and associate with sober individuals starting today. Remember, sober people commit fewer crimes and are generally more successful than their drug and drinking counterparts.

2) Volunteer to Help – Individuals who volunteer their time to help others are less likely to use, commit crimes or involve themselves in destructive relationships or activities. Volunteering may be as broad as dedicating your entire life to the betterment of others or it may be as simple as saying, “Hey, can I give you a hand,” when someone is putting away chairs. Volunteering may be as simple as picking up a piece of paper that missed the trash can, or seeing if there is anyone who is interested in learning to read. Volunteering is getting out of your own needs and looking to assist others in meeting theirs. Some of you will be saying to yourself, “Coach, you have no idea what it is like in prison. I can’t help anyone when I need help myself.” I am telling you right now that if you continue to live a life where you are your primary concern, it is more likely you will return to prison. Volunteer to Help means right now you extend your reach beyond your self and look to see if you can do anything for anyone which might make their load lighter. Volunteer to set up chairs, take out trash, collect books, find information, read to someone who can’t. Do SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

3) Learn to Learn – Individuals who learn how to learn are less likely to commit crimes and return to prison. By learning to learn I do not mean learning to sit in a classroom and read a boring text book. By learning I mean that you become willing to learn new things from the others around you. Learn a new language, how to play an instrument, how to write resumes for others, how to understand the law, how to meditate, pray, use yoga to promote physical and mental health. Learning to learn means that you are willing to consider the undeniable truth that all you know is not all there is to know. Learning to learn means that you become a sponge for any new information which promotes positive behavior and positive thought. Some of you might say, “Coach, there is nothing here that can help me with anything. Budgets are cut, classes are nearly non existent, there is nothing for me here.” To you I say there is a wealth of information just seated in this room. Do you know everything that is held in the hearts and minds of every individual in this room? Of course not. You do not know everything and therefore there is a wealth of information right here, right now. Learn to learn and it is less likely you will ever find yourself with a set of cuffs around your wrists.

4) Hang with Success – there is a saying, “How do you expect to soar with the eagles if you hang with the turkeys.” Hanging with success means that you associate with individuals just as dedicated to success as you wish to remain. You do become like the individuals with whom you associate. If you hang with people who drink it is increasingly likely you will drink. If you hang with individuals with a criminal mentality it is more likely you will have a criminal mentality. If you hang with individuals who are marching toward internal freedom and profound success, however, it is more likely your journey will be supported and aided by the company you keep. There are some of you who may say, “Coach, we are in prison. You have no idea the mask you need to wear just to survive in here. You can’t be soft in here or you get buster status and your life is miserable.” All I have to say is that I have seen very successful, free individuals inside low, medium and maximum security facilities. I have seen internal freedom emerge from the most oppressive environments. Choose your associates wisely. If they are talking about learning, service of others and remaining sober, it is more likely you will guarantee your success.

5) Slow Down – If you are willing to slow down, breathe, mediate and generally accept the current situation as an opportunity then you are less likely to commit any crime or return to sleeping on a bunk bed. Slowing down means developing patience, turning the focus of your growth to your inward freedom rather than an optimal environment for easy change. Slowing down means that you use this moment, this day, this year as an opportunity for you to refine your best qualities and address those personality traits which need to be modified or changed. Some of you are thinking, “Coach, if I were only out of this place I could do something, be something. I could be successful if I were not locked up.” To those of you I say that you must become successful because you are locked up. You can take this time to slow down and really experiment with creating the opportunity for success with each day. In truth, it is through our small steps that great distance is covered. Minute by minute you determine your level of success. It is essential to have goals, but your duty in reaching those goals is to exhibit the character and qualities of success right now, in the face of oppression. Slow down and be success, in spite of your situation. When you slow down you are more likely to guarantee your success.

6) Success Team – Individuals who have a Success Team are less likely to commit crimes. These are the individuals who are legit, sober and successfully employed. The members on your success team should be 3-4 people who you know would not make a stupid decision regarding your success. Remember, they need to be legit, sober and successfully employed. Pretend, each and every day, that these individuals are walking alongside you. If you are tempted to be negative they are there to remind you to head toward success. If you are tempted to grab that glass of wine they will remind you that sober people commit less crimes. If you are tempted to fall back into old patterns your success team will keep you on track. Walk with them in your mind, every minute of the day.

7) Meetings – I do not know too many people who committed crimes on a day they attended church, choir practice, meditation classes, basketball practice, AA, NA, a bowling league, night classes at the local community college, or any other regular activity which promotes positive mental thoughts. Your crimes were likely to have been committed when you were outside of a positive group, when you were with others who were not positive. Get into classes or groups, even if you are not the classes and groups type of person. Go anyway. Sit in the back and just be there. If you begin to align yourself with individuals who regularly attend just about any positive meeting you will find yourself too busy and too alive to commit crimes. AA is an amazing support group for positive decision making, even if you are not an alcoholic. Church meetings during the week are brilliant sources for positive friendships, even if it is not your religion or choice. Community colleges across America offer everything from Real Estate, Computer classes, to certification for work as a Drug and Alcohol Treatment Counselor. Go to meetings, meetings meetings. Keep yourself too busy to answer the homeboy’s telephone calls. Busy individuals are not prone to let stupid thinking get the better of them.

Your right and your privilege is to create the kind of life you wish to experience. You get that opportunity every minute of the day with the choice of words you use, with the company you keep, and substances you permit into your body. If your life is not the way you want it right now then you have the opportunity to change, right now, many of the factors which got you in this predicament.

Stop running on old habits and be willing to push past the discomfort of new ways of being. If you keep trying what you did you will always get what you always got. Be brave. Use the GOGI Seven Success Strategies to help free yourself from your small world of prison and constant monitoring by others. Change your life. You CAN do it.

Written by Coach Taylor