I wrote the book thinking about the people I could be helping, but I don't publish it because I finally feel "free." I'm not sure if it's an irrational fear, or something I need therapy for, but the idea of going back to how I felt is something that I'm not ready for right now.
Quick story for emphasis:
In 2011, just as my company was off the ground, I found out I had a warrant for my arrest. When you're on probation and you are convicted of another crime, you serve length of probation + new crime. In my case even though I was not on active probation, my unsupervised probation cited that I would serve 10 years plus new crime.
The people who know me today would describe me as very stable and light-hearted/funny. When I got that warrant notice, I had a complete meltdown. I left work, physically ran to my apartment, and locked myself away. I was informed on a Friday, so my attorney couldn't get back to me until Monday with all the information as to why I was being warranted.
The reason? It turns out the State that I moved away from had lost all the records of me paying my restitution.
Lucky for me, I'd been carrying those receipts around for nearly 10 years at that point. I photocopied every single one of them and a week later, the warrant was revoked.
I lived in chaos after prison for years, and in fear for more than 10 years. I just need a bit more time to heal up before I'm ready.
I'm away from SF (where I typically live) for a few more months, but I'll reach out when I'm back.
I wrote a book describing my experience in detail and how I overcame particulars, but every time I think about publishing, I back down. The last few years, I'm finally rid of that "black spot" over my head that I'm not ready to bring it back quite yet. Not to mention, I need to focus on running my company at the moment.
I never ask if a person has been arrested/convicted of a felony during the hiring process. People can do great work regardless if they're black, white, male, female, immigrant, or felon.
Throwaway because I want to put my past behind me.
I've been to prison. Convicted of assault when I turned 18 years old. At 20, I was released and the system provided no re-integration efforts for me. In Feb 2003, I was homeless, no family, and I lost all my friends.
I applied for over 100 jobs while sleeping in the back of an abandoned car with no luck.
Finally I lied to get employment at a local McDonald's. Then I begged a literally insane person to let me sleep on her couch until I received enough money to get a place of my own. I had to pay her in sperm donations (as she wanted a child).
I had to steal food to eat in those first few months.
On top of that, I had $18,000 in restitution and 10 years of probation. If I missed payments, I'd go back to prison.
Fast forward 10 years, I put myself through college, paid off the restitution in full, got off probation 5 years early, moved the hell away from my home town,
and built a million dollar company.
I got curious a few years ago and looked up all my fellow inmates. 100% of them were back in prison.
When I think of how lucky I am to have escaped that life, I have no words...
I wrote the book thinking about the people I could be helping, but I don't publish it because I finally feel "free." I'm not sure if it's an irrational fear, or something I need therapy for, but the idea of going back to how I felt is something that I'm not ready for right now.
Quick story for emphasis:
In 2011, just as my company was off the ground, I found out I had a warrant for my arrest. When you're on probation and you are convicted of another crime, you serve length of probation + new crime. In my case even though I was not on active probation, my unsupervised probation cited that I would serve 10 years plus new crime.
The people who know me today would describe me as very stable and light-hearted/funny. When I got that warrant notice, I had a complete meltdown. I left work, physically ran to my apartment, and locked myself away. I was informed on a Friday, so my attorney couldn't get back to me until Monday with all the information as to why I was being warranted.
The reason? It turns out the State that I moved away from had lost all the records of me paying my restitution.
Lucky for me, I'd been carrying those receipts around for nearly 10 years at that point. I photocopied every single one of them and a week later, the warrant was revoked.
I lived in chaos after prison for years, and in fear for more than 10 years. I just need a bit more time to heal up before I'm ready.
I'm away from SF (where I typically live) for a few more months, but I'll reach out when I'm back.