Week 15
Week in Review
Monday January 9, 2017
Today is Toastmasters and computer lab day. Toastmasters is a program that teaches us how to formulate, express and sell your idea – and yourself – with poise and confidence. Before we start Toastmasters we pray-in and then the class can begin. The “Toastmaster” himself comes up with a theme of the day, and today’s theme was about what our New Year’s resolutions are. When the Toastmaster asked me to speak about the theme of the day, I needed to word it a specific way by saying, “Hello Toastmaster, honored and distinguished guests: my name is Montel S. and my New Year’s Resolution is that I would love to see my mom for the first time 13 years and to make parole.”
Toastmasters has helped me to overcome my nervousness. When I used to speak, I would always sweat like I was playing basketball. Now I do not sweat as much – it’s more like taking a walk in the mall. After Toastmasters ended, we went to the computer lab and looked up market research for your business plan. If we have an advisor, we will edit the errors on our business plans and make adjustments. It had been a while since I have used a computer, so it’s very difficult for me to catch on. Fortunately we have Servant-Leaders to help guide us so we can get through everything smoothly.
Montel S. (a.k.a. Sweet Mississippi Mud Pie)
Tuesday January 10, 2017
Today’s class began at 12:30 p.m. The first thing we did was fill out a form that required us to not put our name on it. It was a form that asked us generic questions, like what was our income before incarceration. I’m sure the reason for that form was because we have just finished studying Living in the Village, a financial literacy book, and they are doing a survey on what we have learned. Afterwards we did two pray-outs, one for Jamie O. who left this morning, and another one for a guy whose sweet name is “Tickle Me Elmo.”
After finishing the pray-outs, we watched one of our PEP brothers, Adrian R., perform his business pitch, and then we watched Nooma videos. One of them was on the subject of God loving us no matter what we have done. After the videos we watched Chris W. give his pitch. I learned that he is from North Texas and a well-educated man.
At the end of our time today, Arturo S. said the actual prayer to send the men on in good graces. I hope the two men we prayed-out go on to live great, productive lives and are good citizens of the United States.
Joshua S. (a.k.a. Sweet Material Girl)
Wednesday January 11, 2017
Wow! – what a busy day today was! We started with computer lab, where we utilized all of the tools we have been taught to prepare a PowerPoint presentation about our business idea. It really is amazing how far we have come since day one in PEP. After computer lab, we had a Servant-Leader/accountability meeting. In this meeting we introduced all of the new pod coaches, mentors and accountability leaders. Once again, another moment in the day that showed how our class has really stepped up to the challenge of leadership and, more importantly, “Servant-Leadership.”
This afternoon we had another “Idea Meeting.” In these meetings we have put together a council of like-minded men tasked with finding ways to improve PEP through innovations in our structure, additional workshops and mentoring programs. We have now implemented two new programs: the first is a “Step-up Mentor Program” where we help our new Phase One brothers get used to the culture of PEP through mentoring; and the second is a “Career Development Workshop” designed to help our PEP brothers focus on specific career opportunities and what they need to learn to obtain these opportunities after they are released from prison.
Now it is time to study for our Chapter 13 Entrepreneurship test. This chapter focused on our business exit and harvest strategies. Mr. Bert S. taught us about the need for future planning in our business to see how profitable our business will be set up for in the long term. Can’t wait for tomorrow!
Jason S. (a.k.a. Sweet Aunt Jemima)
Thursday January 12, 2017
On Thursdays we are usually reading and studying for our Entrepreneurship test to make sure we all pass. This week we are studying for the Chapter 13 test. We spend our days in class reciting things that we have to remember and taking tests on things that we had to remember. We spend a lot of time trying to memorize the information. No matter how hard the lessons get, we have to look for the positive and focus. Today was the same as any other Thursday. We all gathered in the PEP room, prayed in and showed some love by greeting each other and shaking hands. Finally it was test time on Chapter 13 from our entrepreneurship book. After testing we received study packets for next week’s Chapter 14 test, as well as our new sign-in sheets for our pitches in the dorms.
Looking back now I realize that the beginning of the program, even though it was nothing to do with business, prepared us for second phase by instilling in us these study habits. They say the more you study, the more it becomes a great exercise to help you gain skills and do better quality work. Our class is going to give our 7-12 minute pitches very soon, so we are saying our speeches in class to get better for our next event.
Today was a great day filled with lots of dedication and knowledge as we get closer to our graduation. All these tests and extra work have been hard, take my word for it: now it’s time to start studying for next week, because you know what they say, “Practice makes perfect.”
Juan T. (a.k.a. Sweet Dumbo)
Expressions
This past Saturday we had our Business Plan Workshop event. Basically we went over our business plans with our business advisers. It was really helpful to hear some feedback on all of our hard work. After the event a lot of us went straight to studying for the next test coming up in our entrepreneurship course. We also have Crime and Punishment to read. Before anything we start by learning quite a few vocabulary words to understand what this book is about and understand how it is written. While studying these two books, we also have to manage time wisely in order to modify our pitches based on the feedback we received. We also have signature sheets to get filled out. Those are meant to help us practice our pitches for pitch day on February 3rd, which is just around the corner.
Today we were tested out of the Entrepreneurship book which was a bit difficult for many of us. Soon after the test we all sat giving our attention to Bert S. while he went over the next chapter in our Entrepreneurship textbooks, Chapter 14. Yes, we all look forward to another chapter test next Thursday, as we get closer and closer to finishing the Entrepreneurship course. Until then we all will continue our studies. After Bert S. went over Chapter 14 and filled our heads with wisdom on franchising, we went ahead and reviewed our Chapter 13 test to clarify any questions that we may have had. We then finished off the afternoon with some Nooma videos that help us view life in general with a positive outlook. These videos are very encouraging and teach us not to take our lives for granted.
Luis S. (a.k.a. Biker Babe)