Week 7

Week in Review

Monday February 20, 2017

It is Monday, and although many of us have a cold and cough, we are working diligently to accomplish our many assigned tasks. Many of us are completing homework for mistakes on various assignments, but look into the classroom and not one man holds his head down. We are uplifted and on our way to our calling.

We, the Kings of Spring ’17, are still reeling from the excitement of the Venture Capital Panel (VCP) event on Saturday. Formulating a business plan is difficult enough, but throw in public speaking and that’s enough to crumble the strongest of men. But we are KINGS, humble yet confident in our ability to excel.

We have been through many struggles and trials since September, but we are getting through them as brothers while living up to the outstanding bar that has been set for us. It’s easy to give up when the road gets tough, and in fact many of us had developed a habit of quitting on our dreams and aspirations. We look to the right and to the left, and we see our brothers standing valiantly by our sides who have broken the chains of incarceration, ignorance, criminal behavior, broken homes and various other issues. We are on our journey, and we vow to continue our progress, however difficult it may be.

Joshua M. (a.k.a. Mater)

Tuesday February 21, 2017

It’s hard to believe that a Venture Capital presentation can cause so much anxiety and emotion. Three days have passed since our event, and we are still trying to process all of the invaluable insights that we received from the executives in regard to our business plans.

Now that we have a proper direction to form a competitive business plan, we were given the opportunity to do some market research in the computer lab; everything is beginning to come together for all of us. At the same time the Kings of Spring ‘17 continue to persevere, completing our assignments and studying for our weekly test in Bert S.’s class.

The Prison Entrepreneurship Program is no cake walk. It is a fantastic program that not only helps you to become a successful businessman, but also teaches you to become an authentic man by learning self-discipline. There is a tremendous amount of knowledge within this program, and we look forward to mining every ounce of it.

Darrel M. (a.k.a. Peter Pan)

Wednesday February 22, 2017

The sense of relief…that’s the feeling that filled the PEP room, as one by one my brothers and I scanned front and back of the weekly test. We have studied repeatedly, hour on hour, not merely hoping for positive results, but preparing so that we can attain positive results.

With the pressure of Venture Capital pitches behind us, we can now transition our energy back to completing our homework and studying for our upcoming test. We can’t forget to read and study for Living in the Village either … what’s the use in building a successful business if we can’t protect, save and invest our profits?

Wrists are tired of writing; heads are not bowed, but they are heavy; and at times the road in PEP gets tough! But when I take a second to look around the room, I see my brothers holding each other up, with words of encouragement filling the air. We have reached the point of no return. It’s time to step into the positions that we have verbally claimed: it’s time to be KINGS!

James M. (a.k.a. Tasmanian Devil)

Thursday February 23, 2017

Now that we have successfully completed our Venture Capital pitches, it’s okay for us to breathe for a second … okay, that second is now over, it’s time to get back to work! Work is not a problem for the Kings of Spring ‘17. Everyone understands that PEP is based on 10 Driving Values, and those values are what aid and guide us. Fun is an integral part of that system, so oftentimes it’s difficult to tell if we are working or just having fun, because we infuse the two together.

I also want to thank the executives who were very supportive during our most recent event. As all of my brothers know, we were extremely nervous, but thanks to the serene environment that the executives established it was easy going once we got started. It’s true what they say: you play the way that you practice.

The feedback that we received was also very helpful. We all walked away feeling more confident in the fact that not only have we conceived viable business concepts, but we have also communicated our business purpose in a resolute way. Stay encouraged brothers, and stay focused on the task!

Guillermo A. (a.k.a. Pinocchio)

Friday February 24, 2017

The road is getting tough. We look around and some of my brother’s heads are hung, some have abandoned us on our journey, others simply didn’t make the cut. I know it sounds like the scene of some overly dramatic war movie, but make no mistake, this journey is a difficult one and not only are our lives at stake, but so are the lives of our family members. We are men who are committed to making drastic lifestyle changes, and the amount of effort that requires is quite colossal.

As we look ahead, we see a road full of surprises, snakes, pits and valleys, and when we look up to the sky, rain is beginning to fall. We look at one another and smile, an acknowledgement that this is undoubtedly going to be an eventful journey. While my brothers take one deep breath and forge ahead, I take a quick second to look back, (forgive me for my moment of hesitation and doubt) and I realize that ahead is the only path for my brothers – and for me too.

Ahead lies success, turmoil, frustration, love, sincerity, morality, hunger, thirst, self-control, joy and happiness. Ahead lies life and all that she carries along with her. As a class we understand that we have undertaken a difficult journey, and not everyone is going to make it to our destination, but we won’t compromise and we can’t be deterred. This is a journey that we must both take and complete.

Donald M. (a.k.a. Jerome in the House)

Expressions

 “Never whine, never complain, never make excuses.”

-John Wooden

Life is an uphill battle. Contrary to popular belief, the weak can survive, but they will never prosper and progress. We are men endowed with special talents and gifts: intuition, creativity, intellect, morality and spirituality. We were made to progress, but progression takes fortitude. So we are called to be Authentic Men, men who rise to the occasion, protect their loved ones, provide for the family financially, intellectually, and spiritually. We are men who lead with valor and dignity, who follow when needed, who cry tears of empathy and can weather the many storms of life. We make mistakes, and our lives are living canvases of our failures and successes, but in the chaos of that fractal you will find beauty, strength and courage. We are KINGS, and we will not be defined by our failures but will instead be remembered for our unwillingness to give up in the face of adversity, the tenacity with which we fought and the courage to simply stand when everyone else quit. WE ARE KINGS!

Jaa’far A. (a.k.a. Jolly Rancher)