Journal of today’s activities:

More than one full week has passed since I’ve updated my daily logs. Sometimes I need to postpone entries in order to focus attention on current obligations. This past week I was in Orange County working on a project that doesn’t relate to the prison system or at-risk youth, though it still relates to the Straight-A Guide program I developed. I’ve made a tactical decision to continue my preparations for success. That decision requires that I work with business organizations that recognize the value in the lessons I teach. On Monday I worked with a team of business leaders that are responsible for improving efficiencies in a sales force. Throughout the remainder of this year, I’ll work closely with the leadership team to build a culture that encourages each sales professional to work toward optimal performance, both on and off the job. I am responsible for both recruiting and training a top-tier sales team. In the late afternoon, I visited the campus at UC Irvine to meet with an organizer at the career center and leaders of various student organizations. I’m recruiting college graduates who’ve built track records of distinction.

• Days since my release from 26 years in federal prison: 273
• Miles run today: 10
• Miles run this week: 23.37
• Miles run this month: 52.52
• Miles run in 2014:
• Miles I need to run to reach my 2,400-mile running goal for 2014:
• Number of miles I’m ahead of schedule or behind schedule: 145.95
• Today’s Weight: 168

Journal of today’s activities:

Carole and I left our home this morning at 5:00 am. We drove to the Oakland airport and then we boarded a Southwest flight to Orange County. Carole and I have some work to do that will require us to spend considerable amounts of time in Southern California. We’re looking forward to the new opportunities. I’ll transform the lessons that empowered me through longer than a quarter century in prison into lessons that will help business professionals reach their highest potential. I’m really enthusiastic about this challenge. Each day I will work hard to show others how to dig within themselves and create their own energy, discipline, and commitment. They’ll learn the path that anyone and everyone can pursue to reach his or her highest potential. This exciting new venture has been in the works for several months, and today we take some affirmative steps toward building a new life.

• Days since my release from 26 years in federal prison: 270
• Miles run today: 0
• Miles run this week: 0
• Miles run this month: 133.99
• Miles run in 2014: 988.09
• Miles I need to run to reach my 2,400-mile running goal for 2014:
• Number of miles I’m ahead of schedule or behind schedule:
• Today’s Weight: 20.85

Journal of today’s activities:

The illness seems to have passed through my body. This morning I woke feeling as if I had a 100 percent recovery. At 9:00 this morning Carole and I visited our doctor. After some tests, he confirmed that I was well on my way to a speedy recover. The doctor urged me to continue the course of antibiotics, and I will do so. But he authorized me to resume running tomorrow. So I’m enthusiastic about that. We also learned that our mortgage funded today, so Carole and I now have 15 years of mortgage payments ahead of us. For decades I’ve waited to live as a homeowner, and I’m glad that both of our names on a real estate deed. Now that the mortgage is complete, we’re going to purchase a new vehicle for Carole. Our family is very blessed. Through our work, we’ve opened opportunities that allow us to enjoy a life of stability that few would’ve predicted. I look forward to continuing progress on our five-year plan.

• Days since my release from 26 years in federal prison: 268
• Miles run today: 0
• Miles run this week: 0
• Miles run this month: 16.46
• Miles run in 2014: 983.7
• Miles I need to run to reach my 2,400-mile running goal for 2014:
• Number of miles I’m ahead of schedule or behind schedule: 142.74
• Today’s Weight: 169

Journal of today’s activities:

When I woke this morning I felt like running 20 miles. My wife insisted that I must rest. She advised that although I felt as though I had made a 100 percent recovery, I needed more rest and medication to kill the bacteria in my blood stream. Other than getting my haircut and visiting with my friend Lee, I stayed home. In the early afternoon I became drowsy, likely from the medication. I slept for four hours. I’m very fortunate to have Carole’s medical expertise and kindness as I recover. Later this week we’re scheduled to travel to Southern California and I intend to be fully recovered.

• Days since my release from 26 years in federal prison: 267
• Miles run today: 0
• Miles run this week: 0
• Miles run this month: 16.46
• Miles run in 2014: 983.7
• Miles I need to run to reach my 2,400-mile running goal for 2014:
• Number of miles I’m ahead of schedule or behind schedule: 149.31
• Today’s Weight: 168

Journal of today’s activities:

Justin and I spent the morning working from my home office to develop a brochure that he and our partner Caryn would use to open new employment opportunities for the formerly incarcerated. We continue focusing on strategies that will sustain our organization. The employment component of our foundation allows us to earn a necessary revenue stream. We have a long ways to go, but we’re making incremental progress each month by putting more formerly incarcerated individuals to work. In the late morning, Justin and I drove to Stanford where we met with students of Stanford’s NAACP. They filmed us as we gave an overview of our abbreviated Straight-A Guide Program for the formerly incarcerated. We’re working on this collaboration project with hopes that it will teach more formerly incarcerated individuals how to demonstrate their commitment to leading law-abiding, contributing lives. The harder they work to document their commitment through out Straight-A Guide program, the more successful our team can be in persuading employers to hire them. We spent the entire afternoon filming at Stanford. I didn’t get back home until after eight in the evening.

• Days since my release from 26 years in federal prison: 265
• Miles run today: 0
• Miles run this week: 0
• Miles run this month: 16.46
• Miles run in 2014: 983.7
• Miles I need to run to reach my 2,400-mile running goal for 2014:
• Number of miles I’m ahead of schedule or behind schedule: 162.45
• Today’s Weight: 168

Journal of today’s activities:

Last night Carole and I drove to the Santa Rosa airport to pick up my friend and partner Justin Paperny. We were scheduled to a meeting with some students at Stanford University. They’re leaders at the Stanford campus NAACP and they’re collaborating with us on a project to make new educational videos. These videos will become part of our Straight-A Guide Program, but they’re specifically for the formerly incarcerated. We’re working to help more formerly incarcerated individuals secure employment opportunities, and these videos will teach lessons on self-preparation. The filming got pushed back until Sunday, so Justin and I took the day to visit the juvenile hall in Sonoma County. I made a presentation on our Straight-A Guide. During the one hour that I spoke, I explained how a values-based, goal-oriented strategy could lead to new opportunities. The young men in attendance seemed to engage in the message, asking questions about how I was able to accomplish so much from within prison boundaries. I’m hopeful that they accept the challenges I presented to them and that they work harder to build better futures. Following our presentation at the juvenile hall, Justin and I spent the remainder of the day strategizing. Then we enjoyed a nice dinner with our friend Lee Nobmann.

• Days since my release from 26 years in federal prison: 264
• Miles run today: 7.46
• Miles run this week: 50.38
• Miles run this month: 16.46
• Miles run in 2014: 983.7
• Miles I need to run to reach my 2,400-mile running goal for 2014:
• Number of miles I’m ahead of schedule or behind schedule: 169.02
• Today’s Weight: 169