From Prison to Purpose is an autobiographical account of the life of Jimmy McGill. McGill is a seventeen-time convicted felon and 37-year victim of addiction. Over the course of his life, Jimmy has gone from six trips to prison to becoming the State Recovery Manager for the state of Arkansas. He is now one of the leading voices of the recovery movement in Arkansas as well as a dedicated husband and father to his wife and two children. Jimmy's life is a testament to the change that recovery can bring in your own life.

The inspiring, instructive, and ultimately triumphant memoir of a man who used hard work and a Master Plan to turn a life sentence into a second chance. Growing up in a tough Washington, D.C., neighborhood, Chris Wilson was so afraid for his life he wouldn't leave the house without a gun. One night, defending himself, he killed a man. At eighteen, he was sentenced to life in prison with no hope of parole. But what should have been the end of his story became the beginning. Deciding to make something of his life, Chris embarked on a journey of self-improvement--reading, working out, learning languages, even starting a business. He wrote his Master Plan: a list of all he expected to accomplish or acquire. He worked his plan every day for years, and in his mid-thirties he did the impossible: he convinced a judge to reduce his sentence and became a free man. Today Chris is a successful social entrepreneur who employs returning citizens; a mentor; and a public speaker. He is the embodiment of second chances, and this is his unforgettable story.

Steve Hopper is a good kid who loves football; and, as he grows up, so does his passion for the sport. High school presents an opportunity for him to fulfill a lifelong dream and play football at the college level. But Hopper shatters this dream in one split second when he finds himself in a fight at a party gone wrong. One swing sends another teen into a coma-and sends Hopper to prison for a decade. With nothing but time on his hands, he begins to ask life's big question: "What is my life's purpose?" About that time, God begins to intervene and reveal a new and deeper meaning to his existence-as well as a destiny. The emptiness that had been growing inside him now subsides and even begins to fill up with hope, love, and purpose. By reading Hopper's personal and challenging story, and following his example, others can begin their own journey of discovery. Experience his tears and triumphs, failures and successes, and apply those experiences to your own life as God reveals the answers to your life's greatest questions.

Purpose. It's a simple word, but why can it seem so impossible to find? In this book, I will share my journey to finding my purpose with you. I'll show you how I went from a life filled with low self-esteem, obesity, failed relationships, drug addiction, and alcoholism-all things that eventually led me to an attempted suicide and ultimately prison-to finding my purpose and passion in life. The key? Finding deliverance in Jesus. Completely submitting my life to Christ enabled me to be blessed beyond belief, from finding joy and peace with my four children and two amazing granddaughters to sharing my story with others.Today, I'm living my best life and want to share my experience, strength and hope for others who think they have no purpose. I hope you will follow me on this journey and it will help you to discover your own purpose. Together, let's discover it, live it and share it with passion!

This Book Outlines.........●The creative power of your thoughts and words.●The power of the mind and how it works.●The programming of the mind and its adverse effects.●How to get your mind out of prison and put it on a purposeful path.●How to be a slave to a winning mentality thereby creating the destiny you want. etc. The biggest and the most dangerous form of prison is not those in physical prison but a mind that is in prison. Some people are in a physical prison, but their minds are not in prison and some have freedom, but their minds are in prison. That is why a prisoner can be released from prison and become successful but the one who has never been to prison will still be struggling. The power of the mind has been underestimated for far too long. Many don't work on their mind. The mind is like a muscle, the more you work on it, the tougher it becomes to handle difficult and challenging situations that can cause you to quit in pursuit of life and your vision. The reason many succumb to challenges in life is that they haven't trained their mind to handle the battles they encounter. Success and failure start in the mind. You are already defeated or successful in your mind before you take a step. This is the reason why some people can have all the resources needed in pursuit of their vision but still fail because their mind is not set to succeed. That is, they doubt their abilities and that becomes established in real life that impacts their success. Others also can have scarce resources but because of their winning mentality, they can use it to build their vision to a successful venture. This means that lack of success is not a means to success likewise an abundance of resources. Therefore, your mindset is very critical to your success in life irrespective of the resources at your disposal. This book teaches you how to work on your mind and to use your mind to build a strong foundation for a successful venture. I want to reiterate the fact that everyone one of us are programmed in one way or the other. The worse form of programming is the programming of the mind. That is when the mind is designed to work on autopilot where a person acts consciously or unconsciously especially on a negative thought. A typical example is a negative affirmation of a phrase like 'it's not easy' consciously or unconsciously. When your thoughts become your words, it transitions to the level when your actions lead to a habitual lifestyle that can eventually lead to your character, which will define your destiny. This is why this book is designed to work on your mind to move you from the prison of the mind to a purposeful life where you positively impact your life, community and the world at large. Your destiny is in your own hands depending on what mindset you develop. Develop a mindset that drives a winning mentality and success in the pursuit of your life and vision will be a lifestyle.Remember, it's possible if only you believe.

Andre Norman's early life put him on a path to prison. Raised in poverty and surrounded by dysfunction, Andre gravitated to his neighborhood gang. His choices there led to time in juvenile detention, and eventually a maximum-security prison, with sentences totaling over 100 years. During that time, Andre became one of the most dangerous gang leaders in the Massachusetts prison system. Then came the epiphany. Just before Andre was to be crowned "King of the Prison," he had a realization--that he was about to become the "King of Nowhere." He decided that there had to be a way out. He chose to seek success through education, setting his sights on what others said was impossible--attending Harvard University. Now, as the Ambassador of Hope, Andre leverages his unique experiences to deliver a message of inclusivity and positive change. Whether you work in the boardroom or the mail room, if you need that "second voice" of inspiration to be the change you seek, Andre will help you discover and achieve your purpose in life.

An essential resource for former convicts and their families post-incarceration. The United States has the largest criminal justice system in the world, with currently over 7 million adults and juveniles in jail, prison, or community custody. Because they spend enough time in prison to disrupt their connections to their families and their communities, they are not prepared for the difficult and often life-threatening process of reentry. As a result, the percentage of these people who return to a life of crime and additional prison time escalates each year. Beyond Bars is the most current, practical, and comprehensive guide for ex-convicts and their families about managing a successful reentry into the community and includes: • Tips on how to prepare for release while still in prison • Ways to deal with family members, especially spouses and children • Finding a job • Money issues such as budgets, bank accounts, taxes, and debt • Avoiding drugs and other illicit activities • Free resources to rely on for support

Going to prison was the most horrible and traumatizing experience of my life, however, it was also one of the most significant things that ever happened to me. Prison scared me straight, so to speak. While in prison I came to recognize what I am not, and I was able to create an internal space where I found the freedom to explore and reconnect with who I am. While in prison I learned to identify my thinking and behavior errors, and how not to repeat those same errors as I moved forward. As a (wo)man thinks, so is (s)he. My personal experience has taught me that those things I think about most often are the things I will do most often. Years before I went to prison my thinking was very limited and full of false information and ideas about the world around me. False information and ideas mixed with hard drugs and liquor most often end with poor results. How I used to think about things and solve problems before going to prison is what led me to prison. I think I experienced a growth process from the inside out while in prison, and I hope to share a part of my journey with you through this journal. I was released from prison on December 26, 1997.

"4 simple suggestions in 4 short chapters that will help formerly incarcerated African-American men re-enter society"--Cover.

At the age of 23 I was sentenced to 7 years in prison for a crime I didn't commit. It was in my prison cell, for the first time in my life, I faced my demons and challenges head on. I was able to completely transform my entire life behind bars. My attitude, my mentality, and my daily routines were all adjusted and allowed me to create new outcomes and results within my life. My personal transformation and the steps I took while incarcerated is what I wish to share with anyone who feels lost or hopeless in their life right now. These life changing steps saved my life and freed me from addiction, negative thinking and living life carelessly. I want you to know that no matter what you go through deep within you is the capacity to persevere and create a life you love and cherish. For me it was life or death! I had to make drastic changes if I were able to live the life I truly wanted. However, it wasn't one big change that took place over night. I spent every day, over 2,000 days , in prison cultivating the person I wanted to be. I created a process that allowed me to go from a drug addict with nothing to a husband & father, life coach, author, motivational speaker and ironman in less than 3 years. If I did this from a prison cell,with nothing, I promise you can take control of your life too! You deserve it and you are far more capable than you realize!I am here to support you 100%