From Burning Blocks to Building Blocks

I should have been part of a statistic. The one who had all the odds against him and for many, my destiny was already written. It was assumed that due to the lifestyle that I led for many years and carrying the stamp of 'criminal' in my past, all the possibilities of becoming someone of influence, good or a successful person were very unlikely. But one day I made the decision to give myself the opportunity. When you start making the right moves in your life, unexpected opportunities come and follow you. It is what makes life worth living. The same man who one day was a delinquent and criminal, who was imprisoned in jail without chances, is the one who today writes the book you have in your hands. At thirty-eight years old I was released with no skills, few legitimate connections, no plan, and looking from the outside, it seemed like little hope. But I did not become a statistic. I never went back to jail again. Despite everything that was against me: my past, my record, all the terrible things I've done and the ones that were done to me, I overcame them all. I stayed out of prison. Today I am a successful businessman, a husband, a father, and a person who is dedicated to helping those who, like me, are singled out and marginalized by society. This is not a fairy tale; it is a true story of how I was able to overcome all barriers and break all the statistics that I had against me. I gave myself the opportunity, now it's your turn.