Craig Stanland

We like to put things, especially people, in boxes. We like to slap a label on that box and “know” what that person is. Notice I said what, not who. “What” is easy “Who” involves a deeper level of understanding most people aren’t willing to explore. They’re either afraid to confront their own humanity or…

“Man, I’ve never seen anyone present with such raw, naked vulnerability.” It’s only thirty seconds after delivering a talk in downtown Brooklyn, and I’m a little caught off guard and humbled. I just laid bare my past: prison, loss, suicide ideation, and the path I took back to myself. I smile as he continues, “You…

“Out of massive suffering emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” – Khalil Gibran When I was arrested, my life was over. When I pleaded guilty, my life was over. When I was barred from my career, my life was over. When the gavel came down, punctuating my prison sentence,…

Are you living in the truth? Or are you living in the story? This came up for a client recently, threatening to stop them from doing something that brought them joy and empowerment. Here’s what I’m talking about and why it matters. There are two ways this shows up in our lives: 1. Something negative…

“What are holidays like in prison?” It’s a big and important question because so many fears course through our minds as we walk this path, and this is one of them. So much so, I dedicated a chapter to it in “Blank Canvas, How I Reinvented My Life After Prison.” An important aspect of a…

I wanted it to be done. I don’t know what done actually meant, I just knew I wanted it, and I wanted it more than I wanted anything. I’m referring to how I felt after I was arrested by the FBI. I wanted the situation to be over, but I couldn’t see the other side; I…

I could target this post to a broad audience of anyone looking to invest in any program to improve their lives, but I’m deliberately focusing on a particular niche. For anyone who doesn’t know, I committed fraud against a tech giant and went to prison. The experience opened me up to a world I didn’t…