Merchants Of FUD
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 know existed. From the moment of my arrest through reporting to federal prison, my life was a fear-filled abyss of uncertainty. I couldn't trust the ground beneath my feet. I felt helpless, hopeless, and worthless.
The fear behind these three emotions is palpable; it carries the gravitational pull of a black hole. We can make some of our worst decisions and choices within that black hole. We grasp at anything to make the pain go away.
And within that black hole, a particular group of people thrive. They thrive because they're gifted hunters.
Who are they? Prison Consultants.
Who are they hunting? You.
What are they hunting?
Your Fear. Your Helplessness. Your Uncertainty.
They sniff out fear and insecurities, and the desires and dreams they promise are just on the other side of their solution. They do this for their financial gain.
Fact: People who prey on other people's fear and pain to sell their services don't care about people.
How could they?
How can someone who sees a gaping wound of fear, helplessness, and uncertainty and then pours bleach on it to amplify the pain possibly care about the human on the other side?
It's important to note that in any field, there are bad actors and, conversely, good actors.
This post is targeting the bad actors, and if you're a prison consultant reading this and you're pissed at me, what, in my words, strikes at a truth within you?
To the individual seeking a solution to your pain, there are alternatives that don't cost tens of thousands of dollars. In fact, they cost nothing other than your willingness to show up and do the work.
Reminder: Anyone who exploits your fears and insecurities to drive their own personal agenda and profits does not have your best interest at heart.
Craig Stanland is a Reinvention Architect & Mindset Coach, TEDx & Keynote Speaker, and the Best-Selling Author of “Blank Canvas, How I Reinvented My Life After Prison.” He specializes in working with high-achievers who’ve chased success, money, and status in their 1st half, only to find a success-sized hole in their lives. He helps them unleash their full potential, break free from autopilot, draft a new life blueprint, and connect with their Life’s Calling so they can live extraordinary lives with purpose, meaning, and fulfillment. Craig is also a member of the Ministry’s White Collar Support Group™ that meets every Monday evening on Zoom. Craig can be reached at craig@craigstanland.com.
