Own It: Starting a Business after Prison

Leslie Walton is the Entrepreneur Success Manager at Determination, Incorporated & the Founder of A Cents of Change where she empowers women to build a better relationship with their money. Leslie is a lifelong entrepreneur who loves helping other people reach their own definition of success. From her wide ranging life experiences, including getting her MBA & starting a catering business with food stamps, Leslie has identified the patterns of successful entrepreneurs that will help you no matter your starting point. 

Today on the show you will learn how to make goal setting practical and enjoyable, why self discipline means freedom and not punishment, how to change your relationship with money from reactive to proactive, and whether or not you should talk about your criminal history at networking events. 

Learn more about A Cents of Change and download Leslie’s free ebook “Mindful Spending: Aligning Your Financial Decisions with Your Values and Goals” at her website. 

Own It is brought to you by Determination, Incorporated, a nonprofit in Kansas City, MO that helps formerly incarcerated people start and grow businesses. To learn more about our organization, and to join our virtual Be the Boss Business Support group community for formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs, visit our website at www.unlockESHIP.org.

Ricky Kidd spent 23 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. He lost his appeal 11 times before finally winning and regaining his freedom. During that time, he focused on getting “better, not bitter,” and learned how to not just survive, but to thrive in terrible circumstances. Today on the show, Ricky shares how he turned his resilient spirit into the five keys of resiliency that anyone can use to make it through difficult times: get anchored, get moving, find your energy, access perspective, and live selflessly. 

These days, Ricky is an author, board member, and a national public speaker advocating for wrongfully convicted people across the U.S.. He trains prosecutors on how to avoid wrongful convictions as a criminal justice consultant and delivers resilience trainings for businesses and organizations. Learn more at www.resiliencemode.com.

Own It is brought to you by Determination, Incorporated, a nonprofit in Kansas City, MO that helps formerly incarcerated people start and grow businesses. To learn more about our organization, and to join our virtual Be the Boss Business Support group community for formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs, visit our website at www.unlockESHIP.org.

When Diamond Fuse got a felony at age 19, she wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to make anything of her life. That is, until she learned how to take charge of her own destiny through the power of vision boards, positive affirmations, and manifestation. When she made her first vision board in 2012, she didn’t have enough money to fill up her gas tank. By 2016, Diamond owned her own home, had a college degree, and completed everything on her vision board.

“I am abundant,” is one of Diamond’s go-to positive affirmations. In this episode, you’ll learn how to cultivate abundance in your own life by achieving goals through action planning and nurturing a positive mindset. 

Diamond is the owner of Bizzy Babies, Kansas City’s #1 soft playground and bounce house rental company. Learn more at www.bizzybabies.com. 

Own It is brought to you by Determination, Incorporated, a nonprofit in Kansas City, MO that helps formerly incarcerated people start and grow businesses. To learn more about our organization, and to join our virtual Be the Boss Business Support group community for formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs, visit our website at www.unlockESHIP.org.

When Sarah Muntean started her first business All American Construction Contractors in 2013, she had recently been released from prison, she was homeless, and not many people in her life believed she could succeed. Through pure grit, and by staying humble and learning on her feet, Sarah grew her business year over year to hundreds of thousands in revenue and was able to hire many people in transition and recovery. 

Today on the show, Sarah shares her advice for starting a successful business after prison. While she had to learn many lessons the hard way, you can avoid her missteps and build a strong foundation for your business by following her hard earned advice.  

Connect with Sarah Muntean on LinkedIN. 

Own It is brought to you by Determination, Incorporated, a nonprofit in Kansas City, MO that helps formerly incarcerated people start and grow businesses. To learn more about our organization, and to join our virtual Be the Boss Business Support group community for formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs, visit our website at www.unlockESHIP.org.

"I've turned my pain into purpose." That's Latahra Smith, owner of Trinity First Aide & CPR Services and Executive Director of the KC Freedom Project. After being released from prison, Latahra had to overcome a lot of obstacles to heal relationships with her family, to reset her life with a renewed mindset, and to start her nonprofit and business. She has lost family members tragically and been mistreated by the criminal justice system, but she has persevered by staying true to her purpose of helping others and by trusting in God. Today's conversation is humbling, and Latahra will inspire you to make the most of your blessings and your pain.     

Learn more about the KC Freedom Project on Facebook. 

On his podcast “Escaping the Odds,” Aaron Smith interviews second chance entrepreneurs who have started successful businesses after returning home from incarceration: https://anchor.fm/aaronesmith

Aaron conceived of the show while he was spending nine years in prison for drug crimes. He was so impressed by the caliber of men that supported him through his journey, that he knew when he got home that he needed to share their stories with the world in hopes of helping others as they return home from prison. 

Follow Aaron and Escaping the odds on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/escapingtheodds/) & Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/escapingtheoddspodcast/) 

Ricky Kidd is the founder of I am Resiliency, a speaker, an entrepreneur, and a recent exoneree in the state of Missouri. Ricky served 23 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Today he shares his story, and how he used that time to grow as a man, a leader, and an entrepreneur. 

Learn more about Ricky's case and the Midwest Innocence Project: https://themip.org/clients/ricky-kidd/

Lamont Carey is an author and entrepreneur from D.C. who has been featured on HBO's Def Jam Poetry and the tv show The Wire. His journey to successful business owner started after prison when he realized that in order to dream big, he needed to do right by others and make his hustle legit. 

Keep up with Lamont: https://www.lacareyenterprises.com/

Jabari Muhammad and his wife own FOI ETC. They sell fragrances, oils, and incense at stores and online, and are the creators of the Bari Butter. Jabari honed his entrepreneurial skills on the streets in KCMO, and became the upstanding business man he is today in prison. 

Visit FOI ETC: http://www.foietc.com/

Welcome to Own It: Starting a Business After Prison, a podcast where we interview second chance entrepreneurs about what it really takes to start a business after prison. For the next season of the show, we will share the firsthand experiences of formerly incarcerated people who have started successful businesses. These episodes are called "Drafts," and will be rough and full of inspiration and education. Enjoy!

Learn more: www.determinationincorporated.com