There are many people that made mistakes, many years ago, that CANNOT get a great job because of those mistakes. Sure they can dig ditches, mow lawns and work in construction, but in general, Corporate America… HA(!!), good luck with that.

As an example, I would offer that a boy, booted from his home at 17, broke into a church, stole food to eat and got caught. Tried as an adult, he did 2 years in prison and now couldn’t get a meaningful job that would lead to high status to save his life. Even 20 years later he is turned away. The man is brilliant, but society won’t look him in the eye and say “I’ll give you a chance”. Ruined? Done? No…. He now owns a successful business because he had no choice. The only way he could make it was to work for himself. No background checks to suddenly cause silence from prospective employers that were “excited about working with him” just before he revealed what they would find in the check. By the way, those checks that say they only go back 7 years… not true.

There are thousands of disheartened men and women that could do more with their lives if they weren’t constantly beaten up by the past. They get their heads above water and there is someone new to step on it so they go back under.

Perhaps a second example — Last week I was on a day trip with a man that is a friend and a successful business owner and I were stopped for speeding in RI. Suddenly, there were 3 cars on us and we were pulled from the car, handcuffed and both us and the car were searched. Why? Because the man had been arrested, NOT convicted of, an armed robbery when he was 19. I confirmed this with the trooper in charge. He is 43. Not a great way for me to find out this about him, but after we were let go with a warning, the man, in tears, explained that he gets this treatment all the time and further explained how he was discriminated against so much that he felt he would never have an opportunity to be anything besides what society allowed. Just before being stopped the man was talking about all the opportunity he was seeing in his future since starting his business. I could visibly see the experience we just went through was deflating his hopes.

As an ex-police officer and former MP in the Army, I was shocked to see what these people go through, so I now have dropped my judgment and encourage them to do whatever it takes, within the law, to step up and meet their full potential. Prejudice will always be there, judgment will always be there, opportunity is what you make when others won’t offer it. Thousands of great men and women are starting or continuing businesses because of their belief in themselves and their refusal to quit. Entrepreneurship requires that you never let them see you hurt, angry, frustrated, etc. Drive on and make it happen for yourself despite what others think.

Apparently this hit a nerve for me. For some reason this needed to be said.

Thanks for sharing!