Reading all these business books has me fired up and ambitious again. Honestly, being in here without internet access and unable to work is tough—mentally, emotionally, and even physically. But I’m doing what I can: planning, brainstorming, and laying the groundwork for my return to society and, hopefully, to small business ownership.
One of the biggest ideas I’ve been developing is inspired by this very blog. I’m working on a business concept that would provide valuable resources to incarcerated people—especially white-collar offenders—so they can share their stories, stay connected, and even earn support while they serve their time.
I’m calling it a prison consulting firm, but it would be much more than that. We’re envisioning three or four service packages tailored to inmates like myself. There are already prison consultants out there—White Collar Advice, for example, is one I used myself—but I’ve realized many of them leave major gaps. After experiencing incarceration firsthand, I now see what’s really missing.
First up: a personalized blog/book-tracker package like the one you’re reading now. While WCA does offer journal entries, they’re all lumped together on one site (prisonprofessors.com), which makes it hard to stand out. My service would offer a dedicated blog with its own domain, logo, book list, donation page, and “About Me” section. It would feel like your space—not just another page in a shared diary.
We’d also include AI-generated social media posts and cross-promotion on our own platforms to help clients grow their audience. That exposure could bring attention—and maybe even donations or support—from people who connect with their stories. Imagine turning a prison sentence into a meaningful platform.
Thankfully (I guess), I’m currently surrounded by my target audience—other white-collar inmates—which makes this a great opportunity to do real market research. With the help of outside support, ChatGPT, the email system, a printer, a paper cutter, and an old-school 1990s copier, I put together a detailed survey outlining our proposed services. I’ve only distributed a handful so far (I ran out of copy credits—next commissary run, I’ll restock), but the feedback has been awesome. It’s helping shape a set of products that are useful, unique, and priced right for the people who need them most.
Next steps: reaching out to existing prison consulting firms to explore partnerships.
And now, your regularly scheduled prison story of the week…
So, last week someone here took a major L when it came to their “inventory.” Contraband items like cell phones, vapes, and other banned stuff constantly make their way into the prison. I never knew how it all got here—and honestly, I never asked.
But last week, I got a glimpse into the process.
Quick side note: I previously said there were no fences here. That wasn’t entirely true. Some parts of the camp do have tall fences with razor wire on top. It just seemed pointless, because during the day they open the gates to let us access a fenceless rec yard with a softball field and track. So yeah, it’s technically secure… sort of.
Anyway, late one night, some guys noticed a woman walking outside the fence. A little while later, the PA system crackled to life with this gem:
“Whoever had liquor, Black & Milds, lighters, and McDonald’s dropped off—we have it up at the guard station. Come and claim it!”
No one claimed it. 😂
Turns out, the woman had tried to throw a big bag of goodies over the fence… but it got caught in the razor wire. The bag ripped open, and the contents rained down—booze, smokes, lighters, and a whole bunch of McDonald’s. The local stray cats feasted on the spilled chicken tenders. Rough night for someone inside, but a pretty hilarious one for the rest of us.
More stories from the big house coming soon.
Stay safe—and stay legal—out there.
–Larry
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