Building Tomorrows

I met a new client yesterday. He has an interesting background which I suppose most people would find curious. But I think what is more interesting is what he wants to do with the rest of his life. Because of his background. Maybe for himself he will attempt to fulfill a dream, but the dream is all about making better outcomes a reality for a whole lot of people he doesn't know.

He knows what they have been through, so in that manner he does know them. But personally? No; he doesn't know them.

OK, I’ll back up.

Sam (an alias for this blog posting) got into trouble when he was a teenager. He experimented with drugs, marijuana mostly, but he went too far trying other drugs, and then got involved with selling/trafficking weed to earn money to pay for his habits. He was caught and churned through the criminal justice system. He did prison time. That’s not all of the consequences, however.

With a criminal record Sam is not a 'normal' citizen. It is hard for him to get a job. Harder to keep the job if the employer learns of his background. College studies are not supported by financial aid programs, either. He has to do it on his own, or attend low cost community colleges. He’s done that. Has the equivalent of an Associates Degree. Plus he has studied several courses to equip him with skills that increase his marketability for low paying jobs.

He has learned some trades and asked for help from unions. Those too are not always fruitful pursuits if employers and the union hall learns of his past transgressions. So he is stuck. Or is he?

Now 24 years old, Sam lives with his parents, attends church faithfully, and has found a community of supporters at the church. With a curious and bright mind, Sam has invented some interesting things that he could manufacture and start a business of his own. That would allow him to make a living better than the marginal work he has found to date. So Sam explored ways to begin a business of his own. He wants to bring his inventions to market. First he needs to patent them, expand their usefulness through unique designs and applications. So designs are being refined, manufacturing methods are under study, and patent protections are being pursued.

If successful, Sam will need employees to make the products, manage the operations of the business, and sell and distribute the products. He hopes this enterprise will make a difference in the lives of many.

A special target group he has in mind are low income youth whose lives have been shackled by criminal backgrounds like his own. He wants to rescue young men and women caught in the poverty of crime and rehabilitate them.  That’s the objective that moves him now. It is the energy that empowers his efforts to bring his invention to market.

I said Sam had found a spiritual home in a local church. It is that community which has pledged to help him with expertise, product development, design and engineering talent. From this church also comes patent attorney support. and encouragement to pursue a dream to help others in need.

I’m involved through SCORE. He has asked for help and mentoring from SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives), a volunteer subsidiary organization of the Federal Small Business Administration. SCORE helps small businesses form as well as assisting existing small businesses move to a higher plane of operation. In this way SCORE supports job creation and healthy business formations for the good of the economy and its people.

Sam reached out and asked for help. So far three mentors are assisting: one in patent law, another in manufacturing engineering, and yet another in business planning, non-profit agency operations and strategic planning. Where this small band of helpers and Sam go in the future is yet an open question.

But possibility exists that good things will happen that will touch the lives of many in a good and productive way.

The attempt to accomplish the dream is a good thing even if success does not come Sam’s way. Done for the right reasons and outcomes, I bet Sam succeeds. All I needed to believe was to see the intent in his eyes! He believes and will work hard to make the dream come alive.

That makes me a believer, too. Good things are happening in our nation. Believe it.

April 23, 2015