The Great Rip-Off of 2008

Gordon Graham writes:

"The Great Rip-Off, December 24, 2008


I spent a large portion of my early life in and out of prisons. My crimes were mostly property crimes and parole violations, with an occasion escape thrown in. Doesn’t say much for my skills as a thief!

The past few months has focused our attention on a rip-off that should embarrass the most sophisticated of thieves in our prison system. It seems that $700 billion has just disappeared into thin air. The billions were meant to bailout a group of Wall Street swindlers who had ripped off the tax payers and brought the U.S. economy to its knees. That’s what I call taking crime to a whole new level.

My sympathy goes out to the thousands who fill our prisons. You could add up the total amount stolen by inmates in all state prisons and not reach the billions lost in the past few months by the largest corporations on Wall Street. Crime doesn’t pay unless you know how the real crooks play the game.

I’ve spent nearly forty years as an honest, tax paying citizen, working to assist men and women caught up in the criminal justice system. It offends every principle of decency to witness the greed and corruption of people who have so much, while trying to convince people who have so little that honesty pays.

The recent months and years have challenged my belief in people in power. We need change in a big way. Leadership sets the example. My hope is that Obama and his team can set that example which will resonate on Wall Street, Main Street and in cell blocks across this country."

written by
Gordon Graham

Gordon Graham: Perception is reality to the perceiver

From Gordon Graham:

"Perception is reality to the perceiver.  The years of seeing GM and the US auto manufacturers as inferior to foreign models is a thing of the past, but in many cases the perception still lingers.

The recent financial crisis reflects a view of the Big Three that is far from reality at the plant level.  It's amazing to me how quick we are to fix the blame, but ignore the problem.  General Motors and the U.A.W. build some of the best vehicles on the road despite operating on a playing field that puts them at a tremendous disadvantage, such as legacy costs that guarantee a decent life for retirees, health care, and livable wages.

Both the UAW and GM management have made some mistakes, but both have made great strides in improving how they do business as well.  The US economy can ill afford to lose more of it's industrial base.  I have been involved with the GM/UAW plants for the past 20 plus years, and during that time the improvements in product quality and production costs has been significant.

The men and women working in the GM plants can compete with any auto manufacturer in the world.  The mismanagement and greed of financial institutions has created this crisis.  

Let's keep the focus where it belongs, on Wall Street, not on hard working men and women who are the backbone of our society.  The union and management at GM are working together to keep jobs in our communities; we face some very challenging times, and if the boat goes down we are all in it together."  Gordon Graham

Gordy Graham : STAYING FOCUSED

From Gordon Graham:

The first step to change is awareness.  This awareness is often created by a significant emotional event, and is generally negative.  We are reactive rather than pro-active.  Many of our dreams and goals get stranded on that little island called "someday I'll..."  Today is the first day of the rest of your life.  Make this the start of something that brings joy to yourself and others.

After serving 17 years in maximum security prisons, I participated in a seminar on cognitive psychology, and it changed the direction of my life.  The knowledge and insight I gained in that three day seminar created a significant emotional event, and I've been sharing that information with inmates in prisons from California to New York, companies, communities, agencies, and individuals for the past 30 plus years.  Awareness is the first step to change - you don't know what to don't know.

Staying focused in a rapidly changing world has become more and more challenging.  Just when you think you have life on track, the game changes.  Working with individuals and organizations across the US and Canada, and helping them cope with change and manage change has been my mission for over 30 years.

More background on Gordy Graham

He doesn't just teach a seminar on change, he lives the process.  From convict leader to a recognized authority on change, Gordon Graham is a demonstration that change is possible.  Inmates from Folsom Prison in California to Sing Sing in New York have benefited from his programs on how to make significant lasting changes.  CEOs, union leaders, communities, and young people attest to his message that changes lives.

Author, lecturer, and program developer, his story is a transformation that offers hope to people from all walks of life.  From convict leader to nationally recognized authority on change is a "road less traveled."  For thirty-five years inmates, managers, union leaders, parents, teachers, and young people have been touched by his ability to demonstrate that change is possible.

Christmas Thoughts by Gordy Graham

From Gordon Graham:

"It's near the end of a challenging year.  2008 would be a do-over for me if that option existed.  However, when you consider that 2009 begins a new day for this country, it brightens the outlook considerably.  

Christmas is always a time that I really enjoy.  We fill my car with toys for the grandkids (who still like toys better than cash) and brave the mountain passes on our Santa run.  Grandkids, family and friends...it don't get no better than that!!

I want to express my gratitude for your friendship and wish you and yours a great holiday season.  We need to put things on hold for a bit and recognize how blessed we are for all that we have.

Peace."

Gordon Graham

Really who is this guy named Gordon Graham?

From cell blocks to boardrooms, it’s been a ride. Thirty-eight years in and out of prisons. Escapes, riots, hunger strikes, months on bread and water, “the life of a good convict.”

The past thirty-eight years as an author, lecturer, businessman, and respected change agent. Cognitive skills programs in prisons across the U.S. and Canada, a sought after speaker in the area of labor/management relations, with a mission to keep jobs in our communities and to create opportunities for men and women locked up in prisons across the country.

Who is Gordon Graham?

His life is the stuff of fiction. A story of change that challenges all stereotypes. An ex-convict, seventeen years in maximum security prisons, escapes, riots, a year on bread and water, destined to die in prison…

Today a respected change agent, working with corporations, unions, prison wardens, men and women in prison, at risk youth and communities across the United States and Canada. A life transformed thirty-eight years ago by a chance encounter with an educator in cognitive psychology.

Since that time he has challenged all pre-conceptions of what can happen when you take control of your own life. His is a story of change that has impacted thousands over the past thirty-eight years. In a world in dire need of faith in ourselves to change direction, this is a story of not only hope and belief but of accomplishment.

Catching the Olympic Spirit

For the past several days, like many others around the world, I’ve been totally caught up in the 2008 Summer Olympics. Watching the awe-inspiring display of talent is an amazing demonstration of the potential that lies within the human spirit. The pride and commitment to excellence demonstrated by athletes from every country has been inspiring to me. As an American it is uplifting to see our athletes demonstrate a picture of what America truly stands for at our best. It’s a pleasure to be represented by Kobe, Labron and the rest of the Redeem Team, as well as all of the American swimmers, gymnasts, beach volley ball players and all others who represent the pride of who we are as a people. This could be said of all the athletes from around the world as well.

What has been even more meaningful to me is the respect and admiration shown by these great athletes, from every corner of the globe, for one another. Regardless of race, color, creed, gender, age, language or country, there has been an overwhelming sense of the recognition of their oneness. The competition is fierce and the pride in the country being represented is apparent in each competitor. However, that doesn’t negate the respect and acknowledgement of what each individual brings to these games. For this moment in time, we have set politics and our differences aside. The athletes from all over the world have set an example of how much more alike than different we are. It would be a great improvement in the world if we all carried this attitude beyond the athletes and the Olympic games.

I recently returned from Nashville, Tennessee, where I was presenting to a group of union and management representatives. They are faced with competing in a global economy, which requires a significant change in how we interact and engage with our work force. The pride and commitment to being all that we can be, demonstrated during the Olympics, is an example of what is possible. If we could capture a small part of that in our organizations and our work force, we would be hard to beat.

We live in challenging times. These Olympic athletes are a shining example of how to compete with dignity and respect. It’s encouraging to get beyond politics and recognize how great we are, and can be, as a people. The preparation, the training, the respect, the teamwork and the pride in representing your sport and your country make these Olympics something special. If we would all commit to carrying a bit of this spirit back into our lives, our homes, our jobs and our communities, it would make a huge difference for the betterment of our world.

Be at peace. Gordy

Balance

The challenges we face in today’s fast-paced world increase the importance of balance in our lives. Because the mind gets overwhelmed with financial needs, it’s easy to neglect other aspects that are of equal importance, like family, personal health and the parts of our lives that are social, recreational, educational and spiritual. These essential parts of a balanced lifestyle are often put on the back burner to be dealt with later.

My wife, Eve, was a counselor in another life and is quite good at reminding me of the importance of family. We are blessed with five children and fourteen grandchildren between us. Eve is always on top of birthdays and other special family occasions and she keeps me aware of these dates and times. A card or a phone call can make someone’s day. I love my family and yet I can still forget the importance of letting them know how important they are to me, especially on their special occasions. She also encourages social and entertainment activities, without which I tend to get totally consumed with my mission in life and neglect making time for the two of us.

Health becomes more important as the years go by, and while I enjoy exercise, I need to schedule time in my day for it. Walking has replaced running, and that and a few light weights is now my routine. I have a tendency to procrastinate when I’m “on the road.” It’s the starting that’s most difficult! I’m an avid reader and I enjoy gaining new ideas on the concepts of change and the psychology of life. I try to participate in a seminar on these subjects every year in order to keep my own “saw” sharpened. My desire is to stay connected to a Higher Power. My life always works better when I make this a priority. This part of my life is very personal to me, and I respect other people’s right to their own path as well. It’s great to do what I do!

I leave for Nashville, Tennessee tomorrow on a 5:40 a.m. flight through Denver. The airports and planes are just the details. I goal-set to stay focused on making an excellent presentation to the people attending the conference and meeting new friends. It’s best to stay end-result oriented because the details (like airport delays, etc.) can be very boring.

Have a great week! Gordy

Healthy Culture

For the past thirty years, I've recognized that the culture of an organization has a major impact on performance. It also has an impact on an individuals' mental health. At Gordon Graham and Company, we've encountered some very toxic cultures over the years as well as some that create an engaged workforce. Obviously, culture is driven by leadership. When leadership recognizes, acknowledges and rewards individuals fairly, creates an environment that encourages personal growth and views employees as whole human beings, not just as numbers, it goes a long way toward establishing a healthy culture.

When times get challenging these things are tough to sustain. Honesty and open communication can build the kind of trust that is the foundation of a constructive culture. In hindsight, I recognize how the culture of a prison can alter how an individual thinks. It can change your outlook on life. My first experience as an inmate had a tremendous impact on the next twenty years of my life. I went in to prison thinking like a scared young man and the induction into the prison culture gradually changed my thought patterns. I came out six years later thinking like a convict. It's the same idea as going in with a sprained ankle and coming out with a broken leg.

Cultures can change. Even in a prison, a constructive culture is a necessity for survival in a global economy. It will also have to become a reality in prisons if we are ever going to change the end product that returns to our communities.

A Positive Conspiracy

In the 1980’s there was a spiritual revolution that took place in our society. Marilyn Ferguson wrote a book called The Aquarian Conspiracy, and her premise was that people on a spiritual quest recognize one another when they meet. I believe there are positive conspirators as well, and that when they meet they connect in the same way.

I’m writing a book entitled, A Positive Conspiracy, outlining some of the positive conspirators in my own life’s journey who have opened doors and given me entry into areas that would generally be closed to people with my background. These co-conspirators are CEO’s and union leaders; wardens and convicts; women and men; young and old; from various races and skin colors. They all seem to have one common interest, and that is to make the world that we all inhabit a better place.

These conspirators’ motivation seems to come from a need to give their lives meaning, that need we all share that is filled by giving rather than from receiving. What I’ve discovered in my own life’s journey is that the more you give, the more you receive. Some don’t have the resources to give material gifts, but we can all share our unique talents, friendship and our love.

Just reaching out in some way to another human being can be a great gift. When I visit a prison and have the opportunity to share my knowledge and experience with men and women who are locked away from society, my cup is filled.

There’s a great saying that goes, “if you cut an apple in half, anyone can count the seeds in an apple; but no one can count the apples in a seed.” You never know when your words of encouragement, or an unexpected, “I love you,” will make someone’s day. What co-conspirators have discovered is that the more you give, the happier you are. That is to say, when our spirit of intent is to enrich another rather than being driven by ego, the need for self-glorification or financial gain we feel more fulfilled. If there is a secret to life it is hidden in this concept.

All of us need to generate income since we live in a world that requires money to sustain our own and our families’ welfare. However, money should be a by-product of good work and/or good service rather than just trading time for money. In psychologist Eric Erickson’s eight developmental stages, the seventh stage is generativity, or the giving without selfish motivation. It seems that many reach this point early in life, and yet some never seem to gain this stage of development. The only one who truly knows why we do what we do is the person in the mirror.

I’ll be back next week. Be at peace.

Gordy Graham

My First Attempt at Blogging

Hey! This is my first attempt to enter the world of blogs. This is a voice that has concern for men and women, young or old, who are challenged by changes in our society. I speak from the vantage point of a unique background and perspective on life. My first thirty-eight years were spent living on the streets and as a "consumer of correctional services." I was a five-time loser, in and out of maximum security prisons. I've been shot, escaped from prisons, been involved in riots and hunger strikes, and spent 365 consecutive days on bread and water, confined to "The Hole." I was destined to either die in the joint or lose my life in the commission of a crime.

Then, thirty-eight years ago, something happened in my life that opened my awareness and changed the direction of my life. By chance, I participated in a seminar that was centered on cognitive psychology. I made a major decision at that time to build the balance of my life on honesty. I've never tried to be something I'm not. My life is an open book. In fact, I've written two books. The first is an autobiography entitled, The One-Eyed Man is King and the second, Change is an Inside Job. Both are available on my website at http://www.ggcostore.com/.

Everyone I work with from CEOs to union leaders and from wardens to inmates knows my background. I have been blessed with many friends who have opened doors and given me opportunities that are rare for people with my past history. I also know that there is a power greater than myself working through me when I am centered within.

I have spent the second part of my life sharing the awareness I've gained and teaching the tools for change with men and women in prisons across the United States and Canada. I've taught people in industrial plants, communities and organizations large and small, including many in union-management roles and individuals across the spectrum of life.

It's been a ride and I still have a lot of gas left in the tank! Corrections is my first passion. We have created a system that costs the tax payers billions of dollars each year with no real impact on public safety. In many cases, it would be much better to spend $40,000 on creating jobs and training programs that could create a productive, contributing member of society than to keep one person in prison for one year. There will always be a need for prisons. There are people who are a threat to public safety, but they are only one segment of the prison population. In many instances, people go in with a sprained ankle and come out with a broken leg. The first step to change is awareness, followed by a recognition that "change is an inside job."

I'll be back next week. You can visit our website at http://www.ggco.com/ or email Cat at cathyc@ggco.com or Kate at kolney@ggco.com.

Be at peace,

Gordy Graham