Damon West: If We Lose Hope, We Lose All | E52

Welcome to Part 2 of my amazing episode of In Search of Excellence featuring Damon West, a man with an astonishing life story. He was a former meth addict and head of an organized crime ring, sentenced to life in prison for his crimes.Today, he is a college professor at the University of Houston, an exceptional motivational speaker, and a best-selling author. His story is one of the most incredible and fascinating stories I’ve ever heard.In this episode, we’ll hear about his prison experience, life after prison, and the importance of never giving up and losing hope! Tune in for more!(00:37) Prison experience6 weeks in prisonSports in prison is a big deal (no mixed-race teams)Basketball court (getting on all-black teams)Adversity is never as bad as you thinkYou are more capable than you think you areNo more violence(07:58) Mental health and suicidal thoughtsPrison is a very predatory environmentSuicidal thoughts in prisonChurch service and a personal talk with Miss DA secret to faithIf we lose hope, we lose allMovie mention: Shawshank RedemptionMessage to people suffering in their own mind(19:54) After prisonGetting out of prisonWorking in a law firmMeeting 8 best coaches in the US (rejected by everyone but the 8th conversation!)Presentation in Clinton, AlabamaA message from the director of football operations in AlabamaA call from John Gordon, the motivational speakerWriting a book “Coffee Bean”(27:50) The importance of preparation for successPreparation is everythingYou have to put in the work and take action3-5 elements one needs to be successful(30:44) The importance of giving backExtremely importantHelping children of incarcerated parentsGetting MA in criminal justiceProfessor at the University of Huston and teaching at Prisons in America (34:00) Fill in the blanksDamon’s biggest lesson in lifeDamon’s #1 professional goalDamon’s #1 personal goalDamon’s biggest regretDamon’s biggest dream for the futureAbout Randall Kaplan: Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, executive coach, co-founder of Akamai Technologies, founder and CEO of JUMP Investors, and host of In Search of Excellence. Through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology, he helps founders, executives, business owners, and ambitious professionals improve strategy, communication, decision-making, and execution.Coaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn | X