good afternoon so uh I was pretty nervous going in after lunch
nervous going in after lunch
nervous going in after lunch everyone’s gonna be asleep but after
everyone’s gonna be asleep but after
everyone’s gonna be asleep but after some of that music after Dewan dropping
some of that music after Dewan dropping
some of that music after Dewan dropping the mic now I know you’re gonna be
the mic now I know you’re gonna be
the mic now I know you’re gonna be asleep from me I know it I know it I
asleep from me I know it I know it I
asleep from me I know it I know it I know it it’s really an honor to be
know it it’s really an honor to be
know it it’s really an honor to be speaking with you I’m not gonna say it’s
speaking with you I’m not gonna say it’s
speaking with you I’m not gonna say it’s nice to be here cuz that’s kind of weird
nice to be here cuz that’s kind of weird
nice to be here cuz that’s kind of weird right guys right it’s not nice to be
right guys right it’s not nice to be
right guys right it’s not nice to be here am i right yeah
here am i right yeah
here am i right yeah and I’ve been there so I’m gonna share
and I’ve been there so I’m gonna share
and I’ve been there so I’m gonna share with you a little bit of my personal
with you a little bit of my personal
with you a little bit of my personal journey journey and story and I’m also
journey journey and story and I’m also
journey journey and story and I’m also then going to share with with our guests
then going to share with with our guests
then going to share with with our guests a little bit about the talent that is
a little bit about the talent that is
a little bit about the talent that is sitting over here in these rows you see
sitting over here in these rows you see
sitting over here in these rows you see I had a privilege I dedication I had a
I had a privilege I dedication I had a
I had a privilege I dedication I had a family that loved me the first person I
family that loved me the first person I
family that loved me the first person I met from prison was when I was walking
met from prison was when I was walking
met from prison was when I was walking into prison I had no experience this is
into prison I had no experience this is
into prison I had no experience this is a world I knew nothing about so I was
a world I knew nothing about so I was
a world I knew nothing about so I was nervous I was scared I didn’t know what
nervous I was scared I didn’t know what
nervous I was scared I didn’t know what to expect other than what they share
to expect other than what they share
to expect other than what they share with you on TV right so I was ready no
with you on TV right so I was ready no
with you on TV right so I was ready no one’s gonna mess with me people were
one’s gonna mess with me people were
one’s gonna mess with me people were scared of me because that was crazy
but in reality what happened when I
but in reality what happened when I walked through that razor wire and I met
walked through that razor wire and I met
walked through that razor wire and I met people who were kind compassionate did
people who were kind compassionate did
people who were kind compassionate did not want to take advantage just wanted
not want to take advantage just wanted
not want to take advantage just wanted to help with this transition because
to help with this transition because
to help with this transition because clearly my world had just blown up they
clearly my world had just blown up they
clearly my world had just blown up they were doctors they were attorneys they
were doctors they were attorneys they
were doctors they were attorneys they were drug dealers who were way smarter
were drug dealers who were way smarter
were drug dealers who were way smarter than those doctors and those attorneys
than those doctors and those attorneys
than those doctors and those attorneys and they had gifts and they had these
and they had gifts and they had these
and they had gifts and they had these talents and you see the world I came
talents and you see the world I came
talents and you see the world I came from was about leveraging gifts and
from was about leveraging gifts and
from was about leveraging gifts and talents for profit I was from the
talents for profit I was from the
talents for profit I was from the venture capital community I was from the
venture capital community I was from the
venture capital community I was from the angel capital community we started
angel capital community we started
angel capital community we started businesses and I thought that businesses
businesses and I thought that businesses
businesses and I thought that businesses like those were exclusively
like those were exclusively
like those were exclusively those from the Ivy League or for those
those from the Ivy League or for those
those from the Ivy League or for those from privilege I knew after my time that
from privilege I knew after my time that
from privilege I knew after my time that was a lie
was a lie
was a lie so when upon my release I’m gonna share
so when upon my release I’m gonna share
so when upon my release I’m gonna share with you a personal journey because it
with you a personal journey because it
with you a personal journey because it did not just go with the gates opened
did not just go with the gates opened
did not just go with the gates opened and it was I’m free give me your money
and it was I’m free give me your money
and it was I’m free give me your money didn’t happen that way
didn’t happen that way
didn’t happen that way what happened was I had to wrestle with
what happened was I had to wrestle with
what happened was I had to wrestle with all of the damage that I had caused from
all of the damage that I had caused from
all of the damage that I had caused from my sin from my transgressions you see I
my sin from my transgressions you see I
my sin from my transgressions you see I was bankrupt every bridge that I had
was bankrupt every bridge that I had
was bankrupt every bridge that I had built had been burned by my crime of
built had been burned by my crime of
built had been burned by my crime of theft I had lost my family specifically
theft I had lost my family specifically
theft I had lost my family specifically my marriage my two young daughters they
my marriage my two young daughters they
my marriage my two young daughters they were stripped from me and I was alone
were stripped from me and I was alone
were stripped from me and I was alone and so my time in prison I had my mom
and so my time in prison I had my mom
and so my time in prison I had my mom who came as faithfully as she could just
who came as faithfully as she could just
who came as faithfully as she could just to sit with me half the time I couldn’t
to sit with me half the time I couldn’t
to sit with me half the time I couldn’t even talk I was constantly so ashamed
even talk I was constantly so ashamed
even talk I was constantly so ashamed that she had to come into a place like
that she had to come into a place like
that she had to come into a place like this a place that it’s not nice to be
after reconciling with my misgivings and
after reconciling with my misgivings and realizing that I’m not helping anyone
realizing that I’m not helping anyone
realizing that I’m not helping anyone feeling sorry for myself I knew I only
feeling sorry for myself I knew I only
feeling sorry for myself I knew I only had one thing that I needed to focus on
had one thing that I needed to focus on
had one thing that I needed to focus on and it was not getting rich it was not
and it was not getting rich it was not
and it was not getting rich it was not you know set in the world on fire
you know set in the world on fire
you know set in the world on fire I needed to reconcile to reconcile you
I needed to reconcile to reconcile you
I needed to reconcile to reconcile you have to first deal with in and so I had
have to first deal with in and so I had
have to first deal with in and so I had to forgive people who rightfully were
to forgive people who rightfully were
to forgive people who rightfully were angry towards me but had taken it to a
angry towards me but had taken it to a
angry towards me but had taken it to a whole nother level
whole nother level
whole nother level I’ve kept my children away I know there
I’ve kept my children away I know there
I’ve kept my children away I know there are many of you going through this
are many of you going through this
are many of you going through this there’s anger and it builds and it will
there’s anger and it builds and it will
there’s anger and it builds and it will not stop building it just gets bigger
not stop building it just gets bigger
not stop building it just gets bigger and I did half of my time I bit off of
and I did half of my time I bit off of
and I did half of my time I bit off of the anger so was afraid to let it go
the anger so was afraid to let it go
the anger so was afraid to let it go that might seem bizarre to some of you
that might seem bizarre to some of you
that might seem bizarre to some of you some of you were way more mature than I
some of you were way more mature than I
some of you were way more mature than I was but I wanted to blame I wanted to
was but I wanted to blame I wanted to
was but I wanted to blame I wanted to point fingers I wanted to say man look
point fingers I wanted to say man look
point fingers I wanted to say man look how generous I was and they just left me
how generous I was and they just left me
how generous I was and they just left me and then took everything that I had left
and then took everything that I had left
and then took everything that I had left away so the day came I’d reconciled with
away so the day came I’d reconciled with
away so the day came I’d reconciled with all of that internally and I was
all of that internally and I was
all of that internally and I was released and I started seeking out those
released and I started seeking out those
released and I started seeking out those who I had hurt so to give you an example
who I had hurt so to give you an example
who I had hurt so to give you an example of how bad I hurt some people
of how bad I hurt some people
of how bad I hurt some people my first meeting was with a gentleman
my first meeting was with a gentleman
my first meeting was with a gentleman who I had stolen about $200,000 from how
who I had stolen about $200,000 from how
who I had stolen about $200,000 from how would you treat someone like that I was
would you treat someone like that I was
would you treat someone like that I was terrified I was ashamed I was reliving
terrified I was ashamed I was reliving
terrified I was ashamed I was reliving the nightmare of when I was found out
the nightmare of when I was found out
the nightmare of when I was found out but I did not want an enemy
but I did not want an enemy
but I did not want an enemy I did not want someone living their life
I did not want someone living their life
I did not want someone living their life in anger towards me I wanted to give
in anger towards me I wanted to give
in anger towards me I wanted to give them an opportunity to be heard and so I
them an opportunity to be heard and so I
them an opportunity to be heard and so I went more to listen and to ask for
went more to listen and to ask for
went more to listen and to ask for forgiveness something really bizarre
forgiveness something really bizarre
forgiveness something really bizarre happened at a max enormous booth table
happened at a max enormous booth table
happened at a max enormous booth table me sweating like crazy just I can’t
me sweating like crazy just I can’t
me sweating like crazy just I can’t believe I’m gonna meet this person again
believe I’m gonna meet this person again
believe I’m gonna meet this person again he sits down he asked how I’m doing as
he sits down he asked how I’m doing as
he sits down he asked how I’m doing as well as could be expected I just got out
well as could be expected I just got out
well as could be expected I just got out of prison and we had a conversation and
of prison and we had a conversation and
of prison and we had a conversation and eventually through tears and some
eventually through tears and some
eventually through tears and some uncomfortable questions he accepted an
uncomfortable questions he accepted an
uncomfortable questions he accepted an apology I couldn’t believe it
apology I couldn’t believe it
apology I couldn’t believe it I could not believe him I’m gonna fast
I could not believe him I’m gonna fast
I could not believe him I’m gonna fast forward now I had a dozen of those
forward now I had a dozen of those
forward now I had a dozen of those meetings and as I was meeting with them
meetings and as I was meeting with them
meetings and as I was meeting with them people started hearing what I was doing
people started hearing what I was doing
people started hearing what I was doing again words didn’t mean anything anymore
again words didn’t mean anything anymore
again words didn’t mean anything anymore it was about actions people started
it was about actions people started
it was about actions people started hearing and then I got a phone call and
hearing and then I got a phone call and
hearing and then I got a phone call and I got a phone call from one of my former
I got a phone call from one of my former
I got a phone call from one of my former victims who was having a problem within
victims who was having a problem within
victims who was having a problem within his business and he said look Dan I
his business and he said look Dan I
his business and he said look Dan I don’t appreciate of course our history
don’t appreciate of course our history
don’t appreciate of course our history and what you did but I do appreciate the
and what you did but I do appreciate the
and what you did but I do appreciate the talent that you have and you still have
talent that you have and you still have
talent that you have and you still have and that you could put to good use I
and that you could put to good use I
and that you could put to good use I need help
need help
need help he shared with me a matter within his
he shared with me a matter within his
he shared with me a matter within his business he wanted to see if I could
business he wanted to see if I could
business he wanted to see if I could help and gladly I took it a year later
help and gladly I took it a year later
help and gladly I took it a year later I became a partner an equity owner in
I became a partner an equity owner in
I became a partner an equity owner in the business I once stole a quarter of a
the business I once stole a quarter of a
the business I once stole a quarter of a million dollars from those are hard
million dollars from those are hard
million dollars from those are hard conversations that conversation left to
conversations that conversation left to
conversations that conversation left to others you know the worst thing I’ve
others you know the worst thing I’ve
others you know the worst thing I’ve ever done let me share with you the best
ever done let me share with you the best
ever done let me share with you the best thing I’ve ever done and no it’s still
thing I’ve ever done and no it’s still
thing I’ve ever done and no it’s still not back to these starting these
not back to these starting these
not back to these starting these businesses through that path of choosing
businesses through that path of choosing
businesses through that path of choosing the hard conversations having to relive
the hard conversations having to relive
the hard conversations having to relive that pain that you just want to forget
that pain that you just want to forget
that pain that you just want to forget and walk away from you don’t want to see
and walk away from you don’t want to see
and walk away from you don’t want to see it again but going to reconcile it
it again but going to reconcile it
it again but going to reconcile it eventually someone else heard about this
eventually someone else heard about this
eventually someone else heard about this this new attitude this new Dan and it
this new attitude this new Dan and it
this new attitude this new Dan and it was my ex-wife who had been keeping the
was my ex-wife who had been keeping the
was my ex-wife who had been keeping the killed kids away in fear that I was a
killed kids away in fear that I was a
killed kids away in fear that I was a bad example and so I get a letter
bad example and so I get a letter
bad example and so I get a letter inviting me
inviting me
inviting me no no courts involved to see my children
no no courts involved to see my children
no no courts involved to see my children my babies that was the greatest day
my babies that was the greatest day
my babies that was the greatest day Dajuan I’m with you I didn’t have the
Dajuan I’m with you I didn’t have the
Dajuan I’m with you I didn’t have the media around me I just had a bunch of
media around me I just had a bunch of
media around me I just had a bunch of flowers but the greatest day that was
flowers but the greatest day that was
flowers but the greatest day that was the day I felt like a hero and two years
the day I felt like a hero and two years
the day I felt like a hero and two years after my release almost almost to the
after my release almost almost to the
after my release almost almost to the anniversary my wife and I while she
anniversary my wife and I while she
anniversary my wife and I while she became my wife we remarried
and yes all the dudes who saw how I was
and yes all the dudes who saw how I was treated on the inside we’re like are you
treated on the inside we’re like are you
treated on the inside we’re like are you crazy are you crazy yes for her so look
crazy are you crazy yes for her so look
crazy are you crazy yes for her so look this doesn’t mean this is the path for
this doesn’t mean this is the path for
this doesn’t mean this is the path for everybody what I do know is I
everybody what I do know is I
everybody what I do know is I consistently followed the hard thing
consistently followed the hard thing
consistently followed the hard thing that I knew inside was the honorable
that I knew inside was the honorable
that I knew inside was the honorable thing that reconciled that put the
thing that reconciled that put the
thing that reconciled that put the pieces back together of what was
pieces back together of what was
pieces back together of what was shattered going back into your
shattered going back into your
shattered going back into your children’s lives yes that’s the right
children’s lives yes that’s the right
children’s lives yes that’s the right decision pretty obvious but it’s hard
decision pretty obvious but it’s hard
decision pretty obvious but it’s hard and you will sit through a lot of
and you will sit through a lot of
and you will sit through a lot of embarrassing and uncomfortable
embarrassing and uncomfortable
embarrassing and uncomfortable situations to do what’s right by that
situations to do what’s right by that
situations to do what’s right by that child and that’s your duty and you know
child and that’s your duty and you know
child and that’s your duty and you know it so the privilege that I have now is
it so the privilege that I have now is
it so the privilege that I have now is to continue working with in side prisons
to continue working with in side prisons
to continue working with in side prisons reentry halfway houses and on the street
reentry halfway houses and on the street
reentry halfway houses and on the street finding the most innovative creative
finding the most innovative creative
finding the most innovative creative individuals that I can with a criminal
individuals that I can with a criminal
individuals that I can with a criminal background and lifting them up
background and lifting them up
background and lifting them up rightfully to where they should be and
rightfully to where they should be and
rightfully to where they should be and so zero six eight is an entrepreneurial
so zero six eight is an entrepreneurial
so zero six eight is an entrepreneurial incubator using the skills that I had
incubator using the skills that I had
incubator using the skills that I had once before not for profit but for good
once before not for profit but for good
once before not for profit but for good profiting in humanity rather than
profiting in humanity rather than
profiting in humanity rather than necessarily just dollars so to give you
necessarily just dollars so to give you
necessarily just dollars so to give you an example of how incredible and
an example of how incredible and
an example of how incredible and successful inmates can be when they have
successful inmates can be when they have
successful inmates can be when they have no parachute anymore no rich uncle to
no parachute anymore no rich uncle to
no parachute anymore no rich uncle to turn on when success with their business
turn on when success with their business
turn on when success with their business has to happen we now have Silicon Valley
has to happen we now have Silicon Valley
has to happen we now have Silicon Valley and venture capitalists from around the
and venture capitalists from around the
and venture capitalists from around the country coming in to look at how we’re
country coming in to look at how we’re
country coming in to look at how we’re doing things because our success rate is
doing things because our success rate is
doing things because our success rate is twice almost exactly twice that of a
twice almost exactly twice that of a
twice almost exactly twice that of a typical startup incubator at our size
typical startup incubator at our size
typical startup incubator at our size that’s you guys
so in three years $10,000 has been
so in three years $10,000 has been turned into six million dollars to two
turned into six million dollars to two
turned into six million dollars to two jobs into a hundred jobs all right and
that’s just Pittsburgh the need to
that’s just Pittsburgh the need to channel and turn all of this potential
channel and turn all of this potential
channel and turn all of this potential energy into kinetic is in every city and
energy into kinetic is in every city and
energy into kinetic is in every city and so we go I go to places like this to
so we go I go to places like this to
so we go I go to places like this to other cities telling them this isn’t
other cities telling them this isn’t
other cities telling them this isn’t charity this is smart it’s right and
charity this is smart it’s right and
charity this is smart it’s right and it’s good and it has a quadruple impact
it’s good and it has a quadruple impact
it’s good and it has a quadruple impact to the community we might make ten
to the community we might make ten
to the community we might make ten thousand dollars a week on a business
thousand dollars a week on a business
thousand dollars a week on a business but do you know what they return to our
but do you know what they return to our
but do you know what they return to our city is it’s thirty it’s forty by
city is it’s thirty it’s forty by
city is it’s thirty it’s forty by keeping individuals out of jail
keeping individuals out of jail
keeping individuals out of jail reconciling with their families paying
reconciling with their families paying
reconciling with their families paying restitution paying child support paying
restitution paying child support paying
restitution paying child support paying taxes going to the local supermarket
taxes going to the local supermarket
taxes going to the local supermarket it’s exponential and it’s about
it’s exponential and it’s about
it’s exponential and it’s about humanizing like all of us have tried so
humanizing like all of us have tried so
humanizing like all of us have tried so hard today the ex-con because our
hard today the ex-con because our
hard today the ex-con because our businesses are not people shoveling
businesses are not people shoveling
businesses are not people shoveling manure which is literally what sometimes
manure which is literally what sometimes
manure which is literally what sometimes you have you won’t believe the people
you have you won’t believe the people
you have you won’t believe the people you have to explain no maintenance is
you have to explain no maintenance is
you have to explain no maintenance is not the only direction that an
not the only direction that an
not the only direction that an ex-offender can go it’s doctors its
ex-offender can go it’s doctors its
ex-offender can go it’s doctors its cybersecurity its construction HVAC
cybersecurity its construction HVAC
cybersecurity its construction HVAC electrical plumbing because what our
electrical plumbing because what our
electrical plumbing because what our prisons are made up of is exactly what
prisons are made up of is exactly what
prisons are made up of is exactly what all of America is made up of and that
all of America is made up of and that
all of America is made up of and that might not seem really obvious to you but
might not seem really obvious to you but
might not seem really obvious to you but it is a profound idea that needs to
it is a profound idea that needs to
it is a profound idea that needs to continue to ripple and under the
continue to ripple and under the
continue to ripple and under the guidance of secretary Wetzel and all the
guidance of secretary Wetzel and all the
guidance of secretary Wetzel and all the speakers here and some of you who have
speakers here and some of you who have
speakers here and some of you who have spoken and shared all of your talents
spoken and shared all of your talents
spoken and shared all of your talents it’s just a reminder that not only is
it’s just a reminder that not only is
it’s just a reminder that not only is this mission right man is it good and
this mission right man is it good and
this mission right man is it good and does it feel good thank you
does it feel good thank you
does it feel good thank you you
”
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