Redemption, Gratitude & Lessons You Won’t Soon Forget with Quan Huynh

Andy Splichal 0:00

Welcome to the Make Each Click Count podcast. This is your host, Andy Splichal. We are happy to welcome this week's guest to discuss today's topic, which is redemption, gratitude and lessons you won't soon forget. Special guests, Quan Huynh, today's guests, it's a bit different than my usual guests. He's not here to talk about a new app or what external systems may improve your website conversion. In fact, I'm a little lost on how to introduce somebody. So let me ask, Quan, how would you like to be introduced?

Quan Huynh 0:32

I typically like to be introduced. The first line of my bio says Quan has been described as mighty warrior magician and a mountain of goodness, that's how I like to be introduced. It was given when I was in prison, it was on this sheet, one of the volunteers came in. And that's how she wrote to me, she said, Quan, you're a mighty warrior magician, and a mountain of goodness. And those words just resonated with me and I just held on to all these years.

Andy Splichal 1:03

I like it. Now, I usually go backwards in my episodes, and I first dive into what listeners can can gain and some actionable steps they can take surrounding the topic. And then I do the introduction and offer the guest has when at the end of the episode, but again, this, this episode is a bit different. Why don't we go in? Can you give us a brief introduction about your background right up front?

Quan Huynh 1:28

Ah, sure. First generation of Vietnamese immigrants or refugees when we lost our country, I came to the United States when I was just a couple of months old. And we settled in Provo, Utah. My father's condition got heat. My father got diagnosed with leukemia when I was eight, we moved out here to California when I was 10. And I've been out in Southern California since.

Andy Splichal 1:58

Okay, great. Now, we met just a little background on that we met through a mutual acquaintance who runs a marketing community and convinced me to come with him and his group to partake in a day in prison teaching entrepreneurs, skills. And it turns out, they Quan runs the local chapter of the organization called Defy. And you recently sent me a copy of your book Sparrow and the Razor Wire: finding the freedom while serving a life sentence, which I have right here. Thank you. Thank you very much, by the way. It was, it's a fantastic book. I picked it up the mailbox a couple days ago. And I read it in two days. So I just I went, I couldn't put it down. Maybe it's because I know you but I mean, I thought it was great. How long after prison did you write this book?

Quan Huynh 2:52

After prison, it was the book came out in during COVID 2020. Oh, so it's about five years, about four years after I began writing.

Andy Splichal 3:03

And I gotta say, you know, it's got a ton of lessons. Like I said, I mean, you're amazing writer, but you know, wow, I mean, the first part of the book was was incredibly dark. When you're talking about you're growing up, and what got you where you were, in comparing that to meeting you now? I mean, I couldn't believe that was you? Maybe that's why that's why maybe I couldn't put it down. You know, there's a ton of lessons that that people can take from this book, I thought, regardless if you're in prison or not, and a lot of those were self responsibility. The ability studying to overcome a problem, I guess, let's talk about the idea of of self responsibility. How did you incorporate that in your life? Where did that come from for you?

Quan Huynh 3:58

Ah, I mean, it wasn't something overnight. I would have to say like the first and years 10 - 12 years of my life sentence, I just lived the way I wanted to live in prison. For your listeners that may not know I went to, I went to prison for a murder that I did commit. And it was given a 15 year life sentence here in California. So, um, I think the lessons came later on when I've always been a big book reader. That's where I found my escape. And I've been known to go down like rabbit trails. When, when, let's say I read a book. I'm fascinated with that subject. Looking at acknowledgments I'll see what other authors have influenced their their writing or like where they got their research from, and I'll dive into those books. And I just go down rabbit trails all the time, and it was around 11 - 12th year of my sentence when I was reading books on entrepreneurship and things like that, and somehow I became I stumbled on books on the saints, and in particular stories about saints that had failed in their lives. But yeah, had gone on to create these orders and these amazing legacies. And those stories fascinated me. And then, of course, reading those stories to be down other rabbit trails, on books on mindfulness and spirituality and everything. So for me it they all created this perfect storm in my head, where one day on the prison yard like my head filled with these readings, these teachings, I asked myself the question like, Why do I have to view prison as punishment? Why can I view this as a place where I can remake myself? Even if I'm going to die here? And then of course, the answer comes back from the universe. Yeah, you can. And that moment in at Salado prison is nestled like right between these hills and the sun was barely coming up, I could feel it warm, then. In the little blades of grass, I saw the individual drops of dew and up above me in the razor wire, I heard a sparrow chirping and, and I tell you when like that sparrows probably been chirping my whole presenter, but I'd never heard but that day I heard it. And it was from that day forth that I would have to say, my journey to awakening began my journey to personal responsibility where that's that's actually where I found my own inner freedom way before I was Pearl. Just taking those lessons of responsibility and, and owning my choices. Knowing every moment I have a choice. Yeah, there's so but and then, but it wasn't like, okay, suddenly, I It's like becoming fascinated with different topics like personal responsibility and mindfulness. And then using my journals and using every day as an opportunity to practice these lessons that I want to apply in my life. And many times going back to journaling each evening and realizing, Oh, I didn't live up to what I aspire to. But yet viewing tomorrow as a new day and going back at it and going back at it.

Andy Splichal 7:27

Yeah, you know, journaling is one of those things that is suggested by a lot of people but very few do it. I'm curious, have you been able to keep up the habit of journaling?

Quan Huynh 7:39

Out here? No, not unlike how I was doing it, so disciplined in there, but not as much out here.

Andy Splichal 7:47

The other habit that people have out here that is the same is but self responsibility and not taking self responsibility, whether you're a business owner, and you're thinking, you know, the the markets against me, it's never their fault, right. And it's really hard to have that skill. So I thought that was eye opening. You know, another thing when I was reading your book that I thought was really incredibly eye opening is when you said that there are more people in prison, that outside prison, that work on self examination, making it a lot more difficult to communicate on the outside. Can you can you expand on that?

Quan Huynh 8:25

Yeah, I mean, I think while we were incarcerated, a lot of demand, especially when I, before I paroled, a lot of us were practicing, you know, personal responsibility and learning how to effectively communicate, how not to how to speak non violently. Like just how words can really harm or hurt people or words can also build and heal people. And I think we became very aware of that. Maybe because it's the stakes, also inside prison where, you know, if you're screaming or yelling at somebody, it can lead to violence very fast. But out here. It's a different world. In many respects, when people communicate, there's not this, this way of, there's not a dignified way of speaking to people and recognizing them as just human beings. I think there's a lot of people out here that have baggage also. And it's they they didn't have to work on self examination. So that's just how they've shown up their whole life. And that's just how they show up every day. So you see it in traffic jams. You see it, I see it Costco lines. Yeah, I see it happening a lot out here.

Yeah, no, that's great points. Now, another thing that really just jumped off the page to me, is you had wrote in the beginning of the book when you committed the crime you went back home, and even before you were arrested, everything just seemed dull and bland to you. When did when did that all come back where you're present in the moment now and you get excited by stuff. I mean, when did that flip, the switch occur?

In prison during my lifetime the after that sparrow in the reservoir moment. I think one of the first things I did was I checked in to see a therapist and I began to 25 years after my father passed away, is when I began grieving his death. And then of course, I became fascinated with the grief and loss process like, in particular Elisabeth Kubler Ross model on grief and loss. And then I noticed around me, like every man had some form of loss or grief going on whether that's losing a wife or a partner that has moved on or losing children or parents that have now this own them losing friendships because they've established at a different prison, and now they're, they're up for transfer, and there's no way to process this. So I saw there was so much hurt and need for healing and so much need for for grieving around me, and the prison didn't have it. So I put together a syllabus, and I submitted it to the prison psychologist who loved it. And we created the prisons first ever, grief and loss group. And it was in that group when I saw, like, immediately the impact of men being able to heal and share and shed tears. And that would is where I would have to say I suddenly I felt alive. I like Oh, I think I've found a place and things I can do. So of course I got involved with other groups created other self help groups. And for me, it just became a journey of refinement and discovery and looking to make impact. I mean, like, I look at it like, Okay, here I am in this discarded forgotten corner of the world that nobody would know about. Nobody even cares about. But yet, I felt that I was there, I was able to make an impact I felt alive. And that's where life began for me again.

Andy Splichal: 12:31

Helping others and making an impact.

Quan Huynh: 12:34

Yeah.

Andy Splichal: 12:36

Now, I noticed that you also talked about a personal mission statement, which, you know, besides journaling, I've also I've done that I create a personal mission statement, but I worked on it forever, but you read it every day. And that really impressed me. Would you be willing to share that personal mission statement with listeners?

Quan Huynh: 12:56

Sure. Yeah, it became first for me it was just journaling and I saw like little lessons in different books I was reading. So I liked these lessons I started like these are reminders for myself and I put it beginning of my journals, but then somewhere along the way I like let me compile these all and that I began to shaping it and it looked like a jewel and that's why I call it your inner jewel. Here it is. Practice mindfulness. Listen twice as much as you speak. Find today's lesson in today's difficulty. Strive for excellence in all that you pursue. Everyone is also on a journey, learn from them all. You are responsible for every thought and word in this life. Seek balance and discipline. There is a fine line in everything you do. Listen for your voices of ego and pride and continue to remove them. Mind, body, heart and soul contribute to them constantly. Leave time daily to find your inner voice and trust in it. Effectiveness with people efficiency with everything else. Do not fear failure. That is the only path to success. Accomplish transformation through your choices. Remember that perfection is not possible. Speak with kind, gentle yet firm words. Never compromise with honesty. Give thanks for today. Laugh at life.

Andy Splichal: 14:30

Yeah, that's great. You know, I tried to create mine and in the first time I referred or heard it refer to it you should create a personal mission statement is Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen Covey. Is that where you decide to do you read that and you read that...

Quan Huynh: 14:48

I love that book. I would probably say that's probably where the seed was planted. Now that you bring it up, I don't like it's when I used to go back over my journals or look back over my book report. Once I began documenting each book I read, I noticed, oh, this is where that idea was planted. This is where that seed was planted. And I see how much it had grown or nurtured in my own soul. So I would not be surprised if that's probably where I'm creating that, that my own mission statement came from.

Andy Splichal: 15:21

how much did it change? Was that a first draft? Or is that a 592nd draft?

Quan Huynh: 15:28

That was I think, a year's draft of putting little things and then once I began having enough things to like little lessons for myself, that's when I created it. And then that was just it. So yeah, I remember when I think it was, it took over a year. It's not like an intentional jump. It's just like little reminders, the lessons that I want to tell myself each day, like, you know, listening twice as much I speak or listening for my voice of the people and prior to continue to move up. And then so once I put it in, I think the day that I shaped it, that was it. And I just love how it wasn't always resonated with me when I read it.

Andy Splichal: 16:15

Now in in your book, you mentioned how much of a voracious reader you were or are I don't even know if you still read that much?

Quan Huynh: 16:23

Yeah, not as much as in prison. But I mean, I listen to books more now.

Andy Splichal: 16:27

So I'm curious, what are the top two or three books that you would recommend for listeners that made the most difference in your life?

Quan Huynh: 16:37

Oh, my goodness, I don't know where to start, I guess depends on like, if it's for somebody in prison, and depending on where they're at in the journey, was Seven habits is a great book. The Road Less Traveled. The Profit by Kaluga brand. That's something I could always open and read, The Alchemist. So I don't I don't know. I mean, but then if we're talking about like mindset shifts, there's there's other ones out here, you know, Atomic Habits and any of Ryan Holiday stuff. And Malcolm Gladwell stuff I don't I don't want to I guess it just depends on where somebody's at on their journey and what they're looking to discover within themselves.

Andy Splichal: 17:24

Now let's, let's switch it up. And let's talk about your life after prison and Defy Ventures. Can you tell listeners a bit more about that organization?

Quan Huynh: 17:33

Yeah, the Defy Ventures is a national nonprofit. Our mission is to shift mindsets to give people with criminal histories, their best shot at a second chance to career readiness, personal development and entrepreneurship training programs that we run inside of prisons and in the communities. It's a seven, we run a seven month program inside the prisons called the CEO of your new life. 1200 Page curriculum, I think it runs for books, the men or the women meet for about five hours of class instruction a week, plus another five to eight hours of homework, and they begin working on themselves. But then it's through the lens of entrepreneurship. So the graduation culminates in a business pitch competition, where each of them have to actually pitch a business. But then along the process, they learn, you know, customer discovery to learn what an MVP model can look like. And it's the lens of entrepreneurship that we instill in them like the lessons of grit, resiliency, pivoting. We believe these are life lessons that they can use, not only in their prison journey, but more importantly, in their reentry journeys when they come home. So I like to say like at Defy, we cultivate problem solvers not complainer So, yes, here's the problem. And here's their solution. So I see a lot of our we call them entrepreneurs in training, or EITs for short, or Iraqis come home. A lot of employers like hiring them because of that mindset that they have.

Andy Splichal: 19:19

You know, I joined you of course, I think the second one and then the graduation. But I didn't ask you and I was kind of curious. What kind of success rates do you have with with the participants the it is once they come home? How many of them start their own business? How many of them successfully adjust I guess,

Quan Huynh: 19:39

Yeah. Love this question. And I, I always thought back to the questionnaire like what do you consider success? Are we talking about business or are we talking about them not going back to prison? You know, I could, we could share plenty of stories about men and women that have come home and built businesses. We've helped launch incubate over 150 businesses. But I think the bigger success stories are the ones that are now home or you know, have a family raising a family buying their homes, working our view or looking for data, our success rates of here in California, as you may know, the study, say two out of three released men and women will go back in within three years. Two out of thre so Defy's numbers, less than 15% at the two year mark. So we're those numbers, we're proud of. 84% of our EITS, once they begin looking for work, will find work in 90 days, if you contrast that with other studies that say you know, unemployment rates can be as high as 60%, at the one year mark for someone that has faced incarceration. So we believe it's a combination of not only our curriculum, the community we've been able to build the volunteers that have come in with us and helped us to build this community that now help us to effectively create systems change that we're looking at, we're going after, I mean, we could do build the best in prison program. But if these men and women are coming home, and still facing discrimination, and still basically have to do a second sentence out here, and discriminated against for our housing, fair lending, employment, all of that, then what good does it do? So our mission, we believe is twofold. It's not only shifting the mindset of those incarcerated, but also shifting the mindset of those who we believe could actually help us achieve system change. And that's the business community. That's why we intentionally recruit from, you know, the business community, the tech space VCs, serial entrepreneurs.

Andy Splichal: 21:56

Now what type of people typically do volunteer for Defy Ventures with you?

Quan Huynh: 22:05

Amazing human beings with big hearts. A lot of people in the business world, which is I think, it breaks the mold of what people do. When they say oh, the capitalist society, they think it's cold. They think people are not giving and the people that usually come in with this, the vast majority, open hearted, big human beings, amazing human beings.

Andy Splichal: 22:30

Now, if you look at Defy ventures, there's there's some rocky stuff out there. What's happened over the last few years with the leadership of Defy, and I looked that up. I was doing research on it. How did Defy get over this change in leadership? And how's it doing today?

Quan Huynh: 22:48

I think so. The answer, we're doing much better than we ever were. Naturally, structurally, process why system wise? Yeah, our previous founder, resigned after a negative news article, I think way back in like 2018 was by a disgruntled former employee. But after that, our President CEO basically had to write a burning ship and reorganize and restructure the organization. So I would have to say he's done a fantastic job. Throughout the transition, all of our prison programs were still running and now we're even bigger and stronger and better. So I think we also had to embrace pivoting we also had embrace the lessons of entrepreneurship at defy and I think we've come out much stronger because of it.

Andy Splichal: 23:56

Now, I don't want to put you on the spot, but I do a little bit. What's your favorite EITs success story?

Quan Huynh: 24:05

Ah, my favorite, you know what I have settled but I get one like, I know. This man pitched a business in San Diego. It was a great pitch. One of the best pitches I've heard. He loves bees and the way he talks about it and he wanted to do the bee colony came home during the pandemic. He got first place at the at the event, so he had a $500 IOU with his $500 he purchased his first bee colony during the pandemic and pursued his business. He now has, I think, three colonies running he sent us at the office a couple jars of his honey. It has honey best honey I've ever tasted. He says he's looking to continue to build his business on I mean, that's the on a small scale one, I mean, there's another guy that came home was one of my good friends. He's now doing a dog training business. He was working with rescue dogs in prison, then he was also a Defy grad. And now he's out here training dogs and I see the results that he's doing. So those are just a couple off the top of my head. Another one is a woman. She's in NorCal. She lost her grandmother while she was incarcerated and realized, like there were a bunch of questions that she never had to ask her grandma. And she made sure that she was intentional about sharing when having stories with her own children. So her business was around baking. In baking she also includes questions, ready to make questions so that so her business she sells like ready. Baking like cookies and things like that. But then there's also conversation cards for the parent and their loved ones, or their little children to ask questions of each other so they can continue to build bonds. So I think it's, it's cool to see our EITs pursuing their passions through their individual prison experiences.

Andy Splichal: 26:25

Now, are there any other organizations doing what Defy is doing?

Quan Huynh: 26:31

Doing specific water like building? I wouldn't. Not that I know there, there may be some similar but adjacent ones, but not particularly, like how we're approaching it with buying in, you know, the business community with this in supporting and in building a community that can continue to make an impact.

Andy Splichal: 26:56

So if you had a crystal ball, where do you see Defy ventures going over the next 12 to 18 months?

Quan Huynh: 27:03

A crystal ball with the magic wand or crystal ball?

Andy Splichal: 27:08

Your choice?

Quan Huynh: 27:10

Well, if I had my magic wand, I'd love to be able to get our program into every prison in California. I see the crystal ball my poor 18 months here in SouCal, I see defy expanding our our services to include more men and women in the local prisons, but also transitional homes and possibly working with transitional age youth in the communities. That's continuing to just to build our infrastructure, I would say and deepening relationships with the business community and foundations in Southern California to help build up what we got going.

Andy Splichal: 28:03

And how can an interested listener learn more about your organization, even joining you and making a difference with Defy ventures?

Quan Huynh: 28:11

They can go right to our website, defyventures.org. Defy's like defying the odds dot orgy got a go right there they can see everything that we're doing. They could sign up for events reach out to different chapters. I mean, we're we're in eight states currently. So there's quite a bit of opportunities to join us in prison, or in our post release programs. If you have employment part, I mean, employers that are listening and are interested in discussing fair chance hiring and what that looks like. I'd love to have a conversation with them. I mean, like we I tell employers all the time, like we're not asking you to give jobs here, what we're asking you to do is do your interviews. And if the best possible candidate happens to be one of our EITs, then we're asking you to either be willing to look past a criminal conviction or have an additional conversation with them. Don't just blacklist them just because a criminal conviction comes up on them.

Andy Splichal: 29:12

And you guys are also tax deductible for donations, right?

Quan Huynh: 29:16

Yes. Yep. You can support us financially. Of course. Yeah. That's always great too.

Andy Splichal: 29:21

Well, this has been great. And today, Quan, is there anything else you'd like to add before we wrap it up?

Quan Huynh: 29:26

No. Thank you for joining us in prison. I hope you hope to see you at future events.

Andy Splichal: 29:32

This has been great. Well, thanks for coming on the show, Quan.

Quan Huynh: 29:35

Okay, thank you.

Andy Splichal: 29:36

Thanks for listeners. Remember if you liked this episode, please go to Apple podcasts and leave us an honest review. And if you're looking for more information regarding to five ventures or connecting with Quan, you will find the links in the show notes below. In addition, if you're looking for more information on growing your business, check out our podcasts Resource Center available podcast.makeeachclickcount.com we have compiled all our different past guests but show topic and included each of their contact information in case you would like more information any of the services we It was discussed during previous episodes Well that's it for today remember to stay safe keep healthy and happy marketing and I'll talk to you in the next episode.