Think Outside the Cell Week™ is part of a global movement to inspire people to overcome self-defeating beliefs, attitudes and behavior, and to achieve their full potential.

The week was conceived in September, 2007 by Joseph Robinson, author of “Think Outside the Cell: An Entrepreneur’s Guide for the Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated.” Joe initially had this nation’s millions of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated persons in mind, but he soon realized that the universal themes on which the week rests are easily applicable to all people.

Because spring signifies new beginnings, Think Outside the Cell Week is the third week of April.

Each day of the week is dedicated to one of 7 Pillars of Success: Education/Personal Growth; Entrepreneurship/Employment; Family/Community; Health & Fitness; Financial Literacy & Stability; Spiritual Enlightenment, and Building Institutions/Leaving a Legacy. The pillars are essentially themes around which empowering activities are to take place. It is not expected that all activities proposed here will be carried out, but that at least one of the activities, or a similar one of your own creation, will be done each day.

Though officially observed for a week, the 7 Pillars of Success should be implemented daily throughout the year.

Joe is calling on everyone—including individuals, families, towns and cities, schools, companies, and faith-based and other organizations—to participate in Think Outside the Cell Week and organize daily activities devoted to the 7 Pillars of Success. If you plan to sponsor events devoted to Think Outside the Cell Week, or if you want to share ideas for activities, please send an email to resiliencemultimedia@verizon.net, or call 877-267-2303, or write to Resilience Multimedia, 511 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 525, New York, NY 10011.

7 Pillars of Success

Day 1:  Education/Personal Growth

• Take up a hobby
• Learn a new skill (especially computer literacy)
• Go back to school
• Attend a seminar or workshop
• Make a commitment to learn something new every day
• Evaluate/Rethink your values and beliefs
• Work on eliminating self-defeating attitudes and behavior

Day 2:  Entrepreneurship/Employment

• Begin writing a business plan
• Register your business
• Seek free business advice from organizations like SCORE and SBDC
• Write and submit job resumes
• Look for a job
• Learn a new marketable skill or trade

Day 3:  Family/Community

• Dedicate one day a week to “family time”
• Adopt a community elder
• Mentor a young man or woman (in your own family and/or in the community)
• Adopt a single parent
• Sit in on local government meetings and hearings
• Network! Network! Network!

Day 4: Health & Fitness

• Establish and stick to a balanced diet
• Begin exercising daily
• Get regular checkups
• Seek professional counseling
• Join a support group

Day 5: Financial Literacy & Stability

• Open a bank account (save 10% to 15% of weekly savings)
• Pay down debt (credit card, loan, etc.)
• Create a realistic household budget
• Subscribe to a personal finance magazine or newsletter
• Discuss personal finance and financial plans with family—especially children

Day 6:  Spiritual Enlightenment

• Live with purpose
• Identify and pursue your passion
• Pray and/or meditate daily
• Set aside time each day for introspection

Day 7:  Building Institutions/Leaving a Legacy

• Form progressive coalitions to identify and address the community’s needs
• Create, build and maintain “community issues forums” (including online)
• Form a nonprofit organization to meet the needs of the community
• Volunteer time, money and expertise to community-based and other nonprofit organizations
• Sponsor a youth league or other youth-oriented leadership and team-building association
• Commit to living a life of service