On Wednesday, March 4th, I had the opportunity to lead a workshop at Borough of Manhattan Community College titled “Unlock Your Mindset.” The room was filled with mostly young college students who are thinking seriously about their futures — aspiring entrepreneurs, future professionals, and students preparing to launch their careers. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s this: Your future is shaped less by your circumstances and more by your mindset. During the workshop, we explored several powerful ideas, including: • The role of self-concept and identity in shaping behavior • Why mindset often determines financial and career outcomes • The difference between thinking like a consumer and thinking like an owner • The three money mentalities — spender, saver, and investor • How the Be → Do → Have framework helps you design the life you want For many students, college is the first time they begin thinking seriously about the direction of their lives — what kind of career they want, what kind of impact they want to make, and what kind of financial life they want to build. But the real question is deeper than that. It’s not just “What do I want to do?” The more important question is: “Who do I need to become?” When you become the right person — someone disciplined, curious, strategic, and ownership-minded — the actions begin to align, and the results eventually follow. That’s the essence of the Think Outside the Cell philosophy. It’s about learning to think differently about opportunity, about money, and about the kind of life you’re capable of building. I’m grateful to have had the chance to engage with this next generation of thinkers and builders. Conversations like these matter because they plant seeds early — seeds about entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and long-term thinking. And when young people begin thinking this way early in life, it can change the trajectory of everything that comes after. Let’s continue building a community where people challenge old assumptions, develop strong mindsets, and learn how to design their futures intentionally.

One of the most powerful forces in money isn’t income. It isn’t luck. It isn’t even picking the perfect investment. It’s time. When time and money work together, something incredible happens: exponential growth. This is called compound interest. In simple terms, compound interest means: Your money earns money… and then that money earns money… and then that money earns money. Over time, the growth begins to accelerate. That’s why the earlier you start, the more powerful the result. Even small investments can change the financial trajectory of a child’s life. This is especially powerful when you start investing for: - Your son or daughter - Your grandson or granddaughter - Your niece or nephew You don’t need to be rich to start. You just need time and consistency. For example, historically the S&P 500 has averaged about 10% per year over long periods of time. Let’s look at what happens if someone invests $100 per month for a child and stops at age 18. Example: Investing $100/Month at 10% Start Age Years Invested Total Contributed Value at Age 18 Birth 18 years $21,600 ≈ $54,700 Age 5 -13 years $15,600 ≈ $28,700 Age 10 8 years $9,600 ≈ $13,700 Age 15 3 years$3,600≈ $4,000 Even though the difference between starting ages might seem small, the impact is enormous. That’s the power of time + compounding. Visual Comparison 🟢 Start at Birth 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩≈ $54,700 🔵 Start at Age 5 🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦≈ $28,700 🟠 Start at Age 10 🟧🟧🟧🟧≈ $13,700 🔴 Start at Age 15 🟥≈ $4,000 The earlier you begin, the more time money has to grow. Why This Matters: Imagine a child turning 18 and already having: - An investment account - An understanding of ownership - A foundation of financial literacy That changes how they approach life. Instead of starting from zero, they start from momentum. They can use that money for: - Investing further - Education - Starting a business - Building long-term wealth This is how generational change begins. Not with millions.

Family, I’ll be going LIVE today at 2PM EST on Urban Book Nook (TikTok & Instagram). We’ll be talking about: - My journey from incarceration to entrepreneurship - The Think Outside the Cell movement - The SSI Method (Spending. Savings. Investing.) - Identity, mindset, and wealth building after setbacks If you’ve ever wondered how financial literacy connects to self-concept… If you’ve ever struggled with money scripts that don’t serve you… If you believe your past doesn’t define your financial future… This conversation is for you. Join us at 2PM EST on TikTok or Instagram via Urban Book Nook. Let’s represent. Let’s build. Let’s elevate the conversation. — Joe