staceybooks

People love to throw out phrases like “Just get a job,” as if employment magically solves everything. As if the moment someone clocks in, all the barriers that held them back just vanish. If only it were that simple. I work with individuals rebuilding their lives, people who’ve been locked out of opportunity because of…

There’s a quiet but powerful shift that happens when you stop living for success and start living for significance. At first glance, being self-motivated sounds like the gold standard. It means you’re ambitious. Focused. You’ve got your eye on the prize, and nothing’s going to stop you. You set the goals. You chase the goals.…

There’s a moment every person waits for when they’re behind the walls – freedom. You count down the days. You dream of open skies, hot meals cooked by family, your child’s arms around your neck. You imagine stepping outside and somehow picking up where you left off. But what no one tells you is this:…

When we talk about building stronger, more resilient organizations, we often focus on talent, innovation, and culture. But what if the key to a thriving workforce is found in those who are most often overlooked? Hiring people with criminal records, using person-first language and recognizing their humanity, isn’t just a charitable act. It’s a powerful…

Let’s stop pretending this is just a rough patch. This is rock bottom. This is betrayal wrapped in silence. This is everything you worked for, gone. This is waking up every morning with a pit in your stomach and pretending to function while quietly screaming on the inside. You didn’t get a warning, no “brace…

There’s something about a thunderstorm that stirs the soul. The crack of lightning, the roll of thunder, the pounding of rain against a window. It grabs your attention, demands you stop and take notice. And if you’re like me, sometimes it feels like the sky is reflecting exactly what’s going on inside. Life often mimics…

Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of personal work, the kind that happens behind closed doors, in quiet moments, and in the spaces where old beliefs still whisper things I know aren’t true anymore. I’ve been asking myself hard questions. Why do I still struggle with self-doubt? Why do I overthink everything? Why do I…

The other day, I was conducting an interview when someone asked me a question I’ve been asked many times before: “Why do you work for Persevere?” My answer is always the same…because it’s personal. When I first met our founder, Sean Hosman, I was at one of the lowest, most humiliating points in my life.…

There are days when I feel like I’m walking through a fog, where my mind plays tricks on me, and I can’t quite shake the weight pressing on my chest. The stress, the fears, the old wounds, and the whispers of distrust, they swirl in circles, never quite letting me rest. I try to push…

For years after I walked out of prison, I wore my past like a hidden scar, tucked away beneath my accomplishments, my leadership roles, and my smile in meetings. I had survived the unimaginable, rebuilt my life from the rubble, and yet, I still heard the voice. “You don’t belong here.” That voice, that imposter…