The Colorado Department of Corrections has taken one of the most inspiring and impactful books of..

Published 4 Nov 2025

Education – The 7 Habits on the Inside

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The Colorado Department of Corrections has taken one of the most inspiring and impactful books of our generation and turned it into a prison self-help program. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (written by Stephen R. Covey) has been intentionally reconfigured to benefit the hearts and minds of the incarcerated. The program has been implemented at Fremont, Territorial and Arkansas Valley Corrections Center. The original book has helped the likes of presidents, CEOs, educators and parents improve the efficiency and effectiveness in all aspects of their lives.

Life can move at such a rapid pace that most of us have made costly mistakes stemming from split-second decisions or trusting the word of others. In his book, Covey says, “It really doesn’t matter how fast you’re going if you’re heading in the wrong direction.” How many times have you sat in cuffs, or back in a cell, retracing your steps, mad at yourself and questioning, “Why the hell did I trust that guy?” Or, “Why did I even touch that stuff again?”

One of the main intentions of the 7 Habits material is to alter your point of view, to shift your paradigm. When we have a problem, is it possible that the way we see the problem…actually is the problem? For example, two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. The captain of the lead battleship was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy patchy fog, so the captain stayed on the bridge, keeping an eye on all activities.

Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing of the bridge reported, “Light, bearing on the starboard bow.”

The lookout replied, “Steady, captain,” which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.

The captain then called to the signalman, “Signal that ship: We are on a collision course, advise you change course 20 degrees.”

Back came a signal, “Advisable for you to change course 20 degrees.”

The captain said, “Send, I’m a captain. Change course 20 degrees.”

“I’m a seaman second class,” came the reply. “You had better change course 20 degrees.”

By that time, the captain was furious. He spat out, “Send, I’m a BATTLESHIP! Change course 20 degrees!”

Back came the flashing light, I’m a lighthouse.”

The captain changed course.

The Captain thought he was in complete control because of his naval authority, and he did have great authority. But when boat meets land, obviously the boat runs out of real estate. The captain changed course because his reality changed.

When the reality of a prisoner’s mindset changes, it can change his (or her) whole future! This can be the difference between coming back to prison or not. In Habit 2, which is “Begin with the End in Mind”, students are instructed to create their own personal mission statement. What this does is enable individuals to shape their own future instead of letting other people, their culture, or their circumstances determine it.

One student, Peter Kim, wrote a very concise, yet clear mission statement. It was short and to the point, more of an outline or overview actually, but it helped him stay on track and make wise decisions, even after prison. It was:

Redeemed – Restored – Relationships – Resolve

Kim was a core group member during his involvement in the course while at Fremont Correctional Facility.

As a core group member, he assisted in facilitating and helping the class run smoothly. He released from prison and used what he learned on the outside, eventually even coming back inside to encouraged friends and former 7 Habits classmates who are still confined.

To read this material and actually learn the 7 Habits, to get them down, understanding them thoroughly and then using them will not only help the incarcerated to use their time productively, syncing what they’ve learned will help them reintegrate back into the community and will set them up for success once free.