Business Growth Architect Show

Ep #120: Trent Griffin Braaf's Prison Story | Listen For Hope and Inspiration!

• Beate Chelette/ Trent Griffin Braaf • Episode 120

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Listen Trent's remarkable journey from incarceration to major entrepreneurial success, inspiring hope and resilience along the way.

In this episode of the Business Growth Architect Show, we explore the remarkable journey of Trent Griffin-Braaf, who transformed adversity and jail time into advocacy, shaping a narrative of resilience, redemption, and empowerment.

Trent reflects on his tumultuous past, the mistakes he made by recounting his brushes with the law and subsequent incarceration and what ultimately saved him. Despite facing significant challenges when he was only a teenager, Trent had a pivotal moment recognizing his true potential while incarcerated. Through education and self-discovery, he shares how he began his journey of personal growth, embracing a commitment to lifelong learning and self-improvement.

Trent shares his transformation from a troubled youth to a successful business owner and community leader as he, with unwavering determination, navigates obstacles of reintegration, embracing humility and seizing opportunities for growth.

Imagine this: When your condition of release is a job, but nobody wants to hire you because you are a felon, how do you turn cleaning toilets into becoming a General Manager? And yet, that is what Trent's journey exemplifies: the power of perseverance and the ability to rise above adversity.

Central to Trent's narrative is his profound spiritual journey, marked by introspection, faith, and redemption. He candidly discusses his exploration of different religious beliefs while incarcerated, ultimately finding solace in principles of faith, hope, and personal accountability. Through his faith, Trent found the strength to confront shame and stigma, transforming his past mistakes into catalysts for positive change.

To pay it forward and because he feels called to use his story for the betterment of others who have made mistakes like him, Trent created his groundbreaking leadership development program, the "Roadmap to Success." Rooted in his lived experiences, this innovative curriculum is gaining traction as it empowers individuals from underserved or overlooked communities to chart their path to success.

Trent is discussing advocacy in driving systemic change and the need for employers to recognize the potential and talent within marginalized communities, advocating for inclusive hiring practices and supportive work environments. Through partnerships with organizations and government agencies, Trent seeks to dismantle barriers to employment and foster economic empowerment. This part was my favorite to see how passionate he is about making a difference.

The episode concludes with a message of hope and empowerment, echoing Trent's steadfast belief in the transformative power of resilience and community support.

Resources Mentioned:
Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

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Trent Griffin-Braaf:

My name is Trent Griffin-Braaf. And I am the facilitator and creator of the roadmap to success program. I'm also a podcast hope, a host of Prison Bosses and but I'm most known as the founder or the CEO of Tech Valley Shuttle. And on this episode of the business growth architect show, I will share my story of going from fell into Forbes, as well as how I've been able to come out and help and empower others who have shared experiences, or those who just come from underserved community and been a part of those who are often considered hopeless. And now I'm able to provide hope to so many others. Thank you for tuning in. And

BEATE CHELETTE:

hello, fabulous person, Beate Chelette. Here I am the host of the business growth architecture. And I want to welcome you to today's episode, where we discuss how to navigate strategy and spirituality to achieve time and financial freedom. truly successful people have learned how to master both a clear intention, and a strategy to execute that in a spiritual practice that will help them to stay in alignment and on purpose. Please enjoy the show and listen to what our guest today has to say about this very topic. Today, we will be talking to Trent Griffin-Braaf. And we're going to talk about his brush with the law and being in prison to becoming a very successful business owner that Forbes has selected as one of the most successful businesses in his area. So let's dive right in. Trent, I'm excited to have you on the show. Thank you for being here.

Trent Griffin-Braaf:

No, thank you for having me. I'm excited as well. So

BEATE CHELETTE:

please tell us a little bit about who you are. And what do you do? And what problems do you solve for your clients.

Trent Griffin-Braaf:

So a little bit about who I am. I'm a father, I'm a husband, I'm a business leader. In a community leader. I'm in many aspects. I'm a brother, I'm a son, I'm all of the things and we're human in that regard. And, but I'm someone who, you know, I say that because someone who's experienced, you know, feeling sometimes being unhuman, given my past, and I know we'll get into that. But today, I'm someone who just tries to motivate and inspire others by showing that it is possible. And, more importantly, showing creating roadmaps. And so I have an organization called Tech Valley shuttle, that you saw gracefully talked about and mentioned how we've been featured in Forbes Bloomsburg, we were the 2023, SBA Small Business of the Year in upstate New York, all because we're community based. And we're really helping empower people through transportation and solving historical transportation barriers. And then additionally, I'm also the curator and the founder of the roadmap to success program, which is a workforce development tool that's being utilized now to aid in Empower, underemployed communities are being taught how to be successful in the workplace, how to go from entry level roles, to C suite roles, or eventually starting your own business. It's just something that isn't taught. And now it is I'm actually teaching it and you know, being a resource and uplifting, individuals do that as well. And so just to my lived experience, I guess I'm now able to help others. And being that I know, at one point, I was hurting my community. It just feels really good now to be a pillar and empower in my communities,

BEATE CHELETTE:

which I think is an incredible way or a unbelievable transition for you to have experience. So tell us a little bit about it wasn't always like this. So there was a right there was a I'm trying to find a good way to say this, that doesn't sound judgmental, but you had made mistakes, or you had taken turns in the road that weren't going to get you the proper results. So how did you figure out this inflection point on getting yourself back to a different a different road? For

Trent Griffin-Braaf:

me, I think it actually came while I was incarcerated, and just sort of listeners just so you have some content at 19. I was sentenced to four to 12 year prison sentence, I had nonviolent drug convictions, drug sales, drug trafficking, and that led to that conviction. But while I was incarcerated, I had the opportunity to take college courses at Marist College. And I remember after the first semester, maybe the second I can't remember which, but the teacher actually came up to me and told me that I had the highest grades in the class and not just for the incarcerated population, but for his students that were also on the campus and was basically encouraging me to just continue to do what I'm doing and you know, inspire and saying that, you know, you have something up here, and that was kind of that I A moment, because when I was growing up in school school actually really came easy to me until they introduced letters with math, that's when it got all a little fuzzy. So I kind of that moment, brought me back to all of those report cards, I said he would, if he applied himself, he would be better if he wasn't a class clown or joking around, he will be better, he doesn't show up his best form of self. And he encouraged me to be a forever learner in that moment, and I told myself, I, I sold myself short as a youth, which helped land me where I was, but I told myself, I would not sell myself short anymore, and I will commit myself to being a forever learner. And that's what I did. I went on a journey to learn as much as I could,

BEATE CHELETTE:

this is such an interesting piece that I really have not heard a lot. So was there a mentor? Was there a moment where this came to fruition? What did you have an aha moment at the sky open the hand of God comm like, what was it that made you realize that

Trent Griffin-Braaf:

it was current, that was definitely my aha moment. I always tell everyone, that was my lightbulb moment. Because I knew you currently have content consents, and you know, when you have some abilities, and you know what you're selling yourself short, or when you gave your all. And I just knew that moment, I never gave myself my order anything except for basketball. And I did really good in basketball, I excelled in basketball. And so that also became, well, if I could do good at that I could do good at anything, if I really try. And now it just comes down to how am I going to show up and put my best foot forward. And that really became that was that that moment, from that moment on, I really wasn't even taking the college that serious. It was just out, it got me closer to my family, and I was more so focused on getting visits. But that changed the whole trajectory. Because then it was I was proud of myself, I wanted to see how good I could really go how far I could take it. And I've been on that mission ever since to be a forever learner.

BEATE CHELETTE:

So how is somebody who is in prison? And I, I can only imagine that it causes damage to your confidence and to your self esteem. Because people look at people who have made mistakes that have been incarcerated in a completely different way than somebody who's on the street and arrow. How did you manage that from a spiritual perspective? Because there had to be some challenges on how you had to get sort of out of this judgment that others had of you and the judgment you had of yourself

Trent Griffin-Braaf:

agreed? So no, it was a that's a that's a really packed question. A great question, though. I'm one I experienced, I explored a lot of different religions while I was incarcerated. I'm someone who I grew up Christian. More specifically, my family were Jehovah's Witnesses. So at a young age, I, you know, that's what I grew up knowing I also went to Catholic school. So I had a very, very unique experience as a youth grown up when it comes to faith. And while I was incarcerated, it allowed me to even learn a lot more. And, you know, I studied quite a few religions. And one thing that I landed on during that time was the premise of religion is very similar in almost all fields that I at least studied. And so I said to myself, Hey, I maybe I don't have the right higher power, maybe I do. But one thing for certain, are there certain principles in that scene that if you're living a certain lifestyle, no matter what if I'm, if I chose the incorrect one while I was on earth, then I think they would still be able to see my heart and in the kind of person I was. And so through that, I decided I just wanted to live a very clean lifestyle, I wanted to do just do right, I knew I was in still, we all are still with the difference to know what's right and what's wrong. And I wanted to be committed to doing the right things, taking no shortcuts and doing the right things. Because to that point, I did take shortcuts, I actually didn't do the right things. And so I knew that's why I was in there. So it really helped me also find my accountability piece. And to this day, the faith piece is still so important. I mentor individuals, I someone I literally was just texting before we got on. He has a court case tomorrow. And I was just telling him, you know, these are the moments that you have to walk into faith. And you know, faith is the belief in something you can't see feel or touch. But you know, it's there. And, um, but you can only have faith, if you've experienced trying and leaning on that in the past. And for the rest of my time incarcerated, I made sure that I wanted to create a relationship with my higher power. And in doing so I can say I've leaned on my higher power when things were terrible, as well as when things were great. And I know that my higher power has my back and is there for me. And so now I walk in that faith when things get tough or when things get or when they're great. I just remember the fact that you know, it's bigger than me, I'm being guided by something bigger than me. And I just tried to stay out of my own way and allow whatever that mission is to be to actually come to me Question in the camera like,

BEATE CHELETTE:

do you find it difficult to surrender in these moments when stuff gets really difficult? Because, I mean, on a personal level for me, I think that's something that I constantly have to remind myself I surrender, I surrender, I surrender, I surrender, how are you managing this because I'm sure your life has still challenges,

Trent Griffin-Braaf:

definitely still has challenges. And I'm in the same boat, I start with gratitude, I find that when I'm able to when things are tough, if I'm able to be grateful for what I do have, it changes my mindset where I'm not focused on the negative, and now I'm starting to embrace the positive. And then like you said, I'm constantly telling myself to let go, let go, let God if I if I'm saying I have this faith, I have to let it be. And although the thing that I find is, you're usually uncomfortable in those moments, and so but I also learned that being uncomfortable is where you grow. And so that's also where your higher power to universe is going to be tested you is this really what you're going to do? Are you committed to the things you're saying you're going to do, and understanding that I have to pass the test. And so I have to be okay, with being uncomfortable, I have to really let go. And I have to let all of that achiness not affect how I show up for others and still show up with a smile and walking in their face. So I think it's something I still I think we all kind of struggle with because it does get uncomfortable. But I can say I've definitely gotten a lot better at better, and I'm getting better every single day. My goal every day is just to get 1% Better than I was yesterday. And I can feel myself actually getting better when it comes to going through tough things and being able to really rely on the faith and belief.

BEATE CHELETTE:

Yes. And we're going to be diving into this next talking about and how you pulled yourself out of that challenging situation into becoming who you are today, right after this quick message. Have you ever wondered what the actual amount of your true earning potential is in this market? To find out what your talent is worth? Take our quiz at what'syourtalentworth.com, you will find out your actual earning potential amount by using our proprietary profit formula. Enjoy the quiz. And again, the URL is what'syourtalentworth.com. So Trent, I really appreciate what you say because I can feel the spirituality or the aspect of your belief is infused in everything that you do. So you talked about that you had this pivotable moment where you realized that nobody was going to come to rescue, the rescue was going to be an inside job. You pulled yourself together. Now you come out of prison, you are a changed, man. And how do you get from there to building what you've built being a leader in business? And let's just start there, because I have some other questions in your leadership development portion, which you are very, very well known for. How do you then start? When you're already behind? Great

Trent Griffin-Braaf:

question. I think so I'm released. Now I'm home, I'm looking to change my life. And life is not. Life is throwing me lemons. But it's hard to make lemonade at that point. And I say that because you're being told you at this is 2007. So 2007, if you had a felony, good luck trying to get a job, but at the same time a part of your condition or releases, you have to have a job. So put a lot of strain on you. But one thing I was committed to at that time was I was committed to not going back to jail. That was actually my goal. And so through that commitment, I was willing to do whatever it really took. That was a point in my life where I think I shook ego, and it's something that I encourage a lot of people is to you gotta let the ego go. And I say that because before I became incarcerated, although I was only 19, I was kind of known for, you know, what I was doing in terms of, you know, I had cars, I had the jury, I had all of the things. And so from the outside looking in to my peer group, and even to those who were a little older than us, I was like a part of that select few of peers of youngsters who were like, doing their thing, I guess you would say it so now being released in you coming home. I remember, you know, having to take a bus. And before I left, I had two cars. I had a Jeep I had a I also had a infinity. And so now this is the guy who was doing his thing, but you could catch him on the bus and I knew I had to get become egoless and it didn't matter. I didn't care if I had to take a job at McDonald's and I was serving people that I knew growing up or family members, I was just ready to make the commitment. I didn't end up selling burgers, but I did end up my break came in the form of cleaning toilets at a Marriott and I essentially took a part time role cleaning toilets and I showed up the best form of myself every day I made a commitment. I said, no matter what I'll be the best toilet cleaner in this area. I can assure you that. And I took that same mentality. And then I started to continue being a forever learner, I wanted to learn how to be a good manager, I remember reading the One Minute Manager, I remember coming home and my wife, she would like quiz me on parts from the book, things that I needed to learn, she would also quizzed me on the hotel industry, because she knew I wanted to be a GM. And so she said, it was important, you know, the language. And so I started to learn the language rev par, what does that mean and learning how to read a p&l report, something I've never seen before. So really just stretching myself and taking myself out of my comfort zone, and prepare myself understanding this goes back to the faith, the faith was, I'm going to do this job today and learn at the best possible I can because nothing lasts forever, and the person in front of me is eventually going to want to leave here. And when they're ready to leave, if I already know how to do the job, I have the best chance of actually getting the job. And that was literally the that was my trajectory. So I went from cleaning toilets, to eventually front desk to eventually front desk supervisor to eventually housekeeping supervisor to eventually Operations Manager to eventually General Manager,

BEATE CHELETTE:

the quote of Martin Luther King, of course, comes to mind if you're a street sweeper be the best streetsweeper that you can be. So when you said that I had that immediate visual of Martin Luther King giving his famous speech, of really promoting personal responsibility. You now today you are a recognized leader in your industry. You don't mince words, you talk about your past openly. You there's no shame there is, you know, you lost all of that. How did you lose the shame? And I asked you this question very specifically, because if I can count, I could not stop counting how many people I have encountered that carry shame and guilt for something that they didn't do perfectly for something that they did do, maybe you can help them to let something go that they've been carrying for a really long time? That's

Trent Griffin-Braaf:

a great, great question. And, for me, this is just on the eye, and hopefully other people can learn from it, and maybe practice it as well. But the shame actually started to I got away from the shame when I once it didn't allow it to be a pain point for me anymore, I turned my pain into champagne. And so and so I say that

BEATE CHELETTE:

turns the pain into champagne.

Trent Griffin-Braaf:

And so, um, but I was able to turn the pain in the champagne by embracing where I had been, and understanding that I had a unique lens, and that I could help others do my story. And so that's really where I think the switch came when I started to identify that, wow, people gravitate to my story. And I'm able to actually help others find hope because I'm I'm a huge believer if you don't have hope. That's right, you have nothing. And so if we're talking about justice impacted veterans, people with disabilities, new citizens, all of these underserved populations, one thing that is usually forefront of everything is it feels hopeless for individuals. Yeah, I was able to see like, oh, I provide hope, which is huge. And then from there, I said, Why would I ever not share my story and try to help others in the same way, which then turned into my superpower. And now I know that my story is actually my superpower. And that, you know, I'm able to help so many people through it in if you really look at it, I was able to create a curriculum because it I was able to create businesses because of it. And now I look back and think about all of the people I've been able to help. And not just myself, but you know, people in my network, we've been able to help but just now it's something that I embody. And I think that as people start to change the negative and don't allow people's negative perceptions of you define who you are, but rather understand that you own that. And I think that will encourage others to know that we've all made mistakes. That's something I know, I know, we all made mistakes. I was just wondering who got caught making a bad mistake. But I didn't want to let that mistake define me. And I knew that in order for me to get past I had to learn how to live with regret, and not ponder on the regrets. But actually just extract the lesson and apply it so that way I don't make the same mistakes over and over again. And I could be a better person in a better decision maker long term.

BEATE CHELETTE:

I find this so powerful. I always say that when people say what do you do? I said, I'm in the business of selling hope. Because we really cannot underestimate that one idea. One word that you said is going to give somebody that one thing that one threat that they're holding on to and that gives them the power to change their entire life. I've had this many many times in my life where people darted across the room and threw themselves in my arms that I truthfully never had in my life thanking me for something that they heard or seen many years ago. And you have taken this even to a much, much larger level. So let's talk about this leadership development piece that you have developed. So you obviously do this in your own company. So you have this transportation company, you have a very well defined career path model or leadership development model, do you want to tell us a little bit about that? What it is and how it works?

Trent Griffin-Braaf:

Yep, I love it. So it's called the roadmap to success. It was something that I was doing, unbeknownst to me, even before it had a name to it, like we said, talking about hope, even when I was in the hotel, there's a gentleman who's been with me since the hotel now who works part of the team. And he had just came home from prison. And so when he came into the hotel, I told him, Hey, two years ago, or a year ago, I was at Houseman cleaning toilets like you, in the future, one day, I'm gonna run this hotel, but you could do it too. And he speaks to that. And he speaks out that provided him with hope. And he knows a possibility. And so that just kind of blew up as I had my own company. And then it became a part of our own board and product policies and how we onboard individuals, a big part of the onboarding, I wanted us to be able to capture what an individual really wants to do long term, you might be taking this job because it's a job, but I really wanted to identify where they're going long term, and be able to assist them in getting there. And that's literally how it started. It started as our own border, we just wanted to know who people were, we wanted to know what their long term goals were, and we wanted to support it. And then I was willing to do community partnerships, and be able to scale it individual up, we've had people on our team who wanted to get in construction, but they might have started with us at the end of the year. And so what do we do is you know, they work with us all the way through rent, we get them actually into different depending on what they want to do different trainings to make them better if it's electrical, if it's, you know, them learning sheet rockin or whatever it was. And then we help them get certificates. And then ultimately, they usually get their certificates get a little bit on the job training them before you know it. Now they're on their career path. And so that's how it started, was it developed into is now it's a full 12 week curriculum. I actually do it inside of the New York State Department of Corrections, I work with individuals who are being released within 120 days. And I show them through my story how they can one I let them know that it won't be easy. It's a mindset shift program, helping individuals to go from a victim mindset to a victor mindset. And also embracing understanding, there will be challenges, it will not be easy, but again, it's possible because if I did it, I'm telling them I know they could do it as well. And so um, it's now we're expanding that we're starting to work with some youth and we were finalizing some partnerships with like Berkshire, which are the youth detention facility Bearshare farms, and we're in talks with veteran services and Schenectady County to offer it to them. And I recently just had some talks with the homeless population, City Mission, as well as the ship program through of any county jail in which we're exploring, potentially providing it to for some individuals in the homeless, who are experiencing homelessness. And so I'm starting to just show others one, I didn't want us to be pigeonholed into people just thinking this is only for formerly incarcerated individuals. Because I identified quickly even to my organization, it worked for veterans, it worked for individuals with disabilities, it worked for all of these different populations. So why pigeonhole ourselves and why not actually open this up to the masses. And, um, the flip side of that is, there's a lot of workforce development programs that are out there live, the lived experience programs, as well as book programs, on one of the things that I think definitely separates us from all of those are, we're intentional to work with employers, because we've identified well identified quickly that you can have all the trainings in the world. But if both parties aren't on the same foot, it's never going to work. And we know that most employers, especially like frontline managers, HR supervisors, etc. A lot of them never experienced homelessness or food insecurity or identify as having a disability or ever been to jail before it's or they never were at risk youth. And so how do they don't know how to show up for these populations, because there's a lot of stigmas and bias things that they've seen on TV or assumptions that life has helped them come up with. But a lot of times those are not factual parameters. And so we go in and we actually educate employers on the employer side, how they can have success just like we have had success with these populations. And I'm finding that that model is actually increasing the success rates because now when someone graduates from our program, I'm able to help get them into an organization that I can say they actually have a plan on how you could come in at this level and be Be able to skill your skill yourself and work your way up the corporate ladder with them. And so it's exciting, exciting times, we've gathered a lot of attention behind it, New York State Department of, of labor is interested in bringing us on. I'm a consultant for New York State Trucking Association, which has over 550 members in it, where it talks with the New York State Business Council. I'm also consulted for forward us, which is Mark Zuckerberg of reform a company. And so we're seeing that there's just a lot a lot of support, and a lot of individuals are loving that I have, I actually come from both sides of the coin is so there's a lot of here that I'm able to provide and give to others. So they can be a successful, powerful story

BEATE CHELETTE:

to tell and what a commitment to helping others, especially in a time where we see such a backlash towards a lot of these programs that are helping people and when I learned that there has been a law passed, I believe it was in Texas where they said that you cannot say disadvantaged minority because that it is an affront that people will take offense that people assume that a minority automatically is disadvantaged. And I find that absolutely ridiculous. I believe that equality or Equal Opportunity means some people need a little bit more help to get to the opportunity, because somebody who grew up in Beverly Hills as a son of a celebrity, or a daughter of a celebrity, will definitely have different opportunities than somebody who has gone through your story. Like you have to get to that equal opportunity, you needed a lot of other opportunities to take advantage of that. So on behalf of everybody, I really want to thank you for this amazing, amazing program you created and for sharing so confidently your story and letting other people see what it takes to get themselves out of a difficult situation. And into a better position. So for somebody new who's now heard about this, where can they find you? So let's say somebody heard about the programs you do wants to volunteer, or somebody who wants to learn about your business what where can be sent them,

Trent Griffin-Braaf:

it. Um, so you guys, anybody who's love interested in learning more, you see that little box right there with my name, literally, that's it on every social platform, you can find me by my name on I am. It's either IamTrent Griffin-Braaf or just Trent Griffin-Braaf, I'm on LinkedIn, I'm on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok as well. And then as well as that's also the the address to my website for anything workforce related. www.TrentGriffinBraaf.com, no hyphens and then Tech Valley Shuttle is the name of my transportation company. That's TechValleyShuttle.com. That's our actual website, in our handles on all social medias is also @TechValleyShuttle, and so on. We would love thank you for that question. And we'd love to engage or feel free to shoot me over some questions. I'm always I'm an open book. I tell people this all the time. I'm literally an open book in any way I could be a resource. That's what I'm here for.

BEATE CHELETTE:

Thank you so much. And that's it for us today. So again, you know what have a fascinating conversation, a great comeback story, but not just a comeback story, but a story on how to turn from a victim into a Victor and then leadership and then teaching other people how they can replicate the process, which makes it even sweeter for me because you and I are very much aligned in you know, you got to give people the steps to get from A to B otherwise they don't know how to how to do it. So thank you again for being on the show.

Trent Griffin-Braaf:

Thank you for having me. Thanks for the opportunity. And that's it for us today. Thank

BEATE CHELETTE:

you so much for listening to or watching this episode. If something resonated in this episode, please share it with one other person who needs to hear what we talked about today or just need a little bit extra dose of hope. Thank you for being here. So appreciate you being here. Thank you so much for listening to the entire episode. Please subscribe to the podcast. Give us a five star review a comment and share this episode with one more person so that you can help us help more people. Thank you again. Until next time, goodbye.

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