Today we’d like to introduce you to Tuan Nguyen.
Tuan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in a high performance Asian driven culture where I thought I was supposed to be like a doctor growing up. Something I used to hear a lot was, “Tuan, you have great potential!” I loved hearing these words of affirmation but the sad reality was, I had no clue what my potential looked like and neither did anyone else around me. So, in my search for this potential, I found myself in a gang, addicted to drugs, selling drugs. Instead of becoming this so called doctor, I became a street pharmacist instead, and yes, an illegal one.
This ultimately leads me down a dark path of addiction to incarceration, addiction back to incarceration. I went to prison not once, not twice but three times. Why? Because I wanted to be discovered but I wasn’t willing to be developed.
Through my 16 year sentence for a drug trafficking charge, God would began cultivating a vision for my life in my lowest places. I spent the next five years in personal growth and development. I began to flourish in leadership and speaking. I realized my value wasn’t contingent on shiny objects and money. My value was the deposit that God had placed inside me. I began looking inward for the answers to my vision instead of looking at outwards. God would soon reveal to me that I would be the catalyst in the leadership movement inside prison culture.
One of the problems I saw in prison reform was the lack of leadership development. Most people don’t see inmates as leaders so they would never invest in us to become leaders! I would be the catalyst to change that narrative upon coming home. What God was doing was preparing me for the stage. My gift in communication would advance my reach for others in the system.
I joined the greatest leadership organization in the world through John Maxwell and became certified as a speaker and coach. My story of transformation brought before a stage in front of 3000 people with some of the biggest leaders in the world (this happened 104 days after I got out of prison).
It has been 14 months since I have been released from prison. I have launched two businesses since then. Movement21 Empowerment is my consultant group and the Prison Transformation Initiative is my non-profit which is geared towards impacting prison culture by breaking barriers through leadership and communication.
The biggest difference in my life was the power of vision and authenticity culminating confidence! I came out with a million dollar mindset not because I was chasing after millions, but because I believed I was worth more than millions. My confidence in my story has captivated many audiences. I am the epitome of transformational impact. I went from prison to purpose.
Has it been a smooth road?
My struggles were in identity and purpose. The lack of leadership in my life leads me down the path of searching for significance.
– Addiction to drugs: Meth, cocaine, mdma, heroine and etc
– Lack of leadership in my life
– Living someone else’s dream and not defining my own
– Lack of vision and purpose
– No growth and development plan
– Comparison
– Lack of authenticity
So, as you know, we’re impressed with M21 Empowerment and Prison Transformation Initiative – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Movement21 Empowerment LLC is my consulting company which is built on coaching and group coaching. In my first year, I have been able to build momentum and credibility as coach. I have acquired over 20 clients and currently work with seven after school programs in youth leadership development. This was a big accomplishment for me to have these opportunities in my first year out of prison.
Prison Transformation Initiative is one of my big projects which has developed several leadership programs inside Prison Fellowship. I am currently working on building a leadership program that can advance to other units through my leadership organization through the John Maxwell Team. I currently have over 100 men enrolled in our classes.
What really sets me apart is really my story of 360 Impact where I have turned my whole life around based on building on my value as a leader and speaker.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the diversity and the many opportunities there are. I dislike the crime and the traffic in our city. The humidity is another thing I dislike. I love our sports teams especially our Texans. I hope to meet James Harden, J.J Watt, Deshaun Watson and Deandre Hopkins one day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.transforminglives2lead.com
- Phone: 8328744066
- Email: tuan@m21empowerment.com
- Instagram: @intentional121
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Movement21/
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/PTIMovement/
Image Credit:
Mike Barber Ministries
Suggest a story: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
