Former inmate Rico Sharp prepares to speak to 1300 men at Marion Correctional Institution in Ocala, Florida. Released after his 19th incarceration on November 30, 1995, Sharp tells his transformation story and urges prisoners to break free from mental and emotional confinement, not just physical. His message centers on accepting responsibility, managing money and relationships, and fulfilling what he calls their God-given destiny.
Chapters
Hey, it's Rico Sharp, and I am on my way to Marion Correctional Institution, which is a state prison in Ocala, Florida. Marion Correctional Institution. Listen, I am excited. I'm— I got to tell you, and you hear me say that all the time when I'm going somewhere to speak, because speaking is what I do, right? It's my purpose. It's the reason I was born. It's my gift. It's my calling. That's my talent. It's my power. It's my influence. It's my creativity. It's what I do that impacts and influences the lives of others. When I speak, power flows out of my mouth that gives people hope, strength, faith, confidence, courage, resilience, tenacity, and so on. But listen, I speak for the federal government. I speak for colleges, schools, corporations, businesses, organizations, Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit faith-based institutions, churches, you name it. And I'm just gonna But, but, but, but, but something comes alive in me when I go into prisons to preach to men. And I got to tell you something, I don't get paid when I go in prisons and speak to men and women. At least I don't at this point. And I don't seek after it. I don't ask for it like I do when I go to all these other places. What's the purpose? But I know that my gift and my talent, my skills, my passion, man, it just really comes alive and it is summoned front and center when I go into these places to preach and to teach and to share the word of God or to give motivational speaking and give interpersonal development. There's something inside of me and it's hard to explain, but there is a force, there's a power that is awakened when I step into these prisons to minister and to pour into these men. I'm telling you today, I'm going to come from a very intricate perspective, and, and I'm speaking to several hundred men, and the perspective is you are a man. You are a man. And I know that sounds very common, very casual, you know, it's an everyday statement, but there's so much power and so much truth and, and, and so much revelation that I'm going to share with these men. When I say to them that they are a man, I'm going to break it down for them, and I'm going to let them know that you could— you might be in prison, but prison doesn't have to be in you. And I'm going to talk about the mind and how that they have to change their mindset and their thinking, because they were— being in a physical prison is indicative of having been in a mental and a psychological and emotional prison long before the physical prison became evident or manifested in their life. But I'm going to go in there today with grace and with, with understanding that these men, many of them, they, although they've committed crimes, they're hurt. Uh, they got some struggles and challenges in their lives that they yet need to overcome. Many of them have lost family members. Their marriages have fallen apart. Their children won't come see them or accept a phone call from them. Some of them are suicidal, some have AIDS, some have life sentences that they're never coming home except in a casket. And man, I believe God has empowered me to go in and to make a difference. And I'm going to talk to them about manning up and accepting the responsibilities in life that, that God has set upon their life. I'm going to talk to them about the mandate that is on their life and how that there is a calling and a purpose for their living, that they're not just here to exist. They're not just in prison to Look forward to their EOS, which stands for end of sentence. But they're here to understand how to turn their life around, how to rebrand themselves, how to go through a stage of metamorphosis and change and come out a totally different person, a new creature or a new creation like I did. Like I did when I was released on November 30th, 1995, after having been incarcerated for the 19th time. I'm gonna talk to them about manipulation because I got to deal with the, the real struggles and the real challenge of how many of them have landed up in this place. They've either been manipulated or they were the manipulator, and I got to deal with that issue. I'm gonna talk to them about how to manage, how to become functional and not dysfunctional, and how to turn their life around, how to get out there and to make the best out of a bad situation and believe that all things work together for their good and, and learn how to manage their money, manage their time, manage their relationships, manage their brilliancy, manage their talents and their skills. And I'm going to talk to them about a mantle. A mantle is what God has placed on their life. This is their grace. This is the favor of God on their lives, that even though they've messed up and committed some bad crimes, God has not turned his back on them or thrown them away. For the gifts and the callings of God are without repentance. And I'm going to talk about that mantle because I was that guy, I was that man that had a mantle on my life and I didn't realize it, and I got caught up in the manipulation of things. But now that I'm free, I've learned how to manage it. I'm going to talk to them about the manpower that they have, the strength, the power, that the greatness that God has placed in them that is still there. And how to tap into that manpower and how to use that manpower to get their families back, to be a father again, to be a law-abiding citizen in society, to realize their dreams and aspirations. I'm going to talk to them about that. I'm going to talk to them about their manpower, and then I'm going to talk to them about manifestation. That's right. I'm going to show them and teach them and give them practical steps about how to manifest the very best in them, how to bring the best of them out. I'm going to talk to them about how to manifest that which is on the inside that has been hidden from them. I'm going to talk to them about that. I'm going to talk to them about how to give birth to their greatness and how to walk in their destiny and how to fulfill the perfect plan, the perfect will of God for their lives. I'm going to have a good time. These men's lives are going to be changed. And the reason I'm sharing it with you is because I won't be able to record inside. This is a state prison and they don't allow for recording devices for the obvious reasons. But I'm going to go in. I wish I could bring some video footage back for you from the time that we have, but I'm telling you right now, it's going to be powerful. These men are going to come out, they're going to be world changers. They're going to come out and be entrepreneurs. They're going to give back to society. They're going to read dedicate their lives to God, they're gonna be better fathers and better husbands and better grandfathers and better sons when they come out. They're gonna be able to hold the job. They're gonna be able to do some things that will make their family members and society proud of them. And I'm their example that if Rico can do it, so can they. Say a prayer for me. Say a prayer for me because I Want to be a blessing and an inspiration to these men. And we're going to have a great time. And I'm thankful for this opportunity on this Friday evening, June the 6th, 2025, to speak to these men. I'm about an hour away. And I'm going to focus now on the message so that it can roll off the tip of my tongue. Every time I open my mouth. Well, God bless you. This is Rico Sharp. Life is what you make it. When your opportunity comes, you take it. You be sharp now and maximize your moment and make yourself a great life. And think sharp, talk sharp, walk sharp, plan sharp, dress sharp, eat sharp, live sharp, and you'll be sharp. Take it from me, Rico Sharp. I know. Rico Sharp.
