By Resilience Speaker, Jamie Mason Cohen
Meet my friend, MR.B., a Canadian, Grade 8 drop-out, millionaire carnie. Friend of Sinatra, Liberace + the Vegas mob. Co-owner of Puerto Rico’s most popular night club.
Shot and killed his childhood friend over a business deal gone bad in the lobby of Toronto’s Royal York Hotel.
Spent a 20-year jail sentence raising a small fortune for The Children’s Wish Foundation.
I met Mr.B when he was 8 years into his sentence. I pitched a mini-series on Mr.B’s life through during my years working for Lorne Michaels’ production company, Broadway Video in NY. The project didn’t get made but in the process, we became friends.
I don’t condone his actions but I learned important lessons about redemption that can be applied to business and life.
MR.B: LESSONS LEARNED FROM A SINNER AND A SAINT
1) It’s never too late to do good in the world.
Mr. B turned the worst decision of his life into devoting his time in jail raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for The Children’s Wish Foundation.
2) No matter how toxic your environment, you can positively impact those around you. Mr.B changed the culture of Kingston Penitentiary through leading by example. He persuaded his fellow inmates to use their time to help children.
