Part 4: The Redemption – How Prison Saved My Life
By. Christopher McManus
The Reality of 24 Months Behind Bars
The first few weeks in jail were a blur. I had been awake for 11 days straight before my arrest, so it took me almost two weeks to even start understanding what had happened.
I wasn’t in denial. I wasn’t blaming anyone else. I was just numb.
The detectives kept pushing for information, but it was pointless. I didn’t remember half of it.
Then, reality hit me.
The first court date came fast. The prosecution wanted to charge me with 1st-degree sales—an 84-month minimum sentence.
That was it.
I was done. I told myself I’d rather jump off the mezzanine than sit in prison for 7 years over some BS.
So I played my only card. I told them I was willing to go to trial.
I had been in the system long enough to know that no one wants a trial—not the defense, not the prosecution. It’s too expensive, too uncertain.
Two weeks later, they offered a deal.
They dropped it to 2nd-degree possession with intent to sell. Instead of 7 years, I’d do 24 months.
I took it without hesitation.
Prison Life – Not What You See on TV
Prison wasn’t what I expected.
Or maybe, I wasn’t in the prison I expected.
I ended up in a medium-security facility in Minnesota. About 2,000 inmates.
And 80% of them were sex offenders.
It wasn’t where I wanted to be.
But I made a decision before I walked through those gates.
I was going to use every second of my 16 months inside to change my life.
The Moment I Knew I Had to Change
Growing up, I always said, “If I ever go to prison, that’s when I’ll quit everything that got me here.”
That moment had arrived.
So I had a choice.
I could keep running the same cycle and come out right back in this place.
Or I could finally break the chains.
Before I got locked up, I was starting to hang around people who used needles. If I had stayed out, I would have ended up using like that too.
There’s no doubt in my mind—prison saved my life.
Building the Foundation for Who I Am Today
I wasn’t going to waste my time inside.
So I made a plan.
✅ I worked out every day. At first, just to kill time. But soon, it became a way to rebuild myself.
✅ I read everything I could get my hands on. Books on psychology, self-improvement, business—anything that could sharpen my mind.
✅ I cut ties with anyone who wasn’t about growth. I wasn’t going back to the same crowd that got me here.
✅ I made a vow—when I got out, I was going to make something of myself.
Prison didn’t break me. It built me.
The Day I Walked Free
After 16 months inside, the day finally came.
I walked out of those gates, a different man.
No more excuses.
No more blaming others.
No more wasted potential.
It was time to rebuild.
At first, it wasn’t easy. The world didn’t owe me anything.
But I was determined.
I got back into CDL trucking to make money, then slowly started working on what would eventually become McManus Ventures, Bussin’ Caterin’, and GrindWithChris.
Every day, I reminded myself—I had a second chance.
And I wasn’t about to waste it.
Why I Share My Story
A lot of people don’t make it out.
They get locked up, come out the same person, and fall right back in.
I refuse to be another statistic.
That’s why I’m here—to prove that no matter how far you fall, you can rise again.
I WAS MY OWN WORST ENEMY–NOW I’M MY GREATEST ASSET!
I blamed others, leaned on vices, and let addictions rule me–until I realized my life was mine to change. Your past doesn’t define you; your struggles don’t own you, and your potential is limitless. Keep pushing, keep rising, you’re stronger than you know.
-Christopher McManus-
You just have to choose to grind.
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