These streets don’t love you. They never did, and they never will. They’ll suck you in, chew you up, and spit you out without a second thought. And when they’re done with you? They’ll leave you standing there broken, betrayed, and alone, wondering how the hell you’re going to survive.
I know this because I lived it. I’ve been in that mud. I’ve seen how easy it is to get pulled under when you’re out there trying to make it. And I’ve seen how quick people forget about you when you’re no longer useful.
The streets don’t care if you’re tired. They don’t care if you’re hurt. They don’t care if you’re barely holding on. If you don’t stay sharp, they’ll leave you to fend for yourself.

Getting Out the Mud
Climbing out of that mud isn’t easy—it takes discipline, determination, and a lot of hard work. For me, it was a decision I had to make every single day. Nobody handed me a lifeline or gave me a cheat code to escape. I had to grind for it, plain and simple.
And to be real—it wasn’t only about walking away. It was about staying away. Because the streets don’t let go easy. The people you grew up with, the environment that shaped you, the mindset that kept you hustling—they’ll all try to pull you back. You’ve got to be stronger than the pull.

For me, getting out was about focusing on something bigger than the life I was living. Writing became my lifeline. Putting my story on paper gave me a purpose and a way to process the pain. But even then, it wasn’t like the clouds parted and the sun came out.
New Levels, New Devils
When you make it out, nobody tells you about the next set of obstacles waiting for you. Nobody prepares you for the fact that success comes with its own weight. You start to realize that escaping the streets was only one chapter in the story. The next chapter is about surviving the success.

You’ve got to learn how to move in spaces where you’re the underdog all over again. You’ve got to fight the guilt of leaving people behind, even when staying would’ve buried you. And you’ve got to deal with the pressure of proving that you deserve the life you fought so hard to build.
That’s the thing about change—it’s a never-ending cycle. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, life throws something else at you.
The Never-Ending Hustle
“Change isn’t easy. It’s uncomfortable. It’s painful. And it’s constant. But it’s necessary.”
You’ve got to keep evolving. You’ve got to keep pushing. The same discipline that got you out of the mud is the discipline that’ll help you deal with whatever comes next.
The streets taught me a lot. They taught me how to hustle, how to survive, and how to stay sharp. But they also taught me what I don’t want for my life. And that’s the message I want to leave you with—no matter where you start, you have the power to change the game.
Closing Message
You’re not defined by where you’ve been—you’re defined by what you do next. Getting out of the mud isn’t the end of the story. It’s just the beginning of a new one.

So, if you’re reading this and you feel stuck, remember this: change is possible, but it’s not going to happen without discipline, determination, and hard work. The streets don’t have the final say—you do.
Ready to Change the Game?
If this hits home for you, check out my memoir, Change The Game. I wrote it to show that no matter how hard life gets, you can fight your way out. And if you’re ready to share your story, I’ve got the tools to help you do it.
Change isn’t just a word—it’s a movement. Let’s keep pushing forward.
For more information please visit: www.tmjefferson.org
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