At 18 Paul was in prison and his life was completely off the rails. He was addicted to drugs, a high school drop-out, and his mother had just died. He was also about to spend 10 years and 10 months in prison after being convicted of killing his drug dealer.
Paul is now a Doctor of Psychology, motivational speaker, leadership and development specialist, husband, father and regular contributor to the media. He is also the bestselling author of How to Escape from Prison and Mental Fitness: Build your mind for strength and resilience everyday. Paul works with everyone from the police to senior leaders at Google and at risk-teens.
Simple idea, enthusiastically explained. You've pointed me back to where I need to be paying more attention - in that inner circle. Thanks so much for sharing.
This absolutely describes the process I'm working through with my mentors at the moment as we are going through finalising my thesis and the book that goes with it as doctorate outputs. Because we are at opposite ends of the country and we are meeting online, we have defined end times for our meetings, so there are nicely-spaced walk-away and think some more points where I can get my head around the things I need to let go of on the journey towards the best possible outputs. Roll on 39 days from now when everything's submitted...
Thanks for sharing these words of wisdom, Paul. They are SO what I need right now - I might have to have this clip[ on a permanent loop in the background.
Thanks for that Mr Wood, good advice, I'm living in your old stomping ground of karori, I've got alot on my plate lately and the thing that's keeping me sane is the 20km a day I walk on all the bush tracks around here.
I can’t bring myself to slow down to the pace of the knuckle dragging gossip bags at the supermarket. I prefer to practice tolerance and composure while I wait in pain to get through the check out. Once out the other side I celebrate and tell myself to never let myself fall to the levels of ignorance and oblivion that these people practice. They are my barometer of how not to behave, similar to how a cold rainy day makes me appreciate a warm fine day.
These tools are so good brother 🙏🏽 Tune in & tune out 5 things, breath, using understanding of mirror neurons to help de-escalate: seki as! I’ll use this for sure at mahi and home bro ❤️
I bet you’ve experienced and achieved a lot more than those who judge and stigmatise you, Paul. They’re the close minded and uneducated ones - something you’re far from. Thanks again for your books and sharing your experiences and views.
Appreciate the advice man. You're extremely skilled at explaining your story. Keep it up💪. PS: You sound really experienced in this stuff, so do you know of anyone that's interested in a motivational/inspiring thumbnail? I am a video designer and planning on perfectly recreating the ideas of content creators... So I'm planning on asking the right questions, matching the brand, studying the viewers, matching the personality... and then using the right techniques (sometimes I'd like to jump out of the comfort-zone and learn new stuff) so that I can keep adjusting till they're satisfied with their ideal thumbnail.
Hi Paul, Because I critique everything, my opinion of the person who told you that they didn't want to argue with you, because they didn't know what you might do, is bizarre behaviour. I might say un sound of mind ! Regarding stigma, I can relate to a big dose of that in respect to continual job application rejections, due to ageism, not capability. But we keep on keeping on 🙂
Two really cool things come out of what you've said, Paul. 1 - don't give up believing in your good qualities now because they way outweigh anything not so good from the past. 2 - don't give up on yourself - ever.
Modifying ones behaviour due to other peoples perceptions could be problematic given that they may not understand a life lived any different to their own. Example; A Battery Hen will never comprehend the soaring of an Eagle. The American show called 'That's Incredible' versus the NZ show called 'That's fairly Interesting' may say more about the Americans Egotistical nature than what it does about the New Zealanders Humble nature? What instead of why; great advice Paul.
Without knowing it, I think I have spent most of my life primarily in the circle of control. The circle of influence has teased and tempted me though and seen me stray at times. I have no time for the circle of concern especially the versions promoted by MSM. I have people around me that suffer greatly, I believe because they are trapped in the vortex that is the circle of concern.
Blessings in an abundance of the faith. I salute you. 😘🙏Grace and peace be unto you and to this place. God bless you. Thank you. 😊Will you believe and receive Jesus Christ as your LORD and personal saviour??? I do. 🤍🌈🤍
My mother sighs whenever I ask her for or to do something with me like go for a car ride or have a question while she's watching T.V. She's obviously sighing to express frustration, that's it and it bothers me so much I don't want to be alive anymore.
I find it incredibly distasteful that you can find so much information about yourself, yet I'm still struggling to find the actual name of the man who's life you took. I'm stoked to see someone turn their life around, but you need to be quiet mate. You're a murderer and always will be, show some respect and live the rest of your life away from those who are still hurting from your actions. You're just making yourself a bigger target.
BACKGROUND Background From an Evening Post article 22th April 1997 A 19-year-old Wellington man's appeal against his murder conviction for alleged dissent among the jury, has been dismissed. Justice Heron ruled in the Court of Appeal today that the procedure followed by the trial judge in a jury poll had been correct. The jury was given ample opportunity to show dissent. Paul Quentin Wood had pleaded not guilty to murdering his drug supplier Boyd Bevan, 42, at Karori on December 31, 1995. Mr Bevan's bashed body was found in Wood's bathroom. Alleged dissent was the reason Wood appealed his conviction. In the Court of Appeal yesterday, defence counsel Bill Johnson said the atmosphere had been highly charged at the end of the trial and Justice McGechan agreed to a poll of the jury. When the judge asked if any jurors disagreed with the verdict, a juror began to put up her hand and then put it down. Mr Johnson said he rose to point out the dissenting juror, but the judge told him to sit down. He said no human being could "smash a baseball bat into the skull of another human being and then strangle them", without meaning to kill them. Pathologist Clinton Teague said Mr Bevan's heart was still beating when he was strangled, but by then he had already sustained lethal brain damage. Defence lawyer Bill Johnson said Mr Bevan was an "old- time villain" who was known to police. A homosexual, drug dealer, and a dealer in stolen property, he was known to associate with young men about Wood's age. From a Dominion article 25th September 1996 Crown prosecutor Grant Burston told the court Mr Bevan died after being strangled with a rope and suffering at least eight blows to the head with a baseball bat. Wood and his girlfriend, Tracey Hill, had a drug habit that cost them "hundreds" each day, he said. On the night of the killing, Mr Bevan went to the couple's flat in Karori and sold them tablets of morphine sulphate. The couple had the drugs but then said they had no money to pay for them. A tablet of morphine sulphate costs between $200 and $400, the court was told. Mr Burston said an argument developed which resulted in Mr Bevan suggesting that instead of money, Wood and his girlfriend have sex while he watched. Wood considered the suggestion but his girlfriend was not keen on the idea. Her response was to get a baseball bat from under a bed. Wood told Mr Bevan to leave, and when he refused to do so without payment, Wood attacked him. Mr Burston said the killing was "sordid and vicious". Wood had broken the bat over Mr Bevan's head with enough force to split the bat in two, he said. Blood was spattered on the ceiling and over the front door. After the beating, Wood strangled Mr Bevan before moving him to a bathroom where he removed $900 and a gold ring from the dead man's body. Mr Burston said Wood failed to notice $5200 cash in the dead man's other pocket. The case of Paul Wood initially appeared to be clear cut self defence, but having strong similarity to the case of David McNee who was killed by Phillip Layton Edwards where the victim had allegedly made sexual advances. In this case after Mr Bevan was killed by Wood (who was addicted to morphine), like the David McNee case the offender in this case calmly stole the victim's personal items after being left for dead. Wood and his girlfriend had often got involved in dishonesty to support their drug habits. All the evidence shows this was intent to kill clearly knowing the force used was likely to cause death.
BACKGROUND Background From an Evening Post article 22th April 1997 A 19-year-old Wellington man's appeal against his murder conviction for alleged dissent among the jury, has been dismissed. Justice Heron ruled in the Court of Appeal today that the procedure followed by the trial judge in a jury poll had been correct. The jury was given ample opportunity to show dissent. Paul Quentin Wood had pleaded not guilty to murdering his drug supplier Boyd Bevan, 42, at Karori on December 31, 1995. Mr Bevan's bashed body was found in Wood's bathroom. Alleged dissent was the reason Wood appealed his conviction. In the Court of Appeal yesterday, defence counsel Bill Johnson said the atmosphere had been highly charged at the end of the trial and Justice McGechan agreed to a poll of the jury. When the judge asked if any jurors disagreed with the verdict, a juror began to put up her hand and then put it down. Mr Johnson said he rose to point out the dissenting juror, but the judge told him to sit down. He said no human being could "smash a baseball bat into the skull of another human being and then strangle them", without meaning to kill them. Pathologist Clinton Teague said Mr Bevan's heart was still beating when he was strangled, but by then he had already sustained lethal brain damage. Defence lawyer Bill Johnson said Mr Bevan was an "old- time villain" who was known to police. A homosexual, drug dealer, and a dealer in stolen property, he was known to associate with young men about Wood's age. From a Dominion article 25th September 1996 Crown prosecutor Grant Burston told the court Mr Bevan died after being strangled with a rope and suffering at least eight blows to the head with a baseball bat. Wood and his girlfriend, Tracey Hill, had a drug habit that cost them "hundreds" each day, he said. On the night of the killing, Mr Bevan went to the couple's flat in Karori and sold them tablets of morphine sulphate. The couple had the drugs but then said they had no money to pay for them. A tablet of morphine sulphate costs between $200 and $400, the court was told. Mr Burston said an argument developed which resulted in Mr Bevan suggesting that instead of money, Wood and his girlfriend have sex while he watched. Wood considered the suggestion but his girlfriend was not keen on the idea. Her response was to get a baseball bat from under a bed. Wood told Mr Bevan to leave, and when he refused to do so without payment, Wood attacked him. Mr Burston said the killing was "sordid and vicious". Wood had broken the bat over Mr Bevan's head with enough force to split the bat in two, he said. Blood was spattered on the ceiling and over the front door. After the beating, Wood strangled Mr Bevan before moving him to a bathroom where he removed $900 and a gold ring from the dead man's body. Mr Burston said Wood failed to notice $5200 cash in the dead man's other pocket. The case of Paul Wood initially appeared to be clear cut self defence, but having strong similarity to the case of David McNee who was killed by Phillip Layton Edwards where the victim had allegedly made sexual advances. In this case after Mr Bevan was killed by Wood (who was addicted to morphine), like the David McNee case the offender in this case calmly stole the victim's personal items after being left for dead. Wood and his girlfriend had often got involved in dishonesty to support their drug habits. All the evidence shows this was intent to kill clearly knowing the force used was likely to cause death.
Spot on. I;ve experienced this but didn't twig till now. A few days ago, I made such a list due to age related forgetfulness, and found it to be just as you said.Just need to remember to do this regularly. Thank you. :)
You mention how important it is to be around people. This is currently very difficult with all these lockdowns I haven't even seen my friends or family for God knows how long. Makes growing the cup a much slower process.
