Hi, I’m Craig Stanland.
Welcome to my page.
I f*cked up; you don’t have to.
How?
Let me show you how my journey can help you craft your own extraordinary second act.
I was a massively successful corporate sales executive with all the professional, financial, and materialistic success many would say was having “it all.”
But that couldn’t have been further from the truth; I had zero sense of direction, purpose, meaning, authenticity, or fulfillment.
My life was riddled with fear, self-doubt, and a sense of unworthiness and inadequacy.
I felt suffocated by my own success, trapped in a life that didn’t truly reflect who I was.
Desperate to break free, I made a catastrophic choice:
I defrauded a tech giant. The consequences were severe.
The FBI arrested me, I was sentenced to federal prison, and I lost everything material. But my greatest loss was my sense of self.
I had no idea who I was but hated who I had become.
At my lowest, I considered ending my life until a simple visit from a friend changed everything.
From here, my life transformed, and one of the most important questions we can ever ask ourselves presented itself:
Continue as is, or choose to create something new and reinvent?
I chose reinvention.
Today, I’m a Speaker, Reinvention Architect, and Author of the best-seller, “Blank Canvas, How I Reinvented My Life After Prison” and the soon-to-be-published series, “Mastering Midlife: Get Unstuck, and Reinvent Your Authentic Extraordinary Second Half.“
I also write the “Midlife Reinvented” newsletter. A weekly edition filled with actionable strategies and insights from my personal journey over the last decade.
My mission? To inspire you to discover your authentic self, unleash your full potential, and craft a meaningful, extraordinary second act.
And, most importantly, to do it NOW
Not later, not waiting for life to change, not waiting for the “perfect” time, but NOW.
Ready for Your Reinvention?
Join The “Midlife Reinvented” Newsletter
This is your first step toward creating your extraordinary second act.
📣 Looking for a keynote speaker that will leave your audience inspired and ready to take bold action in their lives?
Let’s connect and bring the power of reinvention to your event.
Speaking Engagements
With a deeply personal story of overcoming federal prison and hitting rock bottom, Craig delivers powerful keynotes that resonate with anyone seeking to unleash their potential, discover purpose, and live authentically.
Midlife Reinvention Newsletter
Are you professionally & financially successful yet woefully unfulfilled? Are you ready to craft your authentic and extraordinary second half? Join the “Midlife Reinvention” newsletter for weekly tips, insights, and inspiration.
Blank Canvas Book
This book isn’t just a memoir; it’s a roadmap for anyone who has ever felt lost inside their own life, a guide back to authenticity, and a call to action to reinvent. Hear more about Craig’s memoir and purchase Blank Canvas.
Hear from Craig
Craig is a regular contributor to numerous blogs and publications and has been a guest on many different podcasts. To read and hear the latest from Craig, see the latest blog posts and our in the media section.
The Latest from Craig
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How to Nourish Your Soul In One Hour a Day
I worked in corporate sales years ago. My life was a constant chase. Chase the next deal; chase my quota; chase the next shiny object with the commission earned from that deal. I’d chase my to-do list because it was my self-worth measuring stick. At the end of each day, I’d…
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How to Navigate and Heal Old Wounds in Midlife
“That’s way too much cheese.” I knew it was coming. I even shredded less cheese than I wanted to out of fear of hearing the commentary. Every time I cook pasta (or tacos or burritos) for us, it’s the same, “That’s a mountain of cheese.” “That’s way too much cheese.” “We’re…
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Prison to Purpose: Owning My Story Set Me Free
Ten years ago today I reported to federal prison. It was day 1 of 730. Then followed by 3 years of supervised release and an order of restitution. I would do my time in a prison camp, but I was processed in a medium-security prison, the ones we see on TV,…
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Alcohol Was My Life. Now It’s Not.
It’s been just over 3 years since my last drink. I don’t know the exact day I stopped drinking, and I don’t celebrate or mark the occasion. This is strange to me because I wasn’t a casual drinker who decided to stop. But every so often, I catch myself thinking that…
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Reflections On Self-Worth And Growth At 51
I turned 51 yesterday. Birthdays are an excellent opportunity to reflect, and I looked into a collection of lines I’ve written that jump out to me. They’re epiphanies, things I’m coming to understand, things I want to explore deeper, messages directed at myself, and questions I’d like to answer. I have…
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Unlock a Life of Purpose: One Simple Question to Ask Daily
Is your life like that moment when you pull into your driveway and don’t remember driving home? Do you ever feel like you’re on a hamster wheel? You’re running so fast and getting absolutely nowhere. Busy. Busy. Busy. And very little to show for it. It’s exhausting; it’s frustrating and, quite…