From Prison Cell to Bronze Medal: Why This Moment Means Everything

*By Brandon D. Cox, 5-Star Author & Visionary Behind Crookd Crown Clothier

There are moments in life that remind us that no matter how dark the path has been, the light will always find its way through. Receiving the Bronze Medal Award from Readers’ Favorite for my book Hustle Reimagined—in the Non-Fiction Occupational category—is one of those moments for me.

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To be recognized alongside distinguished authors like Dr. Maureen Dunne—a cognitive scientist and bestselling author—Dr. David Hupp, a business administrator with ties to Johns Hopkins, and Jason Silver, a published author of nine books… and then there’s me: Brandon D. Cox. A man who wrote his first book from a prison cell on a JPAY tablet, never having written a book before, never knowing if my words would even be heard.

But they were.

Hustle Reimagined is more than a book—it’s my truth. It’s my redemption story. It’s every lesson I learned through 18+ years of incarceration, every ounce of growth I’ve worked for, and every bit of motivation I want to pass on to those who feel like their circumstances define them. Spoiler alert: they don’t.

This award is not just mine—it belongs to every person who has ever been doubted, every hustler who had to learn how to flip adversity into opportunity, and every young man or woman growing up in places where hope feels far away.

This is the same story that gave birth to Crookd Crown Clothier, Omaha’s largest online streetwear brand—a brand I built with grit and heart, inspired by the streets I come from and the royalty we all hold inside us.

To be placed in the top five in this category reminds me that I have purpose. That all the time, pain, and pushing forward meant something. That I’m no longer just an inmate—I’m an author, a mentor, a visionary. And I’m just getting started.

To my readers, supporters, and everyone who believes in second chances: thank you.

Let this win remind you that your dreams are valid—no matter where you start.
Keep going. Keep hustling. The world is watching now.

—
Brandon D. Cox
Author of Hustle Reimagined
Founder of Crookd Crown Clothier
Redefining Royalty