Ryan Ferguson takes his freedom seriously, and you should too

Each July, great fanfare envelops our nation as we celebrate a basic human right: freedom. For Southwest Florida resident Ryan Ferguson, freedom means everything, 365 days a year.
On Nov. 1, 2001, Kent Heitholt, sports editor for the Columbia (Missouri) Daily Tribune was murdered in the newspaper’s parking lot. In a highly controversial case that received national media attention for over a decade, (then) 19-year-old Ryan Ferguson was jailed and ultimately sentenced to 40 years in prison for his alleged role in the murder.
With the assistance of renowned civil rights attorney Kathleen Zellner, Ferguson’s conviction was finally vacated on Nov. 5, 2013, on the basis that the prosecution withheld evidence from the defense team.
At age 29, he was finally set free. Though Ferguson’s 20s were lost, his spirit was not.
Erin Moriarty of CBS News’ “48 Hours” covered the Ferguson case for many years.
“In my mind, there just wasn’t enough evidence to convict him. There was plenty of physical evidence at the crime scene but none of it belonged to Ryan,” Moriarty says.
Inspiration in a dark time
Once confined, Ferguson ultimately learned to look inside himself for inspiration. “Though there are many things you cannot control in prison, you do have control over your mind and your body,” Ferguson says.
Words that ring true in so many situations — and in so many metaphorical “prisons.”
He focused on physical fitness and became a voracious reader. Some of his favorite, and most influential, titles included: “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Spencer Johnson (lesson: accepting change); “Your Erroneous Zones” by Wayne W. Dyer (lesson: conquering negativity and taking control); and “A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle (lesson: living consciously).
Moriarty observed: “Having covered these types of cases a long time, I discovered that those who turn out to be innocent never really ‘connect’ to life in prison. They survive by maintaining their own space and own world. That was Ryan.”
Rising above the circumstances
Once released and despite having missed out on a college education, Ferguson took a professional high road. His first book, “Stronger, Faster, Smarter” hit bookstores last month.
“It’s about strength, survival and fearlessly creating your own path in life regardless of your circumstances,” he says.
The book title was inspired from advice a 19-year-old jailed Ferguson received from his father, Bill. These words focused on self-preservation and served as the backbone of Ferguson’s journey of personal and professional growth.
A documentary on Ferguson’s ordeal, produced by filmmaker Andrew Jenks, is also set for release in 2015.
“I lost 10 years of my life — years that will mean nothing unless I use it to bring about change. If not, it will always haunt me,” Ferguson says.
As for Moriarty: “I hope Ryan doesn’t allow himself to always be defined as ‘wrongfully convicted.’ I want him to use everything he has learned: courage and humility, the ability to overcome adversity, and the leadership skills he gained from dealing with different types of people. I just want him to become the best person he can be.”
The next time you feel professionally “trapped,” think of Ryan Ferguson and try looking at your situation from a different perspective.
After all, for many of us, understanding our innate freedom will often be an exercise in bravery.