Michael is a prolific reader. He started reading at the age of three, and books were an escape for him. He was drawn to the Greek and Roman myths and legends. He loved Choose Your Own Adventure books. He searched for answers to the question of how he was supposed to live his life in books and stories. He has always been fascinated by ancient civilizations, particularly their myths, legends, and religious beliefs. He was fascinated by the gods and goddesses and inspired by the heroes. He has long felt that the ancients possessed knowledge that the world has forgotten and would benefit from today. He also studied Classical Latin and briefly taught a beginner’s Latin class in prison.

Years of studying materials that the ancients left behind, and seeing parallels throughout the millennia and in civilizations throughout the world, led him to conclude that there is timeless wisdom to be gained from the stories they told to each other and passed down to us.

The one concept that appeared over and over again in the stories he read was that the hero was required to descend into the underworld, face his worst fears, and return with the treasure that would save humanity. This idea greatly appealed to him and his desire for a greater purpose in life.

This journey is also the premise of Dante’s Divine Comedy, one of the many books Michael read throughout his life. This story kept returning to Michael’s mind and he knew that there was so much more meaning to it than he understood at the time.

When Michael began learning about the links between childhood trauma and criminality, delving into the effects of trauma on the brain and body and how it affects the development of personality and belief systems, it became clear. Being traumatized was equivalent to being stuck in the hell that Dante depicted, and only by addressing that trauma could we free ourselves from the Inferno.

Michael came to the conclusion that we are all the heroes of our own stories. The journey through the Inferno is a part of the heroic narrative which requires us to descend into the underworld and face the demons and harsh truths found there. Only then can we emerge as the hero we were meant to be and deliver the treasure we have discovered to the rest of humanity.

Michael emerged from the depths with a new code for living, which he calls the RAIDD Code. It is designed to help others find their way back to the straight path, and to avoid getting stuck in the Inferno during their own journey.

Michael founded New Start Enterprises with a single purpose in mind: To help everyone remember that they are the hero of their own story.