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In this episode, I’m speaking with Roy Ratnavel, a retired financial services executive and the author of the #1 Canadian national bestselling book Prisoner #1056.
Roy’s philosophy for life seems simple but I think it’s a hard one for most of us to adopt: fix yourself before you fix the world. If you’re a good husband, you raise good kids. Good households create good communities. Strong communities build strong societies. Strong societies make stronger countries.
And I think Canada needs a lot of this at the moment. Everything is ground up, not top down. The government can’t control what goes on in your head or within the four walls of your home. No regulation can stop that. So it comes down to individuals—not as a selfish notion, but as a recognition that you need to fix your flaws before pointing out others’ shortcomings.
Roy spent a decade after arriving in Canada blaming everyone else for his struggles. At 31, he realized he was the problem. He went to war with the man in the mirror, sought therapy for PTSD, and completely changed his approach to life.
Roy and I chat about my biggest lessons from reading his book. We also explore:
Why the 2010 Winter Olympics was the most Canadian he’d ever felt
How Canada can unite people across differences
Why we need to lower the barrier but not the bar
Moral exhibitionism vs. real solutions
Lying to yourself versus being honest about mistakes
Dozie’s Notes
A few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week’s conversation:
We need to lower the barrier, not the bar. We don’t have to reduce standards to create opportunities. It always seems like this part gets mixed up in DEI conversations. Why aren’t kids from certain communities entering medical school? Fix that. Teach soft skills, provide networking access, create pathways. But never compromise on what’s required to do the job.
Immigrants need horizontal and vertical integration. Horizontal integration means staying connected to your culture—your food, music, language, traditions. Vertical integration means connecting across cultures—knowing Nigerians, Greeks, Italians, Jamaicans. Both matter. Too much horizontal keeps you isolated. Too much vertical disconnects you from your roots. Balance is key.
Circumstances make you a victim. Choices keep you one. Roy spent a decade blaming everyone else for his struggles after arriving in Canada. The war, the prison, his father’s death—those were circumstances outside his control. But staying angry, transferring trauma to strangers, refusing responsibility—those were choices. When he changed his choices at 31, his outcomes changed.
Official Links
✅ Connect with Roy Ratnavel on LinkedIn
✅ Check out his website and buy Prisoner #1056
✅ Watch his keynote speeches if that’s your groove
One Ask
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