Raised by Kings: What My Grandfathers Taught Me About Love, Hustle & Empathy
I didn’t have the opportunity to build with my own father, but I was blessed with two amazing grandfathers who poured powerful lessons into me.
My Grandpa Breezel Allen, he was a cook, a guiding counselor, and a real-life king. He taught me how to be a man with my heart on my sleeve. He showed me what it means to truly love a woman and lead with compassion. One day, he wanted to teach me about hard work, so he took me to Home Depot and hired one of the OGs there. But instead of having the OG do the work, my grandpa paid him to relaxand teach me how to do everything. What he was really building in me was empathy, he wanted me to understand how to work with people, not just how to work hard. That’s one of the greatest lessons I ever received from him. Rest in peace, Grandpa.
Then there’s my Grandpa Gust He showed me what hustle really is. Mental toughness. Discipline. Providing for family. I drove cross-country with him multiple times, from California to Florida to deliver a car to his mother. I was just 14 or 15, already behind the wheel, already learning the grind. We had many adventures, and he taught me how to get it done no matter what.
So even though there’s a part of me that sometimes feels fatherless, I can’t ignore that I had two great examples. I don’t bypass their impact. I carry their lessons with me daily.
Happy Father’s Day to all the majestic fathers and to the ones who stepped up and showed us how to be better men.