Andre Brown is an operations manager in the financial industry and finds himself running a team everyday to achieve the best possible results for the company he works for. He takes these same ideals and helps to grow and nurture the family he loves. As the father of five he understands the importance encouraging education and what legacy means. We spoke with him about being his experience as a Black father and helping to raise a blended family.
What legacy are you leaving for your children and the children of your community?
The legacy that I’m building includes wealth, ownership, family value, knowledge of self, and most importantly a spiritual foundation.
I make financial decisions and investments with my children in mind. I want to make sure that at the very least, when I’m gone, they are financially stable and have the knowledge to maintain and grow those finances. I often speak to them about the type of career/lifestyles they want when they grow up and how to tie entrepreneurship into anything they choose. I also lead by example with my own business run by my wife and I.
As African-Americans they need to know the power that lives in them. Our origin is from kings and queens, not slaves. I also teach them about many people and events in history that are sometimes incorrect in their school lessons.
The biggest thing that I teach my children is that none of this would be possible without God. We are very blessed in multiple ways, but God gets all the glory, honor, and praise. With this spiritual foundation they know that anything is possible. They also know the power of prayer and persistence.
How would you describe your Fatherhood culture?
My fatherhood culture is one of leadership. I make decisions, reward, discipline, protect, provide, and plan. I also embrace the fact that I am a role model to my sons on the type of man they should grow to be and an example to my daughters on what type of man they should expect. With this in mind I’m always mindful of what I do and I always utilize their day to day experiences to teach them life lessons. In addition, I’ve learned to be firm, yet fun, fair, and loving all at the same time.
Why is it important to expose children to education and valuable skills?
Education and valuable skills are everything. Valuable skills are something that will provide you with a way to earn income, do things for yourself, and survive. More important than that is education. Not just going to school and getting a degree, but learning how to teach yourself. To be able to pick up a book or research on your own to deepen your knowledge. This is the key to life. Through knowledge, anything you want to do or excel at can and will become that much closer. Knowledge, is truly power.
Which fatherhood experiences have taught you the most about yourself?
I believe this one is the experience of having a blended family. All of my children are truly gifts from God. They have all made me such a better person, a better man. To be able to put myself aside and love them all unconditionally is a joy like no other and the love I receive in return is amazing. Even before marriage, this really made me step back and evaluate myself. Could I be the father that all of my children would need me to be? It was definitely concerning, when I thought about all of the “what ifs”. I decided that I was up for the challenge and over the last 6 years, I have learned how strong and versatile I could truly be. Now I’m confident that I could take on any challenge, especially if I’m doing it for them.
Name one life lesson that no one taught you, but should have.
How to not get caught up in the rat race. I would have at least loved to have been made aware of it. I mean the rat race of debt and income. The rat race of working hard your whole life, but not working smart. I know have much more of an understanding of wealth, financial freedom, and making your dollars work for you. This is something that I instill in my children because I feel this knowledge really makes you look at life differently. It changes your decisions and it’s something that can change generations to come.
Why is it important to expose children to education and valuable skills?
Education and valuable skills are everything. Valuable skills are something that will provide you with a way to earn income, do things for yourself, and survive. More important than that is education. Not just going to school and getting a degree, but learning how to teach yourself. To be able to pick up a book or research on your own to deepen your knowledge. This is the key to life. Through knowledge, anything you want to do or excel at can and will become that much closer. Knowledge, is truly power.
Which fatherhood experiences have taught you the most about yourself?
I believe this one is the experience of having a
blended family. ALL of my children are truly gifts from God. They have all made me such a better person, a better man. To be able to put myself aside and love them all unconditionally is a joy like no other and the love I receive in return is amazing. Even before marriage, this really made me step back and evaluate myself. Could I be the father that all of my children would need me to be? It was definitely concerning, when I thought about all of the “what ifs”. I decided that I was up for the challenge and over the last 6 years, I have learned how strong and versatile I could truly be. Now I’m confident that I could take on any challenge, especially if I’m doing it for THEM.
Name one life lesson that no one taught you, but should have.
How to not get caught up in the rat race. I would have at least loved to have been made aware of it. I mean the rat race of debt and income. The rat race of working hard your whole life, but not working smart. I know have much more of an understanding of wealth, financial freedom, and making your dollars work for you. This is something that I instill in my children because I feel this knowledge really makes you look at life differently. It changes your decisions and it’s something that can change generations to come.
