Kobe Bryant Pens Letter To His 17-Year-Old Self
It’s no secret that Kobe Bryant‘s relationship with his parents is as tainted as yellow snow. Why? Because of money.
The retired Los Angeles Lakers star penned a letter to his 17-year-old self in the Players’ Tribune where he issues a stern warning to himself about the dangers of showering family and friends with money and gifts.
Kobe wrote:
Purely giving material things to your siblings and friends may appear to be the right decision. You love them, and they were always there for you growing up, so it’s only right that they should share in your success and all that comes with it. So you buy them a car, a big house, pay all of their bills. You want them to live a beautiful, comfortable life, right?
But the day will come when you realize that as much as you believed you were doing the right thing, you were actually holding them back.
He went on to stress the importance of setting a budget for his parents and NOT mixing business and family.
The next time I write to you, I may touch on the challenges of mixing blood with business. The most important advice I can give to you is to make sure your parents remain PARENTS and not managers.
Before you sign that first contract, figure out the right budget for your parents — one that will allow them to live beautifully while also growing your business and setting people up for long-term success. That way, your children’s kids and their kids will be able to invest in their own futures when the time comes.
The Black Mamba better speak that good word.
Read Kobe Bryant’s full letter here.
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