04/27/2026
Today marks the anniversary of our grandfather, Pa, going to heaven.
We think and talk about him all the time — what would Pa say about this? Can you imagine his reaction? The moments where we know he’d be proud are the best. We know that he knows.
He came from nothing. Built everything. 8 kids. 40+ grandkids, 50+ great grandkids. Somehow made every single one of us feel like we were his favorite.
He was tough on us. Told us how it was. Never let us settle. When TNB was starting, he wrote me an email that said “the one who has the will to succeed will get there faster. This builds character and the strong survive.” He told me — don’t think you’re above the work. Nobody handed it to me and nobody is going to hand it to you. Get in the weeds and figure it out.
That’s who he was. He challenged us because he loved us. He pushed us because he saw something in us. Looking back, that discomfort is exactly where we grew the most.
The people in your life who hold you accountable, give you tough love, tell you how it is, and demand your best are the most valuable people you will ever have. They are also the rarest. It’s easy to have people in your corner who just tell you what you want to hear. It’s rare to have someone who loves you enough to make you uncomfortable. That discomfort is where growth lives.
Having someone you want to make proud that badly is a gift. That pressure is a privilege. It raises your standard. It makes you show up differently. We wanted nothing more in this world than to make him proud and that desire made us better.
He challenged us when we started TNB. Asked hard questions. Didn’t just hand us his support. Then became our first customer, and would respond to branded emails telling us he’s proud.
Someone who loves you unconditionally but refuses to let you be less than what you’re capable of. That’s the greatest gift he gave us.
If you have someone like that in your life — a parent, a grandparent, a coach, a mentor — don’t take it for granted. Tell them. And let that relationship push you to be everything you’re capable of be
