HIMPower Magazine January/February 2019 | Page 22

there, as he tells in his own words how his journey began. HimPower: Marion, we know there’s always a story behind the story. What can you tell us about yours? Marion Brooks: My mother was a single parent with three children. My father had 11 children by 10 different women. My grand- parents took in my sisters, brother and me and raised us. I remember one time, there were some people over visiting and I over- heard one of them ask about my parents. When they told them whose child I was, I heard them say, “Oh, he doesn’t have a chance; he’ll never be anything.” I went into another room and was crying. My grand- mother came and asked me what I was crying about. I told her I didn’t want to get in trouble but I heard what they said about me and I didn’t understand why they said it. I asked if it was something I had done to make them say that. My grandmother said, ‘You know, people will put their limitations on you, but it only matters if you accept them.’ She told me, ‘There are no limits on anything you want to be. The only limits are the ones you accept. I’m a black woman born in 1915 and I went to college. You’re going to go to college and far beyond”. HimPower: If you had to pick one person who has most influenced your life and the man you have become, who would it be and why? Marion Brooks: My grandmother. She supported and encouraged me in many ways, and gave me my example of the value of investing in people. You also have to 22  HimPower January/February 2019 invest in yourself. HimPower: You have certainly proven the naysayers wrong and live a remarkable life. What have you done that gives you the greatest sense of accomplishment? Marion Brooks: When people ask me of everything you have accomplished, what do you consider to be the greatest things? My response is, “I’m the father to four girls. My sister was a single mom. I was sixteen when my oldest niece was born. I became a father to her three girls, and I have my biolog- ical daughter. When my sister talks about how much I’ve done for them, I tell her it’s because she was my biggest supporter and advocate when I was growing up. HimPower: How do you manage to be a good father to four girls with such a busy schedule? Marion Brooks: It’s an amazing journey. My daughter is the youngest of the four and she is so amazing about sharing her daddy with her cousins because she saw how things were. They’re like sisters. And she’s so benev- olent. I was doing some executive coaching and reflective coaching with her. I asked her what she liked most and least about me as a father. She said what she liked most was that I treat the other girls just like I treat her. She’s 21 and will be graduating this year. She majored in business, but she is in love with photography. So, I’m connecting her with some people we know. HimPower: You’ve built an amazing career jet-setting all over the world, holding positions not commonly held by African Americans. Yet, you decided to give up the