American financial literacy entrepreneur and self-made businessman, John Hope Bryant, recently had a sit-down interview with NFL legend Cam Newton on the Funky Friday podcast. And, in addition to Bryant’s business insights, fans were treated to some humorous moments. With Cam involved, it was a given.
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Bryant, the CEO of Atlanta-based nonprofit Operation HOPE, and Newton’s discussion primarily revolved around promoting financial literacy and the principles of building wealth. Bryant suggested that the best approach is to make informed investments guided by experts, reiterating that it would guarantee rewards. Soon, their business talk took an amusing turn.
The 59-year-old businessman noticed that Newton had yet to offer him anything throughout his appearance on the show. Not even water.
“Every time I watch this show, it’s liquor flowing. You’ve got your Cognac and you’ve got this and you’ve got that. I don’t drink and I said I’d love water and I got nothing. My self-esteem is affected.” Bryant joked. “I’m a little offended.”
The 2015 MVP trophy winner was quick to defend himself, reminding Bryant that he had asked if he wanted anything before the start of their session.
Jovially asserting that Bryant’s own water bottle was “in close proximity,” Newton proclaimed, “You’ve gotta be extremely direct… You’ve gotta be intentional.” Intentional, as one must be while doing their taxes.
“That’s why he’s Cam Newton,” Bryant noted before steering the conversation back toward taxes.
Citing the age-old adage of “don’t pay more than you should, pay what you owe,” Bryant claimed that there’s nothing “shady” about handling taxes in such a manner.
“You want to find a great tax professional and make sure your tax pro and attorney are not going to the club and partying with you. You want somebody that’s boring… I have a bookkeeper, I have an accountant, I have a chief financial officer… These are all a part of my financial deal and I’m the financial literacy pro, but I assume that I don’t know,” elaborated Bryant.
And knowledge is key, he reiterated. Despite nearing the 60s, Bryant admitted he is still constantly seeking knowledge from his more successful friends.
“I have a lot of billionaire friends and I listen to them, all the time. I watch them and they are built differently, they are wired differently… One of [my] billionaire friends, I brought him a business proposal… He cursed me out… He said ‘John I don’t want to make anymore money, it’s a pain in the ***’,” said Bryant.
Sharing his friend’s claim that they would rather enjoy “capital gains” over further taxes, Bryant highlighted how one must be willing to take an alternative approach to success.
