Today we’d like to introduce you to Gilbert Graim.
Hi Gilbert, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I remember waking up one day and telling my dad I had a field trip. I told him I needed a lunch for the day and that I really wanted a lunchable with the drink. My dad asked why I was barely telling him and said he would bring my lunch up to the school before I left for the field trip. As I loaded the bus and all of my friends begin to open their lunch pails and take out their snacks, candy, drinks, and lunchables I sat on the bus with nothing in my hand. Until I seen my dad run on the bus and say I have my son’s lunch- as I reflect on this tears are coming down my eyes. I quickly hugged my dad and took my lunch which wasn’t in a fancy lunch pale but in a food max grocery store plastic bag. My friends all asking what did I have, what did I get for lunch, and me nervous of opening the bag. I opened my bag, and I had a homemade peanut butter and jelly, saltine crackers, peanut butter in a Ziploc bag, and a cleaned-out peanut butter jar with orange juice in it. My friends laughed and screamed about what I had for lunch. I felt small, I felt poor, and I felt embarrassed. This moment happened over 20 years ago and still feels like it was just yesterday- this moment at a very young age changed the trajectory of my life, my work ethic, my goals, and my desires. Today, I wish I could tell my father thank you- because he provided the best thing he could last minute. I didn’t realize or see that my dad wasn’t going to let me be without -my dad wasn’t worried about my friends; he was worried about me eating. This lit a fire under me, and I begin to want more and desire more- but I didn’t understand what more took! I, as a young man, continued to find myself in trouble for being a class clown, found myself always trying to please people, continuing to want more but not willing to work more or pray more. God has continued to be my soundness in every storm, my peace while I’m going crazy, and my hug when I felt lonely. It was my faith and determination that didn’t allow me to give up- when society said I’d be nothing, to not give up when family members and friends talked about me, to not give up when I was facing eviction or repossession, to not give up when I prayed, and nothing was changing. It was in the moments of the valley that I learned everything needed to stand on the mountaintop. It’s not an easy task to have to fight every day of your life to prove to people you aren’t a statistic, that you aren’t a nobody, that you aren’t what they call you, and you aren’t what you did. I had to learn to make my life work- with missing bolts, misplaced screws, engine trouble, and an overheating radiator I had to keep moving and going when it would’ve been normal or easy to quit. I’ll never forget moving to Texas, having lost everything. I moved with no plan and $200 to my name. It was in that sacrifice that God showed me when I am weak; he is strong! I was invited to be on the Steve Harvey show, started my career in new development multi-family, begin to travel the world for work, and so much more. In the next couple of years of my life, I would lose my dad and be divorced all before 25 years of age- but I didn’t stop! I cried and worked, I was depressed, and at therapy, I was broke and praying. Since then, I have opened up several businesses, purchased over 10 acres of land, built a home, remarried, started a family, became a licensed minister, donated thousands of dollars to various organizations, and now accomplishing one of my biggest achievements yet by joining the ballot for the May 6th election for City Council all before 30. When they ask me how I made it here, my answer is simple- I believed that God had a plan even when I couldn’t see it!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My grandmas use to always tell me “Anything worth having doesn’t come easy.” I use to think things I wanted could come easy, but they never lasted. It has never been a “smooth” ride- but that’s the best part. If life was smooth, I wouldn’t learn how to keep going or fighting towards my tomorrow. Some struggles I faced were trying to make it past what my parent or grandparents deemed success at the time- many thought I needed to get a city job, good benefits, and wait for retirement. If life was smooth, I wouldn’t have been tasked with burying my father at 24, going through a divorce at 23, or the several other things I had to get through in order to show myself mighty and strong! The struggles as ugly as they may be, the struggles have continued to define characteristics of who I am today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about New Development | Multi-Family?
In 2015 I got into an industry with no experience (multifamily). I quickly was able to prove myself and begin to travel to brand-new assets that couldn’t get their leasing numbers up. I traveled and moved to places like Atlanta, Chicago, Virginia, DC, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, Houston, and many more places while promoting quickly where at the peak of my career I held the New Development Director position overseeing new developments in 4 different states. At the same time, I started a party bus company, credit repair company, auto brokerage company, Tax auction classes, etc. continuing to work towards my goals and not forgetting to turn around a lite the fire of someone else.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I’ve learned you’ll eventually get to try each stage of life- so no matter what stage you are in… Just keep living. You will soon get to be the grape, then the raisin, and then the wine, facing new challenges at each season of life. The grape had to be beaten and squeezed, the raisin had to be dried out, and the wine to be of great value must sit on the counter and collect dust. You will be able to be on top, times you’ll feel overworked and depleted or dried out, and waiting sometimes is the hardest things.
Contact Info:
- Website: DesotoGraim.com
- Instagram: DesotoGraim
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089495535979&mibextid=LQQJ4d
