Dear Kobe

Here I go. I grew up in a single-parent home. My mom did the best she could do for us while working two jobs. I watched my cousin the one male in my life I truly looked up to lose his life at 16 I was only 6. I grew up going to the Great Western Forum to watch Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones was the first time I saw a positive male role model doing something other than selling drugs or gang banging. But those guys were old and then came you a 17-year old kid from Philadelphia and something was just different about you I couldn’t understand why I was so intrigued by you. I have to admit Eddie Jones was my favorite player before you came and when they traded him away so you could get more playing time, I couldn’t stand you.

But as time went on and I saw how you handle LA and being a Laker I couldn’t do anything but to simply fall in love with you as a player. I remember all the great times you gave us as Laker fans, and it’s because of you why I choose a career in sales and business. The Mamba mentality is what has gotten me to this point in my career in 2017 my mother almost lost her life and I was forced to make a tough decision to leave one of the best jobs of my life and take care of my mother. In doing so I had to find a way to make money, but also still stay relevant in technology.

So I asked myself what would Kobe do? And it was in that question that I found my answer. I combined my love for technology and sports and technology and started working for myself. I just want to thank you for being the father and role model a young kid from central needed and being a positive role model and mogul for what I aspire to be one day. You’ve helped me time and time again and for that, I just want to thank you. Whether it's a sales contract or battling for a client I’ll carry that Mamba mentality with me and hopefully one day instill it in my children. I love you Kobe and Rest easy.

Sincerely, your biggest fan

DJ Johnson