Meet Ernest Gardner | Pro athlete & brand owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ernest Gardner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ernest, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
I believe that everyone should chase their dreams. At the end of the day, if you gave it everything you had; and it didn’t work out, then you will be at peace. However, if you didn’t go all out, you will go through life thinking “what if”. I advise going all it, and keeping good people around you, and let the chips fall where they fall. Nothing in life worth having is easy. You get out what you put in. I feel like most people have that challenge or voice(s) of people telling them what they can and can’t do, However, they don’t matter; everyone is not going to support you, but you cannot let that stop you.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As far as football, I most excited to play on TV because my family is spread out (Mom is from the Caribbean), Therefore everyone can watch my televised games. As far my brand, I’m most excited to see the support from some of the biggest names in sports.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As far as places to be night life wise, I hit up my bro DJ Aladdin. He is one of the coldest DJs out and is booked almost every night (bars, clubs, arcades, etc.). Outside of that I enjoy going to lakes like Lake Lanier or Jackson Lake ( my uncle has a lake house there with jet skis, boats , Atvs, etc.) . For Food, my favorite hobby is cooking when I have time, but I do enjoy ponce city market.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would say my parents. They have been there with me through the ups and the downs. Whether I was on the bench or starting on national television. From the time it looked I would have to stay In special ed as a kid; to eventually graduate high school; to me actually graduating without special courses and going on to earning a degree from the University of Tennessee. My parents have been there and motivational through it all.

Website: Iethebrand.com

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