Meet Francis Ike | Content Creator

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

Hi Francis, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
The key principal that matters to me the most is being kind to other people, even when you are not expecting anything from them. This right here shows your true character and how you value your relationships. You don’t have to always gain something from an interaction with someone.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a IT project manager I love my job. I always have enjoyed working with people and I am a very structured individual, so making deadlines has been something that comes easy to me. I am able to really dive into my abilities.

My level of kindness and patience with others is something that sets me apart from the rest. I take a posture of showing Love even when I am purposely hurt or under appreciated. I also tend to look for the best in people, even in their darkness moments. Even though having these traits have deeply hurt me in the past, it is a character trait I would not change at all. Having this disposition has brought me so many blessings and has only allowed me to progress in so many ways.

Getting my dream job as a Project Manager was not an easy journey but it was so rewarding. My career started out in Management because of my love for people and helping others. In my past roles I was undervalued and over worked. I had to often hold 2-3 jobs to sustain my family. It was stressful at times running off 2-3 hours of sleep and still being a present father in my household. One thing I always had was a vision of what I wanted my life to be. Those long nights working security I would day dream of having my dream house and car with my kids. Being able to buy them whatever they wanted and not have to second guess if I can pay a bill or have food on the table. I knew where I was not was temporary and I just had to keep pushing no matter how bad or hard things got. I was disappointed many times by being overlooked from a promotion at work or a company not hiring me to take on their Marketing. But one thing I always did was stay consistent. I always remembered the vision for my family.

It really brings me to tears to see the life I live now and where I had to build myself up from. One thing I always do is give back in some way to the less fortunate and I teach my kids the importance of that. There was a time daddy could not just take you guys out for a whole day of fun at the zoo and pay for all the extra things. So we have to be grateful for the ability to do those things, thank God for providing a way and also give back to those who may not be in that place now.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There are a couple of areas I really enjoy in the city. I would say Ponce City market. I really enjoy how there are multiple options to go to. The same thing with Atlantic Station, there are just so many things you can do. I always enjoy a rooftop so I would say Spaceman just for the views. Three Arches in Buckhead is really good as well.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would say my family is the biggest drive for my success. They have always been there to constantly support me and love on me even in the hardest times. Going through a Divorce 2 days before my 29th birthday and losing my brother in a car accident in Nigeria within three months was devastating for me. The mental toll it took on me was a familiar feeling to losing my father to cancer in 2015.

But my family was always there for me and I built a strong relationship with God and I would not be here if it was not for him. Anyone going through a difficult time and not sure how they will come out, I say lean into your faith. In my weakest moments I humbled myself and came to God asking for guidance and he has not led me wrong since. My kids are my world and they have no idea how much they motivate me and push me to be a better father every day.

My sister and mother are very important in shaping me to the man I am today. Seeing them care for my father who was diagnosed with cancer in 2011 and passed in 2015 forever shaped the type of love I wanted to experience and give to my future spouse. They were selfless in their love and truly unconditional. That is when I truly saw an example of unconditional love. My ex wife’s parents were also a major factor in developing me as a father and spouse at the time. They continually poured into me faith wise and in teaching. Losing my father in 2015 and becoming a father myself in 2018 was so life changing. During that time I had no idea what I was doing but I had the blue print with my father who passed and my now new dad(pops- ex wife’s dad) and moms(ex wife’s mother). Their whole family showed me nothing but love in a time where I was still learning how to properly lead a family. My ex wife’s brothers took me on as one of their own and continually coached me in what it meant to be a farther through their actions and words. They always instilled in me to be better than they were.

Life came at me very hard at a young age and not until I rose from the darkness did I realize we all go through something similar. One thing I vowed was that regardless of the pain I have endured I would not allow it to change my kind hearted nature towards others. I was not always shown kindness in how others dealt with me but God put this posture of grace with others in me that I cannot shut off. I am not a perfect man but a progressing man is a quote I live by.

Prayer, Therapy , Meditation and the Gym all played a role in me balancing my life in order to obtain my dream job and have the financial means to have my children with me full time. Some days I wake up in disbelief in how far I have come and I am grateful to God for how he has blessed me and my family.

Instagram: Ikelifestyles

Youtube: Ikelifestyles

Image Credits
Krnc wheels