I didn’t get into the Manny business to make a load of money. I saw a need, and I wanted to meet that need. It wasn’t attention that I was seeking for self gain, but rather I knew my story would help the word get out.
I have found there were so many misconceptions about what I was doing and about mannies in general. For instance: why would a college graduate want to take care of kids that he wasn’t related to? Why would someone who took classes at Princeton University resort to being a nanny at age 27?
Well, my personal story is complex. What matters most is that when I was a kid, I was broken. I grew up in a household with a lot of yelling.
You see, what you say and do around your kids matters. It matters a whole lot. In fact, it will shape the rest of their lives. Your kids are watching. They see how you treat people, how to react in hard situations, the language you use. Your child’s character will begin to reflect your character. When I was growing up, I had good examples and bad examples. My father resorted to drinking to mask his frustrations and took his anger out on others. He ultimately ended his own life while I was still a kid.
What does this have to do with mannies? The answer is everything. When you are a kid, you don’t have many foundations other than your parents. As we grow older, we find foundations within ourselves, in strong relationships with others, and perhaps in our faith. But when we are kids, our parents are all we have. It’s where we go to get fed, to get support, to be loved, to be encouraged, to learn. I was just a child and my foundation was crumbling. It lead to fears, doubts, insecurities, anxieties.
My mother (who is the strongest person I know) took over. She is an amazing individual who has a positive effect on every person who meets her. A million words wouldn’t adequately describe the character of my mother. But as amazing as she is, she knew she needed help. That’s where my mannies came in.
In the year 2000, in the state of Tennessee, I had mannies. If fact, I had a few. There was Jeff. He did a lot of work around our house after my dad died. He and I spent hours on the roof talking about life. He encouraged me. He set a good example. He gave me someone to look up to. There was Perry. He taught me to ride horses and to be strong. I learned how to treat women properly and drive a manual transmission. There was also Dr. Cisto. He was my very large, football-playing music teacher who spent hours with me, one on one, making sure I was doing well in school. I remember our talks like they were yesterday. These were the men who shaped me. They weren’t called mannies back then, but I call them my mannies now.
What I have done is put a name to something that has been around for thousands of years. When a man steps up and becomes a mentor to a child… he is a manny. Many mannies work free of charge. They come in forms of neighbors, cousins, coaches, teachers. But what about those families who don’t know any awesome guys in their area? What if there were a company that could help you?
Mannies do matter. They matter to me. And they matter to millions of kids around the world who have been positively affected by guys looking to make a difference.
I became a manny because I was looking to make career change. When I thought about what I wanted to do until I figured it all out, I decided to do something in which I would be making a positive difference in the lives of kids. I wanted to be the Jeff, Perry, and Dr. Cisto to other kids who needed it. I decided to start a movement.
John Brandon is the CEO of MyManny. He is known internationally for co-founding his first company NYC Mannies. He has been interviewed on CNN International, Good Morning America, ITV (UK), CBS This Morning, as well as numerous other news outlets and major publications around the world. Having worked for years as a manny, John brings a unique perspective and passion to the childcare industry. He is a published writer on the subject of caregiving and mentorship. John is a graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey and The McCallie School in his hometown of Chattanooga, TN.
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