"The Frantis raised five children-three biological and two adopted-teaching Michael early lessons in empathy and hard work. His father, who battled alcoholism before finding recovery, showed him that change is always possible. "He taught me the value of hard work even through his struggles," Franti says. "He showed me that it's possible for anyone to change." His mother, a public school teacher for over 30 years, inspired him to embrace authenticity."
"His early years were anything but glamorous. He worked as a bike messenger, did construction, and served as a nightclub doorman before making a living through music. Those experiences grounded him and kept his perspective sharp. "Every job I had before music taught me something about people-how they move, what they value, and how they find joy even when life is hard.""
"She always told me that being human doesn't mean being perfect-it means showing up as your authentic, complex, and sometimes messy emotional self."
Michael Franti grew up in Oakland within a family that prioritized music, sports, and church. He was adopted at seven months and carries African American, Nottoway Indian, Irish, Belgian, and German heritage. The Franti household taught empathy and hard work through five siblings and parental examples. A father’s recovery from alcoholism demonstrated that change is possible and the value of labor. A mother’s three-decade teaching career encouraged authenticity and emotional honesty. Franti left college to pursue music at 18, supporting himself with various jobs that informed his people-centered perspective. He spent decades touring worldwide as a musician, business owner, and leader committed to growth through adversity.
Read at Business Matters
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]