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YM Nation‘s own Nichelle Nichols & Nicole Nichols sat down with the Harvey family for an exclusive interview with the comedic great and his daughters.

Check it out below!

He has the distinguished mien, the social consciousness, and the comedic timing which places him in a class of all-time greats, not to mention a New York Time Bestselling Author, Radio Personality, Host of Family Feud and BET‘s Celebration of Gospel, philanthropist, the original King of Comedy and his credentials don’t end there.

Steve Harvey hugely influential, he is the bridge from the old school to the new school of comedy. The terms “legend” and “great” are overused in entertainment, and there’s a different league of the true greats. Mr. Harvey stands among those few who can deem themselves “Great” he is a rare figure in the entertainment world that genuinely cares about the state of his people and the development of the next generation.

An interview that was originally centered on the dynamic between his daughters Brandi and Karli Harvey, his book “Think Like a Lady and Act like a Man” and how it transitioned into a movie turned into one of those unique moments where someone you greatly admire bestows knowledge and wisdom you never imagined.

He began to speak on the determination which is needed to succeed in entertainment or any field for that matter.

Steve: “Here’s the deal… This is a principal that young people have to understand about being successful, It is not what is in your realm of thinking to figure out “The How To” meaning How do I become a millionaire…How do I become a mogul…How do I become an entrepreneur,  It’s your job to figure out the idea and pursue it. The principal I stand by “inch by inch everything’s a cinch” and by using this method of thinking you begin to accomplish small goals until you’ve reached your dream. Most people block their blessings with the “How To,” wondering how it’s going to happen without letting God make the way for them.  Your only job is to pursue the dream and let God do the rest.”

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As we sat and listened {Brandi, Karli, Nicole & Nichelle} Steve delved into the difference between your passion and gift, and the individuals who are there to destroy you (your haters and naysayers).

Steve: “I am 57 years old and I walked on stage for the first time at age 27, so half my life I’ve been doing one thing. That’s the thing I tell people, identify your purpose. The two most important days of your life are the day you’re born and the day you find out why. The “Why” is your purpose and your purpose is usually directly tied to your gift. It is your gift you must first identify before you can even begin the journey of becoming successful.

Finding your gift is simple; what is the thing you do the absolute best with the least amount of effort? Young people make the mistake of trying to find something their passionate about and ignore their gift.  “Nobody gives a flying shit about your passion.” [Laughs] –Make your gift your passion and purpose, then you begin the journey of becoming successful.”

Steve: “There are those who prey on the dreams of others. You are going to have your naysayers and haters on your rise to the top. They are necessary, as evil as they are and as unwanted as they are…they help you to become tough enough to go through the crap you’re going to come up against. Think of your haters as dirt and you’re the seed. If you throw a seed on a piece of concrete it will never grow into anything but a seed will only develop if it has dirt, because the dirt will provide the nutrients needed to grow and if you use your haters as motivation they cause you to push through as you grow. People get stopped by haters because they think the dirt is not good for them, and only after you push through can you become a tree or flower.”

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On Steve’s Blueprint to Success there were two little girls following his every move.

Brandi Harvey and Karli Harvey are extremely successful in their own right and following in their father’s footsteps with the creation of Young Fit & Fly which focuses on the development of young women. These two had the privilege of being raised with the incredible insight and the awareness of the male psyche of Steve Harvey. You know his three points on “What Drives A Man” (who he is), (what he does), and (how much he makes). But what has the two most important women in his life learned from his advice and knowledge about men?

A candid interview with Brandi Harvey and Karli Harvey about men, growing up with their outspoken father Steve Harvey and what they look for in a man.

Brandi: “We truly believe that our dad has been a great role model and we constantly use the knowledge our dad has given us and his success as a business model to follow. Dad is our closest friend and our most important adviser. We don’t have to look elsewhere for inspiration but to our father.

Steve: They had a great teacher… [Laughs] They were real fortunate heifers!

Karli: Dad!

Brandi: We remember going to the comedy clubs watching dad after school sitting at the bar drinking shirley temples not realizing this was who he would become.

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YMNATION: On your Blueprint to Success did you see yourself becoming an author?

Steve: It was on my bucket list. See the book is derived from my failures and mistakes in relationships. I kept track of all my successes and failures in relationships and totaled them up and realized that they are learned experiences.  I wrote the the book for all my daughters and other women, so they can have a better understanding of men.

What was the first lesson your dad taught you about men?

Karli: That we were the prize. We always saw how a man was supposed to treat a lady by the way our dad treated us, he showered us with love and attention and let us know that we were worth more than someone to just kick it with.

Brandi: Dad also demonstrated that a man is supposed to hustle and provide for his family. We look at him as the ultimate example of manhood.

Do you think the book has made it harder for the two of you to date?

Steve: Yup… [Laughs]

Karli: Men approach us with lines straight out the book as if they have cliff notes; it’s incredibly funny to see.

Was it your intention when writing the book, for men to approach your daughters in the correct manner?

Steve: Well, that has always been a requirement if you talked to one of my daughters. That’s why the girls rarely bring men by the house because they don’t  want me to run them away.[Laughs] See, me I just cut to the chase quicker than them or any other woman, because I understand how men are and function. All men aren’t bad guys. The average guy is a good guy but if you let him have his way that’s what he’s going to do.

So ladies with all that your dad has taught you about men, what characteristics make –up Mr. Wonderful for you?

Steve: They are looking for their DADDY! [Laughs]

Brandi & Karli: True we do want someone like our dad. Someone who is righteous is what our dad taught us, as well as driven and has a great relationship with his mother. Brandi; someone I can give myself to and who will adore Karli and me.

Steve: I try to impart on my daughters and to other women between the ages of 20-30 the majority of women are not going to find those self-made men, but those men you do find should have the basics in place i.e. love of God, be a hard worker, have goals, etc. If people judged me for everything I did in my thirties I would not have anyone because I was learning how to be a man at that time. I was a good guy but I was not made and so many women are looking for the made man, and miss the man who has the potential to be made.

Final lesson for today, Next time you feel good about the sum of your achievements in your life to date, you’d do well to peruse the resume of Mr. Steve Harvey and the women of the next generation Brandi and Karli Harvey.