Justin Frye

Made With Love: A Conversation with Justin Frye *Robert: If you had to write something on your skin about love, what would it say?* **Justin:** Made with love. I don’t have any tattoos, but if I did, that’s what I’d want it to say. I’ve been super lucky. I’ve had a lot of great people come into my life, pour themselves into me, and make me who I am. *Robert: What memory brings “Made With Love” to life for you?* **Justin:** Thanksgiving at my parents’ house. I remember telling my mom, “Thanksgiving dinner is so good. How is it so good?” She said, “Oh, honey, it’s because I made it with love.” I totally believe it tasted better because that was how she showed love. She brought everybody together. *Robert: What did your parents teach you about leadership and connection?* **Justin:** My dad was very influential, and we always thought of him as the quintessential leader. But looking back, my mom was a different kind of leader. She united people. She built connection through service and a quiet toughness. I have tremendous respect for her, and I don’t think she always got the credit she deserved. *Robert: What was the Thanksgiving tradition that meant so much to your family?* **Justin:** We always started by splitting fire wood on our 40 acres. The whole family did it. When my wife first joined us, she asked, “When are we going to slice wood?” We all started roaring laughing. “Honey, it’s split wood!” I still have a picture of my brothers, my dad, and me in our flannels on one of those Thanksgiving split days. *Robert: How has that tradition changed since your dad died?* **Justin:** My dad has been gone five years, and the tradition kind of died with him. My mom comes to my house for Thanksgiving now, so there’s no more wood splitting. That makes me sad because my dad loved it. But I also like the idea of finding a new way to carry that tradition forward. *Robert: What are you trying to live more fully in your life now?* **Justin:** I want my wife, Melissa, to see me as a warm-hearted, loving man who makes her feel like she’s the most important woman in the world. I routinely fall short of that, but that’s my vision for our relationship. I know I can do it. I need better habits and the discipline to live that truth consistently. *Robert: When you think about legacy, what matters most?* **Justin:** The word “legacy” makes me a little uncomfortable. I try to keep it simple: Did I make the people around me and the things I worked on better because I was there? That’s it. The values that feel most important to me right now are self-discipline, wisdom, and courage. And maybe “made with love” is the reminder underneath all of it.