We were lucky to catch up with Gerald Hearns recently and have shared our conversation below.

Gerald, appreciate you joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

Taking a Risk — The Birth of Too Cool Alkaline Water

“Taking a risk isn’t just about doing something uncertain. Sometimes, it’s about following a calling that others can’t yet see while moving on faith and confidence.”

For me, that risk came when I decided to launch Too Cool Alkaline Water Company. The name ‘Too Cool’ comes from my youngest brother, Antwuan and my God Brother, Poppy. Poppy was someone I deeply admired; a kid wanting to play sports and make it out of the environment we grew up around. He and Antwuan called me ‘Too Cool’ growing up, because of the way that I dressed and my vibrant personality. After Poppy tragically lost his life protecting his sister, I wanted to create something meaningful in his honor following owning my privately-owned multivitamin business. I proposed to Antwuan that I was designing my very own water business, but could not think of a company name. Antwuan replied, “why don’t you call it Too Cool?” The brightest smile lit on my face with a million thoughts. What started as a tribute turned into a mission — a way to inspire others through health, purpose, and legacy.

At the time, I was balancing a lot, training for the NFL, transitioning into authorship, working as a Owner’s Rep Construction Manager in Solar Construction, and mentoring young athletes. Being diverse in the paths that I chose to further my future, climbing the mountain of entrepreneurship was not easy. I did not have a roadmap or investors; just a dream, faith, and a strong reason “why.” I saved funds from my job, profits from trading in the foreign exchange market, and self-funded Too Cool Alkaline Water Company. The no’s or lack of responses and support from people that I thought would consider to invest in me, motivated me to go harder.

I learned how to build a brand from scratch: designing the website myself following some mentorship from a professional website designer, creating the content, managing deliveries, and building relationships one conversation at a time. Every obstacle taught me something new about resilience, leadership, and vision. My passion for networking, marketing, creating opportunities, and adding value to people I come across only continue to grow and I become a force to be reckoned.

That risk of stepping out of my comfort zone and into my purpose became the foundation for Too Cool Alkaline Water. It’s not just a brand; it’s a movement that honors family, fuels athletes, uplifts communities, and reminds people to “Hydrate the Future.” Too Cool Alkaline Water Company is a purpose-driven water business.

When reflecting on my journey, that risk was never really a gamble it was a divine assignment in alignment with my goals that continues to grow beyond what I ever imagined.”

Gerald, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am, Gerald Hearns, Founder and President of Too Cool Alkaline Water Company, LLC — a brand built on faith, family, sports, and community. My journey into entrepreneurship started from a place of passion and purpose. As a former athlete, I have always understood the importance of hydration, performance, and perseverance and most importantly, discipline; not just in sports, but in life. Being born and raised in West Palm Beach, was not just a place of origin, but also a destination of motivation and perseverance. I got into this industry by taking a leap of faith of contacting manufacturers and asking questions to produced my very own customized water to my liking and coming to a resolution.

From playing high school football, college football, and professional football, life as an entrepreneur allows me to maintain my champion mindset. Doing what it takes to serve as a leader, a champion, and bringing others together for a bigger purpose and impact, inspires others to chase their dreams.

Too Cool Alkaline Water offers premium, high-pH alkaline water enriched with essential electrolytes designed to promote balance, recovery, and energy. But beyond the bottle, we are a community-focused brand. We host fundraisers, sponsoring youth athletic programs, supporting families impacted by natural disasters, and spotlighting local entrepreneurs through the Too Cool Alkaline Water Magazine.

What sets Too Cool apart is our authenticity and impact. We don’t just sell water; we pour into people. We build partnerships that strengthen communities and collaborate with organizations that share our values of wellness, empowerment, and opportunity.

I am most proud of how far the brand has come in these past 3 years and counting. From a personal vision to a community-driven movement we strive to continue expanding. Every bottle represents legacy, unity, and purpose. My mission is to continue expanding Too Cool’s reach not only through hydration and health but through hope and human connection.

When people think of Too Cool Alkaline Water, I want them to see more than a logo; I want them to see a lifestyle rooted in excellence, faith, and giving back. Because at Too Cool, we do not just hydrate you, we Hydrate the Future.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

When I started Too Cool Alkaline Water, I did not have investors, a trust fund, or a major sponsor behind me. What I did have was vision, discipline, and faith.

My motivation came from understanding that if I could work hard for someone else’s dream, I could work even harder for my own. I made a decision early on to use my regular job as a launch pad, not a limitation. Every paycheck became an opportunity to invest into myself and fund my dreams. I saved intentionally, budgeted strategically, and funneled those savings into building my brand and putting funds into long term investments that set me a part for retirement to ensure myself and family will be set.

At the same time, I focused on establishing strong credit and leveraging my business history as I created and owned Brick By Brick Academy of Health & Wealth program. That allowed me to qualify for funding and open doors that many small businesses struggle to access.

I also found creative ways to generate extra income such as trading in the foreign exchange (forex) market, where I learned to manage risk, read patterns, and make my money work for me. That skill became another stream of income I could reinvest back into my business and also contribute towards charitable causes in my community such as autism awareness, feeding the homeliness, lupus awareness, and other various charitable programs.

To top it off, I organized my own community networking events, not only to raise awareness but to also build genuine relationships and partnerships. Every event, every bottle, every conversation was a building block.

The funding for Too Cool didn’t just come from money, it came from sacrifice, strategy, and purpose. I believed in my dream before anyone else did, and I built it piece by piece until it became something real, powerful, and impactful. I genuinely appreciate my mother, Sharon Engram, close supporters and friends that includes, Kim Keown, Joel Insilo, Jean Brown, David Brown, Mr. Chris Brown, Scott Arnold, Antwuan Nelson, and Poppy, who were directly impacting and supporting my vision.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was believing that saying “yes” to everyone was a form of love, loyalty, or leadership.

For a long time, I felt responsible for being there for everyone such as family, friends, teammates, even people who just knew me from the community. I thought being accessible 24/7 meant I was being supportive and dependable. But what I didn’t realize was that I was draining myself trying to pour into everyone else’s cup.

When I started Too Cool Alkaline Water and began stepping into bigger responsibilities as a founder, mentor, and community leader, I quickly learned that not everyone is meant to reach the new altitudes you’re striving for. Some people will support you, others will misunderstand you; and that’s okay.

I had to unlearn the habit of stretching myself too thin. I had to realize that setting boundaries isn’t selfish it is in fact necessary. I began to protect my peace, my time, and my focus. That meant saying “no” to things and people that distracted me from purpose, even if it was uncomfortable.

The truth is, you do not have to deal with things you don’t have to. Growth requires focus, and focus requires discipline. Learning to say “no” gave me the power to say “yes” to what truly mattered which my vision, my mission, and the legacy I’m building through Too Cool Alkaline Water and my community impact and my immediate family that I love dearly.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.toocoolwater.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/geraldhearns
• Facebook: Gerald Hearns
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerald-h-65950588?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Other: 2nd Instagram: @TooCoolWater

Image Credits
Gerald Hearns, Too Cool Alkaline Water Company