Derrick Williams: Hey, what's going on everybody? I'd like to welcome you to another episode of the Just Keep Showing Up Podcast. This is your man Derrick. And today I have the pleasure of speaking with Justin Blair. What's going on, man? What's going on? How are you? I'm I'm doing good, man. we didn't already talked multiple times about how this happened, you here for the podcast. Me just thinking like, man, who can I have on the show? And I said that like to myself in the car, driving to the gym. Yeah, yeah. You walk up to me, we see each other in the gym all the time. And you just came up and like, hey man, I like to be on a show. I'm like
Justin Blair: Hey, what's going on everybody? I'd like to welcome you to another episode of the Just Keep Showing Up Podcast. This is your man Derrick. And today I have the pleasure of speaking with Justin Blair. What's going on, man? What's going on? How are you? I'm I'm doing good, man. we didn't already talked multiple times about how this happened, you here for the podcast. Me just thinking like, man, who can I have on the show? And I said that like to myself in the car, driving to the gym. Yeah, yeah. You walk up to me, we see each other in the gym all the time. And you just came up and like, hey man, I like to be on a show. I'm like
Derrick Williams: Yeah, I was I was literally told I was like, Man, I I was talking to you before about the podcast, and then someone was like, You should just you should just go ahead and do it. And I was like, like, make sure you go talk to him since since you've seen him. And I'm like, Okay, well and then you were walking on the treadmill. I'm like, All right, well let me run up to him and talk to him real quick. So it was perfect, man. So I I appreciate it, man. Thank you for taking time to come see. Thank you for having me. And and talking, just talk about what we do to keep showing up, man.
Justin Blair: Yeah, I was I was literally told I was like, Man, I I was talking to you before about the podcast, and then someone was like, You should just you should just go ahead and do it. And I was like, like, make sure you go talk to him since since you've seen him. And I'm like, Okay, well and then you were walking on the treadmill. I'm like, All right, well let me run up to him and talk to him real quick. So it was perfect, man. So I I appreciate it, man. Thank you for taking time to come see. Thank you for having me. And and talking, just talk about what we do to keep showing up, man.
Derrick Williams: So I like to always start off the show asking my guests to just tell of tell the folks that's listening a little bit about themselves. Okay. nothing's right or wrong. You're just kind of talking about whatever you want to share. So my name's Justin Blair. I am founder of Thor Fitness. And I also so with that I help I help people transform their bodies, their minds. I don't consider myself more than a
Justin Blair: So I like to always start off the show asking my guests to just tell of tell the folks that's listening a little bit about themselves. Okay. nothing's right or wrong. You're just kind of talking about whatever you want to share. So my name's Justin Blair. I am founder of Thor Fitness. And I also so with that I help I help people transform their bodies, their minds. I don't consider myself more than a
Derrick Williams: Personal trainer, I consider myself a lifestyle coach because I help people change from everything from their their mental. Yeah, their physical goes comes with it, but their mental, their discipline, overcoming obstacles. Yeah. and just everything that they have learned over their years that need to be changed. and yes, it starts with the physical, but we go a lot deeper than that. and I also work with a lot of youth in the Hartford County and Baltimore areas. trying to help them navigate.
Justin Blair: Personal trainer, I consider myself a lifestyle coach because I help people change from everything from their their mental. Yeah, their physical goes comes with it, but their mental, their discipline, overcoming obstacles. Yeah. and just everything that they have learned over their years that need to be changed. and yes, it starts with the physical, but we go a lot deeper than that. and I also work with a lot of youth in the Hartford County and Baltimore areas. trying to help them navigate.
Derrick Williams: especially young men navigate what they go through on a day to day basis and not knowing how to necessarily navigate these everything they're feeling and going through and basically letting them know that there's there's men just like them that started out their age and you know that that they can basically it's okay to feel what they're going through and to know and that we as men all go through those things, especially black men. Yeah. We go through those things and
Justin Blair: especially young men navigate what they go through on a day to day basis and not knowing how to necessarily navigate these everything they're feeling and going through and basically letting them know that there's there's men just like them that started out their age and you know that that they can basically it's okay to feel what they're going through and to know and that we as men all go through those things, especially black men. Yeah. We go through those things and
Derrick Williams: Just to keep pushing forward and to stay on the straight and narrow and it's a lot easier to go down the straight and narrow than to venture off course to only have to try to find yourself back on the straight and narrow. So yeah, and that's a little bit about me. Yeah, man, I like that you you mentioned that we I could just I can just put it in my words. None of us just got to the age we are now. We were once, you know, a younger person navigating life. Yeah. And yeah, you you g if you can. Okay. yeah, we we were we were all once young.
Justin Blair: Just to keep pushing forward and to stay on the straight and narrow and it's a lot easier to go down the straight and narrow than to venture off course to only have to try to find yourself back on the straight and narrow. So yeah, and that's a little bit about me. Yeah, man, I like that you you mentioned that we I could just I can just put it in my words. None of us just got to the age we are now. We were once, you know, a younger person navigating life. Yeah. And yeah, you you gotta if you gotta Okay. yeah, we we were we were all once young.
Derrick Williams: Some of us decided to go off the off beaten path, try to be like these rebels and against against society, against our parents, whatever whatever, you know, we felt that our vision of life was we were listening to other people that were the same age as us and had no actual they didn't even know what they were going through. Instead of listening to the adults and and when we don't listen to the adults, we don't listen to the older ones and we try to take our knowledge from this people the same age as us.
Justin Blair: Some of us decided to go off the off beaten path, try to be like these rebels and against against society, against our parents, whatever whatever, you know, we felt that our vision of life was we were listening to other people that were the same age as us and had no actual they didn't even know what they were going through. Instead of listening to the adults and and when we don't listen to the adults, we don't listen to the older ones and we try to take our knowledge from the s people the same age as us.
Derrick Williams: A lot of times it l it leads us down the wrong path. yeah, yeah. That's that's and I think it's important when we can meet people where they are and let know that, hey, I too was once a young person, whether I was no matter what I was, you know, and and and also just trying to get through life and and you making the best decisions you can at that time. so if we look back, man, looking at today and kind of comparing yourself to like maybe five or ten years ago. I think I may have met you like maybe three years ago at Planet Fitness.
Justin Blair: A lot of times it l it leads us down the wrong path. yeah, yeah. That's that's and I think it's important when we can meet people where they are and let know that, hey, I too was once a young person, whether I was no matter what I was, you know, and and and also just trying to get through life and and you making the best decisions you can at that time. so if we look back, man, looking at today and kind of comparing yourself to like maybe five or ten years ago. I think I may have met you like maybe three years ago at Planet Fitness.
Derrick Williams: How can you kind of see the the difference? Just even if you just go back five or ten years, you know, now all the way back to being a kid. Ten years ago, I I was a completely different person. I probably I probably would have wanted to beat up the guy that was, you know, ten years ago. that's interesting. Yeah. Yeah. Like to look at myself in the mirror to see how much I've overcame, how much I've accomplished in that time. it's a lot. so and you know, I sometimes it's hard for me to look in the mirror myself. Yeah. And even
Justin Blair: How can you kind of see the the difference? Just even if you just go back five or ten years, you know, now all the way back to being a kid. Ten years ago, I I was a completely different person. I probably I probably would have wanted to beat up the guy that was, you know, ten years ago. that's interesting. Yeah. Yeah. Like to look at myself in the mirror to see how much I've overcame, how much I've accomplished in that time. it's a lot. so and you know, I sometimes it's hard for me to look in the mirror myself. Yeah. And even
Derrick Williams: know that that I've overcame that much. Sometimes I still see that 10 year ago me. but I have overcome my s have overcome a lot in that time. And even in five years ago. Five years ago I was just a guy that I love fitness. I was just starting to get into the training. I didn't even know how to go about it. I had a I had a friend. he knows who he is and he told me just do it. Like if that's something that you that you think that you can do and that you can
Justin Blair: know that that I've overcame that much. Sometimes I still see that 10 year ago me. but I have overcome my s have overcome a lot in that time. And even in five years ago. Five years ago I was just a guy that I love fitness. I was just starting to get into the training. I didn't even know how to go about it. I had a I had a friend. he knows who he is and he told me just do it. Like if that's something that you that you think that you can do and that you can
Derrick Williams: And you know you can help people, you know what you're doing. So and just to go ahead and push forward and do that. So yeah, the difference of me from five to ten years ago is is a huge transition. I feel like that's life though. We are always needing to overcome, yes, to adapt. And just like I tell my my son to the other young men, forever until the day you die, you should be changing, forever evolving, forever learning.
Justin Blair: And you know you can help people, you know what you're doing. So and just to go ahead and push forward and do that. So yeah, the difference of me from five to ten years ago is is a huge transition. I feel like that's life though. We are always needing to overcome, yes, to adapt. And just like I tell my my son to the other young men, forever until the day you die, you should be changing, forever evolving, forever learning.
Derrick Williams: Yeah. And you should never stay stagnant in life. So because once you do that, you're not really living. Like you're you're here, but you're not you're not living. Right. Yeah, I agree. With the with the fitness man, which what shifted? I know you mentioned your friend, you mentioned you talked to someone about want to become a personal trainer. When did it kind of shift in your mind to go from being a hobby to actually being a personal trainer? And I kind of almost feel like if I had to guess, it would be your desire to want to help people. Just and I say that because of how you explained.
Justin Blair: Yeah. And you should never stay stagnant in life. So because once you do that, you're not really living. Like you're you're here, but you're not you're not living. Right. Yeah, I agree. With the with the fitness man, which what shifted? I know you mentioned your friend, you mentioned you talked to someone about want to become a personal trainer. When did it kind of shift in your mind to go from being a hobby to actually being a personal trainer? And I kind of almost feel like if I had to guess, it would be your desire to want to help people. Just and I say that because of how you explained.
Derrick Williams: yourself as a coach. It wasn't just I'm coaching you and helping you get stronger. Yeah. So it started with me. I started in the fitness space basically me I started three hundred pounds and wanting to change myself. Forget that right. Yeah, yeah. I was a I was a big guy. Yeah. and I and my daily habits were horrible. I smoked cigarettes. I drank nothing but sodas.
Justin Blair: yourself as a coach. It wasn't just I'm coaching you and helping you get stronger. Yeah. So it started with me. I started in the fitness space basically me I started three hundred pounds and wanting to change myself. Forget that right. Yeah, yeah. I was a I was a big guy. Yeah. and I and my daily habits were horrible. I smoked cigarettes. I drank nothing but sodas.
Derrick Williams: So it started out me changing myself. And then what I noticed as I started kept going through the fitness space in the fitness industry is it changed my mental. So I wanted to get into it to change my physical, but it ended up changing my mental. And the more that I worked out and the more that I stayed disciplined in it, mm-hmm, it changed me as a person overall. and once I realized how that started affecting me and realizing like, yeah, it started out me wanting to lose weight, but before I knew it, I was I was reading books. I was
Justin Blair: So it started out me changing myself. And then what I noticed as I started kept going through the fitness space in the fitness industry is it changed my mental. So I wanted to get into it to change my physical, but it ended up changing my mental. And the more that I worked out and the more that I stayed disciplined in it, mm-hmm, it changed me as a person overall. and once I realized how that started affecting me and realizing like, yeah, it started out me wanting to lose weight, but before I knew it, I was I was reading books. I was
Derrick Williams: thinking differently. I just wanted a better overall my health and I and I wanted to start helping others. so that came about probably about six, six, seven years ago is when I like got my first client. And my first client really kinda deterred me. He he quit after like two days. And I told my friend that I wasn't even gonna train anymore. And and he told me, nah you just gotta keep pushing forward, bro. If this is like what you really want to do, you need you need to do it. And
Justin Blair: thinking differently. I just wanted a better overall my health and I and I wanted to start helping others. so that came about probably about six, six, seven years ago is when I like got my first client. And my first client really kind of deterred me. He he quit after like two days and I told my friend that I wasn't even gonna train anymore. And and he told me, nah you just gotta keep pushing forward, bro. If this is like what you really want to do, you need you need to do it. And
Derrick Williams: And I and I realized that I wanted to help people more, yes, change your body, but to change your mind. Yeah. To change that there's you need to have discipline. That there's not every day that you're gonna want to wake up and come into this fitness space, come into the gym. There's not every day you're gonna want to wake up and eat the food that you need to eat. There's not every day that you're gonna want to get up and go to work, but you do it. There's not every day that you want to do anything, but you have to stay disciplined, and this is how you overcome and become a better person. So I I love to tell my people.
Justin Blair: And I and I realized that I wanted to help people more, yes, change your body, but to change your mind. Yeah. To change that there's you need to have discipline. That there's not every day that you're gonna want to wake up and come into this fitness space, come into the gym. There's not every day you're gonna want to wake up and eat the food that you need to eat. There's not every day that you're gonna want to get up and go to work, but you do it. There's not every day that you want to do anything, but you have to stay disciplined, and this is how you overcome and become a better person. So I I love to tell my people.
Derrick Williams: One percent better every day. If if your bank account increased one percent every day for the next five years, you'd probably be a happy person. Yeah, very, very happy. So so yeah, so so on that point, man, what would you say separates people who make real progress, kind of going back to the person who quit on you, that that's a person who doesn't make the real progress compared to those who make real progress. What's what's the difference between seeing people? So the people that see the real progress are the people that don't they don't make excuses.
Justin Blair: One percent better every day. If if your bank account increased one percent every day for the next five years, you'd probably be a happy person. Yeah, very, very happy. So so yeah, so so on that point, man, what would you say separates people who make real progress, kind of going back to the person who quit on you, that that's a person who doesn't make the real progress compared to those who make real progress. What's what's the difference between seeing people? So the people that see the real progress are the people that don't they don't make excuses.
Derrick Williams: Yeah. As far as they just don't make i any excuse whether you know, we can make an excuse and be like, I for example, I could have made an excuse on the right before I c was on my way here. I almost forgot my meal, but I I made sure I got it down. and that's that's the the real difference between people that see the change and because the ones that make the excuse of, I don't have time to get to the gym today. I don't have time to eat all my meals, or I don't have time to drink my water. You know, I had a old boss that told me you make time for what you want and
Justin Blair: Yeah. As far as they just don't make i any excuse whether you know, we can make an excuse and be like, I for example, I could have made an excuse on the right before I c was on my way here. I almost forgot my meal, but I I made sure I got it down. and that's that's the the real difference between people that see the change and because the ones that make the excuse of, I don't have time to get to the gym today. I don't have time to eat all my meals, or I don't have time to drink my water. You know, I had a old boss that told me you make time for what you want and
Derrick Williams: So, and that is the difference between someone that's gonna see the change and someone that is not gonna see the change because the person that's not gonna see the change will be like, I'm tired today. I got off work a little bit late. it's raining outside. They will come up with some reason. And the more and more you come up with those reasons to make excuses, the easier it becomes to quit. Mm-hmm. To make the next excuse. Exactly. Yeah. but when you stay disciplined and you're like, I don't care, I've got to make it today. Well, then it makes it
Justin Blair: So, and that is the difference between someone that's gonna see the change and someone that is not gonna see the change because the person that's not gonna see the change will be like, I'm tired today. I got off work a little bit late. it's raining outside. They will come up with some reason. And the more and more you come up with those reasons to make excuses, the easier it becomes to quit. Mm-hmm. To make the next excuse. Exactly. Yeah. but when you stay disciplined and you're like, I don't care, I've got to make it today. Well, then it makes it
Derrick Williams: Every day it makes it easier and easier to show it for yourself. Yes. It's like and and I had in here excuses versus ownership. And I guess once you own who you are and own your life, now you're willing to do whatever it takes to keep that like the value of your life. Exactly. You know, like owning a home. Yes. you know. Yeah, you have to take ownership. You have to you have to take ownership of the things that you can control. So I I love to say that there's so much in the world that we can't control. Yes.
Justin Blair: Every day it makes it easier and easier to show it for yourself. Yes. It's like and and I had in here excuses versus ownership. And I guess once you own who you are and own your life, now you're willing to do whatever it takes to keep that like the value of your life. Exactly. You know, like owning a home. Yes. you know. Yeah, you have to take ownership. You have to you have to take ownership of the things that you can control. So I I love to say that there's so much in the world that we can't control. Yes.
Derrick Williams: Like I I made a reel about it. You ca you can't control if your girlfriend breaks up and leaves. You can't control if you go out today and get into a car accident. You can't control there's so there's so many things in life that you can't control. But the one thing you can control is is showing up for yourself every day. Yeah. And doing one percent better every single day. Yeah. Yeah. I I I really like that, man. so within you, man, what 'cause it almost seems as if it's
Justin Blair: Like I I made a reel about it. You ca you can't control if your girlfriend breaks up and leaves. You can't control if you go out today and get into a car accident. You can't control there's so there's so many things in life that you can't control. But the one thing you can control is is showing up for yourself every day. Yeah. And doing one percent better every single day. Yeah. Yeah. I I I really like that, man. so within you, man, what 'cause it almost seems as if it's
Derrick Williams: Person can look at you where you are now and say it's a gift. But if you're saying that you came from being 300 pounds, there was a time where you probably didn't have the self-discipline or for whatever reason that you found yourself that size, and not saying that 300 pounds is bad. I don't want everybody feeling like self-conscious. Yeah, yeah. But something was was forged into you, man, to where it's like you have this this drive in you. and it's and I think it's a gift. Like, cause I'm like a happy go-lucky person. Sometimes I wish I could just be
Justin Blair: Person can look at you where you are now and say it's a gift. But if you're saying that you came from being 300 pounds, there was a time where you probably didn't have the self-discipline or for whatever reason that you found yourself that size, and not saying that 300 pounds is bad. I don't want everybody feeling like self-conscious. Yeah, yeah. But something was was forged into you, man, to where it's like you have this this drive in you. and it's and I think it's a gift. Like, cause I'm like a happy go-lucky person. Sometimes I wish I could just be
Derrick Williams: Like a ass and just not care. But that's just not who I am. You know, so I look at people. So I'm just comparing it to that and saying you have this thing in you where it's like I'm gonna do it and get it done. and I think it's a gift. It's the it's it's it's the fire that burns inside. Gotcha. it is the people think and look at me and say that this body just happened. Yeah. And and that's not what it is. I still look in the mirror every day and I fear to become back that three hundred pound person.
Justin Blair: Like a ass and just not care. But that's just not who I am. You know, so I look at people. So I'm just comparing it to that and saying you have this thing in you where it's like I'm gonna do it and get it done. and I think it's a gift. It's the it's it's it's the fire that burns inside. Gotcha. it is the people think and look at me and say that this body just happened. Yeah. And and that's not what it is. I still look in the mirror every day and I fear to become back that three hundred pound person.
Derrick Williams: And that's what continues to drive me. I yeah. If anybody that was in the fitness space was comfortable and content with where they looked, they probably wouldn't keep going. Yeah. And it's that is the driving factor inside and it helps me with my everyday life. So I do so many different things. As I told you, I wear so many different hats. And one of the biggest things is to keep showing up for these young men. And if I can quit on myself, then what stops me from quitting on them? Yeah. And that's and that's kind of like the driving force. If I can
Justin Blair: And that's what continues to drive me. I yeah. If anybody that was in the fitness space was comfortable and content with where they looked, they probably wouldn't keep going. Yeah. And it's that is the driving factor inside and it helps me with my everyday life. So I do so many different things. As I told you, I wear so many different hats. And one of the biggest things is to keep showing up for these young men. And if I can quit on myself, then what stops me from quitting on them? Yeah. And that's and that's kind of like the driving force. If I can
Derrick Williams: If I can quit on myself, I can quit on my family. Yeah. you know, there's you know, there's been a whole bunch of obstacles that I've had to overcome through my past. And and and I and I feel like we don't we don't stop. Like we just we just keep going. Yeah. You just keep going. You just keep showing up every day, no matter what's going on, you just keep going. Mm-hmm. So Yeah. So I I know we we've talked about imposter syndrome, man, and and I remember we were sitting in a sauna, you mentioned that.
Justin Blair: If I can quit on myself, I can quit on my family. Yeah. you know, there's you know, there's been a whole bunch of obstacles that I've had to overcome through my past. And and and I and I feel like we don't we don't stop. Like we just we just keep going. Yeah. You just keep going. You just keep showing up every day, no matter what's going on, you just keep going. Mm-hmm. So Yeah. So I I know we we've talked about imposter syndrome, man, and and I remember we were sitting in a sauna, you mentioned that.
Derrick Williams: and I was like, wow, you know, but I know it's real because I know myself, you know, so I know things can exist for someone where s where other people see them in a certain light. You're like, Man, you have no idea some of the things that I may think about myself, you know, or when people give you I think about just recently and it was so cool to see that you received a gift, you know, from work, like one one of your jobs and and so deserving of it, but you can still feel like, Man, wow, for me. You you know what I mean? And it's like
Justin Blair: and I was like, wow, you know, but I know it's real because I know myself, you know, so I know things can exist for someone where s where other people see them in a certain light. You're like, Man, you have no idea some of the things that I may think about myself, you know, or when people give you I think about just recently and it was so cool to see that you received a gift, you know, from work, like one one of your jobs and and so deserving of it, but you can still feel like, Man, wow, for me. You you know what I mean? And it's like
Derrick Williams: But if everybody else is just on the outside looking in, it's like, okay, that's not surprising. It's rather being there working, you know, getting it in. And it's so what's self-doubt sounds like when things are actually going well? Like the reason, what what is it that happens to make you have some self doubt when it comes to that imposter syndrome? Man, I see so many other well deserving people in this space. I take I take my craft seriously.
Justin Blair: But if everybody else is just on the outside looking in, it's like, okay, that's not surprising. It's rather being there working, you know, getting it in. And it's so what's self doubt sounds like when things are actually going well? Like the reason, what what is it that happens to make you have some self doubt when it comes to that imposter syndrome? Man, I see so many other well deserving people in this space. I take I take my craft seriously.
Derrick Williams: I take learning and knowledge very serious. And I feel like there's so many others in the fitness space that are so much more knowledgeable than me. that I look up to in the fitness space. And a lot of them, they know who they are because I t I speak to them. I I message them on Instagram, I talk to them. And and so when I look in the mirror, everybody else on the outside looks in at me and they're like, Man, this guy he got it going on. He knows exactly what he's talking about. But yeah, when I look in the mirror myself.
Justin Blair: I take learning and knowledge very serious. And I feel like there's so many others in the fitness space that are so much more knowledgeable than me. that I look up to in the fitness space. And a lot of them, they know who they are because I t I speak to them. I I message them on Instagram, I talk to them. And and so when I look in the mirror, everybody else on the outside looks in at me and they're like, Man, this guy he got it going on. He knows exactly what he's talking about. But yeah, when I look in the mirror myself.
Derrick Williams: it that's not always what I see. sometimes I I have to question myself, am I n am I deserving to be here? Mm-hmm. am I as good as what other people think I am? Yeah. Because I look at so many others and I think s in all honesty, social media, it kinda it plays a huge part because you see these people that have millions and millions of followers that and whether they're better than me or not, it it kind of makes me look like do I belong here? Yeah.
Justin Blair: it that's not always what I see. sometimes I I have to question myself, am I n am I deserving to be here? Mm-hmm. am I as good as what other people think I am? Yeah. Because I look at so many others and I think s in all honesty, social media, it kinda it plays a huge part because you see these people that have millions and millions of followers that and whether they're better than me or not, it it kind of makes me look like do I belong here? Yeah.
Derrick Williams: So that gift that you brought up actually, yeah, it was it was it it really touched me. I I I really was I loved I loved it. and but that is what the imposter syndrome looks like. and I feel like no matter how far I've come or how far I go, I will always look at myself in the mirror and and ask myself that. And that's also, as we were just talking about, the part of the driving force. That's what always makes me become better. So the one percent better.
Justin Blair: So that gift that you brought up actually, yeah, it was it was it it really touched me. I I I really was I loved I loved it. and but that is what the imposter syndrome looks like. and I feel like no matter how far I've come or how far I go, I will always look at myself in the mirror and and ask myself that. And that's also, as we were just talking about, the part of the driving force. That's what always makes me become better. So the one percent better.
Derrick Williams: I want to become 1% better every single, every single day in my craft and me as a human being. but the imposter syndrome is real. and I'm sure I'm not the only person that goes through it. Yeah. and that, and basically the way that I overcome the self-doubt. Yeah, the way that I overcome that is just keep pushing forward. and take the take the constructive criticism, take it and you learn from it.
Justin Blair: I want to become 1% better every single, every single day in my craft and me as a human being. but the imposter syndrome is real. and I'm sure I'm not the only person that goes through it. Yeah. and that, and basically the way that I overcome the self-doubt. Yeah, the way that I overcome that is just keep pushing forward. and take the take the constructive criticism, take it and you learn from it.
Derrick Williams: And also I never be afraid to be the stupidest one in the room. Yeah, that was me on a meeting today, man. I asked question. I'm like, I I tell people I I love to be the dumbest person in the room. If I'm the smartest person in the room, we ain't going too far. Yeah. But if I'm the dumbest person in the room, I have I have oceans to conquer. Yeah. So that's true. I it make it makes me think about two things. One, having the biggest house in the neighborhood, everybody's getting equity. The equity's building off your house. But if you have the one
Justin Blair: And also I never be afraid to be the stupidest one in the room. Yeah, that was me on a meeting today, man. I asked question. I'm like, I I tell people I I love to be the dumbest person in the room. If I'm the smartest person in the room, we ain't going too far. Yeah. But if I'm the dumbest person in the room, I have I have oceans to conquer. Yeah. So that's true. I it make it makes me think about two things. One, having the biggest house in the neighborhood, everybody's getting equity. The equity's building off your house. But if you have the one
Derrick Williams: It's not as big, your house is gonna probably sell for a little bit more. Exactly. And then also something I I heard from a friend, man, it's been like maybe twenty years ago. eat the meat and spit out the bones. Okay. You know what I mean? I was like, okay, so eat what's what's good for you and healthy and just spit out the rest. You know, you ain't gotta make a big fuss about it. You know, just take what's nutritious for you and then spit out the rest. And and that's that's a hundred percent true. I take so much knowledge from all these other
Justin Blair: It's not as big, your house is gonna probably sell for a little bit more. Exactly. And then also something I I heard from a friend, man, it's been like maybe twenty years ago. eat the meat and spit out the bones. Okay. You know what I mean? I was like, okay, so eat what's what's good for you and healthy and just spit out the rest. You know, you ain't gotta make a big fuss about it. You know, just take what's nutritious for you and then spit out the rest. And and that's that's a hundred percent true. I take so much knowledge from all these other
Derrick Williams: respectable trainers, whether they're in the DMV area, which all of them, 95% of them know exactly who I'm who I'm referring to. or whether it's people that that I have no clue who they are. I I I read through their information. I dissect what is beneficial and what I see fitting for me and what I can use for my clients. And I go with that. and and again it's forever evolving and ever learning. If you if you think you're the smartest one in the room.
Justin Blair: respectable trainers, whether they're in the DMV area, which all of them, 95% of them know exactly who I'm who I'm referring to. or whether it's people that that I have no clue who they are. I I I read through their information. I dissect what is beneficial and what I see fitting for me and what I can use for my clients. And I go with that. and and again it's forever evolving and ever learning. If you if you think you're the smartest one in the room.
Derrick Williams: If you can't take anything in because you think all there are are bones on the table, or b then you you're not gonna go very far. Yeah, that's true, man. Very, very true. so now let's let's go into man overcoming victimhood. This is something else that we we talked about in setbacks. so how do you feel you you can s pull yourself back if you feeling probably not so much you feeling helpless, but like your clients. You go back to that first client you have that just kind of
Justin Blair: If you can't take anything in because you think all there are are bones on the table, or b then you you're not gonna go very far. Yeah, that's true, man. Very, very true. so now let's let's go into man overcoming victimhood. This is something else that we we talked about in setbacks. so how do you feel you you can s pull yourself back if you feeling probably not so much you feeling helpless, but like your clients. You go back to that first client you have that just kind of
Derrick Williams: Like I I'm just not doing this, you know, and and shake off that feeling of Not I feel like it's a lot of that in in our society now, bec and some of it is very rightfully so. Many people y I know you mentioned as black men, you know, just constantly feeling attacked, but having to continue to push forward without becoming a victim. It's like, okay, I understand the parameters, but I still gotta get over there to where I'm going, y you know? Yeah. And navigating that space.
Justin Blair: Like I I'm just not doing this, you know, and and shake off that feeling of Not I feel like it's a lot of that in in our society now, bec and some of it is very rightfully so. Many people y I know you mentioned as black men, you know, just constantly feeling attacked, but having to continue to push forward without becoming a victim. It's like, okay, I understand the parameters, but I still gotta get over there to where I'm going, y you know? Yeah. And navigating that space.
Derrick Williams: I feel like every s every human on this earth has been through something. whether it's traumatizing, whether well, it's all been traumatizing. You've been through your own traumatizing experiences. I've been through my own traumatizing experiences. I heard a saying one time we all have to go through what we have to go through to become the humans that we have to be. Yeah. So, and with that, you either play two things come from traumatizing experiences. You either become a victim, you let it play victim.
Justin Blair: I feel like every s every human on this earth has been through something. whether it's traumatizing, whether well, it's all been traumatizing. You've been through your own traumatizing experiences. I've been through my own traumatizing experiences. I heard a saying one time we all have to go through what we have to go through to become the humans that we have to be. Yeah. So, and with that, you either play two things come from traumatizing experiences. You either become a victim, you let it play victim.
Derrick Williams: And you become victimized by the c situation that has happened to you, or you use that as fuel. Yeah. I have a friend follow him on Instagram. Man, I I've seen he's he went through something, I ain't gonna say his name, but his when we were younger, his parents died. And I I I watched him go through this. Man, this man is so successful and he's multi-millionaire, and I've seen other people.
Justin Blair: And you become victimized by the c situation that has happened to you, or you use that as fuel. Yeah. I have a friend follow him on Instagram. Man, I I've seen he's he went through something, I ain't gonna say his name, but his when we were younger, his parents died. And I I I watched him go through this. Man, this man is so successful and he's multimillionaire, and I've seen other people.
Derrick Williams: Same situation and they become drug addicts. What separates the two? One used this as a to victimize themselves for the rest of their life while the other one used it as fuel. And that goes with anything. So whether you whether something traumatizing like that happened, whether you've been the prisoner jail, whether whether you just you broke a bone. It could be you whether you got fired from your job. What's whether you started a business and you lost your business. What stops you from that other guy that that
Justin Blair: Same situation and they become drug addicts. What separates the two? One used this as a to victimize themselves for the rest of their life while the other one used it as fuel. And that goes with anything. So whether you whether something traumatizing like that happened, whether you've been the prisoner jail, whether whether you just you broke a bone. It could be you whether you got fired from your job. What's whether you started a business and you lost your business. What stops you from that other guy that that
Derrick Williams: had the same thing happen to him. Well, one played victim and the other one said, You know what? This is gonna make me so I never want I never wanna feel like this or go through this again. Mm-hmm. And that is what I truly think separates the two. Yeah. and going back to like with you saying this and I never thought about this before, but I've lost my train of thought. But just what you was just saying, of course it's not as elementary as playing a video game or
Justin Blair: had the same thing happen to him. Well, one played victim and the other one said, You know what? This is gonna make me so I never want I never wanna feel like this or go through this again. Mm-hmm. And that is what I truly think separates the two. Yeah. and going back to like with you saying this and I never thought about this before, but I've lost my train of thought. But just what you was just saying, of course it's not as elementary as playing a video game or
Derrick Williams: Because it the the consequences of losing on a game are not as as large as they are in in life, you know. But it made me think about perhaps I can look at life or others can look at life as this adventure. It truly is an adventure. And and in that adventure that you're on, everything's not always be great. But you continue to press because you after what you after. You know, and and and embracing 'cause I could think about a person right now in my mind that's going through a very tough situation. This is a person that's
Justin Blair: Because it the the consequences of losing on a game are not as as large as they are in in life, you know. But it made me think about perhaps I can look at life or others can look at life as this adventure. It truly is an adventure. And and in that adventure that you're on, everything's not always be great. But you continue to press because you after what you after. You know, and and and embracing 'cause I could think about a person right now in my mind that's going through a very tough situation. This is a person that's
Derrick Williams: that I don't call it bodybuilding. And you may know the person as well. And I know right now it's a very, very challenging time in their life. and I really appreciate the person posting different things on Instagram because I'm all about you celebrate a person, but it it the celebration is is greater when you see what they've gone through. It it has more, it just feels better. Like man, we didn't just show up when Justin had dog going
Justin Blair: that I don't call it bodybuilding. And you may know the person as well. And I know right now it's a very, very challenging time in their life. and I really appreciate the person posting different things on Instagram because I'm all about you celebrate a person, but it it the celebration is is greater when you see what they've gone through. It it has more, it just feels better. Like man, we didn't just show up when Justin had dog going
Derrick Williams: Two million followers. You know, you were there when he was at the beginning. You know, so seeing this person. So what you just explained just makes me think about that. Like, keep going, keep pressing. And you're gonna have your setbacks, but allow it to shape you and add some seasoning to your life. Yeah. you know, setbacks are gonna come. nobody's life is ever straight up. nobody's life, nobody's life just keeps going straight. They people have they come down, they become stagnant, they might drop a little bit. I told a friend.
Justin Blair: Two million followers. You know, you were there when he was at the beginning. You know, so seeing this person. So what you just explained just makes me think about that. Like, keep going, keep pressing. And you're gonna have your setbacks, but allow it to shape you and add some seasoning to your life. Yeah. you know. Setbacks are gonna come. nobody's life is ever straight up. nobody's life nobody's life just keeps going straight. They people have they come down, they become stagnant, they might drop a little bit. I told a friend. Not too long ago. As long as your low as long as your lows are higher than your previous lows, then you're doing something right. As long as and as long as your highs are higher than your previous highs, then you just keep going. But life is always gonna be up and down. But I can think of times. So I just recently had a low. I th I told you and I don't mind talking about it. I had a gym and and and I ended up losing my business. And but guess what? When I lost that business, I think about times in my life.
Derrick Williams: Not too long ago. As long as your low as long as your lows are higher than your previous lows, then you're doing something right. As long as and as long as your highs are higher than your previous highs, then you just keep going. But life is always gonna be up and down. But I can think of times. So I just recently had a low. I th I told you and I don't mind talking about it. I had a gym and and and I ended up losing my business. And but guess what? When I lost that business, I think about times in my life. Where I had been, I I told you also, I went to prison. Well, guess what? Me losing that business, mm-hmm, I there was a lower low. There was a lot lower low. And yes. And that lower low, mm-hmm, I this this low was a lot higher than this low. Yeah. I still had my health. I still had some, I still have finances. I still have some money. and I still have my family. Yeah. Whereas bef when I was in that other low.
Justin Blair: Where I had been, I I told you also, I went to prison. Well, guess what? Me losing that business, mm-hmm, I there was a lower low. There was a lot lower low. And yes. And that lower low, mm-hmm, I this this low was a lot higher than this low. Yeah. I still had my health. I still had some, I still have finances. I still have some money. and I still have my family. Yeah. Whereas bef when I was in that other low.
Derrick Williams: Yeah. I lost it all. I didn't have anything. So and this is what life's about. You just keep going. And you you literally just you just want to make sure that you're you keep going and that those highs are higher and that those lows aren't as low as the previous low. And I would all I would could argue that the low of losing a gym was actually a high if you look at the the prison situation. You know what I mean? Because you were in a position where you can even you can just at least you was able to take a shot on yourself.
Justin Blair: Yeah. I lost it all. I didn't have anything. So and this is what life's about. You just keep going. And you you literally just you just want to make sure that you're you keep going and that those highs are higher and that those lows aren't as low as the previous low. And I would all I would could argue that the low of losing a gym was actually a high if you look at the the prison situation. You know what I mean? Because you were in a position where you can even you can just at least you was able to take a shot on yourself.
Derrick Williams: And you never and when you're at your lowest, so there's a movie, it's one of my favorite movies called Blow with Johnny Depp. and when you're at your lowest, you never think you're gonna be high again, and when you're at your highest, you never think you'll be high again. But the the point is and the purpose is you just keep fighting to live another day. Yeah, yeah, just keep going, man, just keep showing up. And that is very true. that is actually high. And you have to look at everything as a blessing in disguise because if that didn't happen with my gym, where would I be?
Justin Blair: And you never and when you're at your lowest, so there's a movie, it's one of my favorite movies called Blow with Johnny Depp. and when you're at your lowest, you never think you're gonna be high again, and when you're at your highest, you never think you'll be high again. But the the point is and the purpose is you just keep fighting to live another day. Yeah, yeah, just keep going, man, just keep showing up. And that is very true. that is actually high. And you have to look at everything as a blessing in disguise because if that didn't happen with my gym, where would I be?
Derrick Williams: all this that has us me being here, me getting receiving that gift, people seeing me as this great trainer. That never happened when I was at my own gym. It took for me to lose that and then become to where I am and and become a trainer at grind, still pushing my own business through through them. Yeah, that now it it's elevating me and pushing me up. So you can't always take that the bad things that happen. a lot of times
Justin Blair: all this that has us me being here, me getting receiving that gift, people seeing me as this great trainer. That never happened when I was at my own gym. It took for me to lose that and then become to where I am and and become a trainer at grind, still pushing my own business through through them. Yeah, that now it it's elevating me and pushing me up. So you can't always take that the bad things that happen. a lot of times
Derrick Williams: God sets us back to humble us before he elevates us. He needs to make sure that we're ready for what we need to receive before he gives it to us. Because if he gives it to us in the present moment, you might not even be humble and you might you might be egotistical and and and become a super certified, if I may say, asshole. Yeah, yes. So and that's and that's yeah. And I kind of define it through my life experience as being because I would never wish on someone that they go through some of the
Justin Blair: God sets us back to humble us before he elevates us. He needs to make sure that we're ready for what we need to receive before he gives it to us. Because if he gives it to us in the present moment, you might not even be humble and you might you might be egotistical and and and become a super certified, if I may say, asshole. Yeah, yes. So and that's and that's yeah. And I kind of define it through my life experience as being because I would never wish on someone that they go through some of the
Derrick Williams: some of the things I had to endure. Not that I had this very difficult hard life, but you know, our challenges are our challenges. but I would never wish none of that stuff on anyone. But I often say, you know, life happens to all of us. And I think in my life experience that God has a way of bringing good out of everything. Everything. You know, and and that's kind of how I look at it. Cause I think about myself and going through a divorce, man. It's like one of the probably most difficult things I ever had to do. Even though I was the one, you know, who
Justin Blair: some of the things I had to endure. Not that I had this very difficult hard life, but you know, our challenges are our challenges. but I would never wish none of that stuff on anyone. But I often say, you know, life happens to all of us. And I think in my life experience that God has a way of bringing good out of everything. Everything. You know, and and that's kind of how I look at it. Cause I think about myself and going through a divorce, man. It's like one of the probably most difficult things I ever had to do. Even though I was the one, you know, who
Derrick Williams: initiated and you know just the whole process. But I can look at my life now and think about people that I have in my life, you know, friends and just different relationships that I can't imagine not having, you know? And I had someone at the gym and I'd like to say this to share it with everybody listening. I was telling them about my experience with like meeting never really meet my father at a at an adult age. You know, I w I can remember being a child. And that person was like, Well, who would you be the person you are today, your life probably would be different. And I was like, You're probably right. But I
Justin Blair: initiated and you know just the whole process. But I can look at my life now and think about people that I have in my life, you know, friends and just different relationships that I can't imagine not having, you know? And I had someone at the gym and I'd like to say this to share it with everybody listening. I was telling them about my experience with like meeting never really meet my father at a at an adult age. You know, I w I can remember being a child. And that person was like, Well, who would you be the person you are today, your life probably would be different. And I was like, You're probably right. But I
Derrick Williams: really appreciate who I am today. So it doesn't even matter. You know, it's just that was like such a healing thing for me when I had that conversation with her, you know. So kind of what you're saying, you know. Yeah. It's part of it's part of what you had to go through to become the human that you are. Yeah, I it is it is crazy. Yeah. It it is crazy, crazy, you know. And I just appreciate it. you kind of touched on how how do you find yourself, man, rebuilding trust, starting from rock bottom after major life resets and past mistakes. And I know you mentioned going to prison.
Justin Blair: really appreciate who I am today. So it doesn't even matter. You know, it's just that was like such a healing thing for me when I had that conversation with her, you know. So kind of what you're saying, you know. Yeah. It's part of it's part of what you had to go through to become the human that you are. Yeah, I it is it is crazy. Yeah. It it is crazy, crazy, you know. And I just appreciate it. you kind of touched on how how do you find yourself, man, rebuilding trust, starting from rock bottom after major life resets and past mistakes. And I know you mentioned going to prison.
Derrick Williams: and look at yourself now, man, and coming back into a society where you have to navigate through a space and people may judge you because of what you've done and you just keep pressing. when you hit rock bottom like such as something like that, it's it's it's literally you have to start over. and not just not just financially, not just it from everything.
Justin Blair: and look at yourself now, man, and coming back into a society where you have to navigate through a space and people may judge you because of what you've done and you just keep pressing. when you hit rock bottom like such as something like that, it's it's it's literally you have to start over. and not just not just financially, not just it from everything. your whole mental has to change. because in there, your mentality has to be completely different. It's it's literally a survival mode. Yeah, I can imagine. And when you come out, it's it's not like that. So you have to re you have to change the way that you think. You have to change your mentality towards life. and you just take it one day at a time. when I first came home from prison, I was I went and got a job in construction. I hated it. I I I told myself,
Derrick Williams: your whole mental has to change. because in there, your mentality has to be completely different. It's it's literally a survival mode. Yeah, I can imagine. And when you come out, it's it's not like that. So you have to re you have to change the way that you think. You have to change your mentality towards life. and you just take it one day at a time. when I first came home from prison, I was I went and got a job in construction. I hated it. I I I told myself,
Justin Blair: I don't knock anybody that does this, but I know that I'm I'm smarter than this to be swinging a hammer for the rest of my life out in this hot sun. and I didn't know what I was gonna do. It the gym changing my mental slowly transitioned me into and meeting good people, it slowly transitioned me into becoming a better person. but that I felt like I needed to go through that journey. again, not everybody.
Derrick Williams: I don't knock anybody that does this, but I know that I'm I'm smarter than this to be swinging a hammer for the rest of my life out in this hot sun. and I didn't know what I was gonna do. It the gym changing my mental slowly transitioned me into and meeting good people, it slowly transitioned me into becoming a better person. but that I felt like I needed to go through that journey. again, not everybody.
Justin Blair: I you have to go through what you have to go through to become the person you are meant to be. Without that journey, I wouldn't be the guy that helps other men and women see the best version of themselves. Yeah. Without that journey, I wouldn't be able to help the youth navigate through this realm that we call life and tell them, Listen, I've I've I I went left to only try to go back straight and to only find people that were way, way ahead of me. Yeah.
Derrick Williams: I you have to go through what you have to go through to become the person you are meant to be. Without that journey, I wouldn't be the guy that helps other men and women see the best version of themselves. Yeah. Without that journey, I wouldn't be able to help the youth navigate through this realm that we call life and tell them, Listen, I've I've I I went left to only try to go back straight and to only find people that were way, way ahead of me. Yeah. And that's and that's the biggest thing. So when you when you hit rock bottom, you just take it one day at a time. and you and you rebuild yourself the best way you know how. mine I found mine through family, through my kids, through books, yeah, through fitness. Yes. And this is how this is basically how I've slowly overcome and I've built relationships and knew that everybody
Justin Blair: And that's and that's the biggest thing. So when you when you hit rock bottom, you just take it one day at a time. and you and you rebuild yourself the best way you know how. mine I found mine through family, through my kids, through books, yeah, through fitness. Yes. And this is how this is basically how I've slowly overcome and I've built relationships and knew that everybody
Derrick Williams: doesn't have malice intentions towards you and that there are genuine people in the world that just want to see you see good in you and it's for you to find these people and for you to take these people in and and really build with these people. Yeah, it's t it's two things. Man, the first one, I truly believe kind of touching on what you just said, finding these people, I found being authentic to who you are will attract the correct people to you. Because they're being attracted to who you actually are and you don't have to put on a show or anything. And the second thing
Justin Blair: doesn't have malice intentions towards you and that there are genuine people in the world that just want to see you see good in you and it's for you to find these people and for you to take these people in and and really build with these people. Yeah, it's t it's two things. Man, the first one, I truly believe kind of touching on what you just said, finding these people, I found being authentic to who you are will attract the correct people to you. Because they're being attracted to who you actually are and you don't have to put on a show or anything. And the second thing
Derrick Williams: That you said that I want to touch on real quickly is b and it's based on the current generation. not a lot of people, I can only speak about, you know, folks that's close in my life, of understanding that sometimes you gotta do what you don't wanna do to get to where you wanna go. And and what made me think about that is you saying taking a job in construction. You know, you could have said, I'm yeah, I was in prison, but I'm worth more than construction. So I'm not gonna do this. I'm just gonna keep looking for something different. But you decided to do that.
Justin Blair: That you said that I want to touch on real quickly is b and it's based on the current generation. not a lot of people, I can only speak about, you know, folks that's close in my life, of understanding that sometimes you gotta do what you don't wanna do to get to where you wanna go. And and what made me think about that is you saying taking a job in construction. You know, you could have said, I'm yeah, I was in prison, but I'm worth more than construction. So I'm not gonna do this. I'm just gonna keep looking for something different. But you decided to do that.
Derrick Williams: And it helped you, you know, and and that's just something I I wish more people, you know, in in our current generation. It goes back to social media, everybody can see other people's highlight reels, and I'm not knocking anyone on social media. but if you're not strong mentally, you can get caught up in that and think that that's those people started there going back to the age thing of you know, I didn't start out this age, you know, I used to be ten years old too, you know. So so that part I just want to touch on and say, Man, it's I think that's very powerful that you
Justin Blair: And it helped you, you know, and and that's just something I I wish more people, you know, in in our current generation. It goes back to social media, everybody can see other people's highlight reels, and I'm not knocking anyone on social media. but if you're not strong mentally, you can get caught up in that and think that that's those people started there going back to the age thing of you know, I didn't start out this age, you know, I used to be ten years old too, you know. So so that part I just want to touch on and say, Man, it's I think that's very powerful that you
Derrick Williams: took on a job because you just had to do what you had to do in the moment, you know? And what's crazy to me is it it to me it took so I I'm I don't mind. I went to prison for selling weed and more than anything, it it took everything out of me not to go back to exactly what I was doing. Yeah. I did very well in that in that realm, in that field. Yeah. So to go from that to making freaking a thousand dollars every two weeks, that was hard. You telling me what I used to make in a day, now I have to
Justin Blair: took on a job because you just had to do what you had to do in the moment, you know? And what's crazy to me is it it to me it took so I I'm I don't mind. I went to prison for selling weed and more than anything, it it took everything out of me not to go back to exactly what I was doing. Yeah. I did very well in that in that realm, in that field. Yeah. So to go from that to making freaking a thousand dollars every two weeks, that was hard. You telling me what I used to make in a day, now I have to
Derrick Williams: I'm gonna have to sacrifice everything and work for eight hours and only make that every two weeks. Yeah. That was the that was the hardest thing to overcome. but one thing that I kept I kept true to myself and I kept true to and kept believing in is that I didn't want to go back to where I was. And that's that I think that held closer to me than anything. I didn't want to end up back in that situation. Yeah. So I s I kept pushing forward.
Justin Blair: I'm gonna have to sacrifice everything and work for eight hours and only make that every two weeks. Yeah. That was the that was the hardest thing to overcome. but one thing that I kept I kept true to myself and I kept true to and kept believing in is that I didn't want to go back to where I was. And that's that I think that held closer to me than anything. I didn't want to end up back in that situation. Yeah. So I s I kept pushing forward.
Derrick Williams: So that I didn't live basically this the same loop over and over. the definition of basically being I forget what is it called the definition of insanity. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome. Yeah. And and and I knew that. And I knew that it was so easy for me to pick up the phone and and call somebody and and basically do what I needed to do and to get back in that same life.
Justin Blair: So that I didn't live basically this the same loop over and over. the definition of basically being I forget what is it called the definition of insanity. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome. Yeah. And and and I knew that. And I knew that it was so easy for me to pick up the phone and and call somebody and and basically do what I needed to do and to get back in that same life.
Derrick Williams: But I didn't. And that's and that's what really held true to me. And I think that really started my discipline before the gym and everything because that was the easiest thing was to like, I can quit this and go do this and that's not that's not what I did. Yeah, yep. That's good, man. I'm happy you didn't 'cause you're here. Yeah, thank you, thank you. So man, kinda getting getting towards the end, what is the action step, man, you think the listeners, people that's listening can do if they kind of feeling like they're not worthy.
Justin Blair: But I didn't. And that's and that's what really held true to me. And I think that really started my discipline before the gym and everything because that was the easiest thing was to like, I can quit this and go do this and that's not that's not what I did. Yeah, yep. That's good, man. I'm happy you didn't 'cause you're here. Yeah, thank you, thank you. So man, kinda getting getting towards the end, what is the action step, man, you think the listeners, people that's listening can do if they kind of feeling like they're not worthy.
Derrick Williams: But just some advice you can give the people who may be going through situation where they may feel unworthy. Man, I tell I tell everybody. So I I just had a conversation well about three months ago and I had to tell a young lady, she said she wanted to start a business. And but she said she was trying to learn so much before she started. Mm-hmm. And I tell I told her, Man, you just start and and you're gonna make mistakes, you're gonna mess up. Mm-hmm.
Justin Blair: But just some advice you can give the people who may be going through situation where they may feel unworthy. Man, I tell I tell everybody. So I I just had a conversation well about three months ago and I had to tell a young lady, she said she wanted to start a business. And but she said she was trying to learn so much before she started. Mm-hmm. And I tell I told her, Man, you just start and and you're gonna make mistakes, you're gonna mess up. Mm-hmm.
Derrick Williams: That's part of the learning process and the journey. So anybody that like is is on the fence about anything, just just move just take a step forward. Nobody started nobody ran a marathon, decided they wanted to run a marathon in a day. Yeah. It started with a step. And if they did, they were crazy. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. It started it started with a step. Yeah. You take one step forward no matter what you're going through in life to get yourself out that whole you just you just take one step forward and then
Justin Blair: That's part of the learning process and the journey. So anybody that like is is on the fence about anything, just just move just take a step forward. Nobody started nobody ran a marathon, decided they wanted to run a marathon in a day. Yeah. It started with a step. And if they did, they were crazy. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. It started it started with a step. Yeah. You take one step forward no matter what you're going through in life to get yourself out that whole you just you just take one step forward and then
Derrick Williams: The next day you take another step. And before you know it, it's one foot in front of the other. And when you look back, you're you're fifty miles in the opposite direction. And that's that's where anybody that's going through anything in life, just don't keep sitting there getting down on yourself about no matter what it is. You just take the step to to improve and be better no matter what it is. Yeah. I appreciate it, man. anything, any other closing remarks, man, you have you want to share or nah, I appreciate you having me here. Yeah and this is great.
Justin Blair: The next day you take another step. And before you know it, it's one foot in front of the other. And when you look back, you're you're fifty miles in the opposite direction. And that's that's where anybody that's going through anything in life, just don't keep sitting there getting down on yourself about no matter what it is. You just take the step to to improve and be better no matter what it is. Yeah. I appreciate it, man. anything, any other closing remarks, man, you have you want to share or nah, I appreciate you having me here. Yeah and this is great.
Derrick Williams: yeah, I just appreciate you having me. and for anybody that's out there that's kinda going through anything, know that everybody's going through something. know that everybody has stuff happen to them every day. And don't play victim. use that use whatever's happened to you, whatever you're going through. Use that as a fuel to only push and move yourself in the opposite direction. How's a rocket?
Justin Blair: yeah, I just appreciate you having me. and for anybody that's out there that's kinda going through anything, know that everybody's going through something. know that everybody has stuff happen to them every day. And don't play victim. use that use whatever's happened to you, whatever you're going through. Use that as a fuel to only push and move yourself in the opposite direction. How's a rocket?
Derrick Williams: a rocket is from fire from the fuel for the the boosters it but it propels you upward. So use whatever you're going through as that fuel to to push you further and to go from to move out of the direction that you are uncomfortable in. Or you can sit in that position that you want to and you can sit in that in that bad space and nothing's gonna ever change. Yeah. Just gonna be there. Exactly. So if somebody wants to connect with you man, how can they you can find me on Thor underscore fitness
Justin Blair: a rocket is from fire from the fuel for the the boosters it but it propels you upward. So use whatever you're going through as that fuel to to push you further and to go from to move out of the direction that you are uncomfortable in. Or you can sit in that position that you want to and you can sit in that in that bad space and nothing's gonna ever change. Yeah. Just gonna be there. Exactly. So if somebody wants to connect with you man, how can they you can find me on Thor underscore fitness
Derrick Williams: period one seven. you can you can email me at at ThorsFitness17 at gmail dot com. follow me on Facebook. My name's Justin Blair. and yeah you that's how you find me. Or you can always come into Grind Gym. Yes. And that's that's you know what I mean? You can come into Grind Gyms and I'm a trainer there. so I have my cards there. You can ask for Justin and that's how you can find me. All right.
Justin Blair: period one seven. you can you can email me at at ThorsFitness17 at gmail dot com. follow me on Facebook. My name's Justin Blair. and yeah you that's how you find me. Or you can always come into Grind Gym. Yes. And that's that's you know what I mean? You can come into Grind Gyms and I'm a trainer there. so I have my cards there. You can ask for Justin and that's how you can find me. All right.
Derrick Williams: Well thank you, man. I really appreciate it, man. This this was this was great. Thank you. Yes.
Justin Blair: Well thank you, man. I really appreciate it, man. This this was this was great. Thank you. Yes.
Justin Blair: Hey, what's going on everybody? I'd like to welcome you to another episode of the Just Keep Showing Up Podcast. This is your man Derrick. And today I have the pleasure of speaking with Justin Blair. What's going on, man? What's going on? How are you? I'm I'm doing good, man. we didn't already talked multiple times about how this happened, you here for the podcast. Me just thinking like, man, who can I have on the show? And I said that like to myself in the car, driving to the gym. Yeah, yeah. You walk up to me, we see each other in the gym all the time. And you just came up and like, hey man, I like to be on a show. I'm like
Derrick Williams: Yeah, I was I was literally told I was like, Man, I I was talking to you before about the podcast, and then someone was like, You should just you should just go ahead and do it. And I was like, like, make sure you go talk to him since since you've seen him. And I'm like, Okay, well and then you were walking on the treadmill. I'm like, All right, well let me run up to him and talk to him real quick. So it was perfect, man. So I I appreciate it, man. Thank you for taking time to come see. Thank you for having me. And and talking, just talk about what we do to keep showing up, man.
Justin Blair: Yeah, I was I was literally told I was like, Man, I I was talking to you before about the podcast, and then someone was like, You should just you should just go ahead and do it. And I was like, like, make sure you go talk to him since since you've seen him. And I'm like, Okay, well and then you were walking on the treadmill. I'm like, All right, well let me run up to him and talk to him real quick. So it was perfect, man. So I I appreciate it, man. Thank you for taking time to come see. Thank you for having me. And and talking, just talk about what we do to keep showing up, man.
Derrick Williams: So I like to always start off the show asking my guests to just tell of tell the folks that's listening a little bit about themselves. Okay. nothing's right or wrong. You're just kind of talking about whatever you want to share. So my name's Justin Blair. I am founder of Thor Fitness. And I also so with that I help I help people transform their bodies, their minds. I don't consider myself more than a
Justin Blair: So I like to always start off the show asking my guests to just tell of tell the folks that's listening a little bit about themselves. Okay. nothing's right or wrong. You're just kind of talking about whatever you want to share. So my name's Justin Blair. I am founder of Thor Fitness. And I also so with that I help I help people transform their bodies, their minds. I don't consider myself more than a
Derrick Williams: Personal trainer, I consider myself a lifestyle coach because I help people change from everything from their their mental. Yeah, their physical goes comes with it, but their mental, their discipline, overcoming obstacles. Yeah. and just everything that they have learned over their years that need to be changed. and yes, it starts with the physical, but we go a lot deeper than that. and I also work with a lot of youth in the Hartford County and Baltimore areas. trying to help them navigate.
Justin Blair: Personal trainer, I consider myself a lifestyle coach because I help people change from everything from their their mental. Yeah, their physical goes comes with it, but their mental, their discipline, overcoming obstacles. Yeah. and just everything that they have learned over their years that need to be changed. and yes, it starts with the physical, but we go a lot deeper than that. and I also work with a lot of youth in the Hartford County and Baltimore areas. trying to help them navigate.
Derrick Williams: especially young men navigate what they go through on a day to day basis and not knowing how to necessarily navigate these everything they're feeling and going through and basically letting them know that there's there's men just like them that started out their age and you know that that they can basically it's okay to feel what they're going through and to know and that we as men all go through those things, especially black men. Yeah. We go through those things and
Justin Blair: especially young men navigate what they go through on a day to day basis and not knowing how to necessarily navigate these everything they're feeling and going through and basically letting them know that there's there's men just like them that started out their age and you know that that they can basically it's okay to feel what they're going through and to know and that we as men all go through those things, especially black men. Yeah. We go through those things and
Derrick Williams: Just to keep pushing forward and to stay on the straight and narrow and it's a lot easier to go down the straight and narrow than to venture off course to only have to try to find yourself back on the straight and narrow. So yeah, and that's a little bit about me. Yeah, man, I like that you you mentioned that we I could just I can just put it in my words. None of us just got to the age we are now. We were once, you know, a younger person navigating life. Yeah. And yeah, you you g if you can. Okay. yeah, we we were we were all once young.
Justin Blair: Just to keep pushing forward and to stay on the straight and narrow and it's a lot easier to go down the straight and narrow than to venture off course to only have to try to find yourself back on the straight and narrow. So yeah, and that's a little bit about me. Yeah, man, I like that you you mentioned that we I could just I can just put it in my words. None of us just got to the age we are now. We were once, you know, a younger person navigating life. Yeah. And yeah, you you gotta if you gotta Okay. yeah, we we were we were all once young.
Derrick Williams: Some of us decided to go off the off beaten path, try to be like these rebels and against against society, against our parents, whatever whatever, you know, we felt that our vision of life was we were listening to other people that were the same age as us and had no actual they didn't even know what they were going through. Instead of listening to the adults and and when we don't listen to the adults, we don't listen to the older ones and we try to take our knowledge from this people the same age as us.
Justin Blair: Some of us decided to go off the off beaten path, try to be like these rebels and against against society, against our parents, whatever whatever, you know, we felt that our vision of life was we were listening to other people that were the same age as us and had no actual they didn't even know what they were going through. Instead of listening to the adults and and when we don't listen to the adults, we don't listen to the older ones and we try to take our knowledge from the s people the same age as us.
Derrick Williams: A lot of times it l it leads us down the wrong path. yeah, yeah. That's that's and I think it's important when we can meet people where they are and let know that, hey, I too was once a young person, whether I was no matter what I was, you know, and and and also just trying to get through life and and you making the best decisions you can at that time. so if we look back, man, looking at today and kind of comparing yourself to like maybe five or ten years ago. I think I may have met you like maybe three years ago at Planet Fitness.
Justin Blair: A lot of times it l it leads us down the wrong path. yeah, yeah. That's that's and I think it's important when we can meet people where they are and let know that, hey, I too was once a young person, whether I was no matter what I was, you know, and and and also just trying to get through life and and you making the best decisions you can at that time. so if we look back, man, looking at today and kind of comparing yourself to like maybe five or ten years ago. I think I may have met you like maybe three years ago at Planet Fitness.
Derrick Williams: How can you kind of see the the difference? Just even if you just go back five or ten years, you know, now all the way back to being a kid. Ten years ago, I I was a completely different person. I probably I probably would have wanted to beat up the guy that was, you know, ten years ago. that's interesting. Yeah. Yeah. Like to look at myself in the mirror to see how much I've overcame, how much I've accomplished in that time. it's a lot. so and you know, I sometimes it's hard for me to look in the mirror myself. Yeah. And even
Justin Blair: How can you kind of see the the difference? Just even if you just go back five or ten years, you know, now all the way back to being a kid. Ten years ago, I I was a completely different person. I probably I probably would have wanted to beat up the guy that was, you know, ten years ago. that's interesting. Yeah. Yeah. Like to look at myself in the mirror to see how much I've overcame, how much I've accomplished in that time. it's a lot. so and you know, I sometimes it's hard for me to look in the mirror myself. Yeah. And even
Derrick Williams: know that that I've overcame that much. Sometimes I still see that 10 year ago me. but I have overcome my s have overcome a lot in that time. And even in five years ago. Five years ago I was just a guy that I love fitness. I was just starting to get into the training. I didn't even know how to go about it. I had a I had a friend. he knows who he is and he told me just do it. Like if that's something that you that you think that you can do and that you can
Justin Blair: know that that I've overcame that much. Sometimes I still see that 10 year ago me. but I have overcome my s have overcome a lot in that time. And even in five years ago. Five years ago I was just a guy that I love fitness. I was just starting to get into the training. I didn't even know how to go about it. I had a I had a friend. he knows who he is and he told me just do it. Like if that's something that you that you think that you can do and that you can
Derrick Williams: And you know you can help people, you know what you're doing. So and just to go ahead and push forward and do that. So yeah, the difference of me from five to ten years ago is is a huge transition. I feel like that's life though. We are always needing to overcome, yes, to adapt. And just like I tell my my son to the other young men, forever until the day you die, you should be changing, forever evolving, forever learning.
Justin Blair: And you know you can help people, you know what you're doing. So and just to go ahead and push forward and do that. So yeah, the difference of me from five to ten years ago is is a huge transition. I feel like that's life though. We are always needing to overcome, yes, to adapt. And just like I tell my my son to the other young men, forever until the day you die, you should be changing, forever evolving, forever learning.
Derrick Williams: Yeah. And you should never stay stagnant in life. So because once you do that, you're not really living. Like you're you're here, but you're not you're not living. Right. Yeah, I agree. With the with the fitness man, which what shifted? I know you mentioned your friend, you mentioned you talked to someone about want to become a personal trainer. When did it kind of shift in your mind to go from being a hobby to actually being a personal trainer? And I kind of almost feel like if I had to guess, it would be your desire to want to help people. Just and I say that because of how you explained.
Justin Blair: Yeah. And you should never stay stagnant in life. So because once you do that, you're not really living. Like you're you're here, but you're not you're not living. Right. Yeah, I agree. With the with the fitness man, which what shifted? I know you mentioned your friend, you mentioned you talked to someone about want to become a personal trainer. When did it kind of shift in your mind to go from being a hobby to actually being a personal trainer? And I kind of almost feel like if I had to guess, it would be your desire to want to help people. Just and I say that because of how you explained.
Derrick Williams: yourself as a coach. It wasn't just I'm coaching you and helping you get stronger. Yeah. So it started with me. I started in the fitness space basically me I started three hundred pounds and wanting to change myself. Forget that right. Yeah, yeah. I was a I was a big guy. Yeah. and I and my daily habits were horrible. I smoked cigarettes. I drank nothing but sodas.
Justin Blair: yourself as a coach. It wasn't just I'm coaching you and helping you get stronger. Yeah. So it started with me. I started in the fitness space basically me I started three hundred pounds and wanting to change myself. Forget that right. Yeah, yeah. I was a I was a big guy. Yeah. and I and my daily habits were horrible. I smoked cigarettes. I drank nothing but sodas.
Derrick Williams: So it started out me changing myself. And then what I noticed as I started kept going through the fitness space in the fitness industry is it changed my mental. So I wanted to get into it to change my physical, but it ended up changing my mental. And the more that I worked out and the more that I stayed disciplined in it, mm-hmm, it changed me as a person overall. and once I realized how that started affecting me and realizing like, yeah, it started out me wanting to lose weight, but before I knew it, I was I was reading books. I was
Justin Blair: So it started out me changing myself. And then what I noticed as I started kept going through the fitness space in the fitness industry is it changed my mental. So I wanted to get into it to change my physical, but it ended up changing my mental. And the more that I worked out and the more that I stayed disciplined in it, mm-hmm, it changed me as a person overall. and once I realized how that started affecting me and realizing like, yeah, it started out me wanting to lose weight, but before I knew it, I was I was reading books. I was
Derrick Williams: thinking differently. I just wanted a better overall my health and I and I wanted to start helping others. so that came about probably about six, six, seven years ago is when I like got my first client. And my first client really kinda deterred me. He he quit after like two days. And I told my friend that I wasn't even gonna train anymore. And and he told me, nah you just gotta keep pushing forward, bro. If this is like what you really want to do, you need you need to do it. And
Justin Blair: thinking differently. I just wanted a better overall my health and I and I wanted to start helping others. so that came about probably about six, six, seven years ago is when I like got my first client. And my first client really kind of deterred me. He he quit after like two days and I told my friend that I wasn't even gonna train anymore. And and he told me, nah you just gotta keep pushing forward, bro. If this is like what you really want to do, you need you need to do it. And
Derrick Williams: And I and I realized that I wanted to help people more, yes, change your body, but to change your mind. Yeah. To change that there's you need to have discipline. That there's not every day that you're gonna want to wake up and come into this fitness space, come into the gym. There's not every day you're gonna want to wake up and eat the food that you need to eat. There's not every day that you're gonna want to get up and go to work, but you do it. There's not every day that you want to do anything, but you have to stay disciplined, and this is how you overcome and become a better person. So I I love to tell my people.
Justin Blair: And I and I realized that I wanted to help people more, yes, change your body, but to change your mind. Yeah. To change that there's you need to have discipline. That there's not every day that you're gonna want to wake up and come into this fitness space, come into the gym. There's not every day you're gonna want to wake up and eat the food that you need to eat. There's not every day that you're gonna want to get up and go to work, but you do it. There's not every day that you want to do anything, but you have to stay disciplined, and this is how you overcome and become a better person. So I I love to tell my people.
Derrick Williams: One percent better every day. If if your bank account increased one percent every day for the next five years, you'd probably be a happy person. Yeah, very, very happy. So so yeah, so so on that point, man, what would you say separates people who make real progress, kind of going back to the person who quit on you, that that's a person who doesn't make the real progress compared to those who make real progress. What's what's the difference between seeing people? So the people that see the real progress are the people that don't they don't make excuses.
Justin Blair: One percent better every day. If if your bank account increased one percent every day for the next five years, you'd probably be a happy person. Yeah, very, very happy. So so yeah, so so on that point, man, what would you say separates people who make real progress, kind of going back to the person who quit on you, that that's a person who doesn't make the real progress compared to those who make real progress. What's what's the difference between seeing people? So the people that see the real progress are the people that don't they don't make excuses.
Derrick Williams: Yeah. As far as they just don't make i any excuse whether you know, we can make an excuse and be like, I for example, I could have made an excuse on the right before I c was on my way here. I almost forgot my meal, but I I made sure I got it down. and that's that's the the real difference between people that see the change and because the ones that make the excuse of, I don't have time to get to the gym today. I don't have time to eat all my meals, or I don't have time to drink my water. You know, I had a old boss that told me you make time for what you want and
Justin Blair: Yeah. As far as they just don't make i any excuse whether you know, we can make an excuse and be like, I for example, I could have made an excuse on the right before I c was on my way here. I almost forgot my meal, but I I made sure I got it down. and that's that's the the real difference between people that see the change and because the ones that make the excuse of, I don't have time to get to the gym today. I don't have time to eat all my meals, or I don't have time to drink my water. You know, I had a old boss that told me you make time for what you want and
Derrick Williams: So, and that is the difference between someone that's gonna see the change and someone that is not gonna see the change because the person that's not gonna see the change will be like, I'm tired today. I got off work a little bit late. it's raining outside. They will come up with some reason. And the more and more you come up with those reasons to make excuses, the easier it becomes to quit. Mm-hmm. To make the next excuse. Exactly. Yeah. but when you stay disciplined and you're like, I don't care, I've got to make it today. Well, then it makes it
Justin Blair: So, and that is the difference between someone that's gonna see the change and someone that is not gonna see the change because the person that's not gonna see the change will be like, I'm tired today. I got off work a little bit late. it's raining outside. They will come up with some reason. And the more and more you come up with those reasons to make excuses, the easier it becomes to quit. Mm-hmm. To make the next excuse. Exactly. Yeah. but when you stay disciplined and you're like, I don't care, I've got to make it today. Well, then it makes it
Derrick Williams: Every day it makes it easier and easier to show it for yourself. Yes. It's like and and I had in here excuses versus ownership. And I guess once you own who you are and own your life, now you're willing to do whatever it takes to keep that like the value of your life. Exactly. You know, like owning a home. Yes. you know. Yeah, you have to take ownership. You have to you have to take ownership of the things that you can control. So I I love to say that there's so much in the world that we can't control. Yes.
Justin Blair: Every day it makes it easier and easier to show it for yourself. Yes. It's like and and I had in here excuses versus ownership. And I guess once you own who you are and own your life, now you're willing to do whatever it takes to keep that like the value of your life. Exactly. You know, like owning a home. Yes. you know. Yeah, you have to take ownership. You have to you have to take ownership of the things that you can control. So I I love to say that there's so much in the world that we can't control. Yes.
Derrick Williams: Like I I made a reel about it. You ca you can't control if your girlfriend breaks up and leaves. You can't control if you go out today and get into a car accident. You can't control there's so there's so many things in life that you can't control. But the one thing you can control is is showing up for yourself every day. Yeah. And doing one percent better every single day. Yeah. Yeah. I I I really like that, man. so within you, man, what 'cause it almost seems as if it's
Justin Blair: Like I I made a reel about it. You ca you can't control if your girlfriend breaks up and leaves. You can't control if you go out today and get into a car accident. You can't control there's so there's so many things in life that you can't control. But the one thing you can control is is showing up for yourself every day. Yeah. And doing one percent better every single day. Yeah. Yeah. I I I really like that, man. so within you, man, what 'cause it almost seems as if it's
Derrick Williams: Person can look at you where you are now and say it's a gift. But if you're saying that you came from being 300 pounds, there was a time where you probably didn't have the self-discipline or for whatever reason that you found yourself that size, and not saying that 300 pounds is bad. I don't want everybody feeling like self-conscious. Yeah, yeah. But something was was forged into you, man, to where it's like you have this this drive in you. and it's and I think it's a gift. Like, cause I'm like a happy go-lucky person. Sometimes I wish I could just be
Justin Blair: Person can look at you where you are now and say it's a gift. But if you're saying that you came from being 300 pounds, there was a time where you probably didn't have the self-discipline or for whatever reason that you found yourself that size, and not saying that 300 pounds is bad. I don't want everybody feeling like self-conscious. Yeah, yeah. But something was was forged into you, man, to where it's like you have this this drive in you. and it's and I think it's a gift. Like, cause I'm like a happy go-lucky person. Sometimes I wish I could just be
Derrick Williams: Like a ass and just not care. But that's just not who I am. You know, so I look at people. So I'm just comparing it to that and saying you have this thing in you where it's like I'm gonna do it and get it done. and I think it's a gift. It's the it's it's it's the fire that burns inside. Gotcha. it is the people think and look at me and say that this body just happened. Yeah. And and that's not what it is. I still look in the mirror every day and I fear to become back that three hundred pound person.
Justin Blair: Like a ass and just not care. But that's just not who I am. You know, so I look at people. So I'm just comparing it to that and saying you have this thing in you where it's like I'm gonna do it and get it done. and I think it's a gift. It's the it's it's it's the fire that burns inside. Gotcha. it is the people think and look at me and say that this body just happened. Yeah. And and that's not what it is. I still look in the mirror every day and I fear to become back that three hundred pound person.
Derrick Williams: And that's what continues to drive me. I yeah. If anybody that was in the fitness space was comfortable and content with where they looked, they probably wouldn't keep going. Yeah. And it's that is the driving factor inside and it helps me with my everyday life. So I do so many different things. As I told you, I wear so many different hats. And one of the biggest things is to keep showing up for these young men. And if I can quit on myself, then what stops me from quitting on them? Yeah. And that's and that's kind of like the driving force. If I can
Justin Blair: And that's what continues to drive me. I yeah. If anybody that was in the fitness space was comfortable and content with where they looked, they probably wouldn't keep going. Yeah. And it's that is the driving factor inside and it helps me with my everyday life. So I do so many different things. As I told you, I wear so many different hats. And one of the biggest things is to keep showing up for these young men. And if I can quit on myself, then what stops me from quitting on them? Yeah. And that's and that's kind of like the driving force. If I can
Derrick Williams: If I can quit on myself, I can quit on my family. Yeah. you know, there's you know, there's been a whole bunch of obstacles that I've had to overcome through my past. And and and I and I feel like we don't we don't stop. Like we just we just keep going. Yeah. You just keep going. You just keep showing up every day, no matter what's going on, you just keep going. Mm-hmm. So Yeah. So I I know we we've talked about imposter syndrome, man, and and I remember we were sitting in a sauna, you mentioned that.
Justin Blair: If I can quit on myself, I can quit on my family. Yeah. you know, there's you know, there's been a whole bunch of obstacles that I've had to overcome through my past. And and and I and I feel like we don't we don't stop. Like we just we just keep going. Yeah. You just keep going. You just keep showing up every day, no matter what's going on, you just keep going. Mm-hmm. So Yeah. So I I know we we've talked about imposter syndrome, man, and and I remember we were sitting in a sauna, you mentioned that.
Derrick Williams: and I was like, wow, you know, but I know it's real because I know myself, you know, so I know things can exist for someone where s where other people see them in a certain light. You're like, Man, you have no idea some of the things that I may think about myself, you know, or when people give you I think about just recently and it was so cool to see that you received a gift, you know, from work, like one one of your jobs and and so deserving of it, but you can still feel like, Man, wow, for me. You you know what I mean? And it's like
Justin Blair: and I was like, wow, you know, but I know it's real because I know myself, you know, so I know things can exist for someone where s where other people see them in a certain light. You're like, Man, you have no idea some of the things that I may think about myself, you know, or when people give you I think about just recently and it was so cool to see that you received a gift, you know, from work, like one one of your jobs and and so deserving of it, but you can still feel like, Man, wow, for me. You you know what I mean? And it's like
Derrick Williams: But if everybody else is just on the outside looking in, it's like, okay, that's not surprising. It's rather being there working, you know, getting it in. And it's so what's self-doubt sounds like when things are actually going well? Like the reason, what what is it that happens to make you have some self doubt when it comes to that imposter syndrome? Man, I see so many other well deserving people in this space. I take I take my craft seriously.
Justin Blair: But if everybody else is just on the outside looking in, it's like, okay, that's not surprising. It's rather being there working, you know, getting it in. And it's so what's self doubt sounds like when things are actually going well? Like the reason, what what is it that happens to make you have some self doubt when it comes to that imposter syndrome? Man, I see so many other well deserving people in this space. I take I take my craft seriously.
Derrick Williams: I take learning and knowledge very serious. And I feel like there's so many others in the fitness space that are so much more knowledgeable than me. that I look up to in the fitness space. And a lot of them, they know who they are because I t I speak to them. I I message them on Instagram, I talk to them. And and so when I look in the mirror, everybody else on the outside looks in at me and they're like, Man, this guy he got it going on. He knows exactly what he's talking about. But yeah, when I look in the mirror myself.
Justin Blair: I take learning and knowledge very serious. And I feel like there's so many others in the fitness space that are so much more knowledgeable than me. that I look up to in the fitness space. And a lot of them, they know who they are because I t I speak to them. I I message them on Instagram, I talk to them. And and so when I look in the mirror, everybody else on the outside looks in at me and they're like, Man, this guy he got it going on. He knows exactly what he's talking about. But yeah, when I look in the mirror myself.
Derrick Williams: it that's not always what I see. sometimes I I have to question myself, am I n am I deserving to be here? Mm-hmm. am I as good as what other people think I am? Yeah. Because I look at so many others and I think s in all honesty, social media, it kinda it plays a huge part because you see these people that have millions and millions of followers that and whether they're better than me or not, it it kind of makes me look like do I belong here? Yeah.
Justin Blair: it that's not always what I see. sometimes I I have to question myself, am I n am I deserving to be here? Mm-hmm. am I as good as what other people think I am? Yeah. Because I look at so many others and I think s in all honesty, social media, it kinda it plays a huge part because you see these people that have millions and millions of followers that and whether they're better than me or not, it it kind of makes me look like do I belong here? Yeah.
Derrick Williams: So that gift that you brought up actually, yeah, it was it was it it really touched me. I I I really was I loved I loved it. and but that is what the imposter syndrome looks like. and I feel like no matter how far I've come or how far I go, I will always look at myself in the mirror and and ask myself that. And that's also, as we were just talking about, the part of the driving force. That's what always makes me become better. So the one percent better.
Justin Blair: So that gift that you brought up actually, yeah, it was it was it it really touched me. I I I really was I loved I loved it. and but that is what the imposter syndrome looks like. and I feel like no matter how far I've come or how far I go, I will always look at myself in the mirror and and ask myself that. And that's also, as we were just talking about, the part of the driving force. That's what always makes me become better. So the one percent better.
Derrick Williams: I want to become 1% better every single, every single day in my craft and me as a human being. but the imposter syndrome is real. and I'm sure I'm not the only person that goes through it. Yeah. and that, and basically the way that I overcome the self-doubt. Yeah, the way that I overcome that is just keep pushing forward. and take the take the constructive criticism, take it and you learn from it.
Justin Blair: I want to become 1% better every single, every single day in my craft and me as a human being. but the imposter syndrome is real. and I'm sure I'm not the only person that goes through it. Yeah. and that, and basically the way that I overcome the self-doubt. Yeah, the way that I overcome that is just keep pushing forward. and take the take the constructive criticism, take it and you learn from it.
Derrick Williams: And also I never be afraid to be the stupidest one in the room. Yeah, that was me on a meeting today, man. I asked question. I'm like, I I tell people I I love to be the dumbest person in the room. If I'm the smartest person in the room, we ain't going too far. Yeah. But if I'm the dumbest person in the room, I have I have oceans to conquer. Yeah. So that's true. I it make it makes me think about two things. One, having the biggest house in the neighborhood, everybody's getting equity. The equity's building off your house. But if you have the one
Justin Blair: And also I never be afraid to be the stupidest one in the room. Yeah, that was me on a meeting today, man. I asked question. I'm like, I I tell people I I love to be the dumbest person in the room. If I'm the smartest person in the room, we ain't going too far. Yeah. But if I'm the dumbest person in the room, I have I have oceans to conquer. Yeah. So that's true. I it make it makes me think about two things. One, having the biggest house in the neighborhood, everybody's getting equity. The equity's building off your house. But if you have the one
Derrick Williams: It's not as big, your house is gonna probably sell for a little bit more. Exactly. And then also something I I heard from a friend, man, it's been like maybe twenty years ago. eat the meat and spit out the bones. Okay. You know what I mean? I was like, okay, so eat what's what's good for you and healthy and just spit out the rest. You know, you ain't gotta make a big fuss about it. You know, just take what's nutritious for you and then spit out the rest. And and that's that's a hundred percent true. I take so much knowledge from all these other
Justin Blair: It's not as big, your house is gonna probably sell for a little bit more. Exactly. And then also something I I heard from a friend, man, it's been like maybe twenty years ago. eat the meat and spit out the bones. Okay. You know what I mean? I was like, okay, so eat what's what's good for you and healthy and just spit out the rest. You know, you ain't gotta make a big fuss about it. You know, just take what's nutritious for you and then spit out the rest. And and that's that's a hundred percent true. I take so much knowledge from all these other
Derrick Williams: respectable trainers, whether they're in the DMV area, which all of them, 95% of them know exactly who I'm who I'm referring to. or whether it's people that that I have no clue who they are. I I I read through their information. I dissect what is beneficial and what I see fitting for me and what I can use for my clients. And I go with that. and and again it's forever evolving and ever learning. If you if you think you're the smartest one in the room.
Justin Blair: respectable trainers, whether they're in the DMV area, which all of them, 95% of them know exactly who I'm who I'm referring to. or whether it's people that that I have no clue who they are. I I I read through their information. I dissect what is beneficial and what I see fitting for me and what I can use for my clients. And I go with that. and and again it's forever evolving and ever learning. If you if you think you're the smartest one in the room.
Derrick Williams: If you can't take anything in because you think all there are are bones on the table, or b then you you're not gonna go very far. Yeah, that's true, man. Very, very true. so now let's let's go into man overcoming victimhood. This is something else that we we talked about in setbacks. so how do you feel you you can s pull yourself back if you feeling probably not so much you feeling helpless, but like your clients. You go back to that first client you have that just kind of
Justin Blair: If you can't take anything in because you think all there are are bones on the table, or b then you you're not gonna go very far. Yeah, that's true, man. Very, very true. so now let's let's go into man overcoming victimhood. This is something else that we we talked about in setbacks. so how do you feel you you can s pull yourself back if you feeling probably not so much you feeling helpless, but like your clients. You go back to that first client you have that just kind of
Derrick Williams: Like I I'm just not doing this, you know, and and shake off that feeling of Not I feel like it's a lot of that in in our society now, bec and some of it is very rightfully so. Many people y I know you mentioned as black men, you know, just constantly feeling attacked, but having to continue to push forward without becoming a victim. It's like, okay, I understand the parameters, but I still gotta get over there to where I'm going, y you know? Yeah. And navigating that space.
Justin Blair: Like I I'm just not doing this, you know, and and shake off that feeling of Not I feel like it's a lot of that in in our society now, bec and some of it is very rightfully so. Many people y I know you mentioned as black men, you know, just constantly feeling attacked, but having to continue to push forward without becoming a victim. It's like, okay, I understand the parameters, but I still gotta get over there to where I'm going, y you know? Yeah. And navigating that space.
Derrick Williams: I feel like every s every human on this earth has been through something. whether it's traumatizing, whether well, it's all been traumatizing. You've been through your own traumatizing experiences. I've been through my own traumatizing experiences. I heard a saying one time we all have to go through what we have to go through to become the humans that we have to be. Yeah. So, and with that, you either play two things come from traumatizing experiences. You either become a victim, you let it play victim.
Justin Blair: I feel like every s every human on this earth has been through something. whether it's traumatizing, whether well, it's all been traumatizing. You've been through your own traumatizing experiences. I've been through my own traumatizing experiences. I heard a saying one time we all have to go through what we have to go through to become the humans that we have to be. Yeah. So, and with that, you either play two things come from traumatizing experiences. You either become a victim, you let it play victim.
Derrick Williams: And you become victimized by the c situation that has happened to you, or you use that as fuel. Yeah. I have a friend follow him on Instagram. Man, I I've seen he's he went through something, I ain't gonna say his name, but his when we were younger, his parents died. And I I I watched him go through this. Man, this man is so successful and he's multi-millionaire, and I've seen other people.
Justin Blair: And you become victimized by the c situation that has happened to you, or you use that as fuel. Yeah. I have a friend follow him on Instagram. Man, I I've seen he's he went through something, I ain't gonna say his name, but his when we were younger, his parents died. And I I I watched him go through this. Man, this man is so successful and he's multimillionaire, and I've seen other people.
Derrick Williams: Same situation and they become drug addicts. What separates the two? One used this as a to victimize themselves for the rest of their life while the other one used it as fuel. And that goes with anything. So whether you whether something traumatizing like that happened, whether you've been the prisoner jail, whether whether you just you broke a bone. It could be you whether you got fired from your job. What's whether you started a business and you lost your business. What stops you from that other guy that that
Justin Blair: Same situation and they become drug addicts. What separates the two? One used this as a to victimize themselves for the rest of their life while the other one used it as fuel. And that goes with anything. So whether you whether something traumatizing like that happened, whether you've been the prisoner jail, whether whether you just you broke a bone. It could be you whether you got fired from your job. What's whether you started a business and you lost your business. What stops you from that other guy that that
Derrick Williams: had the same thing happen to him. Well, one played victim and the other one said, You know what? This is gonna make me so I never want I never wanna feel like this or go through this again. Mm-hmm. And that is what I truly think separates the two. Yeah. and going back to like with you saying this and I never thought about this before, but I've lost my train of thought. But just what you was just saying, of course it's not as elementary as playing a video game or
Justin Blair: had the same thing happen to him. Well, one played victim and the other one said, You know what? This is gonna make me so I never want I never wanna feel like this or go through this again. Mm-hmm. And that is what I truly think separates the two. Yeah. and going back to like with you saying this and I never thought about this before, but I've lost my train of thought. But just what you was just saying, of course it's not as elementary as playing a video game or
Derrick Williams: Because it the the consequences of losing on a game are not as as large as they are in in life, you know. But it made me think about perhaps I can look at life or others can look at life as this adventure. It truly is an adventure. And and in that adventure that you're on, everything's not always be great. But you continue to press because you after what you after. You know, and and and embracing 'cause I could think about a person right now in my mind that's going through a very tough situation. This is a person that's
Justin Blair: Because it the the consequences of losing on a game are not as as large as they are in in life, you know. But it made me think about perhaps I can look at life or others can look at life as this adventure. It truly is an adventure. And and in that adventure that you're on, everything's not always be great. But you continue to press because you after what you after. You know, and and and embracing 'cause I could think about a person right now in my mind that's going through a very tough situation. This is a person that's
Derrick Williams: that I don't call it bodybuilding. And you may know the person as well. And I know right now it's a very, very challenging time in their life. and I really appreciate the person posting different things on Instagram because I'm all about you celebrate a person, but it it the celebration is is greater when you see what they've gone through. It it has more, it just feels better. Like man, we didn't just show up when Justin had dog going
Justin Blair: that I don't call it bodybuilding. And you may know the person as well. And I know right now it's a very, very challenging time in their life. and I really appreciate the person posting different things on Instagram because I'm all about you celebrate a person, but it it the celebration is is greater when you see what they've gone through. It it has more, it just feels better. Like man, we didn't just show up when Justin had dog going
Derrick Williams: Two million followers. You know, you were there when he was at the beginning. You know, so seeing this person. So what you just explained just makes me think about that. Like, keep going, keep pressing. And you're gonna have your setbacks, but allow it to shape you and add some seasoning to your life. Yeah. you know, setbacks are gonna come. nobody's life is ever straight up. nobody's life, nobody's life just keeps going straight. They people have they come down, they become stagnant, they might drop a little bit. I told a friend.
Justin Blair: Two million followers. You know, you were there when he was at the beginning. You know, so seeing this person. So what you just explained just makes me think about that. Like, keep going, keep pressing. And you're gonna have your setbacks, but allow it to shape you and add some seasoning to your life. Yeah. you know. Setbacks are gonna come. nobody's life is ever straight up. nobody's life nobody's life just keeps going straight. They people have they come down, they become stagnant, they might drop a little bit. I told a friend. Not too long ago. As long as your low as long as your lows are higher than your previous lows, then you're doing something right. As long as and as long as your highs are higher than your previous highs, then you just keep going. But life is always gonna be up and down. But I can think of times. So I just recently had a low. I th I told you and I don't mind talking about it. I had a gym and and and I ended up losing my business. And but guess what? When I lost that business, I think about times in my life.
Derrick Williams: Not too long ago. As long as your low as long as your lows are higher than your previous lows, then you're doing something right. As long as and as long as your highs are higher than your previous highs, then you just keep going. But life is always gonna be up and down. But I can think of times. So I just recently had a low. I th I told you and I don't mind talking about it. I had a gym and and and I ended up losing my business. And but guess what? When I lost that business, I think about times in my life. Where I had been, I I told you also, I went to prison. Well, guess what? Me losing that business, mm-hmm, I there was a lower low. There was a lot lower low. And yes. And that lower low, mm-hmm, I this this low was a lot higher than this low. Yeah. I still had my health. I still had some, I still have finances. I still have some money. and I still have my family. Yeah. Whereas bef when I was in that other low.
Justin Blair: Where I had been, I I told you also, I went to prison. Well, guess what? Me losing that business, mm-hmm, I there was a lower low. There was a lot lower low. And yes. And that lower low, mm-hmm, I this this low was a lot higher than this low. Yeah. I still had my health. I still had some, I still have finances. I still have some money. and I still have my family. Yeah. Whereas bef when I was in that other low.
Derrick Williams: Yeah. I lost it all. I didn't have anything. So and this is what life's about. You just keep going. And you you literally just you just want to make sure that you're you keep going and that those highs are higher and that those lows aren't as low as the previous low. And I would all I would could argue that the low of losing a gym was actually a high if you look at the the prison situation. You know what I mean? Because you were in a position where you can even you can just at least you was able to take a shot on yourself.
Justin Blair: Yeah. I lost it all. I didn't have anything. So and this is what life's about. You just keep going. And you you literally just you just want to make sure that you're you keep going and that those highs are higher and that those lows aren't as low as the previous low. And I would all I would could argue that the low of losing a gym was actually a high if you look at the the prison situation. You know what I mean? Because you were in a position where you can even you can just at least you was able to take a shot on yourself.
Derrick Williams: And you never and when you're at your lowest, so there's a movie, it's one of my favorite movies called Blow with Johnny Depp. and when you're at your lowest, you never think you're gonna be high again, and when you're at your highest, you never think you'll be high again. But the the point is and the purpose is you just keep fighting to live another day. Yeah, yeah, just keep going, man, just keep showing up. And that is very true. that is actually high. And you have to look at everything as a blessing in disguise because if that didn't happen with my gym, where would I be?
Justin Blair: And you never and when you're at your lowest, so there's a movie, it's one of my favorite movies called Blow with Johnny Depp. and when you're at your lowest, you never think you're gonna be high again, and when you're at your highest, you never think you'll be high again. But the the point is and the purpose is you just keep fighting to live another day. Yeah, yeah, just keep going, man, just keep showing up. And that is very true. that is actually high. And you have to look at everything as a blessing in disguise because if that didn't happen with my gym, where would I be?
Derrick Williams: all this that has us me being here, me getting receiving that gift, people seeing me as this great trainer. That never happened when I was at my own gym. It took for me to lose that and then become to where I am and and become a trainer at grind, still pushing my own business through through them. Yeah, that now it it's elevating me and pushing me up. So you can't always take that the bad things that happen. a lot of times
Justin Blair: all this that has us me being here, me getting receiving that gift, people seeing me as this great trainer. That never happened when I was at my own gym. It took for me to lose that and then become to where I am and and become a trainer at grind, still pushing my own business through through them. Yeah, that now it it's elevating me and pushing me up. So you can't always take that the bad things that happen. a lot of times
Derrick Williams: God sets us back to humble us before he elevates us. He needs to make sure that we're ready for what we need to receive before he gives it to us. Because if he gives it to us in the present moment, you might not even be humble and you might you might be egotistical and and and become a super certified, if I may say, asshole. Yeah, yes. So and that's and that's yeah. And I kind of define it through my life experience as being because I would never wish on someone that they go through some of the
Justin Blair: God sets us back to humble us before he elevates us. He needs to make sure that we're ready for what we need to receive before he gives it to us. Because if he gives it to us in the present moment, you might not even be humble and you might you might be egotistical and and and become a super certified, if I may say, asshole. Yeah, yes. So and that's and that's yeah. And I kind of define it through my life experience as being because I would never wish on someone that they go through some of the
Derrick Williams: some of the things I had to endure. Not that I had this very difficult hard life, but you know, our challenges are our challenges. but I would never wish none of that stuff on anyone. But I often say, you know, life happens to all of us. And I think in my life experience that God has a way of bringing good out of everything. Everything. You know, and and that's kind of how I look at it. Cause I think about myself and going through a divorce, man. It's like one of the probably most difficult things I ever had to do. Even though I was the one, you know, who
Justin Blair: some of the things I had to endure. Not that I had this very difficult hard life, but you know, our challenges are our challenges. but I would never wish none of that stuff on anyone. But I often say, you know, life happens to all of us. And I think in my life experience that God has a way of bringing good out of everything. Everything. You know, and and that's kind of how I look at it. Cause I think about myself and going through a divorce, man. It's like one of the probably most difficult things I ever had to do. Even though I was the one, you know, who
Derrick Williams: initiated and you know just the whole process. But I can look at my life now and think about people that I have in my life, you know, friends and just different relationships that I can't imagine not having, you know? And I had someone at the gym and I'd like to say this to share it with everybody listening. I was telling them about my experience with like meeting never really meet my father at a at an adult age. You know, I w I can remember being a child. And that person was like, Well, who would you be the person you are today, your life probably would be different. And I was like, You're probably right. But I
Justin Blair: initiated and you know just the whole process. But I can look at my life now and think about people that I have in my life, you know, friends and just different relationships that I can't imagine not having, you know? And I had someone at the gym and I'd like to say this to share it with everybody listening. I was telling them about my experience with like meeting never really meet my father at a at an adult age. You know, I w I can remember being a child. And that person was like, Well, who would you be the person you are today, your life probably would be different. And I was like, You're probably right. But I
Derrick Williams: really appreciate who I am today. So it doesn't even matter. You know, it's just that was like such a healing thing for me when I had that conversation with her, you know. So kind of what you're saying, you know. Yeah. It's part of it's part of what you had to go through to become the human that you are. Yeah, I it is it is crazy. Yeah. It it is crazy, crazy, you know. And I just appreciate it. you kind of touched on how how do you find yourself, man, rebuilding trust, starting from rock bottom after major life resets and past mistakes. And I know you mentioned going to prison.
Justin Blair: really appreciate who I am today. So it doesn't even matter. You know, it's just that was like such a healing thing for me when I had that conversation with her, you know. So kind of what you're saying, you know. Yeah. It's part of it's part of what you had to go through to become the human that you are. Yeah, I it is it is crazy. Yeah. It it is crazy, crazy, you know. And I just appreciate it. you kind of touched on how how do you find yourself, man, rebuilding trust, starting from rock bottom after major life resets and past mistakes. And I know you mentioned going to prison.
Derrick Williams: and look at yourself now, man, and coming back into a society where you have to navigate through a space and people may judge you because of what you've done and you just keep pressing. when you hit rock bottom like such as something like that, it's it's it's literally you have to start over. and not just not just financially, not just it from everything.
Justin Blair: and look at yourself now, man, and coming back into a society where you have to navigate through a space and people may judge you because of what you've done and you just keep pressing. when you hit rock bottom like such as something like that, it's it's it's literally you have to start over. and not just not just financially, not just it from everything. your whole mental has to change. because in there, your mentality has to be completely different. It's it's literally a survival mode. Yeah, I can imagine. And when you come out, it's it's not like that. So you have to re you have to change the way that you think. You have to change your mentality towards life. and you just take it one day at a time. when I first came home from prison, I was I went and got a job in construction. I hated it. I I I told myself,
Derrick Williams: your whole mental has to change. because in there, your mentality has to be completely different. It's it's literally a survival mode. Yeah, I can imagine. And when you come out, it's it's not like that. So you have to re you have to change the way that you think. You have to change your mentality towards life. and you just take it one day at a time. when I first came home from prison, I was I went and got a job in construction. I hated it. I I I told myself,
Justin Blair: I don't knock anybody that does this, but I know that I'm I'm smarter than this to be swinging a hammer for the rest of my life out in this hot sun. and I didn't know what I was gonna do. It the gym changing my mental slowly transitioned me into and meeting good people, it slowly transitioned me into becoming a better person. but that I felt like I needed to go through that journey. again, not everybody.
Derrick Williams: I don't knock anybody that does this, but I know that I'm I'm smarter than this to be swinging a hammer for the rest of my life out in this hot sun. and I didn't know what I was gonna do. It the gym changing my mental slowly transitioned me into and meeting good people, it slowly transitioned me into becoming a better person. but that I felt like I needed to go through that journey. again, not everybody.
Justin Blair: I you have to go through what you have to go through to become the person you are meant to be. Without that journey, I wouldn't be the guy that helps other men and women see the best version of themselves. Yeah. Without that journey, I wouldn't be able to help the youth navigate through this realm that we call life and tell them, Listen, I've I've I I went left to only try to go back straight and to only find people that were way, way ahead of me. Yeah.
Derrick Williams: I you have to go through what you have to go through to become the person you are meant to be. Without that journey, I wouldn't be the guy that helps other men and women see the best version of themselves. Yeah. Without that journey, I wouldn't be able to help the youth navigate through this realm that we call life and tell them, Listen, I've I've I I went left to only try to go back straight and to only find people that were way, way ahead of me. Yeah. And that's and that's the biggest thing. So when you when you hit rock bottom, you just take it one day at a time. and you and you rebuild yourself the best way you know how. mine I found mine through family, through my kids, through books, yeah, through fitness. Yes. And this is how this is basically how I've slowly overcome and I've built relationships and knew that everybody
Justin Blair: And that's and that's the biggest thing. So when you when you hit rock bottom, you just take it one day at a time. and you and you rebuild yourself the best way you know how. mine I found mine through family, through my kids, through books, yeah, through fitness. Yes. And this is how this is basically how I've slowly overcome and I've built relationships and knew that everybody
Derrick Williams: doesn't have malice intentions towards you and that there are genuine people in the world that just want to see you see good in you and it's for you to find these people and for you to take these people in and and really build with these people. Yeah, it's t it's two things. Man, the first one, I truly believe kind of touching on what you just said, finding these people, I found being authentic to who you are will attract the correct people to you. Because they're being attracted to who you actually are and you don't have to put on a show or anything. And the second thing
Justin Blair: doesn't have malice intentions towards you and that there are genuine people in the world that just want to see you see good in you and it's for you to find these people and for you to take these people in and and really build with these people. Yeah, it's t it's two things. Man, the first one, I truly believe kind of touching on what you just said, finding these people, I found being authentic to who you are will attract the correct people to you. Because they're being attracted to who you actually are and you don't have to put on a show or anything. And the second thing
Derrick Williams: That you said that I want to touch on real quickly is b and it's based on the current generation. not a lot of people, I can only speak about, you know, folks that's close in my life, of understanding that sometimes you gotta do what you don't wanna do to get to where you wanna go. And and what made me think about that is you saying taking a job in construction. You know, you could have said, I'm yeah, I was in prison, but I'm worth more than construction. So I'm not gonna do this. I'm just gonna keep looking for something different. But you decided to do that.
Justin Blair: That you said that I want to touch on real quickly is b and it's based on the current generation. not a lot of people, I can only speak about, you know, folks that's close in my life, of understanding that sometimes you gotta do what you don't wanna do to get to where you wanna go. And and what made me think about that is you saying taking a job in construction. You know, you could have said, I'm yeah, I was in prison, but I'm worth more than construction. So I'm not gonna do this. I'm just gonna keep looking for something different. But you decided to do that.
Derrick Williams: And it helped you, you know, and and that's just something I I wish more people, you know, in in our current generation. It goes back to social media, everybody can see other people's highlight reels, and I'm not knocking anyone on social media. but if you're not strong mentally, you can get caught up in that and think that that's those people started there going back to the age thing of you know, I didn't start out this age, you know, I used to be ten years old too, you know. So so that part I just want to touch on and say, Man, it's I think that's very powerful that you
Justin Blair: And it helped you, you know, and and that's just something I I wish more people, you know, in in our current generation. It goes back to social media, everybody can see other people's highlight reels, and I'm not knocking anyone on social media. but if you're not strong mentally, you can get caught up in that and think that that's those people started there going back to the age thing of you know, I didn't start out this age, you know, I used to be ten years old too, you know. So so that part I just want to touch on and say, Man, it's I think that's very powerful that you
Derrick Williams: took on a job because you just had to do what you had to do in the moment, you know? And what's crazy to me is it it to me it took so I I'm I don't mind. I went to prison for selling weed and more than anything, it it took everything out of me not to go back to exactly what I was doing. Yeah. I did very well in that in that realm, in that field. Yeah. So to go from that to making freaking a thousand dollars every two weeks, that was hard. You telling me what I used to make in a day, now I have to
Justin Blair: took on a job because you just had to do what you had to do in the moment, you know? And what's crazy to me is it it to me it took so I I'm I don't mind. I went to prison for selling weed and more than anything, it it took everything out of me not to go back to exactly what I was doing. Yeah. I did very well in that in that realm, in that field. Yeah. So to go from that to making freaking a thousand dollars every two weeks, that was hard. You telling me what I used to make in a day, now I have to
Derrick Williams: I'm gonna have to sacrifice everything and work for eight hours and only make that every two weeks. Yeah. That was the that was the hardest thing to overcome. but one thing that I kept I kept true to myself and I kept true to and kept believing in is that I didn't want to go back to where I was. And that's that I think that held closer to me than anything. I didn't want to end up back in that situation. Yeah. So I s I kept pushing forward.
Justin Blair: I'm gonna have to sacrifice everything and work for eight hours and only make that every two weeks. Yeah. That was the that was the hardest thing to overcome. but one thing that I kept I kept true to myself and I kept true to and kept believing in is that I didn't want to go back to where I was. And that's that I think that held closer to me than anything. I didn't want to end up back in that situation. Yeah. So I s I kept pushing forward.
Derrick Williams: So that I didn't live basically this the same loop over and over. the definition of basically being I forget what is it called the definition of insanity. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome. Yeah. And and and I knew that. And I knew that it was so easy for me to pick up the phone and and call somebody and and basically do what I needed to do and to get back in that same life.
Justin Blair: So that I didn't live basically this the same loop over and over. the definition of basically being I forget what is it called the definition of insanity. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome. Yeah. And and and I knew that. And I knew that it was so easy for me to pick up the phone and and call somebody and and basically do what I needed to do and to get back in that same life.
Derrick Williams: But I didn't. And that's and that's what really held true to me. And I think that really started my discipline before the gym and everything because that was the easiest thing was to like, I can quit this and go do this and that's not that's not what I did. Yeah, yep. That's good, man. I'm happy you didn't 'cause you're here. Yeah, thank you, thank you. So man, kinda getting getting towards the end, what is the action step, man, you think the listeners, people that's listening can do if they kind of feeling like they're not worthy.
Justin Blair: But I didn't. And that's and that's what really held true to me. And I think that really started my discipline before the gym and everything because that was the easiest thing was to like, I can quit this and go do this and that's not that's not what I did. Yeah, yep. That's good, man. I'm happy you didn't 'cause you're here. Yeah, thank you, thank you. So man, kinda getting getting towards the end, what is the action step, man, you think the listeners, people that's listening can do if they kind of feeling like they're not worthy.
Derrick Williams: But just some advice you can give the people who may be going through situation where they may feel unworthy. Man, I tell I tell everybody. So I I just had a conversation well about three months ago and I had to tell a young lady, she said she wanted to start a business. And but she said she was trying to learn so much before she started. Mm-hmm. And I tell I told her, Man, you just start and and you're gonna make mistakes, you're gonna mess up. Mm-hmm.
Justin Blair: But just some advice you can give the people who may be going through situation where they may feel unworthy. Man, I tell I tell everybody. So I I just had a conversation well about three months ago and I had to tell a young lady, she said she wanted to start a business. And but she said she was trying to learn so much before she started. Mm-hmm. And I tell I told her, Man, you just start and and you're gonna make mistakes, you're gonna mess up. Mm-hmm.
Derrick Williams: That's part of the learning process and the journey. So anybody that like is is on the fence about anything, just just move just take a step forward. Nobody started nobody ran a marathon, decided they wanted to run a marathon in a day. Yeah. It started with a step. And if they did, they were crazy. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. It started it started with a step. Yeah. You take one step forward no matter what you're going through in life to get yourself out that whole you just you just take one step forward and then
Justin Blair: That's part of the learning process and the journey. So anybody that like is is on the fence about anything, just just move just take a step forward. Nobody started nobody ran a marathon, decided they wanted to run a marathon in a day. Yeah. It started with a step. And if they did, they were crazy. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. It started it started with a step. Yeah. You take one step forward no matter what you're going through in life to get yourself out that whole you just you just take one step forward and then
Derrick Williams: The next day you take another step. And before you know it, it's one foot in front of the other. And when you look back, you're you're fifty miles in the opposite direction. And that's that's where anybody that's going through anything in life, just don't keep sitting there getting down on yourself about no matter what it is. You just take the step to to improve and be better no matter what it is. Yeah. I appreciate it, man. anything, any other closing remarks, man, you have you want to share or nah, I appreciate you having me here. Yeah and this is great.
Justin Blair: The next day you take another step. And before you know it, it's one foot in front of the other. And when you look back, you're you're fifty miles in the opposite direction. And that's that's where anybody that's going through anything in life, just don't keep sitting there getting down on yourself about no matter what it is. You just take the step to to improve and be better no matter what it is. Yeah. I appreciate it, man. anything, any other closing remarks, man, you have you want to share or nah, I appreciate you having me here. Yeah and this is great.
Derrick Williams: yeah, I just appreciate you having me. and for anybody that's out there that's kinda going through anything, know that everybody's going through something. know that everybody has stuff happen to them every day. And don't play victim. use that use whatever's happened to you, whatever you're going through. Use that as a fuel to only push and move yourself in the opposite direction. How's a rocket?
Justin Blair: yeah, I just appreciate you having me. and for anybody that's out there that's kinda going through anything, know that everybody's going through something. know that everybody has stuff happen to them every day. And don't play victim. use that use whatever's happened to you, whatever you're going through. Use that as a fuel to only push and move yourself in the opposite direction. How's a rocket?
Derrick Williams: a rocket is from fire from the fuel for the the boosters it but it propels you upward. So use whatever you're going through as that fuel to to push you further and to go from to move out of the direction that you are uncomfortable in. Or you can sit in that position that you want to and you can sit in that in that bad space and nothing's gonna ever change. Yeah. Just gonna be there. Exactly. So if somebody wants to connect with you man, how can they you can find me on Thor underscore fitness
Justin Blair: a rocket is from fire from the fuel for the the boosters it but it propels you upward. So use whatever you're going through as that fuel to to push you further and to go from to move out of the direction that you are uncomfortable in. Or you can sit in that position that you want to and you can sit in that in that bad space and nothing's gonna ever change. Yeah. Just gonna be there. Exactly. So if somebody wants to connect with you man, how can they you can find me on Thor underscore fitness
Derrick Williams: period one seven. you can you can email me at at ThorsFitness17 at gmail dot com. follow me on Facebook. My name's Justin Blair. and yeah you that's how you find me. Or you can always come into Grind Gym. Yes. And that's that's you know what I mean? You can come into Grind Gyms and I'm a trainer there. so I have my cards there. You can ask for Justin and that's how you can find me. All right.
Justin Blair: period one seven. you can you can email me at at ThorsFitness17 at gmail dot com. follow me on Facebook. My name's Justin Blair. and yeah you that's how you find me. Or you can always come into Grind Gym. Yes. And that's that's you know what I mean? You can come into Grind Gyms and I'm a trainer there. so I have my cards there. You can ask for Justin and that's how you can find me. All right.
Derrick Williams: Well thank you, man. I really appreciate it, man. This this was this was great. Thank you. Yes.
Justin Blair: Well thank you, man. I really appreciate it, man. This this was this was great. Thank you. Yes.
