Meet Justin Bruce

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Justin Bruce. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Justin below.

Justin, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

Confidence and self-esteem were not things that came naturally to me early on. When I entered high school, I was 4’11” and 87 pounds—a small frame in a big school, especially for someone passionate about sports, particularly basketball. As a freshman, I made the B team at a large Catholic high school. I loved the game, but my size and skill level made it easy to be overlooked. My sophomore year, I spent most of my time on the bench, watching and learning, but something inside me refused to let that be my story. I decided I wanted more—not just to play but to start as a senior. That decision changed everything.

From then on, I committed to outworking everyone else. I was the first one in the gym and the last one to leave, day after day. I focused on developing not just my skills but also my mindset, pushing myself to believe that hard work could beat talent when talent wasn’t working hard. By my senior year, that effort paid off—I earned the starting point guard position. I wasn’t the tallest, strongest, or most naturally gifted player on the team, but I had something that set me apart: determination and a relentless work ethic.

That experience in high school laid the foundation for how I approach my personal and professional life today. It taught me that confidence isn’t about being the biggest or the best—it’s about showing up, putting in the work, and believing in the power of persistence. Whether it’s in building a successful business or creating opportunities for my family, I’ve carried that same mindset with me: outworking the competition, staying committed, and never underestimating what grit and determination can achieve. That lesson from high school basketball is something I’ll carry with me forever.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I wear a lot of hats professionally, but at the core of everything I do is a desire to serve and make an impact in people’s lives. My journey began in the healthcare world, where my wife and I have built a thriving chiropractic practice focused on helping people feel and live their best. Watching her passion for healing and the way she connects with patients has been incredibly inspiring, and it’s a reminder every day of the importance of serving others with excellence.

Beyond chiropractic, my career in real estate has become a true passion. I’m fortunate to work locally in Lancaster and Columbus, Ohio, helping families and individuals find their dream homes and achieve one of life’s most significant milestones. Nationally, I’m the Executive Vice President of a couple of broker-agnostic referral networks, one of which is built to assist our Military heroes. This group’s mission of connecting skilled agents with clients who deserve the best in service is something I’m deeply proud of, and I continue to focus on growing our network and supporting our members.

One of the most exciting aspects of my real estate career is being a host on *The American Dream – Selling Columbus*. This platform allows me to showcase our incredible city and its stories, while connecting with people and businesses making a difference in our community. It’s a way to marry storytelling with real estate, and I love the opportunity to highlight what makes Columbus and the surrounding area so special.

In addition to these ventures, I’m passionate about giving back. I serve on several boards and contribute to nonprofits focused on bettering the community, whether it’s through mentorship, education, or supporting veterans and their families. One of my favorite is Big Brothers Big Sisters.

As for what’s new, I’m currently working to build a real estate rental portfolio with my wife.

Whether it’s helping a family find their perfect home, supporting someone’s health journey, or contributing to the community, my goal is to create an impact that lasts. I want to build something bigger than myself—a legacy of service, leadership, and inspiration for my family and the people I’m fortunate enough to work with every day.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, I can point to three key qualities that have been most impactful in my journey: resilience, a relentless work ethic, and the ability to connect with people.

Resilience
Life and business are full of challenges, setbacks, and moments when you feel like giving up. Resilience has been critical for me, whether it was pushing through the early days of my career, overcoming personal doubts, or navigating unexpected obstacles. Resilience is a muscle, and the best way to develop it is to embrace challenges rather than shy away from them. Start small—set goals that push you outside your comfort zone—and as you achieve those, you’ll build confidence to take on bigger ones.

Relentless Work Ethic
This is something I learned early on, starting with basketball in high school. Success isn’t about being the most talented—it’s about being willing to put in the work day after day. In my career, whether it’s real estate or building our chiropractic practice, I’ve always made it a priority to outwork the competition. For those early in their journey, my advice is simple: Show up consistently. Be the first one in and the last one out. Don’t look for shortcuts; instead, focus on doing the little things well every day. Over time, the results will speak for themselves.

Ability to Connect with People
Relationships are the foundation of everything. Whether it’s earning trust in real estate, providing care in chiropractic, or building a community through my work with nonprofits, connecting with people has been key. To develop this skill, start by truly listening. Be present in conversations and show people you value them. Investing in relationships will always yield dividends, both personally and professionally.

For those early in their journey, my biggest advice is to focus on what you can control: your mindset, your effort, and how you treat others. Stay curious and hungry to learn, and don’t be afraid to fail—every misstep is an opportunity to grow. Surround yourself with people who inspire and challenge you, and most importantly, never underestimate the power of grit and determination. Those qualities can take you further than you ever imagined.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Absolutely! Collaboration and connection are at the heart of everything I do. I’m always looking for opportunities to partner with like-minded professionals, particularly within the real estate industry. Through the Next Move Network and Next Move Military, I’m on a mission to ensure that clients across the country have access to the best agents who are committed to delivering exceptional service.

One of our current goals is to fill areas where we’ve had agents request support for their clients, but we didn’t have coverage. If you’re a driven agent with a track record of success and a passion for serving clients—especially veterans and military families—I’d love to connect with you about joining our network. The mission is bigger than just transactions; it’s about building a trusted referral network that clients can count on, no matter where they are.

Beyond growing the network, I also love connecting with other agents to share knowledge, give back, and learn from the best in the business. I host more than 10 Zoom calls each week with agents about The American Dream TV, Next Move, and real estate in general. These conversations inspire me and remind me how much we can all learn from each other when we collaborate.

If you’re interested in partnering or just connecting, I’d love to hear from you. You can schedule time with me through my Calendly, send me a DM on social media, or text me directly. Let’s connect, collaborate, and work together to raise the bar in real estate while helping each other grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thejustinbruce.com
• Instagram: thejustinbruce
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejustinbruce/
• Youtube: thejustinbruce1

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