We recently connected with Justin Stewart and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Justin, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
I think resiliency comes from holding a clear vision of the results of a person’s spiritually centered mission. I believe that when we set ourselves to mission, truly ourselves to mission, we are capable of overcoming nearly any obstacle. It creates an understanding that adversity is opportunity and helps us to drive forward with an undying and unrelenting sense of purpose and commitment.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Many years ago, I found myself living in the back “apartment” of my tattoo shop, 2,000 miles away from my wife and children. I was depressed, without values, without a path, and deeply lost. The “apartment” consisted of a couch tossed in the back office of the shop, and its shower was nothing more than a janitor’s sink with a plastic drawer under my feet to catch the water. I lived there, traveling back and forth for many years, consuming nearly a gallon of alcohol every day, and frankly, wishing it would all end.
But God spoke to my wife’s heart, and her desire to rebuild her relationship with him drew me back in. I was consumed by God’s grace. Through prayer, time, and nature, it became clear to me that I had been avoiding service, so I decided to become a police officer.
This would not be an easy task. My face was tattooed, as were my neck and hands; my ears were stretched, and I had a silicone implant in my hand. I began the painful process of lasering those tattoos off, having my earlobes reconstructed, and removing the implants so that I could even reach the minimum qualification standards. I found myself so committed to this mission that almost nothing seemed capable of preventing it. I trained with triathletes, joined a jiu-jitsu gym, and worked every day towards my goal. I built relationships and dug in.
Over time, I was hired and eventually sent through the police academy, where I’m happy to say that I graduated at the top of my class. Some time passed, and several promotions came my way. I like to joke that I was young enough to want to get into things and old enough to know what to avoid. Either way, I made field trainer, second in command, joined the K-9 unit, and eventually the bureau. Now, I hold a federal security clearance, and life is very different—surreal, even.
I don’t say this to be braggadocious or to paint myself as some hero who is somehow unique. I hope this story shines a glimmer on abundance and the grace of God, without whom I believe none of this would have been possible.
The realization that my story could be wielded for an even greater purpose led to the creation of The Guild Fellowship, a federal nonprofit serving veterans and first responders through a personal development program designed to help them live their lives on mission. Our flagship program is our immersion camp, STATIONS. The process helps men and women see how life has affected their beliefs and how those beliefs affect their actions. It helps people create a spiritual mission statement and align their goals and objectives accordingly. The program fosters a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment and, by proximity to that work, lessens the hardships that come with the jobs we do.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The three things that I believe really helped me along the way are commitment, contribution, and capability. These principles have been woven into everything I do, and they are the core ethos of The Guild.
I believe that people who are just starting out should remember to be clear and vulnerable about where they are and where they want to go. A map without a starting point is hardly a map at all. Take note of who you aspire to be and what you aspire to do. Make no compromises in pursuing that goal, and take steps forward on a daily basis. Sometimes progress will be slow, other times swift, but always keep moving.
Through tenacity and massive action, you can see your dreams fulfilled—and more importantly, you can witness the positive impact this has on those around you.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
The Guild Fellowship is all about creating powerful partnerships with like-minded individuals and organizations committed to making a difference in the lives of veterans, first responders, and those who serve others.
Here’s the reality: We provide our services at no cost to those we serve, but like any successful operation, financial backing is crucial. That’s why we’ve crafted a Gain- Gain solution. We teach our core lessons to organizations and agencies, generating the resources we need to continue offering our services for free. And by doing so, we get to hire directly from our alumni, creating a ripple effect of positive change.
If you’re someone who’s ready to take massive action and partner with us to make a real difference, we want to connect. Visit guildfellowship.com for more information. Together, we can amplify our impact and create lasting change in the lives of those who served.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://guildfellowship.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guildfellowship?igsh=M29iMDh3ZHgxaHo3&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/dcvdQpt6KhSDW5Tt/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
