We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Justin Charley. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Justin below.
Justin, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you share a story about the kindest thing someone has done for you and why it mattered so much or was so meaningful to you?
The kindness thing anyone has ever done for me would have to be my tia Mary. She was truly a Saint in her own sense. She is not only the strongest woman I’ve ever come across but the most caring and loving woman I’ve ever know. The reason I instantly think of her when I think of kindness is because that’s what she was, she took me in as her own & raised me as if I was her child. In all senses I was her child and she was my mom and I treated her as such. She has since passed away but her legacy will live on well beyond my years on this earth. She is the definition of unconditional love.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
For folks who may not have read about you before, can you please tell our readers about yourself, absolutely! Well let’s start off with where I grew up. A small town in northern New Mexico called Bloomfield. A town I am very proud to claim and represent through all of my accomplishments, that town raised me to be strong and proud. I got into motivational speaking after preparing my father’s funeral. It was the first major funeral I planned & to say the least it inspired something in me to seek light in true darkness. I also started what would become a very successful Drag Queen career in 2011 after competing in a local competition where I would go on to receive several awards, recognition and even be featured in magazines, tv and offered to be on a reality tv show. Last and but not least becoming a pro makeup artist was never really in the “books” for me but makeup I’ve always loved I’ve been extremely blessed to have worked on some pretty famous faces. Makeup right now is such an instrumental part of our society and is truly a gender less product. what you think sets you apart from others. Well there are several things that set me apart from others however the one thing I think sets me apart is passion and love. Anything and everything I do, have done and will do will always have a story, it will always have meaning whether that’d be sentimental or creative there will always be a journey to go on with anything I do.
What are you most proud of and what are the main things you want potential clients/followers/fans to know about you/your brand/your work/ etc.
I am most proud of how I’ve overcome darkness & I’m proud to be able to show love and compassion to others. What I want people/ clients or followers to know is that I am an ordinary person who has done extraordinary things because of everyday people and everyday life situations good or bad I’ve been there, done it and seen it all.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Most recently I’ve had a “pivot” in business, career & life all at once. In early September I decided that what I’ve been doing at my 9-5 for the past 10+ years was getting very repetitive and I was becoming increasingly self aware of the same processes and figured I needed a change. 2 months later I was offered a new position in another state and took this opportunity to expand my knowledge and career.. without hesitation I took it and now I currently resided in Arizona after being in Utah for 12 years.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
There are several resources that had impacted me throughout my life the most influential is Dr. Maya Angelou. She was an incredible teacher not only to myself but millions of people across this world and she has taught me so much and at a young age I absorbed everything I could and it has paid off both professionally and personally.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Justin_loca
- Linkedin: Justin Charley