Justin Wren: MMA Legend

ustin’s breakout keynote, ‘PURPOSE – PERFORMANCE – IMPACT’ shares his remarkable personal story from humble beginnings in rural Texas and a childhood shaped by relentless bullying.

He eventually rose to mixed martial arts stardom, fighting in front of thousands in person and millions around the world, only to lose it all to drugs and depression.

But he fought back again, first on behalf of other victims of bullying, and later, through an almost unbelievable turn of events, on behalf of the Pygmy people of the Congo and Uganda.

A three-time survivor of malaria, Justin has fought opponents both large and small throughout his life and along the way he has evolved into astonishing force for good in the world…and a remarkable keynote speaker.

A FIGHTER’S HEART GOAL SETTING, HIGH PERFORMANCE, AND “PEAK WEEK.”

To the untrained eye or casual fan, it is often believed that it’s the fighter with the strongest muscles or best physique who will win an MMA fight. But in actuality, the one who wins in the cage is the fighter with the deepest purpose and strongest reasons. 

Learning to strengthen and stack your WHYs is a skill, and one that sets apart a winning fighter from the rest. Reminding yourself of why you are fighting and who you are fighting for is how the bar of high performance gets raised during a fighter’s “peak week”– that crucial time period before a fight, as you let yourself heal from a grueling ‘fight camp’ of training. 

We are all fighting for something. At home, at work, with our teams, for our personal goals, or for our community. Learning these insights and tapping into both a fighter’s mind and a fighter’s heart, and applying it to life, will help anyone achieve peak performance and find that flow state while in hot pursuit of any goals and give you a new game plan– and a new edge– for victory. 

Opportunity is greater than charity. While charity certainly has its place, opportunity is proven to be better: it’s the difference between a hand out and a hand up, or Band-Aids and stitches. 

The shocking truth is that the band-aid of charity has turned into a toxicity that has caused the good intentions of charity to actually hurt. 

Learn the how and why of this from Justin’s own founding of Fight for the Forgotten, and how contribution meets collaboration, and helps people build their own ladder to climb out of poverty, oppression, insecurity and injustice. There is always a better way for communities to move forward and toward wholeness.

Leading from the front has long been the most inspirational and most effective way of leadership. But someone who has been there before, has a deep well of knowledge from the experience of having been there before, or currently is within the team, has been proven to be more trusted, effective, and impactful. 

Someone who has been, can be, and is always willing to jump back in the trenches or hold space for the frontline workers who are currently there will have open lines of communication and will have the opportunity for their team to have ears that hear. Open ears, open minds, open hearts to receive direction, feedback, and leadership advice and instruction. 

Learn how to further lead from service through Justin’s own story, combining head knowledge and heart knowledge. Get the real game plan for victory: care not only about the bottom line, but the through line of the people involved making the performance possible.

Leaders are being blindsided today external circumstances cheapshotting our internal condition without our permission. Think: mental health issues, compassion fatigue, and burnout. 

The antidote to burnout is tending to the internal fire. We will always be vulnerable to external circumstances depleting our energy, detouring our performance, and have our purpose circling the drain if we neglect our internal condition. 

This talk will share Justin’s Overcomer story and his story of recovery and ultimately, thriving, and how to maintain this as a leader and a true Overcomer.