Toni Reece: Hi there. This is Toni Reece, and welcome to the Get Inspired! Project for Berks County Living magazine. Today I have Justin Schenck with me. Hi, Justin.
Justin Schenck: Hey, how are you?
Toni: I’m great. How are you doing?
Justin: Doing well. Thanks for having me.
Toni: Good, good. Take a moment and tell us a little bit about yourself.
Justin: Sure. My life in a nutshell, grew up in South Jersey but moved to Berks County 11 years ago. Started a company back in 2009 called JuttBug that went under rather quickly, by 2011, due to some difficulties, and then within the last six months we’ve relaunched the brand as the Growth Now Movement podcast. Now we’re doing a couple things beyond that that we’re just launching here this week, actually. That’s pretty much my life in an nutshell. I’m driven by helping people, and that’s really what our project is all about.
Toni: Fantastic. Thank you for showing up for the Get Inspired! Project.
Justin: Absolutely.
Toni: Alright. Let’s jump in there. What does inspiration mean to you?
Justin: That’s a good question, and when I read it was I like, “What is it? What’s inspiration? What inspires me?” I think what inspires me to get up every day is the ability to share my story with the world and hopefully inspire individuals to do something great. With the Growth Now Movement podcast that we do, we interview amazing people from all around the world who share their story, and we’re hoping that through telling these stories it allows people who feel that they’re at the end of their rope, kind of have nowhere else to go, it gives them the reason to wake up in the morning. My inspiration is to be able to pass that on to others.
Toni: Do you know when you’re inspired? Are you inspired by the people that you’re interviewing, or how does it work for you? What does it feel like?
Justin: Sure. What’s it feel like? That’s tough. I think for me, there’s a lot of people that we interviewed that I’ve connected with. When somebody is real and raw, you kind of have that feeling on the inside. When somebody is telling their story and it hits you in the right spot, you get chills. You go, “Wow.” Then you ask them, “How did you overcome, and how did you become the person you are, whether it’s successful in your business or successful in life, how did you become that?” When they tell that story and it gives you that feeling of, “I can do that, too,” I think that’s inspiration to me. Does that make sense at all?
Toni: It does. So you literally can feel…it’s a physical feeling for you.
Justin: Yeah, it is.
Toni: Okay. It’s like, “This one got me.”
Justin: Yeah, like hair standing up on my arm kind of feeling. Yeah.
Toni: Okay, so that’s what inspiration means and feels like to you.
Justin: Right.
Toni: So when you get that feeling, how do you put that into practice here in Berks County?
Justin: This was probably one of the hardest questions that you guys gave me beforehand, because I don’t always look at myself and think, “I can inspire others.” It’s not something instinctual to me, but then when I stepped back and thought about it, I realized just listening to individuals if they need to talk, or getting involved within the community in Berks County. Berks County in general, I mean, getting involved, whether it be…I used to be much more involved with Greater Reading Young Professionals, but still I’m lightly involved. Just impacting the community through those different organizations like GRYP and Junior Achievement and all those other organizations, but really impacting currently Berks County and inspiring them is probably through the podcast. I’ve had so many people locally reach out to me and be like, “I absolutely love what you’re putting out.” It’s gotten me motivated on a weekly basis, and it’s happening locally and obviously beyond, but locally it’s happening a lot.
Toni: Oh, that’s fantastic. When was the last time you were inspired?
Justin: The last time I was inspired…that’s a great question.
Toni: When you were moved.
Justin: When I was moved. Actually, recently I watched a documentary on Netflix called “I Am Not Your Guru,” which is an Anthony Robbins documentary about one of the events that he puts on every year. Just that guy is beyond inspiring. To be able to transform people’s lives by listening and then literally dissecting these people’s emotions and their brains and giving them the right path, just watching this documentary and seeing how that goes, I had chills probably the whole time. Tears welled up in my eyes a number of times while I was watching it, so I would say that was probably the last time, like a week or so ago when I watched the documentary, but obviously, I think you can get inspiration anywhere, whether it be a documentary or a friend or just listening to somebody you obviously admire.
Toni: So you not only are inspired, but when you did step back and think about it, you realized that what you’re creating can be inspiring. So you’re cultivating inspiration as well.
Justin: Right. Right. Yeah.
Toni: That’s very important to think about, because you yourself demonstrate what happens when you are inspired, but the fact that you are cultivating and providing awareness of inspirational stories for people to hear is pretty cool.
Justin: Thank you. I appreciate that. I think for me, the end goal — and people are like, “Why are you doing this? Why are you doing this podcast, and why are you reaching out to get into public speaking and do all these other things?” The answer is, because I want to help people. I want to give people the opportunity to realize that no matter who you are or where you come from, you can do something great. I think doing the podcast and speaking to these ordinary people who have done extraordinary things, it really gives you the ability to say, “Hey, I can do it, too.” Like you said, if I’m able to cultivate that and spread the word and share with people that are listening, that’s amazing.
Toni: It is amazing. Who in Berks County inspires you?
Justin: I thought about this, and when I break it down, I think about people who are making difference while also improving themselves every day. I think that’s really important, too. Can I do two people?
Toni: Absolutely.
Justin: The two people that came to mind are obviously Craig Poole. I don’t know if anybody else has said him on this show. I’m sure they have. I met the guy on his third day here in Berks County and from then on he has completely changed my mind about Reading in general. Just his vision and his understanding of where we are today and where we can be tomorrow.
The other one is Chris Kaag who obviously owns a gym, a former Marine who has lost feeling in both of his legs, but he continues to push people physically every day, even though he’s not able to do the same things they’re doing. He also has the I Am Able Foundation helping disabled people get back and be active and get on bikes and do all those amazing things.
I think when I look at those two people here in Berks County, the lives that they’re touching is incredible, but then they’re also improving their business, and they’re improving their self-worth and how they feel about themselves every single day. I think that’s really important, too.
Toni: Do you think there’s a common theme for those that inspire you?
Justin: Yeah. I think a lot of it is they come from nothing, or they overcome adversities and hardships. I think those people are the ones that inspire me. The ones who haven’t had the easy street, so to say. I certainly can relate to them, so that’s what’s inspiring to me.
Toni: There’s that cultivation again. What would you like your legacy to be?
Justin: That’s tough. We actually just recently started asking everybody on our podcast to within one sentence, at the end of your life, what do you want to be known for in one sentence? If I had to break it down into one sentence, mine would be, “He did good for the world.” I think that’s what I want my legacy to be.
Toni: Well, isn’t it kind of cool that you’re living your legacy now?
Justin: Yeah. It’s neat. It’s pretty neat, yeah.
Toni: Yeah. So how inspiring is that?
Justin: It’s inspiring. Yeah.
Toni: It absolutely is, and that’s why we are on the Get Inspired! Project. Thank you so much, Justin, for showing up for the Project today.
Justin: Thank you.
Toni: You’re welcome.
Toni Reece: Hi there. This is Toni Reece, and welcome to the Get Inspired! Project for Berks County Living magazine. Today I have Justin Schenck with me. Hi, Justin.
Justin Schenck: Hey, how are you?
Toni: I’m great. How are you doing?
Justin: Doing well. Thanks for having me.
Toni: Good, good. Take a moment and tell us a little bit about yourself.
Justin: Sure. My life in a nutshell, grew up in South Jersey but moved to Berks County 11 years ago. Started a company back in 2009 called JuttBug that went under rather quickly, by 2011, due to some difficulties, and then within the last six months we’ve relaunched the brand as the Growth Now Movement podcast. Now we’re doing a couple things beyond that that we’re just launching here this week, actually. That’s pretty much my life in an nutshell. I’m driven by helping people, and that’s really what our project is all about.
Toni: Fantastic. Thank you for showing up for the Get Inspired! Project.
Justin: Absolutely.
Toni: Alright. Let’s jump in there. What does inspiration mean to you?
Justin: That’s a good question, and when I read it was I like, “What is it? What’s inspiration? What inspires me?” I think what inspires me to get up every day is the ability to share my story with the world and hopefully inspire individuals to do something great. With the Growth Now Movement podcast that we do, we interview amazing people from all around the world who share their story, and we’re hoping that through telling these stories it allows people who feel that they’re at the end of their rope, kind of have nowhere else to go, it gives them the reason to wake up in the morning. My inspiration is to be able to pass that on to others.
Toni: Do you know when you’re inspired? Are you inspired by the people that you’re interviewing, or how does it work for you? What does it feel like?
Justin: Sure. What’s it feel like? That’s tough. I think for me, there’s a lot of people that we interviewed that I’ve connected with. When somebody is real and raw, you kind of have that feeling on the inside. When somebody is telling their story and it hits you in the right spot, you get chills. You go, “Wow.” Then you ask them, “How did you overcome, and how did you become the person you are, whether it’s successful in your business or successful in life, how did you become that?” When they tell that story and it gives you that feeling of, “I can do that, too,” I think that’s inspiration to me. Does that make sense at all?
Toni: It does. So you literally can feel…it’s a physical feeling for you.
Justin: Yeah, it is.
Toni: Okay. It’s like, “This one got me.”
Justin: Yeah, like hair standing up on my arm kind of feeling. Yeah.
Toni: Okay, so that’s what inspiration means and feels like to you.
Justin: Right.
Toni: So when you get that feeling, how do you put that into practice here in Berks County?
Justin: This was probably one of the hardest questions that you guys gave me beforehand, because I don’t always look at myself and think, “I can inspire others.” It’s not something instinctual to me, but then when I stepped back and thought about it, I realized just listening to individuals if they need to talk, or getting involved within the community in Berks County. Berks County in general, I mean, getting involved, whether it be…I used to be much more involved with Greater Reading Young Professionals, but still I’m lightly involved. Just impacting the community through those different organizations like GRYP and Junior Achievement and all those other organizations, but really impacting currently Berks County and inspiring them is probably through the podcast. I’ve had so many people locally reach out to me and be like, “I absolutely love what you’re putting out.” It’s gotten me motivated on a weekly basis, and it’s happening locally and obviously beyond, but locally it’s happening a lot.
Toni: Oh, that’s fantastic. When was the last time you were inspired?
Justin: The last time I was inspired…that’s a great question.
Toni: When you were moved.
Justin: When I was moved. Actually, recently I watched a documentary on Netflix called “I Am Not Your Guru,” which is an Anthony Robbins documentary about one of the events that he puts on every year. Just that guy is beyond inspiring. To be able to transform people’s lives by listening and then literally dissecting these people’s emotions and their brains and giving them the right path, just watching this documentary and seeing how that goes, I had chills probably the whole time. Tears welled up in my eyes a number of times while I was watching it, so I would say that was probably the last time, like a week or so ago when I watched the documentary, but obviously, I think you can get inspiration anywhere, whether it be a documentary or a friend or just listening to somebody you obviously admire.
Toni: So you not only are inspired, but when you did step back and think about it, you realized that what you’re creating can be inspiring. So you’re cultivating inspiration as well.
Justin: Right. Right. Yeah.
Toni: That’s very important to think about, because you yourself demonstrate what happens when you are inspired, but the fact that you are cultivating and providing awareness of inspirational stories for people to hear is pretty cool.
Justin: Thank you. I appreciate that. I think for me, the end goal — and people are like, “Why are you doing this? Why are you doing this podcast, and why are you reaching out to get into public speaking and do all these other things?” The answer is, because I want to help people. I want to give people the opportunity to realize that no matter who you are or where you come from, you can do something great. I think doing the podcast and speaking to these ordinary people who have done extraordinary things, it really gives you the ability to say, “Hey, I can do it, too.” Like you said, if I’m able to cultivate that and spread the word and share with people that are listening, that’s amazing.
Toni: It is amazing. Who in Berks County inspires you?
Justin: I thought about this, and when I break it down, I think about people who are making difference while also improving themselves every day. I think that’s really important, too. Can I do two people?
Toni: Absolutely.
Justin: The two people that came to mind are obviously Craig Poole. I don’t know if anybody else has said him on this show. I’m sure they have. I met the guy on his third day here in Berks County and from then on he has completely changed my mind about Reading in general. Just his vision and his understanding of where we are today and where we can be tomorrow.
The other one is Chris Kaag who obviously owns a gym, a former Marine who has lost feeling in both of his legs, but he continues to push people physically every day, even though he’s not able to do the same things they’re doing. He also has the I Am Able Foundation helping disabled people get back and be active and get on bikes and do all those amazing things.
I think when I look at those two people here in Berks County, the lives that they’re touching is incredible, but then they’re also improving their business, and they’re improving their self-worth and how they feel about themselves every single day. I think that’s really important, too.
Toni: Do you think there’s a common theme for those that inspire you?
Justin: Yeah. I think a lot of it is they come from nothing, or they overcome adversities and hardships. I think those people are the ones that inspire me. The ones who haven’t had the easy street, so to say. I certainly can relate to them, so that’s what’s inspiring to me.
Toni: There’s that cultivation again. What would you like your legacy to be?
Justin: That’s tough. We actually just recently started asking everybody on our podcast to within one sentence, at the end of your life, what do you want to be known for in one sentence? If I had to break it down into one sentence, mine would be, “He did good for the world.” I think that’s what I want my legacy to be.
Toni: Well, isn’t it kind of cool that you’re living your legacy now?
Justin: Yeah. It’s neat. It’s pretty neat, yeah.
Toni: Yeah. So how inspiring is that?
Justin: It’s inspiring. Yeah.
Toni: It absolutely is, and that’s why we are on the Get Inspired! Project. Thank you so much, Justin, for showing up for the Project today.
Justin: Thank you.
Toni: You’re welcome.
