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- [00:00]
Justin Watts
I got charged with 42 felonies while working for the Department of Corrections. Not my proudest moment.
- [00:05]
Ray
Sure, sure.
- [00:06]
Justin Watts
But as, as I told you during the interview, man, it ended up being one of the most powerful blessings of my life.
- [00:11]
Narrator
Justine Watts is a disciplined, service driven leader, entrepreneur and the founder of Veterans Last Mission llc. Drawing from his commitment to honoring those who served, he provides dignified end of life services for veterans, ensuring their legacy is respected with honor and care.
- [00:29]
Justin Watts
My daughter at the time, she was seven when all that happened. And so her and my ex wife, they were really my motivation. Just because I had personal shit going on, it didn't stop the fact that they had to eat, you know, they had to be paid. So kind of had to figure it out. It spans the globe like a super
- [00:49]
Intro Voice
highest cold Internet Elvis Preston. I agree. Today Apple is going to reinvent the phone. It's not over until I win the Living your Legacy podcast. For those who live to leave a legacy that's extraordinary, the impossible. Oh, that is sensational. Jordan Open Chicago. With the lead, Usain Paul is the fastest man on the planet. You can live your dream.
- [01:21]
Ray
Welcome back to another episode of the Living youg Legacy podcast. This is the Spin Special Ops edition. Joining me today is Justin Watts. He just finished filming his episode with myself for Operation CEO, which is our new pride and joy here at Inside Success. Justin, how do you feel, man?
- [01:38]
Justin Watts
I feel great. We had a great filming session. The energy was perfect. You know, the vibe was great. It's just, it was just a good experience.
- [01:45]
Ray
Overall, I don't know where to start, man. There's so many avenues. I was like, just kind of like, man, what a story. There was tears, there was joy, there was some crazy stats. Where do we start, brother? I kind of want to start with 42.
- [01:58]
Justin Watts
Yeah, man, I had, I had a rough patch going on there, man. I. I got charged with 42 felonies while working for the Department of Corrections. Not my proudest moment, but sure, sure. But as, as, as I told you during the interview, man, is it ended up being one of the most powerful blessings of my life.
- [02:14]
Ray
How do you climb out of that? Like, that's, that's, you know, that's literally the hero's journey, the ascension, the climbing out before the Ascension, actually.
- [02:20]
Justin Watts
Well, to be honest with you, man, I'm not going to sit up here like I saw the ending the entire time because I shit my pants a couple times, I'm pretty sure, but no
- [02:31]
Ray
one ever makes the first jump.
- [02:32]
Justin Watts
Definitely, Definitely. My kids were my motivation. Well, My daughter at the time, she was seven when all that happened. And so her and my ex wife, they were really my motivation just because I had personal shit going on. It didn't stop the fact that they had to eat, you know, bills had to be paid. So you know, I kind of had to figure it out.
- [02:52]
Ray
Let's talk about the most important thing. Your daughters. Daughters. You are a daughter. What is the saying you said on the show?
- [02:58]
Justin Watts
So I'm definitely, I'm a girl dad.
- [03:00]
Ray
A girl dad. There we go. I loved it.
- [03:02]
Justin Watts
Yeah. I have a 14 year old daughter, Aaliyah. She's amazing, man. She's been doing cheer her entire life since she was like five. Now she competes and she's junior Barstow cheerleader. My baby girl, she's two years old. So I have full custody of her. It's just her and I, my, now, my ex wife, she helps me out a lot with, with that dynamic. With that dynamic. But sure, she doesn't really have a mother in her life, so it's a little different situation, man. But, but, but it's beautiful. They're a blessing.
- [03:31]
Ray
What's it like for a father? Your oldest is 14, your youngest is 2. That's, that's quite the generation gap there, bubba. How, how are the days?
- [03:39]
Justin Watts
Like so honestly, again, my, my 14 year old, she's great. She helps me out a lot greater than I, I do pay her a nice allowance because I feel like, I feel like kids should be compensated. That's, that's where you first learn how to take care of your responsibilities for monetary compensation.
- [03:57]
Ray
Yes sir.
- [03:58]
Justin Watts
And so saying that to say my, my 2 year old, she is in daycare, but let's take the summertime for example. My, my oldest ship, she helps clean the house, man. She'll babysit when I need to, man. She's, she's just, she's just amazing. So she helps out a lot along with, with my, my ex wife, sure. But man, parenting a lot of people make it seem like it's just the hardest thing in the world, but I love it, man. I wouldn't trade it for the world.
- [04:25]
Ray
God bless you for that. My, one of my oldest friends from high school, he just became a father again and we were on. I was stuck in Miami traffic as, as people are in Miami most of the time. And I'm of course I FaceTime to check in. He was quite as ecstatic. He's like, it must be raining because this is the second time you've called in six months. And there he is with his new pride and joy. His baby boy, Luca. And like, big ey. And just a couple of weeks old. I'm like, that is a super genius. For a baby to be that quiet and just like the entire time, like that. That boy is a genius already like that. I'm like, that boy is advanced. You got lucky with that one. I call him Gecko. His name is Robert. But you remind me a lot of him. Like, you know, that tribal energy. He's Cuban. Darker Cuban, if you catch my meaning. And like, he. He reminds me. You guys remind me as a. Quite the. Quite the energy. Talk about, like being. Being a single dad, but also being an entrepreneur and also being a person that served this country.
- [05:18]
Justin Watts
So it's a lot, man.
- [05:19]
Ray
Yeah, it is, dude.
- [05:20]
Justin Watts
Honestly, it's crazy, but I didn't. I don't even. In the moment of it or in the thick of it, I don't even realize how much it is at times. Sure, my friend Claire, she. She says it all the time, Justin, like, like, slow down. Like, take a break. But the reality is I've gotten in so much of a. Of a groove. These. These duties. That's exactly what they are. They're duties. And so I don't. There's not an option on whether or not they need to get done. It's just they need to be done. So figure that shit out. You know, I've gotten into a great. A great dynamic, great schedule. I guess you would. You would, so to speak. But I mean, there are always ranches thrown in the schedule. You know, I may miss a meeting sometimes because I got something going on with my girls, but it's just about staying in the flow of things, man. Hold on, brother. Want to. The will to wanna do it is really where you find the power to get it done.
- [06:16]
Ray
So where does that power strive from? Is it anger? Is it pain? Is it wanting to become better?
- [06:22]
Justin Watts
Something I didn't mention in our interview is the fact that I grew up without my real father. My stepdad, as I mentioned, is a great guy, and blood couldn't make us any closer. But my real dad's been in prison since I was three.
- [06:35]
Ray
Wow.
- [06:37]
Justin Watts
First time he went in on armed robbery. Second time, I think it was a dope case. And then this time, he doesn't get out till he's. Wow. And so as I mentioned, growing up how I grew up and not having. I grew up in an all white family because of how my father was. And so growing up without my real father, I made a vow to myself as a Jit that I would never do that to a child that I created. And for sure coincidence that this subject actually came up where it's ironic because, excuse me, I mentioned several times how close my ex wife and I are, but I actually, actually, I'm not gonna say I, I had to give up that marriage in order to be the father that I am to my two year old. But it was, it was a sensitive situation, you know, and, and so again, I shouts out to her, man, I commend her. I couldn't, I could never be the person that she is. She's an amazing person. Um, but I've sacrificed without going too deep, I've sacrificed so much just to play that role in their lives. And it's not because it's not anyone. It wasn't anyone else's fault. It was my fault for, for the situation.
- [07:56]
Ray
Sure, sure.
- [07:57]
Justin Watts
But I'm just pointing out sometimes we create situations that we don't want to face, but the reality is if we don't face doesn't affect us as much as it does the people that were created, you know.
- [08:10]
Ray
Oh, absolutely. A big topic that comes up a lot on the podcast is generational trauma. Like the trauma is essentially in our genes. Like you, you mentioned your father. Like I want to talk about my stepfather personally, but this show is about you. Do you think a lot of the generational trauma is apparent in, in your day to day? And how do you think you're, you're, you're, you're preventing that to, to be that your legacy?
- [08:33]
Justin Watts
So it's tricky.
- [08:36]
Ray
It's tricky.
- [08:37]
Justin Watts
I, I'm not gonna say that I think about it daily.
- [08:39]
Ray
Sure.
- [08:40]
Justin Watts
But definitely. So having so much going on, dealing with a toddler and a teenager. My daughter's, my oldest daughter's great, but she is a teenager. So you know how that goes. Sometimes it's more so in, in the moment of things versus, versus a day to day. Sure. Like I may have, I may have just finished shooting and now I got a meeting with my investor and I got five other things going on, plus dropping Lee off at practice and, and something may piss me off with one of the kids. It happens all the time. Instead of reacting. And I'm not perfect, sometimes I do react, but instead of reacting, I'll take it, just take it down now. Slow down and just think about the fact. Okay. Well, for one, you're dealing with girls, you know, and for two, the same. They are a piece of you. Oh, yeah. So whatever happened just then that pissed you off, that's A part of you.
- [09:40]
Ray
Yeah.
- [09:40]
Justin Watts
And so it's just identifying those things, man. And I guess the biggest factor that plays or the biggest factor from that situation that plays into my day to day parenthood would be why I'm so present. That's why I'm so present in their lives, man. It kills me not being able to see him for a day or two, you know, like physically. But yeah, I would say it's a beautiful trauma, but not having my father traumatized me to the point to where I cannot. I run through fire with gasoline drawers before I did that to them, you know.
- [10:19]
Ray
Well, good for you, man. Let's talk about your service. This is the part where I want you to like humbly brag about your rent rank and what you did and. Yeah, man, let's, let's hear this montage, dude.
- [10:29]
Justin Watts
So man, so as I mentioned, I joined that seven. I joined the army at 17, came in as, as a E1, which is, which is bottom of the barrel. When I, before I deployed, I actually was a, got not promoted in the sense of monetary, but I was, I was a team leader. And so with that, what that looked like overseas was basically a running point on decisions made inside the truck. So, so our, our mission was combat, combat security and personal security. So what we did was transport high ranking officials from one base to the other. Just, just make sure they didn't. And, and we would also transport, we would do gun runs. And so what that looks like essentially is in Afghanistan, we weren't fighting Afghanistan. We weren't fighting the army or the national police. We were fighting terrorism. And so they would, they would need our assistance that they might get a shipment of guns or a shipment of weapons. They would need our, our assistance to transport it from one base to another just to keep from getting jacked from Taliban.
- [11:40]
Ray
Sure, sure, sure.
- [11:41]
Justin Watts
And so saying that to say, I mean we had, without getting too graphic, I mean we had several situations to where we, you know, we took contact. Sure, sure, man. Like touching on some of, on some of those situations. Like for instance, we were on ISAF headquarters one day, right. Or ISAF headquarters. So ISAF is basically joint forces for like United States, Great Britain, so on and so forth. And so that's where the head command was. And we were, I think we're taking a general there to drop off for a meeting and then we're bringing her back to the airport. Well, we get there and we pull into a motor pool which is basically just a big gravel parking lot and there are two Afghan national security guards at the. At the entry point. And so as we're getting ready to upload and leave out, we hear two simultaneous explosions.
- [12:41]
Intro Voice
Boom.
- [12:41]
Ray
Boom.
- [12:42]
Justin Watts
And so we're snatching up the general that we brought over to the base, we throw her in the truck, and we're trying to get off the base because they're gonna. If they lock it down with us on there, we're stuck for, like a week. The explosions were actually two suicide vests, and they were detonated on the base. And so, yeah, we didn't. In combination with trying to get off the base, we didn't know what was coming next. And so our mission was getting her back safe where she needed to be.
- [13:13]
Ray
When you hear those explosions and you're trained for this, what. How does your body react to the. You know, what is the first reaction?
- [13:20]
Justin Watts
That's. That's. That's the best way to describe it, a reaction. Because remember I mentioned earlier in our interview how anytime the army wants you to do something or know something, they train you extensively on it. Oh, yeah. So that training allows your body to go into reaction mode. You don't think about shit. You don't. Whatever needs to happen, if you've been trained properly, you're gonna react. If you have it, you're probably gonna die.
- [13:48]
Ray
Yeah. And then when you're trained for some other reason, time starts to slow down. You're like. You're just like, how the. Did I just do that? In that amount? Compressed time.
- [13:57]
Justin Watts
Yes. Yes. Yeah. It's amazing, man. Adrenaline is. Is a crazy thing. As I was telling the story about. About the record that I had in St. Louis. Sure, man. I had. There was so much of my blood all over the scene. I don't know how I stood up and walked to go check on him. But the reality of. And before I moved further, after I realized that he was okay, it's like every ounce of energy left my body instantly. And so it's amazing how adrenaline plays. Plays on the body, man. You don't feel anything. You don't. You essentially don't hear anything. It's. It's just. You're. You're in reaction mode.
- [14:36]
Ray
It's crazy how athletes train and train and train just for that flow state to perform for 15 seconds, to do that thing. And it's just like, biblical how. Like, I'm just talking about it gives me chills. How biblical is, like, when you figure out that flow state and you realize you can just go, yeah. And that compression time is three hours. Like, how did I just do that? I'm like, yeah, you're. You're walking in the divine energy, my friend.
- [14:58]
Justin Watts
That's exactly how to describe. Because that's exactly what it is. Yeah.
- [15:02]
Ray
So how do you take that secret power, especially something that has been militarized and weaponized in your heart and in your reaction, and turn it into Operation CEO?
- [15:12]
Justin Watts
Well, it's. I don't want to. I want to take the credit for it, but I have to. I have to give most of the credit to my life experience. Like, when it comes to dealing with certain situations, I've learned that. Or dealing with any situation, I've learned that before life gives me a problem, it has already given me a solution. I just have to look back, backtrack, and figure out what situation applies to this scenario. You know, that's one of the. I guess that's one of the positive attributes of going through so much shit. Right on.
- [15:47]
Ray
Right. You know, you really got to understand the philosophies that, you know, some folks think that life is a wild, but think it's Z, and other folks think there's a fifth dimension communicating to the third. That's why we podcast.
- [15:58]
Justin Watts
Yep, definitely.
- [16:00]
Ray
How do you feel like you are working on your legacy and you're thriving. We mentioned your thought, your daughters. What is your next big leap?
- [16:09]
Justin Watts
So, in what's. In what sense?
- [16:11]
Ray
As in just like you. The moment you walk out that door, what do you think is going to be the first thing that you want to do? Especially being in the experience and being in front of cameras, you know, revealing your vulnerabilities, having many moments, you know, even the cameras. I've never moved the cameras. I wanted to go even closer. I'm like, I want to. We know we have. I walked you through the experience of having the right equipment to capture the right moment from the right storyteller to help you ascend. Now that you know how we stir our pot here. Pot, how do you feel? What happens next for you?
- [16:43]
Justin Watts
Honestly, Ray, and I was hesitant to say this as you were talking, but I'm gonna say it anyway. Now that I've experienced this, I really want to take it to the next level, like I want. My vision is to grow a hundred million dollar business and then turn around and make an autobiography about it. And this kind of gave me. It's beautiful because this kind of gave me an insight on. I was kind of searching for the next step when I came in this morning, if that makes sense.
- [17:20]
Ray
Absolutely.
- [17:21]
Justin Watts
Because when it comes to. When it comes to monetary wealth, real estate is gonna secure and solidify that for me. And so it's it. But it's not the end of my mission, if that makes sense. Absolutely. I really feel like my. My story is. Is. Is powerful enough to change lives.
- [17:39]
Ray
Absolutely.
- [17:39]
Justin Watts
And so I want to get it. Get it out on the biggest platform that I can.
- [17:42]
Ray
You definitely did. You definitely did that today here at Inside Success. Today's 10, 1025. How can folks find you and could they continue reaching out to you or writing out your story?
- [17:53]
Justin Watts
Definitely. Definitely. So. So as I mentioned earlier, everyone can find me on all my socials. Justin Watts, underscore official. Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. You can also find me on YouTube. The same tag, Justin Watts, underscore official.
- [18:08]
Ray
Right on, brother Justin, such a pleasure. You're gonna run off now and take a couple photos with our. With our dude Jason.
- [18:15]
Justin Watts
Okay.
- [18:15]
Ray
It was such an amazing time to hear your story.
- [18:18]
Justin Watts
Most definitely.
- [18:18]
Ray
I had a great time, and thank you for sharing the camera with me, and it's such an honor. And, yeah, for Operation CEO and for Inside Success. This is Justin, and I'm Ray.
- [18:26]
Justin Watts
Most definitely. Y' all make sure you check it out.
- [18:28]
Ray
You all have a good night.