About Justin Carlton
I was raised in a home where love was abundant, even when resources were scarce. From an early age, I learned to find strength in struggle and faith in uncertainty. I became the first person in my family to graduate from college, driven by a vision to rewrite the script I was handed.
When I launched my insurance agency, I had never led a team, never worked in the industry, had no network to lean on, and no capital to invest. My only funding came from a second mortgage my mother graciously took out on her home. By every conventional measure, my chances of success were slim. But through grit, grace, and relentless pursuit, we built a thriving business that has continued to grow.
Today, I draw from that fire to help leaders rise through their own adversity. As a Leadership Scientist and ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC), I bring a research-driven yet deeply personal approach to leadership development. I'm certified in the EQ-i 2.0 Emotional Intelligence Assessment, Energy Leadership Index (ELI), and Gallup StrengthsFinder—three powerful tools that together offer a comprehensive view of how leaders think, feel, and perform under pressure. This unique combination allows me to help clients elevate self-awareness, unlock inner capacity, and lead with purpose. Currently pursuing a PhD in Organizational and Community Leadership, my research explores how executive coaching accelerates the growth of novice leaders. I'm also designing original models that examine leadership identity and the role of intensity in breakthrough performance.
I believe leadership isn’t taught—it’s forged. It’s discovered in the fire of discomfort, the uncertainty of new roles, and the courage it takes to keep going when everything says stop. My work is about helping leaders find their edge, sharpen their awareness, and lead in a way that transforms not just teams—but entire legacies.
Navigating the Leadership Cliff
Most leaders already know how to build strategy, solve problems, and drive execution.
But leadership changes when pressure gets high.
At some point, many leaders encounter what I think of as the Leadership Cliff — the moment where leadership stops being theoretical and becomes deeply personal. The pressure increases. The responsibility expands. The emotional weight becomes heavier. And whatever has not been mastered internally begins to surface externally.
Stress impacts communication.
Pressure affects decision-making.
Responsibility magnifies emotional patterns.
And unresolved internal tension eventually reveals itself in leadership performance.
That's why my coaching work focuses on Internal Mastery for Leaders Under Pressure.
I help leaders better understand how they think, respond, regulate emotion, communicate, and perform when the stakes become real. Because sustainable leadership is not built through skill alone. It is shaped by self-awareness, emotional regulation, resilience, identity, and the ability to remain grounded under pressure.
My approach integrates executive coaching, behavioral science, emotional intelligence, strengths-based development, and the Goal Readiness Profile (GRP) to help leaders identify the hidden factors affecting sustainable performance and long-term growth.
This work is not about motivational hype or simply pushing harder.
It is about helping leaders navigate pressure without losing themselves in the process.
Because eventually, every leader reaches a moment where pressure reveals what has — and has not — been mastered internally.
Certifications
EQ-i 2.0® Certified
As a certified practitioner of the EQ-i 2.0® assessment, I help leaders unlock the power of emotional intelligence to lead with greater self-awareness, empathy, and resilience. This science-backed tool measures emotional and social functioning across five key areas, offering personalized insights that drive real behavioral growth. Whether you're looking to strengthen decision-making, manage stress, or lead with emotional clarity, EQ development is a proven differentiator in high-performing leaders.
Energy Leadership Index (ELI) Certified
Through the Energy Leadership Index (ELI), I help leaders measure and understand the energy they bring to every situation — especially under stress. This assessment reveals the underlying attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions that drive behavior and performance. As a certified ELI Master Practitioner, I guide clients through practical strategies to raise awareness, shift mindset, and lead with intentional energy that inspires others.
CliftonStrengths
Certified
Certified in Gallup’s CliftonStrengths framework, I help leaders identify their natural talents and leverage them into consistent, high-level performance. This strengths-based approach shifts the focus from fixing weaknesses to maximizing what already makes you unique. Together, we’ll turn raw talent into refined leadership — building confidence, clarity, and momentum in the process.
Transitional Intelligence™ (TQ) Certified
Transitions are one of the most defining—and disorienting—moments in a leader’s journey. As a certified TQ Coach through Coaching.com’s Navigating Transitions program, I specialize in helping novice and transitioning leaders find clarity, confidence, and purpose in the midst of change. Whether you're stepping into leadership for the first time or navigating a new role, this framework equips us to make sense of uncertainty and transform disruption into direction. Together, we turn growing pains into grounded leadership.
International Coaching Federation
As a certified coach through the International Coaching Federation (ICF), I bring a globally recognized standard of excellence to every coaching engagement. ICF certification reflects rigorous training, assessment, and ethical alignment, ensuring a professional, client-centered approach grounded in evidence-based best practices. Whether you're stepping into a new leadership role or aiming to elevate your impact, ICF-aligned coaching empowers you to create intentional growth, unlock clarity, and lead with confidence and purpose.
Goal Readiness Profile (GRP)
The Goal Readiness Profile (GRP) is a proprietary assessment that examines the conditions surrounding an important professional goal — clarity, resistance, motivation, cognitive strain, competing demands, and execution readiness. Unlike personality tests or performance evaluations, it measures whether the circumstances around the goal are structured to support follow-through, not just whether the person is capable.Built from evidence-based frameworks across motivation science, self-regulation, behavioral psychology, and goal systems research, the GRP translates these patterns into practical insights. It helps leaders identify where friction is occurring, why progress feels difficult, and what strategic adjustments will improve sustainable execution — making it especially valuable during complex goals, role transitions, or periods of elevated pressure.
"Leadership isn’t taught—it’s forged."
Coaching Programs
Three signature programs, each built for a different inflection point in a leader's journey.
Legacy Ascension
A 4-month, 12-session leadership coaching experience for the leader ready to rise.
This coaching journey blends the power of emotional intelligence, personal strengths, and energy awareness to elevate your leadership impact. Through guided coaching conversations, integrated assessments, and intentional growth strategies, you’ll build the internal foundation to lead from your most authentic and empowered self.
Energy Leadership Index (ELI) Debrief
EQ-i 2.0 Emotional Intelligence Debrief
Gallup StrengthsFinder Insights
Personalized Coaching Sessions (12 total)
What You’ll Experience:
Purpose Discovery, Strategic Planning, & Legacy Work
Momentum™
A 4-session onboarding coaching experience designed to help new employees integrate quickly, align with organizational culture, and establish momentum in their role.
Program Overview:
Starting strong matters. Momentum™ ensures that new employees don’t just learn their responsibilities — they connect their personal strengths, energy patterns, and goals with the values and expectations of the organization.
Through a combination of individual assessments, coaching conversations, and a sponsor-inclusive debrief, Momentum™ helps employees build confidence, foster cultural alignment, and accelerate their impact from day one.
Core Sessions:
StrengthsFinder® Debrief – Identify and activate natural strengths to maximize contribution to the team.
Fight Readiness Profile™ (FRP) Debrief – Assess motivation, resistance, and goal alignment to prepare for meaningful growth.
Energy Leadership Index™ (ELI) Debrief – Discover how energy shows up in performance and stress, and explore pathways for growth.
Final Group Debrief with Hiring Manager – Align assessment insights with role expectations, team culture, and organizational values.
Individualized assessment reports (ELI, StrengthsFinder, FRP)
One-on-one coaching support during each debrief session
A collaborative closing session with the hiring manager to integrate insights into the employee’s role and development plan
Includes:
Take the Next Step:
Momentum™ bridges the gap between new hire potential and organizational culture. By combining assessment-driven insight with sponsor alignment, it creates a launchpad for long-term engagement, productivity, and cultural fit — giving new employees the clarity and confidence they need to thrive.
Legacy Forged™
A 12-week, 12-session leadership coaching experience for high-purpose leaders pursuing bold goals while confronting internal resistance.
Program Overview:
This coaching journey is designed for leaders who aren’t just trying to perform — they’re trying to become. Whether you’re building a legacy, launching an audacious vision, or stepping into a leadership role that demands more from your identity, Legacy Forged™ helps you turn internal resistance into strategic clarity.
Grounded in Fight Theory™, this experience equips you to apply calibrated intensity, manage emotional and cognitive resistance, and align your goals with who you're becoming — not just what you’re doing.
Energy Leadership Index™ (ELI) Debrief
Weekly Fight Reflection Series
Fight Readiness Profile™ (FRP) Debrief
Strengths-Based Insights (optional)
Personalized Coaching Sessions (12 total)
Includes:
Redline Goal Excavation, Identity Integration, Strategic Intensity Coaching
Take the Next Step:
Each session is crafted to help you locate and engage your internal battlefronts — whether cognitive, emotional, behavioral, or motivational. Through identity-driven goals, weekly recalibrations, and targeted reflection, Legacy Forged™ helps you lead with conviction, resilience, and alignment — so that your purpose doesn’t just survive resistance, it’s forged through it.
Courses
On-demand certification programs and leadership courses, delivered through Thinkific.
Goal Readiness Profile Certification Program
An evidence-informed training experience designed to help leaders, coaches, HR professionals, and organizational practitioners better understand why capable people often struggle to consistently execute meaningful goals under pressure.
Built from research across motivation science, self-regulation, goal systems theory, behavioral psychology, and leadership development, the GRP provides a structured framework for identifying the hidden factors that influence execution readiness.
Through the certification process, participants learn how to interpret GRP results, identify readiness patterns, recognize common execution barriers, and translate assessment insights into practical development strategies.
Ideal for: executive coaches, leadership practitioners, managers, HR professionals, consultants, and organizations seeking a more sophisticated approach to leadership development.
The Art of Accountability
A Leadership System for Ownership, Trust, and Execution
A research-informed leadership course designed to help leaders build cultures where ownership, trust, communication, and performance thrive together. Reframes accountability as a leadership system — one that can be intentionally designed, reinforced, and sustained.
Built from leadership research, organizational psychology, performance management theory, and real-world coaching experience, the course introduces a practical six-domain accountability framework that helps leaders diagnose where accountability is breaking down and what to do about it.
Combines evidence-based concepts with practical implementation tools, including accountability audits, pattern diagnosis tools, operating plans, and leadership application frameworks.
Whether you lead a small team or an entire organization, this course provides a structured system for stronger execution, healthier communication, and more consistent leadership behavior.
Why Choose Our Holistic Coaching?
We uniquely combine leadership coaching and wellness support to offer a holistic, personalized approach specifically designed for young entrepreneurs. Forget generic corporate training—each session is tailored directly to your goals, challenges, and personal growth, providing both inspiring encouragement and structured accountability.
Two-in-One Expertise: We uniquely combine leadership coaching and wellness coaching under one roof. You won’t need separate mentors for business and life – here, you get a holistic mentor who understands that leading a company and taking care of yourself go hand in hand.
Tailored for Young Entrepreneurs: This isn’t generic corporate training or a one-size wellness lecture. It’s personalized coaching designed for the realities of starting and growing a business in your 20s or 30s. Every session is about you – your goals, your challenges, your growth.
Inspiring and Professional: Expect a supportive partnership where you’ll be challenged to grow. We provide a motivating, inspiring atmosphere while delivering structured, results-oriented guidance. Think of it as having a trusted advisor who both cheers you on and keeps you accountable.
Legacy in Action: The SWERVE Foundation
My commitment to leadership extends beyond the boardroom. In 2017, I founded The SWERVE Foundation, a nonprofit that gives bicycles to children in need based on heartfelt essays they write about what a bike would mean to them. For many of these kids, a bicycle isn’t just a toy—it’s a symbol of freedom, confidence, and possibility.
This work reminds me daily of what leadership truly means: lifting others, sparking hope, and creating momentum where there was none. These are the same principles that guide my coaching—because real leadership isn’t about titles or status. It’s about impact.
Let’s Get Started
If you’re ready to elevate your leadership, challenge your comfort zone, and rise into your legacy—we should talk.
Testimonials
“Working with Justin through the Legacy Ascension program gave me the structure and clarity I didn’t know I needed. I came in with a sense of the leader I wanted to become, but felt stuck on how to get there. Through real-time support and tailored coaching, I not only strengthened my confidence and stress management but also learned how to turn vague goals into clear, actionable leadership habits. The growth I’ve experienced is both real and lasting—professionally and personally.”
“Justin was an excellent listener and guide in each of my sessions. He partnered with me throughout the process, actively listening and asking key questions to help me find the answers I was seeking. With his help, I was able to make a key organizational change decision and implement it, promoting increased engagement and growth. He is a miracle worker!”
"I feel way more grounded in who I am and what I bring to the table as a leader. I have a clearer vision, stronger boundaries, and a whole new level of self-trust. What I really appreciated about the coaching was how supportive and down-to-earth it was. There was no pressure to perform or be a certain way, but it felt like a safe space to just show up as I was and figure things out at my own pace. It helped me notice a few patterns that had been quietly getting in the way, and from there, I could actually start shifting them. It felt both powerful and practical, exactly what I needed."
"Working with Justin as my executive life coach over the past 12 weeks has been truly transformational. Through our work together, I've developed stronger leadership habits, clearer communication, and a much healthier approach to stress. Justin has a gift for helping you dig deep, gain clarity, and grow into the leader and person you want to be.
"I came in with an open mind, but also felt pretty confident and secure about my skill as a leader. I was blown away with his ability to dig under the surface and figure out the 'why' behind behaviors and the narratives we tell ourselves that can create blind spots and keep us stuck. An absolute game changer."
"Working with Justin is one of the seminal moments in my career. He has a way of helping you slow things down, stabilize emotionally, and respond more intentionally. He meets you where you are, asks thoughtful questions, and tailors his coaching to you as a person, not a formula."
"Through the Legacy Ascension program, Justin and I keyed in on leadership emergence and emotional stability — both critical for me as a young leader in a high-stress industry. Justin has been a huge reason for my success. I'd recommend him to any leader searching for ways to improve themselves."
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FAQs
It's specifically tailored for emerging leaders new to managing teams or stepping into their first leadership roles.
Yes, all sessions can be conveniently held via video conferencing.
Each session typically lasts between 45-60 minutes.
The discovery call helps us determine your needs, goals, and whether coaching is a good fit for you.