A Glimpse into the Mind of C.J. Martin

A Glimpse into the Mind of C.J. Martin
Interview by Invictus Charter Member Cynthia Lumley

It was an absolute honor to be asked to interview our fearless leader, C.J. Martin.  He has become a big part of my life over the past six years, and I look forward to many more years of friendship.

I think most people are familiar with his background (lawyer-turned-coach…see the Invictus Coaches page for a nice background) and his love of all things coaching and teaching. I wanted to try some different types of questions and get a glimpse inside that bald little head (although the image of him singing Katy Perry’s “Roar” is now tragically in my imagination.)

Please enjoy a glimpse into the mind of Mr. C.J. Martin!

Cynthia – If you could sing any song to an audience, what would you sing?

C.J. – “Roar” by Katy Perry, and I would do so with great passion – letting the emotion flow from my vocal cords to demonstrate my resilience.

Cynthia – If you were on an island and could only bring 3 things (not people), what would you bring?

C.J. – Does the island have electrical outlets, cell phone reception and poolside waiters? I would really hope so, otherwise it doesn’t sound very appealing to me. Nonetheless, if this is a Tom Hank’s and Wilson style island, I would probably want a tent, a lighter and a large knife.

Cynthia – If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play you, and why?

C.J. – Patrick Stewart, who plays Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men movies – he’s about as cool as they get, and he has a tremendously awesome hairstyle.

Cynthia – Which super power would you like to have?

C.J. – Whatever Professor Charles Xavier had in X-Men – I think he could communicate with people and understand what they were thinking no matter where they were in the world.

Cynthia – Which time period would you travel to if you had a time machine?

C.J. – I would probably want to go 30 years into the future to see what I could learn, and how I could better prepare and protect the ones I love from any hardships.

Cynthia – If you were having a dinner party and could invite three famous people, who would they be?

C.J. – If I can choose from the deceased, Mahatma Gandhi, Viktor Frankl and John Wooden. From three different religions, they all found an understanding of purpose, passion, discipline and generosity that I find inspiring, and they were all amazing leaders and educators.

If I needed to choose from the living, Warren Buffett, Mike Krzyzewski (“Coach K”) and Jimmy Fallon. It might sound like a strange list, but one of the things I respect most in this world is individuals whose excellence spans across every aspect of their life and their character. The way these men have respected their families, children, friends and maintained their character throughout building successful careers is rare, and to me one of the most important traits that anyone can have. Plus, who wouldn’t want Jimmy Fallon at the table to ask great questions and make everyone laugh.

Cynthia – If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?

C.J. – I would love to build academies that coupled learning assistance with physical fitness and leadership courses. I would love to think that we could help kids be the best versions of themselves and influence their ability to help others in the future. Those academies would also allow me to employ more amazing individuals who have dedicated themselves to helping others become happier and healthier. Over the years, there are few things that have made me as proud as employing people I respect and helping them to flourish doing what they love to do. An influx of lottery money would allow me to do that on a larger scale.

Cynthia – What is the last book you read?

C.J. – “Speed Trap” by Charlie Francis, and currently reading “The Heart and the Fist” by Eric Greitens

Cynthia – If you could trade places with any other person for a week, who would you chose?

C.J. – My son, Caden. He has a pretty damn cool life that mostly includes searching for bugs, running around the San Diego Zoo, taking naps, playing at the park, and most importantly, hanging out with his really cool mom.

Cynthia – What is your favorite workout music?

C.J. – I typically like something mellow-ish, like Bob Marley, if I am just doing some lifting. If I am trying to get my heart rate up, I like 90’s Rap and Hip-Hop – Tupac, Tribe Called Quest, etc…you know, back before rap turned to crap and the lyrics actually meant something.

Cynthia – What do you do for fun outside of work?

C.J. – Is this a trick question? 🙂  Honestly, this has been a frequent discussion. I don’t need anyone to be sympathetic, but when you make your hobby your career, something really interesting happens and you have to confront how to recharge your batteries. I haven’t done a good job with that over the last 6 years. I absolutely love what I do and who I get to do it with. That love of what I do, however, can mean that I “work” for 16-18 hours each day. It’s not super healthy, so other than hanging out with Courtney and Caden at the Zoo or park, I have tried to start playing pick-up basketball games again to re-incorporate some fun activities that aren’t centered around Invictus.

Cynthia – What would you choose as your last meal?

C.J. – I am not sure that I have a favorite meal. I love good food, but I also like variety. If I had to choose, grilled shrimp are a favorite, and ravioli stuffed with something delicious is always a good choice.

Cynthia – What did you want to be when you were a kid?

C.J. – Ironically enough, when I was in 6th grade I wrote a whole paper and business plan on how I would run my own TaeKwonDo facility, and how it would have a van that would drive around and pick up kids from school to bring them to the gym to train and study. Even at that age I knew I wanted to teach and help people.

Cynthia – Last question:  dogs or dogs?  🙂

C.J. – Yes! But one dog will always be special to me. Sarah the Dingo was the best, and was the best companion throughout the most critical times in my life.