MOXIE: What It Means and Why You Need It
- Justine Martin
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
Because life will knock you down, and MOXIE is what helps you get back up stronger.
If there’s one word that defines how I’ve built my life, my businesses, and my resilience, it’s this one: MOXIE.
It’s the title of my memoir. It’s how I approach the stage. And it’s the energy I bring into every room.
But what exactly is MOXIE, and why do you need it?
Here’s what I’ve learnt after living through MS, cancer, brain injury, and adversity most people can’t imagine:
What Is MOXIE?
MOXIE is grit with grace. It’s courage with charisma. It’s a bold, unapologetic, unstoppable spirit, even when life says you should quit.
MOXIE isn’t about never falling. It’s about falling nine times and standing up ten, with fire in your belly and purpose in your heart.
If resilience is the muscle that helps you keep going, MOXIE is the spark that keeps you going with style.
Why You Need It
The world doesn’t reward quiet suffering. It rewards those who dare to own their story and lead with authenticity.
MOXIE gives you:
The courage to speak your truth, even when your voice shakes
The grit to build a business, a movement, or a life on your own terms
The energy to inspire others by showing up fully, scars and all
The resilience to rise after every setback, not as who you were, but as who you’re becoming
How I Found Mine
I didn’t wake up with MOXIE.
I built it in hospital beds, in courtrooms, and on days when walking across the room felt impossible.
I built it by:
✅ Saying YES to life when fear says no
✅ Speaking on stages about invisible illness, resilience, and leadership
✅ Running five businesses when the world told me I’d never work again
✅ Sharing my story through MOXIE: How I Learnt to Harden the F** Up*, so others would know they can too
MOXIE isn’t a gift you’re born with. It’s a choice you make every day.
How to Cultivate MOXIE in Your Own Life
1️⃣ Own your story, even the messy bits
2️⃣ Stop asking for permission to take up space
3️⃣ Embrace failure as fuel, not defeat
4️⃣ Lead with heart, authenticity always outlasts performance
5️⃣ Keep showing up, MOXIE is built through action, not perfection
Final Thoughts: The World Needs Your MOXIE
Whatever you’re facing, illness, adversity, burnout, reinvention, MOXIE is the quality that helps you rise, roar, and rewrite what’s possible.
And trust me: If I can do it, YOU can do it.
Want a keynote speaker who brings MOXIE to the stage and teaches others how to find theirs?
Let’s talk about your next event.
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