Remember Justin Guarini? The velvet-voiced, curly-haired runner-up from the very first season of “American Idol” (aka the guy who stood toe-to-toe with Kelly Clarkson before she became THE Kelly Clarkson)? Well, he’s still very much in the spotlight… just not in the way you might expect. Turns out, Guarini has taken everything he learned from being a performer and turned it into something way more personal: public speaking and confidence coaching.
Yep, he went from singing live in front of millions to helping other people find the courage to step into their own spotlight.
From Stage Lights to Spotlights
Guarini spent years performing on Broadway, doing voiceover work, starring in Diet Dr. Pepper commercials as “Lil’ Sweet,” and generally staying booked and busy. After all of that he founded Profit Under Pressure, LLC., a coaching platform where he helps creatives, entrepreneurs, and speakers build what he calls “Unshakable Confidence,” according to The Global Discussion.
And this isn’t some vague self-help fluff. Guarini created a method called the “Unbreakable Core Confidence Method,” which digs deep into mindset work, performance techniques, and real-world experience to help people show up authentically and powerfully; whether that’s on a stage or in a boardroom.
He also speaks at schools and conferences around the country. His talks, like “The Confidence to Fail” and “The Celebrity Code,” are all about getting real with fear, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome; and then bulldozing through them with a little humor and a lot of heart.
It seems as though Guarini believes that what makes you different is what makes you powerful. And let’s be real: coming from someone who’s been in the public eye for over two decades, that hits different.
Still Performing… Just in a New Way
Justin hasn’t ditched the spotlight. If anything, he’s just redirected it. These days, he’s also working with young performers through things like the Warrior Artist Alliance and talking to high schoolers about the power of owning your story, per Broadway Podcast Network. His 2023 visit to Quakertown Community High School had students genuinely moved by how open and honest he was about the ups and downs of fame, life, and everything in between.
So yeah, Justin Guarini may not be battling it out in weekly sing-offs anymore, but he’s still got the same goal: making people feel something. Only now, instead of lyrics and melodies, he’s using stories, vulnerability, and a killer delivery.
Talk about a second act.
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‘American Idol’ Runner-Up is Now a Public Speaker