My Why: Josh Lannon

Your “Why” the thing that gets you out of bed, and that pushes you forward. It’s the fuel that will keep you going each and every day, wanting to work and give it your all.

One’s personal Why is incredibly important that you know your why and have one, because without it, all you have is a job.

My Why

On the night of November 25th 2001, I was ready to end my life. I was ashamed of who I had become and the pain I was putting my loved ones through. Addiction, drinking, partying, all the lies and bullshit had come crashing down. I was at my bottom and no matter how much I drank or drugged; the pain and depression would not release its grip.

I had a plan and means to end it all… I wanted the pain to stop and at the very edge of no return, was unable to break the trigger. I broke down in tears and felt like a failure. Later that night, when my wife Lisa came home, her words saved my life; “Josh, I’m done. You either go to rehab tonight or I am leaving you”. I could see the truth and power in her eyes. The gig was finally up. No more “honey, I’m sorry,” or “this time it will be different, I promise”. The woman I fell in love with was standing in front of me and I was at the end of the rope. My spartan woman threw me the lifeline that I so desperately needed, but could never admit.

On the morning of November 26th, 2001, I admitted into a rehab program and started the journey to healing, self-discovery, connection and spiritual health. From that moment on, I committed my life’s work to this field. Lisa, the strongest woman I know (next to my mother) once again stood by my side as we healed together. Little did I know, that the purpose of all those wounds (life’s trauma and mistakes) was to let the light in. We joined hand in hand and took on this new path in life.

In 2002, Lisa and I opened our own rehab/healing center and over the years, grew it to 6 facilities with a team just under 100. We assembled a great team and built our company from the end users’ point of view… it worked! We personally knew the how hard it was to walk through the front doors of rehab and the life changing impact it could have.

In 2013, we were approached by a larger company who offered to purchase the organization. At that time, we were in the process of designing the first “Veteran’s Healing Center” with our partner Tom Spooner. Through Tom, I became aware of the 22 Veterans a day who were committing suicide. With a background in behavioral health, we saw that we could lower the national suicide rate if we went after what was killing them first… self-medication, addiction. We discover that most of our Warriors were drunk or high in their final act (as I was). We now had a target and Warriors Heart was born.

Tom, Lisa and I invested a year into just designing Warriors Heart. We assembled a team of Professionals, Warriors and great Americans to build a private, licensed and accredited, exclusive environment for Warriors (active military, veterans, and first responders) only…our nations protectors.

I am honored to be given the privilege to serve as Founder and CEO of Warriors Heart. What you will find is a mission driven group of individuals, united in a common goal… to bring our Warriors Home.

Warriors Healing Warriors…. our mission… my why.