Let's grow together
BE Happy. BE Healthy. BE Hungry. BE Humble.
My name is Justin Serresse, and I’m proud to share the philosophy that changed my life: the 4H—Happy, Healthy, Hungry, and Humble.
I was born and raised in France to parents with roots in Algeria and Cameroon. Growing up, I struggled with my identity as a mixed-race kid, never feeling like I fully belonged. My escape, my happy place, was basketball. It gave me joy, connection, and purpose.
At 17, I signed with a professional team in France, training alongside pros. But everything shifted when I tore my ACL. That injury crushed my belief in my basketball future. At the same time, I faced family struggles and lacked direction in school. I felt completely lost.
In 2006, I decided to start over and move to Canada. I earned a Sport Management degree at Laurentian University and played two seasons (2008-2010) while fighting through injury to stay on the court. From there, I pursued a Master’s in Sport Management in Ottawa and became an assistant coach for the University of Ottawa men’s basketball team. Over six years, we won a provincial championship and made two national championship runs.
Those first 10 years in Canada changed my life. I gained confidence as a student, a coach, and as a person. By 2016, at just 29 years old, I became the head coach of the Laurier University men’s basketball team. Ten years earlier, I knew nothing about this industry, yet here I was leading a successful program, and competing nationally multiple times.
But success came at a cost. The pressure and stress of coaching took a toll on my health—I gained weight and wasn’t spending enough time on myself or my family. Then, during COVID, my wife and I welcomed our beautiful daughter, Nala, into the world. That moment changed my perspective.
During that time, I read Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court by Coach John Wooden. In the book, he spoke about his 3Hs: Stay Healthy, Stay Hungry, Stay Humble. That message resonated with me deeply, but I wanted to take it further. I added Happy because I believe joy and presence are essential for a balanced life.
I also shifted the message from Stay to BE. Staying implies holding on; BEING is active—it’s owning who you are and living intentionally each day. I began setting daily goals and reflecting on my 4H pillars:
Happy
Find joy, positivity, and live in the present moment.
Healthy
Prioritize physical, mental, and emotional health through self-discipline.
Hungry
Stay driven and passionate, fueled by a strong work ethic.
Humble
Embrace gratitude, spirituality, and humility.
By actively practicing the 4H daily, I lost 25 pounds, improved my mental health, and found balance in my life. My coaching career continued to grow: I joined Canada Basketball as an assistant coach for the U19 national team in 2021, and in 2024, I was recruited to coach in the NBA G-League with the Raptors 905.
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The 4H Mindset is not a magic solution to a perfect life. But it’s a tool to help anyone striving for a more balanced and intentional lifestyle. By reflecting on these pillars each day, you can identify areas where you’re thriving and where you need to grow—allowing you to take action and be at your best.