We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jeff Moreau a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jeff, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
Hands down, it’s from my dad. He lived his life in the face of adversity seemingly at every turn. He emigrated to the U.S. from Canada as one of 10 kids, grew up in a tough household, was forced to quit high school, lost his construction business, yet always bounced back to provide for our family. Despite being diagnosed with cancer and battling it for two-plus decades, he never once backed down. His resolve and unrelenting spirit are what I carry with me even after his passing. I tell my kids just as he told me growing up, Kick Ass and Carry On! Those words inspire me in everything I do to continue evolving myself.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’ve always been a maverick. From the earliest age, I remember chasing new challenges and trying new things. When I launched into my broadcasting career, I played just about every role in the newsroom: sportscaster, feature reporter, morning anchor, weekend anchor, primetime anchor. Then, breaking into my sales career, starting in the electric vehicle industry, to commercial lighting, and now building a brand and developing new markets for American Leather, a top-tier custom upholstery manufacturer. For all that seems mixed in my career pursuits, one thing has stayed the same – my passion to innovate, push boundaries, and connect with people.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Curiosity, motivation, and authenticity. Those three traits best describe my journey. If you care to know, listen and learn, you’ll connect deeper with people. If you are driven to hustle, you’ll win more opportunities. Most importantly, be yourself – people can see through the facade of corporate fakery. Relationships are all we have in this life. I never take them for granted, especially with my wife and our three kids. They’re my everything.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My parents let me fail. They knew I wasn’t going to conform anyway so they provided constructive criticism when things didn’t work out as I had planned, and praise when I knocked it out of the park. I’ll never forget going to freshman orientation with my dad at Arizona State University in the fall of 1996. The smile on his face as we walked the campus for the first time, and the tears in his eyes as he left me to experience this new journey of college life as a 17-year-old kid. Those are indelible moments for me. My dad gave me purpose, my mom protection. She solved everything with a hug and a laugh. She still does. I’m so thankful for her in my life. I’d do anything to see my dad again, but his spirit is strong, and I feel his presence often. I know as I evolve in my journey and embark on what’s next, he’s along for the ride.
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