Jay and I met on the first day of my first real job as a lieutenant in 2012 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. I was the greenest young officer and was eager to meet the new team. Jay and I ran into each other between some heavy construction equipment that afternoon as I was welcomed by the 232nd “Warriors,” part of the 94th Engineer “Wolverine” Battalion. By fate, Jay and I happened to be platoon leaders in the same company and next door neighbors as well.
During our time as lieutenants, we biked and ran all over the military post and competed in several ultra endurance races together. Jay became my best friend, even though he’s several years older than me. In Army years, he was already an old man when I met him. Now Jay’s a retired major and high-performance coach, still living in the middle of nowhere in Missouri.
As we both left the Army, Jay and I wanted to take on a challenge together again, but we weren’t sure what it would be since we lived on different continents. After brainstorming for several months, we eventually started writing a self-help book at the beginning of 2023. The manuscript is now titled Life on Offense: Do HARD Things. It’s actually shaped into quite an impressive piece of writing, and we’re still editing it to make the book even better. For those of you who haven’t already met Jay, let me introduce him to you.
Siegfried “Jay” Tiegs was born into a rough home. His parents had a difficult time raising him due to some challenging problems of their own. Jay’s father had an inability to form positive relationships, stemming from the traumatic loss of his entire family in Germany during WWII. His father created an unstable and abusive home for the family. Jay’s mother, who immigrated to California in the 1950s, struggled with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. His mother’s conditions were exacerbated by her husband's abusive behavior.
Jay's childhood was split between Southern California and Germany, where his family moved in a bid to stabilize their finances. Despite their efforts, economic challenges and his father's temper only worsened their situation. At a young age, Jay realized he needed to escape his not-so-great circumstances. He began working at 12 years old, taking on jobs like mowing lawns and delivering newspapers to earn money and find his way out of the family’s makeshift double-wide mobile home.
Driven by a desire for a better life, Jay joined the military after high school. His dedication and hard work allowed him to rise to the rank of sergeant first class, serving as a combat engineer in Hawaii, Iraq, and later as a recruiter in Saint Louis. It was here that he became a father to triplet daughters, who inspired him to commission as an officer and strive to be the best Dad and role model possible.
Jay's military career spanned 27 years, during which he commanded two specialized companies at Fort Leonard Wood, training the next generation of leaders. After retiring from the Army, Jay's commitment to excellence didn’t go away. He transitioned into multiple roles, including certified high-performance coach and leadership trainer, running coach, realtor, college professor, podcaster, and founder of Do Hard Things Nation. His mantra, "Do HARD Things," encapsulates his belief in overcoming challenges with persistence and dedication.
Jay's story is about a powerful transformation and how to stay focused on what really matters in life. Now, as a motivational speaker and high-performance coach, he shares his insights on personal and professional growth, helping business owners and leaders achieve their goals. Through his relentless focus on doing HARD things and helping others, Jay continues to guide people towards success.
Through his coaching and public speaking, he has helped countless individuals overcome their challenges. Jay’s down-to-earth approach and practical advice make him an invaluable resource for anyone looking to make big changes in their life.
To know more about Jay, you can check out his website at JayTiegs.com and the self-development community he is building at DoHardThingsNation.com.