Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Koziatek.
Hi Jeff, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
For over 20 years I made my living in the entertainment industry. I also dabbled in photography and fine art. I owned an entertainment production company that served as a booking agency, managed national touring acts, produced videos, commercials, and theatrical productions. We also functioned as a full-service event management group, catering to high-end corporate and non-profit events. I received formal acting training in New York City and Los Angeles, acted for stage and camera, did some voice-over work, juggled, hosted game-shows, walked on stilts, spun fire, emceed events, and performed over 4,000 shows across the country and internationally. Along the way, I received awards and nominations for my work as a performer, writer, and producer.
It was all amazing and fun, yet it was performing as Juggling Jeff that changed my life.
As a variety entertainer, I was afforded a golden ticket, a fast pass, to cross all kinds of social boundaries and meet a wide variety of people with different ethnicity, religions, politics, lifestyles, ages, genders, economics, and more. Entertainment was a way to remove the labels that categorized us and simply connect as human beings. It was amazing. My job was to offer a safe space for people to drop their masks of daily survival to have a genuine laugh next to a total stranger.
Over the years, I notice a common thread. No matter where I was, or who I was in front of, everyone was wrestling with the same two questions I was – What is my worth and where does it come from?
Like me, most people seemed to be searching for worth outside of themselves – in their work, circumstances, relationships, things, or image. Unfortunately, looking for worth externally means we aren’t enough, we must protect what we have, earn more, and positions us for judgment – comparing and competing against others. However, if we stand on internal worth – it can never be lost, stolen, increased, or decreased. It’s always full all the time. There is no longer a need to compare or prove ourselves to others. When we stand on that cornerstone – of being enough – we are more likely to see worth in other people and be generous with our time, talents, treasures, and opportunities. But wait, there’s more! Standing on intrinsic worth also gives us the freedom to be fully present where we are, to experience the special moments of our lives.
As I began to stand more on my own intrinsic worth, my relationships deepened, the quality of my work improved, and my life switched from being a checklist to one I enjoyed living. The results were inarguable, and I didn’t want to keep it to myself.
I began delivering keynotes on how value and worth effect communication, productivity, leadership, and confidence. I received life and leadership coaching certification with The Values Conversation, and then later with The John Maxwell TEAM.
Today, as the Mindset Catalyst, with Core Authenticity, I work with top performers who want to sharpen their focus, reignite passion, build positive momentum, and experience joy in the process. I offer individual coaching for business owners as well as organizations who want to improve their communication and productivity culture. My keynotes are designed to engage, empower, and inspire through laughter and practical content.
As a way to merge my past with my present, and because change happens through relationships, I created the 1 for 1 Give Back Program – partnering corporations with their local communities. In a nutshell – when an organization purchases a keynote or coaching package, they can give a FREE Juggling Jeff presentation or performance to youth in their area – anywhere between elementary and college-age. It’s a way for corporations to continue investing in their own people, model lifelong learning, AND let the next generation of leaders know that they are seen, heard, valued, and supported.
At the end of the day, it’s all about empowering and encouraging others.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Smooth road? Of course not! I’ve faced lots of rejection, made many mistakes, navigated betrayal, and worked myself to complete exhaustion.
I spent years trying to prove I was worth people’s time by literally performing for attention and significance. I had to do everything and couldn’t say no to anything. Taking time off wasn’t an option. This led me to perform more than 350 shows a year for more than 15 years, while producing videos, shooting photos, trying to be a good dad, trying to be a good husband, and, oh yeah, trying to take care of myself. It was not sustainable, yet I continue to lie to myself and look away from what wasn’t working so I could go back out and do it again.
Recognizing the source of my personal worth shifted my trajectory but it was not like flipping a light switch. I needed time to work through some stuff. It’s also something that is not a box that can be checked and forgotten. It’s so easy to get distracted, and start listening to the lies that say I’m not enough, that I need to do what so and so is doing, that I am my mistakes and my behavior, that I need to look a certain way, that my circumstances do define me, etc. Remembering where my worth comes from takes consistency and intentionality. This is why habit 52 from my book, Blueprint for Value: 52 Habits to Discover and Strengthen Your Personal Worth, is my favorite – #washyourbrain. I must remind myself every day of my worth, my values, my identity, and my purpose.
I have faced struggles in the past, am facing struggles today, and will face new struggles tomorrow, but if I stand on that cornerstone, a cornerstone of intrinsic worth and identity, then I will be able to keep moving forward and face the uncertainty of tomorrow with confidence today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Core Authenticity?
At Core Authenticity, I’m in the values-based growth and development business.
As your keynote speaker, I want to engage, equip, encourage, and inspire your audience to action. My core topics are communication, leadership, and confidence. If you want engagement, fun, laughter, memorable lessons, passion, and a speaker who will connect with your audience – then I’m your guy.
As your coach, I want to be the catalyst that ignites sustainable growth in you. I focus on gaining clarity, sharpening focus, navigating transition, rediscovering passion, and harnessing the superpower of “not yes.” I will ask questions, offer a safe space free of judgment, and equip you with tools to self-assess and course correct through life’s challenges.
I’m also the host of the Breakthrough Moments Podcast – asking leaders what their biggest mistake was and what they learned from it.
Visit www.coreauthenticity.com today and sign up for my e-newsletter, check out my book, listen to the podcast, and/or take the quick 10-minute values assessment.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
We will never see value in someone else beyond what we see in ourselves. We may value what they do, or what they’ve overcome, but we won’t value the person. Therefore, we MUST see ourselves as enough, as worthy, as a 10 out of 10, so we can see that in others and drop the judgment stick.
Also –
People will hear your heart before they hear your technique. It’s not what you say or how you say it – it’s how you make them feel. That feeling comes from the state of your heart. To get your heart right, you must stand on a solid foundation, a cornerstone of intrinsic worth.
Contact Info:
- Email: jeff@coreauthenticity.com
- Website: www.coreauthenticity.com
- Instagram: coreauthenticity
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coreauthenticity/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6xbI6cq8Ua4A_ti75Xla9Q
- Podcast: www.
thebreakthroughmomentspodcast. com - Blueprint For Value: https://www.coreauthenticity.com/author/
- Other: https://vimeo.com/coreauthenticity
Image Credits
Ed Crim
Jim Weise
Stephen Littmann
