From Siegfried to Jay and Back Again: The Peaceful Warrior's Journey

Send us a text

What happens when you reclaim the identity you've been running from your entire life? Siegfried Jay Tiegs aka "Sig" takes us on a raw, unfiltered journey from childhood trauma to profound self-discovery in this deeply personal conversation.

Born to a German father carrying the weight of post-WWII trauma and a Dutch mother struggling with mental illness, Siegfried's early years were marked by abuse, poverty, and relentless bullying. Hating his unusual name and battling a severe stutter, he rejected "Siegfried" for "JJ" – a small act of self-preservation that would take decades to understand and ultimately reverse.

Through intensive personal development work and deep shadow exploration, Siegfried made a stunning discovery – his birth name, which he had rejected in shame, means "peaceful warrior" in German. The very identity he had been running from was precisely what he had been seeking to become. This epiphany led to a powerful ceremony at Machu Picchu where he reclaimed not just his name, but his authentic self.

Siegfried “Sig” Jay Tiegs, founder of Do Hard Things Nation, Army veteran, endurance athlete, and certified running coach.

A retired Major with 27 years of service in the U.S. Army, a certified trauma coach, high-performance life coach, breathwork facilitator, speaker, and co-author of Life on Offense: A Tactical Guide to Dominate Life and End Mediocrity. His story is one of resilience, from a difficult childhood to combat deployments, from military injuries to ultramarathons and adventure races.

Today, he combines his experience as a soldier, athlete, and trauma-informed healer to help people push past limitations and create lasting transformation. Inside Do Hard Things Wellness Academy, he leads dynamic coaching sessions that focus on:

Big things are happening inside Do Hard Things Nation, and I want you with us.

The Do Hard Things Wellness Academy officially kicks off September 2nd, 2025. Four coaches. Weekly mindset training, movement, breathwork, meditation, book club, and challenges. Join as a founding member here:
👉 skool.com/dohardthings/about

Our book,

Welcome to the Do Hard Things Podcast with your host Jay Tiegs, Are you ready to amplify and improve your life? Then you are in the right place.  On this podcast we have unfiltered conversation with inspiring people who take on challenges and share with us, the wisdom from their journey. We talk about how doing hard things adequately enable all of us to deal with life's struggles and challenges and ultimately improve the quality of our lives. 

Big things are happening inside Do Hard Things Nation, and I want you with us.

Want more support? Join the Do Hard Things Wellness Academy. Four coaches. Weekly mindset training, movement, breathwork, meditation, book club, and challenges. Join as a member here:
👉 skool.com/dohardthings/about

Our book, Life on Offense, is now an Amazon Best Seller! Grab a copy and leave a review.
👉 Get the book on Amazon

Grab Your Do Hard Things Gear and Apparel. Show the world you Do Hard Things with high-quality apparel!

👉Gear — Do Hard Things Nation

And don’t forget—the Do Hard Things 5K, 9.11 Mile Run, and 9.11 Mile Ruck is happening in September. There’s even a virtual option—so no excuses. Sign up here:
👉 dohardthingsnation.com/events