We recently had the chance to connect with Jeff Hare and have shared our conversation below.
Jeff, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I’m proud of building my mental health plan. Recently, I was going through a period of time when I was struggling emotionally and put on a happy face for a really long time. Working with a number of clients in the mental health space, I had to look at these organizations and realize that they are in existence to help people. And I took a lot of that to heart. Now I’m facing issues instead of trying to move past them.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jeff Hare and I’ve been primarily an entertainment publicist for many years. Recently I’ve transitioned into a role that sits at the intersection of Entertainment and Philanthropy which is an interesting and rewarding focus.
Moving to Los Angeles, I had my sights set on being an actor, but the universe flipped the script on me and I found a career in PR which has given me so many incredible opportunities and some of the most amazing memories. I still have to pinch myself every now and then to make sure this is all real.
As rewarding a career as this is, it still comes with challenges and stress beyond what many people should ever have to go through. But I’ve always said that I CAN do hard things and it has taught me patience, perseverance, loyalty and a bunch of other life skills that give me an enormous leg up.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a middle child and a gay kid growing up in the midwest, I always believed that I wasn’t good enough or would never amount to anything. Life just happened then, and I never had the guts or the willpower to change that. My life was basically on a path of mediocrity. I didn’t have guidance on further education, nor did we have the means to send me to college, so I just graduated high school and moved on.
I knew that I needed to get out of the rut I saw for myself, so I moved away. Only four hours away and still in the same state, but I was out. I grew up a bit, but not all the way. I was on my own for five years and REALLY struggled, but I made it through with great friends and a new found confidence I hadn’t had yet.
When I moved back to Cleveland, I was better prepared, but I still needed something bigger. I had done some commercials and theater in Ohio, but I had my sights set on California. It was at that moment that I decided to lead my life instead of letting it lead me.
I’ve never looked back.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self not to worry.
I’ve always felt that I wasn’t good enough and didn’t deserve anything, but the moment I (we) start taking our own control, everything will be ok. Great even.
I would tell my younger self to pay attention and see the signs in front of you. The good ones and the bad ones. And you will grow from each of them, even if they come with a lot of pain.
But I would end by telling my younger self: you got this!
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
My public version of myself is absolutely the real me. Maybe sometimes even to a fault. I think part of my success has been my personality and I have a hard time shutting that off.
I will be a bit different in certain situations, but I’m never far from myself at all times.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What light inside you have you been dimming?
I’ve been dealing with this issue for months now. When I was working in the studio system, I did movie PR all week (and sometimes all weekend). In my down time I would play competitive sports, do things that I loved doing outside work and do a lot of charity work, just simply giving back.
My life lead to a blur in those lines. I didn’t have much of a work/life balance and it turned more into a work/work balance. And now that my love and hobby (philanthropy) is quite literally in my job description, there isn’t much of a separation at all. It’s something I have to work hard on.
I think the light inside me that has been dimmed is my love of theater. I’m contemplating getting back into it and I’d love to do it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffharela/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-hare-5a11666/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeff.hare.9
Image Credits
Photos courtesy of Jeff Hare
