Lifestyle

Fueled By ‘Mental Toughness, Former NFL Player Roy Hall Jr.Turns to Motivational Speaking

Published

3 years ago

June 4, 2021

Roy Hall, Jr., a former NFL player with the Lions, Saints, and Colts painfully accepted that after four years in the NFL, he had to move on. In 2007, Hall’s rookie season came to a rough ending after a violent head-to-head collision during a routine kickoff, with Cedric Killings of the Houston Texans. “I ended up with a third-degree shoulder separation, and Cedric unfortunately suffered a fractured vertebra in his neck,” Hall shared in a previous interview with Disrupt Magazine.

While Killings went on to retire, Hall had a different, challenging pathway ahead of him on his journey towards recovery, which began in 2008. “I had a knee scope and had complications that kept me out for 12 games, followed by a microfracture surgery the following year, which forced me to miss the entire season,” he told Big Time Daily.

In 2010, Hall was released by the Saints after tearing muscles in his hip, ultimately ending his professional career in the NFL. “For three seasons, I watched how people reacted when I told them I was hurt, or exposed teams to my injury history. I watched how players reacted to their own rehab,” noticing how some worked extremely hard, while others were trapped in depression.

“Life is 10-percent what happens to you, and 90-percent of how you respond to it,” Hall told Big Time Daily. “There are things in life that happen in which you have no control over, but what you can control is your response when things don’t go your way. When adversity strikes, if you respond the right way, adversity can give you an advantage. Some people call it a chip on your shoulder. I just think it gives you stronger shoulders to hold up more weight that’s trying to push you down.”

Hall, an Ohio-native and the co-founder and Executive Director of the Driven Foundation, now spends his time taking those tough lessons and translating them for a corporate audience to help companies of all sizes across the country motivate and train their people.

“Today’s climate has really inspired me to do my best to be a light,” he emphasized. “Tough conversations have to be had. Tough meetings need to be had. Companies across the country bring me in to speak to their employees and executive teams about diversity and inclusion, and provide perspective. They hire me to motivate and inspire – translating the toughest lessons from my football career to drive employees in a corporate environment. I’m more inspired than ever to speak and train professionals to just be better people.”

Hall revealed that during his time in the NFL, the organization taught him “how to leverage [his] platform for something greater than [himself],” turning to motivational speaking and community empowerment. The former NFL player regularly speaks in cities like Las Vegas with a room full of professionals.

“I’m the middle man. I’m the connector. I introduce privilege to poverty. I get people to serve that have more to give than most. What you have can either be taken away, or given away. It’s much better to give than to have something taken from you. Purpose is service.”

And that service continues to flow into his community. Hall started the Driven Foundation back in 2008 with his former Ohio State teammate, Antonio Smith, to provide families with basic needs to combat poverty and promote independence.

Over the last 12 years, Hall and Smith have distributed over 1.25 million pounds of free food to over 9,000 Ohio families. They have also created their own leadership and character building curriculum, called Youth Leadership, which is another component to the Driven Foundation. The curriculum is tailored to students in 5th-12th grade, where both Hall and Smith work with over 30 middle-schools and high-schools throughout Ohio.

“Each year we also distribute over 500 backpacks filled with school supplies, while donating 100 winter coats to students in need. Whatever we didn’t have as kids, we do our best to lighten that load for families in Ohio.”

Hall’s favorite topics as part of the Youth Leadership curriculum are those that involve “improving your attitude so that you feel like a winner every day” and “how to respond maturely when things don’t go your way.”

“…these are lessons that they can not only use to help them academically but will help them for the rest of their lives. Having former NFL players and local executives take on the roles as ‘coaches’ for these students is huge. Not only are they getting the information, but they are hearing from people that have done or are doing what their dreams are.”

To Hall’s point, individuals must be trained on how to respond to different situations, specifically when it comes to responding to challenges that aren’t always expected.

“For perspective there are 1.5 million nonprofit organizations in the United States and 40,521 nonprofits in just Ohio! The organizations doing the good in communities and for humanity are all competing against one another. However, Hall’s belief is that “…giving to others is how you get ahead. It’s also how you give people opportunities for them to get back on their feet.”

Lifestyle

Jean-Pierre Morreale: The Perfumer Behind Bespoke Creations for Royals and Celebrities

Published

8 hours ago

October 19, 2024

Michelle Langton

In the exclusive world of haute perfumery, where luxury and discretion go hand in hand, Jean- Pierre Morreale stands as a figure shrouded in mystery. As the genius behind Morreale Paris, Morreale has earned a reputation not only for his exquisite fragrances but for his secretive nature, which has only enhanced his allure among the world’s elite. While his work speaks for itself—crafting fragrances that embody elegance and opulence—it is his connections with royalty and global celebrities that have cemented his place as a master of bespoke scent creation.

A Life of Mystery and Exclusivity

Jean-Pierre Morreale’s name is synonymous with luxury, but little is known about the man himself. Despite being at the helm of one of the world’s most prestigious fragrance houses, he remains elusive, allowing his work to take center stage. Morreale’s life and career are defined by discretion—a quality that is highly valued among his clientele, which includes some of the most powerful and influential figures in the world.

Morreale’s secretive nature is not a marketing ploy but a way of life. He rarely gives interviews, avoids the spotlight, and prefers to let his fragrances do the talking. This air of mystery has only fueled the fascination surrounding him, with rumors of private meetings with kings, queens, and Hollywood’s biggest stars swirling around his brand. Those who know him describe a man deeply committed to his craft, who values privacy above all else.

The Perfumer to European Royalty

Jean-Pierre Morreale’s aristocratic heritage has always played a significant role in his career, and it is this connection to European nobility that has given him access to some of the world’s most exclusive circles. Morreale is a trusted confidant of royal families across Europe, with a clientele that includes members of the Italian, French, and Middle Eastern royalty. These relationships, forged over years of mutual respect and admiration, are built on trust and discretion—qualities that Morreale embodies in his work.

For many royals, fragrance is a deeply personal part of their identity, and they turn to Morreale for bespoke creations that reflect their status, personality, and history. His private consultations with these figures are shrouded in secrecy, with few details ever reaching the public. What is known, however, is that Morreale’s bespoke fragrances are as unique as the individuals who wear them, crafted from the rarest and finest ingredients in the world. His creations often become the signature scents of the royals he serves, worn only by them, ensuring that they remain one-of-a-kind masterpieces.

The Go-To Perfumer for Celebrities

In addition to his royal clientele, Jean-Pierre Morreale is also a favorite among the world’s biggest celebrities. From Hollywood A-listers to music legends, many of the entertainment industry’s most famous names seek out Morreale’s expertise when it comes to creating a bespoke fragrance. These celebrities, like his royal clients, value his discretion and trust him to create scents that capture their essence without the intrusion of the public eye.

Morreale’s clients often reach out to him privately, whether it be for a custom fragrance to mark a major career milestone, a personal scent for a red carpet event, or even a gift for a loved one. His ability to understand the emotional and psychological aspects of scent creation makes him the ideal perfumer for those who wish to wear something truly unique. For many, the process of working with Morreale is a highly personal experience—one that often involves intimate conversations about memories, emotions, and desires.

The Art of Bespoke Perfume Creation

Jean-Pierre Morreale’s approach to bespoke fragrance creation is a blend of art, science, and intuition. His process is meticulous and deeply personalized, starting with a private consultation, often conducted behind closed doors in the most luxurious of settings—whether in royal palaces, private estates, or in his secretive Parisian atelier. Morreale takes the time to get to know his clients, understanding their personal history, emotional connections, and even the cultural significance of certain scents.

Every fragrance he creates is a unique reflection of the individual, composed of rare and often exotic ingredients that he sources from around the world. For Morreale, no detail is too small, and his creations are known for their complexity and depth, with each note telling part of a larger, personalized story. These scents are not just perfumes but works of art, often packaged in custom-designed, handcrafted bottles, making them as visually stunning as they are olfactorily captivating.

Once the fragrance is complete, it is delivered to the client in the utmost secrecy. This level of exclusivity is part of the allure of a Jean-Pierre Morreale creation; owning a bespoke fragrance from Morreale Paris is akin to possessing a rare piece of art, one that can never be replicated.

A Legacy of Discretion and Luxury

Jean-Pierre Morreale’s dedication to privacy has only enhanced his status as one of the most sought-after perfumers in the world. While other fragrance houses may seek publicity, Morreale has built his brand on a foundation of discretion, catering to those who value their privacy as much as their luxury. His relationships with his clients—whether royals or celebrities—are built on trust, and it is this trust that has allowed him to continue creating bespoke fragrances for the most influential people on the planet.

Despite his global success, Morreale remains as discreet as ever, allowing his work to speak for itself. His clients, from European kings and queens to Hollywood stars, know that when they commission a fragrance from Jean-Pierre Morreale, they are not only receiving a world-class creation but also the assurance that their privacy will be respected.

Jean-Pierre Morreale’s combination of artistry, exclusivity, and discretion has made him the master perfumer of choice for royalty and celebrities alike. His secretive nature, far from being a hindrance, has only added to his mystique and elevated his brand to legendary status. In a world where privacy is often a luxury, Morreale’s ability to create bespoke fragrances in complete secrecy has earned him the loyalty of some of the most powerful and famous people in the world. For those fortunate enough to work with him, a fragrance by Jean-Pierre Morreale is not just a scent—it is a timeless, personal masterpiece, created by a man who values the art of discretion as much as the art of perfumery.