To rise to a level where you’re being recognised for your work in this highly competitive world, you must not only be hard working but patient enough to wait for that success to come. Joe Zago’s inspirational journey is a living example of this statement. Born to a middle-class family, with parents employed as local high school teachers in the Detroit area suburb, Joe Zago had a modest upbringing. But, with his high dreams, Joe managed to become a renowned television spokesperson and founded The Carpet Guys. He was also selected as the 2022 keynote speaker at Better Business Bureau Torch Awards for Ethics in Business and named the EY Entrepreneur of the year.
Joe Zago had a rough start at the beginning of his life. Remembering his struggles, Joe states, “I still remember vividly the time I was severely punished under 4 years in a residential boarding school for troubled teens. Before that, I had visited Juvenile Court many times. Years passed by and I kept breaking the laws repeatedly. Later, I became an alcoholic. That cost me everything I had worked till that point, the career and the relationships that I cared about. I remember being homeless at the age of 35 and leading a life without money, a license, a job or even a car. ” Thankfully, he found a 12-step recovery program called Alcoholics Anonymous that helped him get rid of the addiction. Even with the program, he had to push hard to get back into the zone. Initially, he faced trouble controlling the urge to drink, got irritated easily and couldn’t focus on work at all. With relentless efforts, he managed to become a youth icon for today’s generation.
Even with a history of alcoholism, Joe Zago managed to beat all odds and become a leadership inspiration for multiple organisations. He is working hard to reach more heights and become the example the world needs.