ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Jade Simmons is an exceptional and unique performer. She's a powerhouse speaker, world-class concert artist, and author all in one. Acclaimed creator of mind-blowing transformational experiences, Jade spent the first few years of her career performing as a classical concert pianist. Following an artistic epiphany, she pivoted from playing the piano to impressing audiences, to using the piano as the vehicle by which she would provide the inspiration, entertainment, and transformation that profoundly moves them instead. The results have been massive.
No stranger to pushing boundaries to see bold results, this concert pianist turned world changer is brought in by the likes of corporations like Barron's Mass Mutual, Royal Bank of Canada, DOW, Raytheon, The Hershey Company, Genentech, Valic, Pfizer, and Nationwide to redefine purpose, inspire seismic shifts in mindset, and activate audiences to go out and instantly start living more consequential lives of impact.
The one-of-a-kind artist has built a one-of-a-kind career, garnering diverse recognition from unlikely places. She's played renowned halls, including the hallowed ones of the White House and the US Supreme Court, and her genre-bending concert adventures that span Rachmaninoff to Rap attract diverse audiences of all ages and backgrounds. For her work on and away from the stage, Essence magazine featured Jade alongside former First Lady Michelle Obama as a part of their "Style & Substance List." As one of the rare classical artists invited to perform at the taste-making South by Southwest Festival, her show was ultimately branded one of the "Best of SXSW 2014."
She's starred in a Broadway-style musical called Lillette's Rhythm Club, and she can be heard portraying Nina Simone's classical years in the Oscar-nominated documentary What Happened Miss Simone?
In her inimitable career as a concert pianist and as a media host, Jade has remained committed to expanding the boundaries of Classical music and its presentation.
On top of all of this, Jade is running as an Independent Write-in Candidate for U.S. Senate. Her goal is to cut through what she calls performative partisanship to focus instead on finding creative solutions that serve as many people as possible.
Jade summarizes her campaign this way: "I believe I'm called to run this race differently, to model something higher, something "classier", offering something closer to purpose-focused leadership that prioritizes people over politics." You can learn more about her run for Senate at jadesimmonsforsenate.com.
Takeaways:
- Purpose. I love how Jade frames purpose as being more about the way people are impacted when we utilize our talents. This is a great way to protect our purpose – and the process by which we discover it – from ever being solely focused on ourselves. When we find that blend that maximizes our unique talents while also maximizing the impact they have on others...there are no limits on how far our purpose can take us.
- Passion. Jade makes a good point about passion. We hear a lot about passion and how we should follow our passion. However, Jade makes the distinction that passion is something that follows us when we follow our purpose. Focus on PURPOSE - as described in the first takeaway and as your main source of fuel – and passion will follow you.
- Pivot. As we pursue our purpose and allow our passion to follow us, we need to be aware and willing to pivot when necessary. A lot of times, our ego gets in the way, and we get stubborn and refuse to alter our course. If Jade would've been stubborn and refused to pivot when she went blank on stage, she would not have discovered the truly impactful and unique path that has allowed her to stand out from others and broaden how she reaches and inspires her audiences.
- Powerhouse – Jade nails it when she says that a REAL powerhouse is one who pours power into others. As she said, you're at your classiest when you're not afraid of sharing the stage. Like Jade says, striving to be the BEST is BASIC. Everybody strives for this – practicing, get your 10,000 hours, etc. This will lead to the standing ovations and there's nothing wrong with this. But, like Jade says, it's really amazing to SHARE the spotlight. This simply is what it means to win with class.
Links:
Websites: jadesimmons.com and jadesimmonsforsenate.com
Instagram: @officialjadesimmons
Books:
Purpose The Remix: A Mind-Blowing Reunderstanding of Purpose and How It Works
Audacious Prayers for World Changers: Live and Pray Out Loud
