Hello, happy people. Welcome to the Profitable Happiness Podcast.
Dr. Pelè (00:07):Hello everyone. This is Dr. Pelè with the Profitable Happiness Podcast. And it is my pleasure, my distinct honor to be in the presence of Jade Simmons. Now, just so you know, okay, I have never met anyone more excitable, more like cooler. She plays the piano. She's the ultimate motivational speaker and teacher. Oh, Jade, I'm so excited you're here. How are you today?
Jade Simmons (00:36):Well, listen right back at you. I had to make sure I ate an apple right before I came on. When I watched some of your episodes, I thought, man, match this man's energy. I gotta come ready to go. So I'm fired up and excited to have a happy, profitable conversation.
Dr. Pelè (00:52):Oh, I love it. I love it. Okay, so now I mentioned that you are a transformational speaker. You know, um, in fact, on your, on your LinkedIn, you are more than that. You're a musical force of nature. I have watched several of your videos and I'm a musician. You know, full disclosure, I don't know if I've met anyone more talented than you. I am so in awe what you do.
Jade Simmons (01:14):Wow, that's an honor. Uh, yeah. You know, I, I did all of my schooling and training and music, piano performance, classical music to be very specific. And, uh, my original dream was simply to just play on stages. And I got to do a lot of that. Still do a good bit of that. But over time, and I know we'll get to this in our story, I've combined that with inspirational speaking. And, uh, today I'm brought in, uh, to speak on just about any topic imaginable around leadership, motivation, and inspiration. So, I feel very blessed that this is my job, cuz it doesn't feel like work at all.
Dr. Pelè (01:48):Oh, boy. And, you know, you've actually just defined what I call profitable happiness. The idea that the thing that makes us happy is also the thing that makes us profitable. It's an an amazing place to be. But before we get all into all of that, could you take us sort of imagine someone's listening here and they, they're, they're seeing you and they wanna know how can you help me, you know, what's in it for me? What problem do you solve in the world, uh, that, that, um, I can relate to whenever you go out and speak to organizations, what, what challenges it really that you help people with the most?
Jade Simmons (02:21):Yeah. You know, and I help people in three main sort of arenas. Um, I spend the majority of my time in the corporate space, as you described. I'm blessed that some of the world's superlative brands will bring me in to speak on purpose, innovation, reinvention, creativity, a lot of change. Mastery, as you can imagine the last few years. Yeah. Uh, and also sometimes to speak on diversity. Uh, and I'm also an ordained minister, so when I speak in church, yeah. Yeah.
Dr. Pelè (02:50):<laugh>, I did not know that part. <laugh>,
Jade Simmons (02:52):That's, that's a thing, that's a whole thing for me. Uh, I love speaking in that arena because I get to, to be unabashed about my, my faith, which is my, my fuel source in many ways. Uh, but in that arena, I think in an all three, the other is, you know, the concert arena. And in coaching, I'm always looking to change perspective, to help you see something you thought you knew in a different way that's going to activate you in a different way. So in church, I'm talking about practical application, uh, where the Bible is concerned and have we thought, you know, this huge, God, why are we playing so small? That's usually where I am there. And then in my coaching arena, um, I'm helping visionary women of faith discover their individual unique breakthrough blueprints. I don't believe we are put here to copy other people's templates.
(03:40)
We can learn from other people's lives. But I think if we pay really close attention and investigate the life we've already lived, we'll find these incredible clues that help us begin to live much more intentionally and, and really run into breakthrough over and over again. So, the full circles that when I'm in a corporation, we're talking about, you know, sometimes I'll, I'll be with companies that say, we had a record breaking year and now we're worried it's all downhill from here. How do we maintain that? So we talk about creating a record breaking culture, a record breaking lifestyle. So profitable happiness, um, shows up for me in terms of speaking on purpose. Uh, and I would, I would even call it for me purposeful profitability. So that's why Yeah.
You know, I, I have to say, um, you know, what I, what I love about you, your story, and I, I I want to invite you actually to share Sure. Maybe a history of, of how you actually got here. But before we do that, I love the idea that you, you are combining, you know, being a concert pianist and not just any pianist, like a really, really good one. <laugh>. Like you, you get people in the audience playing piano and singing and, and being involved, and you, you create an experience. It's really powerful. And I just invite anyone listening to this to go check out some Jade Simmons, uh, videos to see what I'm talking about. But in that, in that vein, take us back to like the beginning. Like, you know, did, did some lightning strike at, did you have a, a Damascus moment? Oh,
Jade Simmons (05:10):<laugh>. I did have, I did have an epiphany, yeah. Moment. I'll say, you know, like probably many of your listeners, which I can assume because anybody interested in learning more about this topic, these are people who are driven by personal development, and they're probably growth aholic as I call them. Um, that usually tends to mean we're also at least former or recovering workaholics, overachievers, all the things <laugh>. Um, and I definitely identify with all of those labels. Um, and the thing that I wanted to do most was to be a classical concert pianist. And any of you who know, you know, the, the world of music is, it's a grueling one, classical music, even more so in its own way because it's of its demand on perfection. Yeah. Um, and when I got outta school, I always joked that I, you know, believed all the lies. Like, practice makes perfect, which is not true.
(05:59)
Uh, and <laugh>, and I always joke with my audience that, you know, yeah, the cream rises to the top, but nobody tells you what to do when everybody's cream and everybody's cream. Uh, and my world. And, uh, I, I really leaned into the competitive nature of that. And to be quite honest, I exhausted myself very quickly. Mm-hmm. Um, and began to be plagued by things I'd never had before. Uh, stage fright. I'd never had that before. Um, memory slips. I was suddenly getting this because my focus was on impressing the people in the room. Mm-hmm. And I think maybe as an African American in the world of classical, which I didn't see a lot of people who looked like me subconsciously, I was also trying to prove that I belonged in the room. Yeah. So I over-programmed, played way too much music and exhausted myself. And, uh, this is simplifying it a little bit, but one of the ways that I got through kind of a trying period in my career was I started talking to the audience in between the music.
(06:54)
And that one thing changed everything. First of all, it created a relationship, right? Mm-hmm. <affirmative> between me and the audience. So I no longer saw them as these people who were waiting for me to fail <laugh>. Right? Yeah. I started to realize they were there for an experience. And over, over a few years, I began to add on to that experience. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> speaking became a part of it. I began to shift up genres a little bit. And today I create these concerts that go from Rachmaninoff all the way to rap with world-class storytelling in between and inspiration. Um, and that differentiated me in a powerful way. The speaking, I will say, uh, opened up new doors and new stages. Uh, it started me on a professional speaking career, and today I blended two. So as the Yamaha artist, a piano meets me wherever I'm going. Yeah. Uh, and I use music. If I'm talking about improvisation and creativity and reinvention, I can sit down and play something that, uh, drives that point home. You mentioned, uh, people on stage with me because you know how it is as a speaker, you go and people get all fired up and they're in their seats. Yeah. Then they go home and forget everything you said.
Yeah, exactly. <laugh>, um,
Jade Simmons (08:01):You know, or they lose that inspiration because real life hits. Yes. So I like to activate in real time and I pull everyday people outta the audience, no musical background. And they end up performing. And not only is it, um, kind of life altering for them in the moment mm-hmm. <affirmative> because they're rising to an unexpected challenge. But it's a real life illustration to the audience of how we have it in us to rise to the occasion every single time. There's creativity in us that we didn't know. Yeah. And there is the possibility of leading in ways we hadn't expected to lead.
Dr. Pelè (08:31):Wow. You know, Jade, I'm listening to you and I'm thinking in my head, um, you know, look, the reality is I really appreciate the fact that you went there. You, you, you talked about your pain. Okay. Yeah. The pain that, that, you know how they say sometimes flowers grow from mud. Okay. That's right. You know? That's right. The difficult experiences that made you who you are, I mean, powerful. There are no better leaders other than those who have walked the walk. So I just wanna commend you on that. Thank you. But if you were to help someone understand how they could take some of their pain or wherever they are in the corporate world, either as leaders or employees, and turn that into something powerful, purposeful, what would your big tips be? Your advice for how to get this going? Yeah.
Jade Simmons (09:16):My soapbox is purpose. I feel like we have, um, wrongly defined it for a long time. I think we have kept purpose locked up in the thing we do. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, you know, and think about it, our parents as well, meaning as they were, they sort of started it when they said, what do you wanna be when you grow up <laugh>? And so immediately we start looking around cuz we don't know, like Yeah, yeah. We don't even know what the professions are. And we start picking and choosing a movie star that looks good, or a doctor or lawyer and ooh, my, my parents' face lit up when I said doctor. So that's it. Right? That's
Dr. Pelè (09:49):It. Yeah. We
Jade Simmons (09:50):Start picking things to do or to be, yeah. And I believe that purpose is not the thing we do. I believe purpose is what happens in others when we do what we do.
Dr. Pelè (10:00):Ooh, okay. I got goosebumps. I need help. Stop me. That's the
Jade Simmons (10:04):Goosebumps stage. I
Dr. Pelè (10:05):Love that
Jade Simmons (10:06):<laugh>. Yeah. Yeah. You know, I said that probably about eight years ago from a corporate stage. And I just sort of said it in passing cuz it, it had been a, it was an epiphany for me, but I sort of just said it. And the audience just was, and every stage since that has been the reaction and people have quit their jobs started gone on mission, started business because of that one statement, which is why I ended up this year writing a whole book. Cuz I thought, if you're gonna jump, let me at least give you a whole manual to go with it. Please don't run on those 23 words. But I realized it was unlocking a lot of things because we can go well into adulthood feeling like, I don't know what my purpose is. I've had seven different jobs. I've been over, I've moved three different times. And it's because we are chasing this thing that we need to be doing. Yeah.
(10:52)
And the truth is that we've probably been operating in purpose long before we knew it. So, uh, Dr. Peo, when I think about purpose, we are just meeting mm-hmm. <affirmative>, but even the little bit of time I've spent with you, I would say your purpose is not to be a speaker or write a book or be a podcaster, but it's what happens in others when they tune into your podcast, when they read your book, which is people cannot be around you. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, I'm, I'm going out on a limb here, but I don't think it's a thin one. People cannot be around you and not feel a contagious expectation of joy. Wow. And even if you logged on feeling under the weather or joyless simply being in your presence ignites and sparks something that we didn't maybe even know we needed. Wow. So that
Can, I
Jade Simmons (11:41):Would be <laugh> in there for you. And so you see how it would be a, a travesty for the world for you to say, I can only be a podcaster
Dr. Pelè (11:51):Exactly.
Jade Simmons (11:53):Over here doing something else, unleashing that joy. Right. So what, what we've, what I've noticed is that people are being freed Mm. Um, from thinking that they are only defined by what they do. And they're getting excited by realizing they have a, a, an effect, a breakout effect, uh, that they've been leaving behind. And, and that's a wonderful validation for any human.
Dr. Pelè (12:15):So can I just say amen or what? Can I just Amen. Let's do it. Can I just go there? Let's do it. No, seriously. I have to say, uh, thank you for that, that personal, uh, recognition. Um, you're so right. You know, you did mention something in there that I, I'd love to go deeper on. You talked about your book. Tell us a little bit more about your book,
Jade Simmons (12:36):<laugh>. My book is called Purpose the Remix. Um, as an artist, you know, I, uh, as a classical artist, I now blend elite music, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopan, and street music, hip hop. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, R and b and rap. And so that was a big risk. Uh, but that remix is what redefined who I was as an artist, opened up the doors to the types of audiences that I played for. And I now am so proud to have one of the most diverse audiences in the world of classical music. And that came from being courageous enough to shake things up a little bit, right? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, my original audiences weren't expecting me to break out and wrap <laugh>. That's not what they came for. Yeah. They didn't sign up for that. But I had to be brave enough to believe that if these things were in me, they were probably worth sharing. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And there was probably an audience uniquely designed to experience what I had to offer. And so people may have left because they only wanted the Mozart, but I, I, I don't know, because their seats were instantly filled by people who wanted all the other stuff. Do you see what I'm saying?
Dr. Pelè (13:38):Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So
Jade Simmons (13:38):That's so purpose, the remix, um, which I happen to have a copy right here. Yes.
Dr. Pelè (13:43):Purpose. And, and we are gonna make sure everybody buys that book. I love that title.
Jade Simmons (13:47):I'll tell you what, it's, we, the subtitle is a mind-blowing re-understanding of purpose and how it works. And it walks through that definition, uh, and works by first telling us what purpose is not. It's not your passion, it's not your title, it's not your role, it's not your profession. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Um, it's that outbreak effect. And then I really lay out the case for what that effect looks like, how to find it and how to begin walking in it. Um, I think the, the thing that really spurred me is I ran into people in these quick interactions. You know, I'd speak on stage for half an hour and then I'd stand afterwards and greet people and hug them for a few seconds. And they're crying and they're telling me, oh, this purpose thing, and we can't go into depth, you know, so the book is made to have, so people can have that deeper journey with this new understanding of what purpose is.
(14:37)
Uh, my personal goal, um, because I know that most people, unfortunately, will live and die without ever uncovering what purpose truly is. Hmm. Without ever finding profitable happiness and walking in that. So my goal is that a billion people plus whoa, uncover purpose. Wow. Uh, and, and the reason I I'm so committed to that is because every one of us who uncovers what we're really here to do, and the effect we're really here to have that discovery in and of itself, will unleash solutions that we currently are not benefiting from. Wow. So there are solutions pent up and people really knowing who they are, why they're here, and the effect that they're called to have.
You know, just the idea of having your book as a leave behind. So after everybody gets excited, um, you know, to see you and hear you and interact with you. But the book teaches and, and mentors, uh, way beyond the, the time that you spend with them is, is simply important and powerful. Um, as you were speaking, I, I couldn't help but think of Maya Angelo who once said, you know, you may forget, or people may forget what you say or do or what they hear from you, but they'll never forget how you make them feel. And when you talk about purpose in that context, I'm just like, oh my gosh, that's spot on. You know? Is there something that you've experienced that people have to sort of get over, like a hump or maybe some mindset that drags them down that makes it difficult for them to actually believe they can find their purpose and connect with it? Maybe find isn't the right word, but you know what I mean, that they can really do what you're proposing that they can do. What mindset do they have to overcome?
Jade Simmons (16:18):It's funny because I've been saying only what I'm about to say. Only for this last week, this phrase has been coming to mind. Um, I found myself, uh, saying it to someone on my team, saying it to someone I prayed for in church. But now I'm gonna say, uh, to you, which I'm realizing mm-hmm. <affirmative>, we have to get over ourselves before we can become ourselves. Ooh. Imagine telling someone so, hey, I'm here and you need to get over yourself so you can become yourself.
Dr. Pelè (16:46):You need to copyright that. I need
Jade Simmons (16:48):To copyright it. I know, I know. Because it's been coming hard in repetitively this week and in each instance. Cause I always will apply something to myself first and then try to walk it out before I will teach it back. But what I'm understanding it to mean, and I talk about this in the book, is that you can't let certain things block you from where you're designed to go, including you. Right. And I think we are probably the number one blocker. We already know where the number one critic, but think about how your preference can block you from purpose. You know, you're supposed to go in this direction, but, uh, I don't prefer cold weather, so I don't wanna move there. Yeah. I don't prefer, you know, or I don't prefer to work with those people or those types of people. And so we say no when we should be leaning in and saying yes. Yeah. Um, our personality can often block us. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Um, I'm a mover and a shaker. I don't like to be in environment. It's too long. That feels stale or trite, but guess what environment needs me most?
Dr. Pelè (17:43):Yeah. <laugh>, stale, trite
Jade Simmons (17:45):Environment.
Dr. Pelè (17:46):<laugh>. Right. So
Jade Simmons (17:47):That's, that's where I need to go. Yeah. Uh, and I think sometimes, especially in this day and age, we, for better and for worse, I think, you know, society experiences, these extreme pendulum swings. And we're right now in this because we've learned about self-help, self-love. Um, my truth, we, there's so much focus on i i i in my, my, my and me, me, me. Because we neglected ourselves for so long that now the pendulum has swung and so everything's about us and really purpose reminds us. Yeah. Sorta, yeah. It starts with you, but there's something in you that needs to get out that's going to affect the lives of many others. So we then have to become now more selfless in order to have the effect that we are designed to help. So get over yourself so that you can become
Dr. Pelè (18:35):Yourself <laugh>, you know, as you, as you're talking about getting over yourself. In my mind, I was thinking about a very tough question. Um, and I'm gonna, I I think you can handle it. You know, you mentioned earlier that sometimes people bring you in to talk about diversity and mm-hmm. <affirmative>, um, you know, let's, let's just, you know, put the elephant out in the room. Uh, we are black people <laugh>, and are we Yeah. You know, you wanna know something interesting? Something, my my daughter, when she was three years old, she came home one day and she said, dad, dad, dad, guess what I just learned today. I'm like, well, what? She's like, dad, like, what did you learn? She said, dad, I'm black <laugh>. I'm like,
Jade Simmons (19:15):Well, and your kids are probably like mine. They, she, at least mine, we grew up in the suburbs. So Yeah.
Dr. Pelè (19:20):She did not know, she did not know she was black until someone else told her
Jade Simmons (19:26):Else, told
Dr. Pelè (19:26):Her at school. You know, so, so the, the question I had in my mind was really something like that. Here you are someone who has conquered mountains despite where you have started. And I know what I'm talking about cuz I, I'm, I've been there. You know? Um, how do you use your adversity in life to help other people regardless of race and, you know, ethnicity and, and wherever people come from. How, how have you taken your pain from that particular area to help others? Cause I know that's what you do, but I just wanna know how you do it, <laugh>. Yeah.
Jade Simmons (20:01):You know, and I, um, there's a couple ways to answer this. First of all, you should know I'm from Charleston, South Carolina originally. Um, my father's a civil rights activist. Wow. Uh, so I grew up very well versed and very well aware on issues that most kids, you know, flies over over their head. And so, um, for my father, I've learned the importance of speaking up, saying difficult things, um, and fighting for what is right. My mother, uh, works in higher education and is the person who kept us in church. So from her I've learned the balance of choosing your battles, the power of discernment, um, and knowing that you are not blocked by anything else someone tries to put on you. That as you know, child of God, I've got access to wherever I need to be. Yeah. And so that's how I've always lived. So one things I say in my corporate audiences is, personally for me, personal choice, I don't identify with the word minority. Mm. Because in that word is housed, the word small
(21:05)
And nothing about me is minor. So I don't claim to that label. I believe I am not a minority, I am a standout. So if I'm in a room and there aren't a lot of people who look like me, talk like me, came from where I, uh, can, where I came from, um, then that to me is the permission to offer the things that they may not know or may not have seen because they are not like Hmm. Uh, and so a lot of the rooms that I'm in, in the corporate space, I mean, most of my engagements have 60 to 80%, uh, usually white male, uh, and then a smaller percentage of female, very small percentage of African American female. Yeah. So when they lock eyes with me on stage, there's so many things, they're like, we can't believe you're here. And you look like what
(21:52)
<laugh> Oh my gosh. You know, and I'll come in with the hair or the fashion unapologetically. Yeah. I don't play down, I don't conform to even what you think you should look like in the corporate setting. So I know that just walking on the stage, it's a certain kind of representation for them. So, but when I, when I say minority, I'm talking to anyone Yes. In any room where you find you may be the person with the unexpected perspective mm-hmm. <affirmative> the unexpected background. And to know that, that, uh, in and of itself gives you permission, uh, to behave in an unexpected manner and to impact in an uncommon way. So I, I know I, I've been blessed with parents on abundance of riches. Um, we, I don't, I don't have a rags to Rich's background. We were never extraordinarily poor. I I thought we were rich because they let me do, uh, you know, five sports and play all the instruments and, and do all the things I know now as an adult that they didn't have as much money as I thought.
(22:49)
They just always found a way. Wow. Um, and so my encouragement, uh, and I know sometimes it's easier said than done, is to believe you are where you're supposed to be. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, if it is time for you to move, if the space has gotten too small for you, believe that there is a next step available to you, and that you have the option, uh, to make it so that understanding and belief that I'm designed to be in the spaces I'm in, um, and that my gift will make room for me and unexpected spaces has carried me very far.
You know, I, I have to tell you thank you for not only that answer, but for what you do in the world. Because the reason I ask that question is because I, I know that when I see people who have overcome things, it's inspirational for all of us regardless of where we come from. And you are an authority just because you are there sometimes, you know, with your talent and, and your ability to change minds. In fact, I have to say that are people who like to say life is hard. I would prefer to say, especially for someone like you, that life is h a r d, how adversity reveals destiny.
Jade Simmons (23:56):Oh, that's good. Yeah.
Dr. Pelè (23:58):I got that one.
Jade Simmons (24:00):Copyright look out for each
Dr. Pelè (24:06):Other. Yeah. Look out for each other now <laugh>. But, you know, so Jade, I'm just, I'm sharing this because I don't know if you can tell, I'm excited because you know, you are a light in this world and we need to see you do what you do. And I'm just so happy that I'm here listening now I have one more question, and that is about profitable happiness. Now let's do it. You know, let, let's talk about it. You know, we, you know, we all have different aspects that we focus on. I just happen to be this guy who been trying to be happy all my life. It means so much to me. I wonder if you could advise me in all of your travels and the things you've done and seen, you know, what is the role of happiness B But before I even let you get into that, some people think happiness is not really important and it just, it's fluffy, it's fun. It's not, it can't help us do better at work, but I beg to to to to not agree
Jade Simmons (25:00):<laugh>. Yeah. Well, it's huge. I, I would think esp especially from the last few years, you know, post covid mm-hmm. <affirmative>, um, people went home and a realized they liked being home
Dr. Pelè (25:15):<laugh>. Yeah. Um,
Jade Simmons (25:17):Because we, we were wired, especially in American society to be so busy and to be moving all the time. Yeah. So, you know, the, the first couple weeks we were restless, but then we were like, she kind of like this, I
Dr. Pelè (25:27):Like this
Jade Simmons (25:28):<laugh> the hardest. Well, my family's here and I get to see my husband and watch my kids grow up. So then we said, come on back, come back to work. And it felt different because you were now leaving a place of comfort where you were happy, happy and comfortable. So to me, the workplace of the future, um, is a purpose fueled workplace. Mm-hmm. So in my company, um, I have a compact team. There's eight of us. And as we've grown over the years, we've been as big as about 12. Uh, and that I had to re rebuild after Covid. And as I've been rebuilding, I've been very intentional with the culture. Mm-hmm. Very, the culture I'm hiring much differently than I did a few years ago. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, uh, I hire people, um, who fit the job description, but who have some other skills that they may have not yet developed fully.
(26:25)
Because I know that the way that we work, um, you're gonna really enjoy the work and you're gonna start realizing how awesome you are. And if I don't build an advanced place for you to grow, you're gonna outgrow your role. Mm-hmm. So almost everyone already who works with me has been promoted several times, had their titles changed, because I believe your purpose grows you and it, it, it evolves. And so a great workplace is now looking for space where your best people can grow and evolve and stay with you. Yeah. Be happy and fulfilled. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Um, a quick, quick story. We had a photo shoot here in Houston. I brought my team in for a photo shoot and we were getting our hair and makeup done, <laugh>. And at the end of the session, actually the middle of the session, one of the makeup artists comes over and asks me how she can get a job working for my company,
<laugh>. And I'm like,
Jade Simmons (27:20):Your boss is over there on the other side of the room. I mean, when I tell you she started laying on her resume and I was like, Hey, hey, you know, what's going on? What happened? She had been sitting with my team for two hours.
Dr. Pelè (27:32):Wow.
Jade Simmons (27:32):And she, before I'd gotten there, and she heard them talking about how much they enjoyed the work and felt so fulfilled and she thought, I want someone, whatever that is. <laugh>, what I believe is we've, we've created a place of honor. Um, we honor the individuals that are here. Uh, we respect their, their talent. Um, we try to have a healthy atmosphere. Uh, I know back biting, we're very transparent if people have issues. But I think probably the, the, the big, uh, defining factor for me, um, is that we've created a place of purpose. Mm-hmm. So we're watching, you know, a person who came in as like a contractor assistant, um, ended up going back to school for graphic design because of work she loved doing for us mm-hmm. And is now one of our best marketers. Wow. Right. Um, and came in as sort of a shy person who is now leading out front. So for me, the greatest joy as the leader is not just watching our bottom line explode in wonderful ways, but watching the people grow into the leaders. I know they're designed to be.
Dr. Pelè (28:36):And every single one of those people will say, I'm happy with what I do. Exactly. I feel purposeful. And and if they don't say that, then there's a problem. <laugh>. Right.
Jade Simmons (28:46):And you know what? And we, and we are um, uh, we are proactive in going and saying, Hey, you don't look happy <laugh>, what's going on? Exactly. And we wanna know, and then we're upfront of, is that something we can fix? Is that something we can, um, fix here? Or would it be better for you, as we say, to be released into purpose elsewhere? How can we help you go somewhere else you need to go? What is it you need from us to help you be who you need to be? Even if that's not with us, because we would be hypocritical if we're talking about growth and expansion and your purpose is gonna move you and take you places, then we say, Uhuh, you gotta stay here <laugh>. Yeah,
Dr. Pelè (29:22):Yeah, yeah. No, no. I, that, that is so powerful. There's a song way back in the day, uh, I think it was, uh, don't push it, don't force it. Let it happen naturally. I don't know if you can go remember way back then, but, um, you can't force happiness. Um, you can introduce purpose, but at some point, um, it's also the part of what's going on with people that, that's important. So that, that's powerful. Woo. Jay, you know, I, I have to say we could keep going, but I, I know we part
Jade Simmons (29:50):Two, part three,
Dr. Pelè (29:51):<laugh>. I do have to, I do have to ask you, um, what are your next projects? What are you excited about next? And how can people get ahold of you going forward?
Jade Simmons (30:01):Wow. Well, the easiest way to reach me, uh, go to my website, Jade simmons.com. Uhhuh <affirmative>. Uh, I'm on Instagram probably most frequently at official Jade Simmons, but you'll see all of our handles and things on the, on the website. That's an easy way to reach us. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Um, what's next? While we're really leaning into this book, uh, the book comes out. We'll do a book in concert tour ah, in the fall. And we'll also be hosting some Remixers. Get it, get it. Are
Dr. Pelè (30:28):You gonna involve, are you gonna do the audio book with music in it or is it just, you know what,
Jade Simmons (30:32):This audio book only has music in the front. In the beginning, because the content was so dense, we didn't put music throughout. I do have another book called Audacious Prayers, and the audio book has a music for each prayer. There's music that goes along with it. So, uh, you're, you, you're, you, you feel
Dr. Pelè (30:48):I'm, I'm tracking with you <laugh> forever.
Jade Simmons (30:49):Yeah. You're tracking with me there. Um, and in terms of what's, what's next, you know, one of the things I did <laugh> that people would think was a lot of people would think were crazy, um, and others just didn't know what happened. But in 2020, I actually ran as an independent candidate for President of the United States. Yeah.
Dr. Pelè (31:07):That's
Jade Simmons (31:07):Thing <laugh>.
Dr. Pelè (31:09):I think I saw that somewhere. And for some reason I didn't, I didn't remember that. All right. <laugh>,
Jade Simmons (31:14):I only mentioned it because now we're, because I did it in 2020, we're getting a lot of ask about what are you doing next? And I will say, you know, the biggest lesson that I learned is that, first of all, we are much more united than the media shows us. Yeah. We, we are, we are a nation that really does want to work together mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And so my obsession right now is wondering how I can impact in any way that causes us to be a more purposeful nation that lives up to its original purpose. And so right now, that focus, uh, for me is on creating more purposeful individuals that I believe will give back, uh, to the nation that they, that I know they know and love. So that's what excites me right now. Um, and we'll see what, what happens after that.
Dr. Pelè (31:59):Gabe, can I say something? <laugh>? I'm sorry. Yes, sir. I don't think you understand ceilings or skies or anything. You look up and you just see opportunity and there's nothing there. That is a power. That is a power. And I, I'm just like you ran for pre Okay. Okay. That's what I
Jade Simmons (32:18):Wanted. Say free time in my free time. That's right. Yeah. No, it's a big deal. You know, it was, it was, um, it was a risky move in terms of reputation, right. Um, but the impact we were able to have for the people who found us mm-hmm. <affirmative>, um, was, was a powerful thing that I, I won't soon forget. And the people we met all over this nation, I'm telling you, there are a lot of really wonderful, well-meaning, powerful, happy, purposeful people. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> that just want to see, um, their nation succeed. And that gave me a lot of hope for the future.
Dr. Pelè (32:53):Wow. Well, um, you know, I will also include, um, your LinkedIn handle, cuz you mentioned a few other places, but I'll include, we met on LinkedIn, we were introduced by, uh, Dr. Garlic. Um, and, um, I, I just want you to know that I am one of your biggest fans and I, I just, I wish for you and for the things you're doing, just no limits in the sky, just you are on a, a path I really think is important for this world. And I hope more people learn about your, your purpose-driven approach to life.
Jade Simmons (33:23):Wow. Thank you for that. And blessings on you as well. Thank you so much.
Dr. Pelè (33:27):Thank you much. Thank you for being a part of our podcast, Jade. We'll be in touch. Okay?
Jade Simmons (33:31):Okay.
Dr. Pelè (33:33):Thanks for tuning in to the Profitable Happiness Podcast. For more episodes, visit dr pa.com. And remember, get happy first and success will follow.
