Reigniting the Purpose Within All of Us

PURPOSE DEFINED

According to Webster’s Dictionary, purpose is defined as “the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.” Jade defines purpose as God’s intention, His aim, and His goal for your existence. It is a gift inside each of us. 

PLAYING THE PIANO

Since the age of eight, Jade thought her purpose was to play the piano. She dreamed of beautiful concert halls, fancy gowns, and world class symphonies. Her first music teacher wanted her to play out of a beginner book, but by the second lesson she could play the whole book. Her teacher continued to have her go through the book page by page until he passed away eight months later.

The second teacher gave her a level two version of the same beginner book. Although she played through it in one week this teacher also made her go through each page in the book. Five months later this teacher passed away too. “With my third teacher, I decided to be upfront. I told her what had happened to my first two teachers, that they’d insisted I played out of beginner books, and they were dead within a year.”

When she performs as an adult, she jokes with her audiences that it was her third teacher “whether from fear of an early death or from an actual belief in my talent, who freed me (and maybe saved herself) by way of Mozart and Chopin.” Her fourth teacher helped her advance quickly. As a result, Jade got into some incredible music programs, outstanding colleges, and conservatories. Yet even with all her hard work and accomplishments Jade was not happy. Her happiness and self-worth were attached to this dream. 

One night Jade recalls venting to her husband, Jahrell, about her stuttering music career. He said, “I don’t think piano is going to be your thing.” At first, she was taken aback by his words until he further explained, “I don’t mean that I don’t think you’re going to play the piano. I just mean that I think the piano will be the thing that opens other doors.” Although she felt playing the piano was still her purpose, she knew deep down he was right. 

PURPOSE REMIX

When Jade was in her early thirties she developed, “the strangest bout of stage fright a few years into her career.” She was concentrating so hard on playing a piece perfectly that she began experiencing memory slips. In an effort to regain control, she began to build story breaks into her programs where she would talk with the audience. “Honestly, I was simply trying to catch my breath by strategically using that time to rebuild enough courage and confidence to return to the keys.” 

She soon began to get bookings not just for her talent, but also because she could speak and inspire her audience. A new atmosphere was created. She no longer felt the intensity of competition but felt more received by the audience as she shared personal insights including her own feelings about the music. 

Two years later, she began to realize who she was apart from the music. Her purpose was not her title or talent. She shares, “Your purpose is not the thing you do. It’s the thing that happens in others when you do what you do,” shares Jade. She started switching up the genres (rap and hip hop) of music she performed and created themed recitals. “She pivoted from playing the piano to impressing audiences, to using the piano as the vehicle by which to provide the inspiration, entertainment, and transformation that profoundly moves them instead,” reveals Jade. 

Whether she is providing a unique concert experience for her audience or speaking to companies like Mass Mutual or the Hershey Company her aim is to “inspire seismic shifts in mindset and activate audiences to go out and instantly start living more consequential lives of impact."

DON’T GET PUSHED OUT OF PURPOSE

Jade shares some of the common reasons you can be pushed out of purpose: 
•    The Squish Squash: You can stay in spaces that are too small for you and your big, fat purpose. As newlyweds Jade and Jahrell found a new church in Houston. Although she was a talented musician and speaker, Jade wanted to be a congregant who came to church to worship and then disappeared. When the pastor learned of her credentials, he wanted to put her to work as a keyboardist on the worship team. Jade turned down the opportunity. Shortly thereafter another well qualified musician filled the spot. If Jade had taken the position, she would have been in the wrong place taking up space when the right person came along.
•    The Fright Flight, Part 1: You can leave spaces too soon because of your inability to cope with challenging seasons.
•    The Fright Flight, Part 2: You can leave spaces too soon because of your inability to cope with or confront challenging people. When Jade was running for President of the United States in 2020 not everyone was on board with her decision and that is okay. 

CHRISTMAS MUSIC

Jade will perform the following music selections for the live show and the taped show:
•    LIVE
Rachmaninoff and We Three Kings mash-up (3 MINUTES)

•    TAPED FOR CHRISTMAS SHOW
Jazzy medley of We Three Kings, What Child is This and Carol of the Bells (5 MINUTES)

Get inspired and discover your purpose by purchasing Jade Simmon's book, "Purpose The Remix " and learn more about Jade at her website: www.JadeSimmons.com.