Independent Banker - February 2024 - 51

THE ICBA PAC
AUCTION
improvisational jazz and hip-hop. Her career has
taken her to illustrious stages, from the White
House to a Broadway-style production to SXSW.
In addition, she hosts American Public Media's
podcast Decomposed and authored Purpose the
Remix and the faith-based book Audacious Prayers
for World Changers.
It's been an unconventional career, fueled in
large part by an unexpected turn in 2009 when,
out of nowhere, she was hit with stage fright.
" I'd never had that as a kid, " Simmons recalls. " I
started having what we call in the music world
'memory slips,' where suddenly I would not know
where I was in the music or skip a note or two.
And that really freaked me out. "
To compose her thoughts, Simmons would
take breathers-and in those moments, she
started talking to the audience, sharing
anecdotes and other nuggets about " these long
dead guys whose music we were playing! " In a
world where pianists seldom speak, she stood
out, and her speaking career took off.
On stage these days, Simmons creates what
she calls " keynote concert adventures, " using
her music to illustrate important life lessons.
She speaks to audiences about the relationship
between " breakdown " and " breakthrough, " which
she describes as two sides of the same coin.
" I like to teach people that we can immediately
begin to flip the script and understand what's
happening for us versus what's happening to us, "
she explains. " So that moment of stage fright
was horrible as an emerging artist, but looking
back, I understand it was the most powerful
detour I could ever have. Because it caused me
to look my audience in the face and begin to
create a relationship with them. "
Today, she invites her audiences to pay
attention to similar moments in their lives, when
events conspire to send them down the right
path, not the expected path. " Pay attention to the
things that pop up reminding you of what you've
always wanted, " she says. " Don't dismiss the little
signs and confirmations that let you know you're
headed down the right path. " -Roshan McArthur
SEE JADE SIMMONS SPEAK ABOUT PURPOSE AND
BREAKTHROUGH ON MARCH 16.
independentbanker.org // 51
PLACE YOUR
BID AND
CELEBRATE
ICBA PAC'S
ANNIVERSARY
On Saturday, March 16, join us for
ICBA PAC's 35th Annual Auction
Fundraiser and help raise funds
for the only federal political action
committee (PAC) dedicated
exclusively to representing
community banks.
Dress in your best cocktail attire
for an evening themed " Growing
for Good " and bid on exciting
items and experiences. Funds
raised will be used by ICBA PAC to
educate and support candidates
on both sides of the aisle who
are committed community
bank champions.
Purchase your tickets now at
icba.org/auction. And if you can't
make it to ICBA LIVE, you can still
have an auction item purchased on
your behalf through the website.
http://www.icba.org/auction http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - February 2024

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