We were lucky to catch up with Jade Hustler recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jade , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I’m asked this question quite frequently and never can seem to answer. What I can say is as a creative I’ve always been stuck between the decision to go harder or go off the grid. Transitioning from corporate to following my dreams as an entrepreneur has had its difficulties. Most individuals would say that the financial stability is the hardest, but for me maintaining will power to not quit was the real challenge. Sometimes the best way to work is to NOT! Self-love & self-care are like fuel. These resources are needed in order to really get the brain cranking and the creative engine that lies in the heart going. You’re going to always be hands on when you love a passion or craft. Doing something a lot doesn’t guarantee you will get recognition, compensation, or exposure. At the same time, there may always come a point where you simply do your craft because it’s a habit or because its expected. Of course, you have to persist through discouraging times, but sometimes you just need to take a break. Understand taking a break is not quitting, unless you actually QUIT! Recharge, regroup, reconnect, resolve and don’t allow anyone to talk you out of it. The trick is to not fool yourself because ultimately the difference between quitting and taking a break is this: when you’re just taking a break, you come back stronger because you have so much more to accomplish, and you will.

Jade , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Growing up I was always academically advanced, participated in many social clubs, and traveled young and alone for volunteer work, and opportunities that I felt would give me exposure. I graduated with 3 degrees by the time I was 26. I come from a luxury marketing and sales background. I have always been someone who was promoted quickly and frequently on jobs. I did what society told me to do, what it expected, in hopes of being compensated for a great life. In my mind missing out on spring breaks, relationships, friendships, trips, just fun in general was worth it to me because I knew I would receive what I felt was owed to me because I did what family, teachers, media, society told me to do. I was very misinformed, misguided, and learned quickly that college does not guarantee us a prosperous life. Social clubs may get your foot in the door but doesn’t guarantee a seat at the table. Degrees don’t promise a full bank account.

What I soon learned was that these milestones and achievements were broken promises, but I wouldn’t say they were useless. They mold and shape me into a discipline individual, a researcher, driven, an entrepreneur. My critical thinking skills where now being challenged and I utilized my skills and experience to mold and shape my own path, my own boss, my own business.

I went from becoming an assistant, to managing nightclubs, managing music artist, to now owning the first Booking Agency in Memphis. I contract models, brand ambassadors, influencers, actors, music artist. I am no doctor, lawyer, or police officer but I am someone who believes I can change lives & save lives through helping passionate people enhance their crafts and turn away from wrong doings in life. I believe in molding and shaping people while being honest about life’s challenges that they will face. The broken promises, pain, sorrow, non-recognition at times, but reminding them there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I like to refer to myself as an enhancer. I am okay with being behind the scenes, not being in the forefront but just knowing I did whatever I could or can to help people accomplish their dreams does something great to my spirit.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

You will definitely lose a lot of friends over an entrepreneurial journey. The more successful you’re start up is the more friends you will lose. Involving friendships with business can be very powerful but sometimes it results to some not going the distant or even disrespecting it because it’s not their passion, craft, or something they’ve created. As the journey transitions you can find yourself having less in common due to you molding and shaping into an individual that coincides with your end goal. Sometimes it feels impossible as an entrepreneur to find REAL friends. You sometimes feel as if people are out to get you, outdo you, push you down, befriend competitors or even enemies to see you fail. Though, there is some truth to this you do meet new friends along the way who have more in common with not only your entrepreneurial journey but the new and improved person you are becoming.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Society doesn’t realize as creatives and artist we serve a force of social change. We need society to start redefining story telling. If it’s something you don’t understand, take the time to really get to learn it, become educated, ask questions, try it before rejecting someone else’s business. Though it may be a business, it could be a form of self-expression, a passion, a gift, a calling for someone else and those who work with them Allowing creatives to have a voice is a super supportive gesture. Many of us are voiceless due to those who are closeminded. Start helping else transform communities that can eventually lead to us building towards a more inclusive world.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @itsjadehustler
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jade-hill-197bb2b4/
• Other: instagram: @bookthehustlerproject

Image Credits
Clouded Visuals