Podcast Summary
JoJo's journey of growing up in the public eye and overcoming challenges: Own your story, have the power to change it, and navigate social media and comparison with resilience.
No matter how big or successful we become early in life, we all face challenges and setbacks. Pop star and R&B singer JoJo, who gained fame at a young age, shares her experiences of growing up in the public eye, dealing with record label struggles, and overcoming adversity. She emphasizes the importance of owning your story and having the power to change it, no matter what the past holds. JoJo also offers advice for young girls and women navigating social media and constant comparison. Despite the challenges, JoJo continues to create and inspire, reminding us that life's journey includes both successes and setbacks. As she says, "it's just life's journey."
Navigating the Music Industry with Social Media: For new artists, it's crucial to be present on multiple social media channels to build a fanbase and connect with audiences. Gratitude for not growing up with social media and the importance of loyal fans during challenging times, and the value of performing live to stay connected.
The music industry and the role of social media in it have significantly evolved since the early days. When artists come out now, they need to make use of various platforms to connect with their fans. The artist in this conversation shares that they were fortunate to have had a strong fanbase through their own space during their early career, but advises that for new artists, it's essential to be more spread out across different social media channels. The artist also expresses gratitude for not having grown up with social media as it might have impacted their self-worth negatively. They reflect on their experience of being a young celebrity and the challenges that came with it, including the legal issues that made them feel isolated and unable to release new music. They emphasize the importance of having loyal fans during such times and the value of performing live to stay connected with them. Independent artists had less control over their music back then, and the artist wishes they could have been independent during that period. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of adapting to the changing industry landscape and the significance of fan connections in an artist's career.
Building a fanbase through free mixtapes and expressing love for music: Artists can connect with fans by sharing their music freely online and expressing genuine passion for their craft, leading to a loyal fanbase and success.
The artist was able to build a strong connection with their fans through the use of free mixtapes on the internet, expressing unconditional love for their music. From a young age, they had a clear vision of sharing their creativity with the world, and their passion for music drove them to perform in various settings, including on the streets and at family gatherings. Fear entered their life during the creation of their second album, but they continued to pursue their love for music despite industry challenges. The artist's dedication to their craft and their connection with their fans have been key to their success.
Fear of not living up to past successes and comparisons: Fear of not meeting past achievements and comparing oneself to others can lead to anxiety, depression, and self-doubt. Changing perspective and focusing on individual journey can help overcome these feelings.
Fear of not living up to past successes and comparisons to others can hold individuals back, even causing anxiety and depression. This fear can manifest in various areas of life, including music careers. The artist in this discussion shares her experience of feeling pressure to continuously outperform and be the youngest and best, leading to fear and self-doubt as she grew older. She also discusses the traumatic experience of a legal battle with her record label that prevented her from releasing her art to the world, adding to her feelings of disappointment and frustration. Despite these challenges, she emphasizes the importance of changing perspective and not comparing one's journey to others. The fear and situational depression she experienced lasted for over a decade, but she eventually took control and moved forward.
Learning to navigate success in youth: Success brings unique challenges, learn to not take things personally, develop discernment, and have the power to change your narrative despite circumstances.
Success at a young age comes with unique challenges. Feeling like a "caged bird" and an "afterthought," the speaker learned that success doesn't end with reaching the top but requires a new perspective. During her teenage years, she learned to not take things personally and develop discernment. From 18 onwards, she realized that she had the power to save herself, change her story, and create her own narrative despite her circumstances. These lessons were learned through heartache and betrayal but proved invaluable in her journey towards true success.
Learning to love and value oneself from the inside out: Focus on personal growth through hobbies and introspection, find pride in being a good person, and ignore negative external validation to build self-worth
Developing self-worth is a personal journey that cannot be defined by external validation, such as likes or validation from others. JoJo, a successful singer, shared her experience of feeling undervalued and unsupported in her industry during her younger years. She learned to focus on her own growth and self-improvement through various means, including learning new skills, focusing on her health, and cultivating inner strengths. For young girls dealing with self-worth issues, JoJo advises turning off comments on social media, finding pride in being a good person, and focusing on personal growth through hobbies and introspection. Ultimately, the most important thing is to learn to love and value oneself from the inside out.
Taking responsibility for thoughts and emotions: Recognize self-limiting thoughts, challenge them, seek inspiration, and prioritize personal growth for joy and healthy relationships.
Taking responsibility for your thoughts and emotions is key to overcoming negative patterns and finding joy. The speaker shares her personal journey of learning to recognize and challenge self-limiting thoughts, and the importance of seeking inspiration and self-improvement resources. In the context of relationships, she discusses the challenge of balancing personal growth and intimacy, and the role of communication tools like FaceTime in maintaining long-distance connections. Ultimately, the speaker emphasizes the importance of self-partnership and self-trust in cultivating meaningful relationships.
Balancing careers and relationships in the music industry: Communication, respect, understanding, and commitment are crucial for successful long-term relationships in the music industry, where couples must balance their careers and personal growth.
Successful long-term relationships in the music industry require commitment, understanding, and respect for each other's careers and personal growth. The couple should find a balance between spending time together and allowing each other to pursue individual goals. Jay-Z and Beyonce are an example of a successful partnership where they co-headline tours and bring their family along. However, it's essential to maintain communication and connection, even during long absences. It's important to be self-sufficient and comfortable with being alone before entering a relationship. Overall, the key to a successful relationship is respect, understanding, and commitment to each other's personal growth and careers.
Finding personal growth through solitude and nature: Solitude and nature can lead to profound personal growth and the creation of powerful art. Taking time for self-reflection can help channel energy and creativity without distraction.
Taking time for self-reflection and creative focus, often through solo retreats and abstaining from relationships, can lead to profound personal growth and the creation of powerful art. The speaker shares her experience of connecting deeply with nature and her music during extended periods of solitude, which allowed her to channel her energy and creativity without distraction. She also highlights the inspiring examples of friends who have similarly channeled their energy into art during periods of abstinence. The most powerful moments for the speaker on stage have been when she felt the unifying power of music, such as performing for a large audience in Brazil and receiving support from the audience during a personal loss.
The power of human connection in an artist's career: An artist's connection with their fans can provide crucial support during challenging times. Focusing on vocal health and personal preparation, and embracing challenges, can lead to professional growth.
The connection between an artist and their fans can be a powerful force, providing support and sustenance during challenging times. The singer in this discussion shared experiences of her fans singing for her when she lost her voice and helping her finish a tour. This human connection was especially meaningful during a low moment in her personal life, a decade later in her career. Her routine before performances has evolved significantly over the years, with a greater focus on vocal health and personal preparation. A non-negotiable for her on performance days is getting her heart rate up through exercise or other means, as she believes feeling physically strong enhances her singing ability. This discussion underscores the importance of embracing challenges and the power of human connection in personal and professional growth.
Facing and Overcoming Fears for Personal Growth: Facing fears can lead to growth and confidence, inspiring us to tackle other challenges. Practice and consistency are key.
Facing and overcoming fears can lead to significant personal growth. The speaker shares her experience of pushing herself out of her comfort zone by taking singing lessons, despite feeling nervous and unsure at first. Through consistent practice, she gained confidence and control, and the experience inspired her to tackle other fears as well. The speaker also reflects on her desire to face her fear of skydiving, but acknowledges that she may not be ready yet. Looking ahead to the new decade, she plans to focus on creating the best music of her career and making a meaningful impact through volunteering, as a way to make herself proud.
Preparation and self-pride are keys to impressive performances and connecting with audiences: Successful artists emphasize the importance of being proud of their work, continually striving for improvement, and admiring other talented artists. Looking back, they find inspiration in songs that resonate with their personal growth, and look ahead with a vision of embracing their identity and freedom.
Preparation and self-pride are essential for artists to deliver impressive performances and connect with their audience. The speaker, a successful artist, emphasizes the importance of being proud of one's work and continually striving for improvement. They also express admiration for other talented artists, such as Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, and Tori Kelly, and believe there is always great music being created. Looking back on her career, the speaker shares that her teenage years were defined by the song "Get Up Right Now" and the desire to move past challenges. In her 20s, she found freedom and personal growth through the Joni Mitchell song "Case of You." Looking ahead, her vision for the future is to continue sinking into her identity and embracing the freedom that comes with it, as exemplified by Beyoncé's "We Will Rock You."
Exploring the Power of Music: Music connects us deeply, serves as comfort, inspires, requires focus & intentionality, surrounds oneself with support, learn & grow, and deepen mind-body-spirit connection to find clarity and success.
Music has the power to connect us deeply with others and ourselves, and can serve as a source of comfort and inspiration even during the most challenging times. The speaker expressed a desire to share this gift with the world and leave a lasting impact through her music and the lessons she would impart. Another key takeaway is the importance of focusing one's energy and intentionality in order to reach one's full potential, and the value of surrounding oneself with a strong support system and continuing to learn and grow. Lastly, the speaker emphasized the importance of deepening one's mind-body-spirit connection and staying true to oneself in order to find clarity and success.
Embrace your journey towards self-discovery: Stay positive, surround yourself with good people, and never give up on your passions or dreams
Everyone has a unique gift to discover and cultivate, and it's important to keep seeking and following passions to find it. Life's setbacks should be seen as opportunities to try again, not the end. Surrounding oneself with positive people is essential for growth and support. JoJo, a talented artist, shared her experiences of reclaiming her music and staying true to herself amidst challenges, inspiring us to embrace our journeys towards self-discovery. JoJo encourages her fans to follow her on social media for updates on her upcoming tour and new music releases. Despite the difficulties she faced as a young artist, she remains grateful for the experiences and continues to grow and evolve as a person. There's always a reason to keep going and believe in oneself.
Exploring personal growth through learning new skills: Find the right resources and teachers to achieve learning goals, stay committed, and trust the process. Podcasts can inspire and motivate towards personal aspirations.
Continuous learning and growth are essential for personal development. The speaker shares her experiences of wanting to learn Spanish, having a musical background, and committing to vocal lessons. She emphasizes the importance of finding the right resources and teachers to help achieve her goals. Additionally, she highlights the impact of podcasts, such as the one they were on, in inspiring and motivating people to take action towards their aspirations. The speaker also mentions her personal resolution to double the audience size of the podcast by the end of the year. Overall, the conversation underscores the importance of staying committed to personal growth, seeking out the right resources, and trusting the process.
Embrace challenges with resilience and an unshakable spirit: Focus on controlling what we can, accept the unchangeable, and courageously work to change what we can for personal growth. Falling down and getting back up is a key aspect of greatness. Imagination, dreaming, and belief are crucial steps towards achieving our goals. Own your story and commit to your dreams, no matter your age.
We all face challenges and setbacks in life, but it's important to keep moving forward with resilience and an unshakable spirit of seeking and learning. As the speaker shared, we can only control what we can control, and focusing on accepting the things we cannot change while courageously working to change what we can is essential for personal growth. Additionally, falling down and getting back up is a key aspect of greatness. Imagination and dreaming are crucial steps towards achieving our goals, and believing in our ability to learn and grow is essential to daring to pursue them. The speaker encouraged listeners to own their story and commit to their dreams, no matter what stage of life they're in. Walt Disney's quote, "first think, second dream, third believe, and finally dare," highlights the importance of allowing ourselves to dream, believing in our abilities, and daring to pursue our dreams despite fear.
