Meet Jaden Rice

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jaden Rice. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Jaden, thanks for sitting with us today to chat about topics that are relevant to so many. One of those topics is communication skills, because we live in an age where our ability to communicate effectively can be like a superpower. Can you share how you developed your ability to communicate well?

Learning to communicate was a slow and challenging process. It all started with athletics. Being on a team sport forced communication out of you on a daily basis. Without effective communication between team members, nothing got done successfully. To win games and achieve goals in practice, clear communication was required. Many of my team members at the time were international, which further stressed this importance. English as a second language was a commonality on my team. Therefore, understanding and learning the ways my teammates gave and received communication became imperative to the success of the team overall. It was hard at first. People would become frustrated and give up on each other. Misunderstandings in body language or verbal language were common and created obstacles during daily play. Over time, however, effort trumped all the mistakes and misunderstandings. As long as people were open and nonjudgmental about understanding others, our communication slowly improved over time. I would be lying if some of these skills weren’t inherited at birth, however. Unlike others, I found myself getting along easily with anyone I ran into. I never had issues sparking a conversation with a stranger or giving advice to friends in difficult situations. I have always had a knack for wanting to understand and get to know others and why they act they way they do. Learning how to effectively communicate must come from a genuine source. If you are not committed to actually understanding another individual, your relationship will never grow with that person. By combining my learned skills through athletics with my natural ones, I found myself naturally landing leadership positions. I went on to become captain of my sports team and, beyond athletics, became the President of a fashion magazine club at my next University, These positions provided the necessary practice to hone my communication skills. I came to understand different perspectives and backgrounds. I learned that people rarely act out of malicious intent, but rather have a reason for everything they do. Understanding that and finding that nothing was personal allowed me to get to the source of why people acted the way they did. In the end, fully understanding an individual at their core is key to effective communication with them.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

As a young college graduate, my story is just starting. My brand started off at Grand Valley State University. As the second-ever President of 494 Fashion Magazine Club, I started a legacy by achieving what no one had done before: creating the first-ever student-led fashion magazine at Grand Valley. Our club started with eight members at the beginning of my time and quickly grew into a strong group of around forty to fifty interested and inspired student creatives. Our purpose was simple. Provide a safe place for those individuals who wanted to express themselves in an alternative way. From designers to photographers, journalists, models, graphic designers, etc., 494 Fashion Magazine Zine had space for anyone who wanted to join the movement. As the President of a new idea, I was also the creator and maintainer of its structure. All eyes were on me for daily decisions and problem-solving. Although a difficult task , it was extremely rewarding to see how much enjoyment each and every student involved gained from our weekly get-togethers. Beyond graduation provided a new obstacle. I wanted to transform my experience into something professional and long-term. Therefore, I am currently trying to start a new brand for myself. Based out of Grand Rapids, my friend Faith and I are making a name for ourselves in the city. We are currently utilizing the successes and connections we garnered from 494 to expand our community further into the city. Called Utopia, this new brand is focusing less on a magazine and more on event planning. Our overall goal is to create a Utopia in the heart of Grand Rapids. By putting on a multitude of events, we aim to provide a sense of community for all creative niches, from ravers, to chic fashion designers, to casual dive bar attendees. Our brand focuses on specific demographics for each event, catering to a new niche every time. In the long term, we hope to have our own space where we can continue running events for the locals of Grand Rapids. We want to show that the Westside of Michigan loves and appreciates art as much as other big cities like Detroit and Chicago. Our overall plan is to inspire people to start their creative endeavors in the city they grew up in, rather than seeking opportunities elsewhere.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The first quality is genuine passion. I found a project to pursue that didn’t feel like work, but rather an exciting journey to embark on. Beyond all other motivators, having a genuine passion for what I do is what pulled me out of slumps and difficult times. This excitement to learn, improve, and succeed was felt not only by me, but also by those around me. I inspired people to join in on what I was creating by showing them how truly excited I was about it. Even when I had no idea how to proceed or lacked the knowledge to move forward, that sincere passion for learning, and the humility to acknowledge my mistakes, became the most powerful tool in my journey.

Another essential quality is curiosity. Instead of assuming things, I sought to learn more about them. This was especially helpful when working with a wide variety of individuals. I was curious to understand different perspectives, opinions, and viewpoints from my team. I know that what I have to offer is valuable, but gathering diverse insights from those around me was also crucial to my overall success. It is imperative to work well with others, regardless of their culture, background, or beliefs. I was also curious about improvement. I am always eager to learn more about how things work and how I can achieve success in what I do.

Lastly, discipline has been extremely impactful. As President of a fashion magazine, I had to organize my life in a way that benefited not only me, but also all of my club members. It can be very challenging to balance personal life with a passion project. Many allow their projects to consume them, which is never sustainable in the long run.

As for advice, I encourage people to stay curious, follow their intuition, and live in balance. If you’re ever confused about something or someone, always ask questions. People are usually eager to share their stories, and through that, you’ll develop much stronger relationships. I also urge people to follow their hearts. My intuition has never steered me wrong. When something doesn’t feel right, I take it as a sign to inquire further or consider a different path. My passion projects must serve me just as much as they serve those around me. This is why I pursue endeavors that have purpose. Lastly, find balance in everything you do. Unsustainable living does not lead to fulfilling experiences. The true key to success is finding a way to achieve it long-term while maintaining happiness along the way.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, I try to put everything I’m going through into perspective. One cannot be anxious and grateful at the same time, so I find it helpful to start with affirmations and remind myself of all the good things happening in my life at that moment. I also find comfort in talking things out, so I often reach out to others to discuss what I’m experiencing. These conversations don’t necessarily need to provide a solution to my situation; rather, they help me lay everything out and explore possible paths forward. I’m deeply thankful for those who take the time to listen and support me during these moments.

Another strategy I use to manage negative feelings is tackling one obstacle at a time. Writing lists is extremely helpful for me. When I have a million things going on, I write everything down and organize tasks by importance or urgency. By focusing on one task at a time, I’m able to slow down and give my full attention to each priority before moving on to the next. Additionally, crossing items off my list gives me a sense of accomplishment that helps ease any lingering stress or negative feelings

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jadennricee
• Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/jadenrice1

Image Credits

Esther Haethuis
Odin Sever
Emma Graham
Charlie Groustra