We recently connected with Jules Grande and have shared our conversation below.
Jules, thanks for taking the time to share your lessons with our community today. So, let’s jump right in – one of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. Where does your self-discipline come from?
Discipline, for me, has always been a survival mechanism. I grew up closely surrounded by both small and large business owners, watching them navigate the constant highs and lows of running a business. Their struggles were real—never sugarcoated—but they still showed up every day with energy and determination. From them, I learned that consistency is essential to success, and that growth often requires real sacrifice.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’ve been drawn to making, building, painting, sewing, decorating, and all things creative, for as long as I can remember. I’m fortunate to come from a family that encouraged me to push boundaries and explore creativity from a young age. Of course, my early pieces looked very different from what I create now.
Today, I’m fully committed to a career as a jeweler, and I’ve fallen in love with the process of crafting small-scale, wearable sculptures. My personal work has been featured in Metalsmith Magazine, sold at auctions, and exhibited internationally, which has been incredibly rewarding. While that body of work is separate from the pieces I create in my full-time job, both sides of my practice complement each other, creating a balance that satisfies my need to create and drives my growth as a jeweler.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three qualities that had the biggest impact on my journey are curiosity, resilience, and most importantly, perspective.
Curiosity kept me constantly exploring, trying new techniques, materials, and different creative directions. It allowed me to grow and find what career might be best for me without needing everything to be perfect right away. Resilience was essential during inevitable failures. Whether it was a design that didn’t turn out or a missed opportunity, each one of those moments are burned into my memory, and now recognized as an important part of the learning process rather than a setback. Lastly is perspective. One piece of advice I’d give to anyone early in their journey is to put joy and connection first whenever possible. Don’t get so immersed in your work that you forget to live your life. Spend time with friends and family, even if a deadline is fast approaching. Make sacrifices for fun just as you make sacrifices for work. That energy will show up in your work, and it will sustain you far more than stress or self-imposed pressure ever could.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client would have an unlimited budget, allowing me to use rare and precious gemstones with lots of gold for their custom piece. They would like big, chunky, ornate jewelry, and have no limits on the design. Sadly, this client is a rare one. Although the idea of creating a piece with endless possibilities seems amazing, I’ve found the most fulfilling part of my work comes from collaborating with real people and their stories. Their preferences and needs give me creative challenges that I truly enjoy solving. One thing I find essential in any client is trust. I always try to build that trust by sharing past work and helping them feel confident in the process. When someone trusts me as an artist and admires my work, it allows for true collaboration to create something meaningful and unique together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://julesgrande.com
Image Credits
Jules Grande.
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