October 30, 2025 • 48 mins
What if perfection wasn’t the prize, but the prison? We sit down with Jasmine Minor—three-time Emmy winner, ABC journalist, and founder—to trace a life that looks shiny on the outside and deeply rooted within. From Division I tennis to newsroom leadership, Jasmine shares how injury, heartbreak, and a hospital visit turned into a turning point: let go, take the smallest step, and trust God to write the lines you can’t.
The conversation moves with honesty and heart. We unpack how perfectionism clashes with patience, why trophies can’t deliver lasting joy, and how acceptance grows roots that hold in any storm. Jasmine opens up about losing her father and channeling grief into the Kevin Minor Legacy Fund, the largest tennis scholarship for a Midwest female player, transforming memory into momentum. She describes journalism as listening with reverence—meeting every story with respect across cultures, beliefs, and politics—so people feel seen without needing a sermon.
Then we get practical. Jasmine’s framework is “strategically delusional”: dream beyond your circumstances and pair it with action. Cold email the hero. Ask the “dumb” questions. Gather critique and follow the common thread of feedback. Build rooms like the Rise Society where mission-driven women share resources and uplift each other. The result is a path that blends ambition with humility, excellence with empathy, and pivoting with purpose.
If you’ve been chasing the next win and still feel empty, this one’s a reset. Press play, take one faithful step, and tell us the bold ask you’ll make this week. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs courage today, and leave a review so others can find this story of hope and grit.
Drive, Ambition, Doing, Leading, Creating... all good until we forget about our own self-care. This Village of All-Stars pays it forward with transparency about misses and celebration in winning. We cover many topics and keep it 100. We are Proven Not Perfect™️
https://www.provennotperfect.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:53):
I'm gonna tell you this.
This conversation that you areabout to hear is so good.
And there are two scripturesthat I just want to preamble
this podcast with.
The first one, Psalm 2519.
The humble, he guides injustice, and the humble, he
(01:14):
teaches his way.
That's the first one.
The second one, Proverbs 3, 5.
Trust in the Lord with all yourheart and lean not on your own
understanding.
When I tell you, if thesescriptures did anything to your
soul, if they planted any seedsthat you need particularly
(01:37):
planted today, then you willwant to stick around and listen
more to this podcast.
Heck, you're gonna want to gowatch it on YouTube because
you're just gonna want to seethe vibes.
But let me tell you this (01:49):
I am talking today with Jasmine
Minor.
Jasmine is a TV celebritypersonality, especially if you
live around the Midwest.
You know, if you know, you know,she's on ABC Channel 7, and she
is telling stories, runningbeats, and doing all the things
(02:15):
um in journalism.
But perhaps the thing thatyou'll hear is most exciting to
her is a relatively recentventure that was born out of the
heart.
And I think it's prettyphenomenal to hear about.
Um, I'll also tell you thatalong with doing those things,
(02:39):
she's still very much anadvocate and telling stories for
those who don't necessarily havethe voices to tell their own
story.
This lady has shown us how topivot and pivot gracefully and
to pivot up.
And she's also shown us how tobe bold in doing so.
(03:01):
Ask for what you want, seekmentorship and be bold and
courageous in laying that pathfor yourself.
I wish that I could say it wasall because she was a
superwoman, but actually, Idon't wish I could say that.
This woman is rooted in faithand she is continuing to unpack
(03:22):
and explore her own faith.
And what I love with all of theaccolades that I can tell you
about Jasmine, when you listento this podcast, when you watch
this podcast on YouTube, whatyou will see is a humble soul
who is still very much inreceiving mode, who is still
(03:44):
very much planted at the seat ofthe throne and asking for wisdom
and understanding.
And I'ma tell you, if you um,you know, I know not everybody
shares the same faith, but ifyou're listening to this
podcast, you probably have asource that's similar to mine.
(04:06):
And I would say, even if youdon't, I would listen to this
podcast and I would just let theideas roll through your head and
see where it lands.
You're in for a treat, provennot perfect.
My conversation with the amazingbusinesswoman, the wonderful
(04:26):
articulate storyteller, and theblessed child of God, Jasmine
Minor.
Enjoy.
Hey, Jasmine.
SPEAKER_02 (04:36):
Hey, thanks for having me here.
I'm so excited.
Oh my goodness.
Like be here and doing this,seriously.
SPEAKER_00 (04:46):
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
First of all, I just can't evengo another second without giving
the roses and acknowledgingthree-time Emmy Award winning.
Three times, like not one, two,three.
Amazing CEO of your own businessthat's all about, quite frankly,
(05:07):
I think exactly what I loveright now, and that's telling
stories and uplifting those thattell stories.
Love that.
Can't wait to hear more aboutthat.
But one of the things thatspeaks so loudly is your heart
when we talk about and I learnmore about your advocacy work
and just all of the things.
(05:27):
So we're gonna jump right on in,okay?
Just right in.
I love it.
I love it.
So I wrote this book, Proven NotPerfect.
And if I'm honest with you, Iwas just having this
conversation with my husband theother day, where, you know, when
you're led to do somethingpurposeful, and you do it,
(05:52):
there's the yes that you give todo it, and then there's the
unpacking of the thing overtime.
And when I first released provennot perfect, even the words that
were pulled together for me, Ireally didn't understand what I
was saying, what words I wasputting together.
(06:12):
And it's become so clear to meas I'm mom and I watch my kids
go through various things,various tests, that I'm starting
to understand the words more,right?
The tests are the proven.
That's the proving part, right?
And it's not perfect, but thetests help us to become.
(06:36):
So I would love to just startout by asking you what's your
what's your relationship, yourpersonal relationship with
perfection?
Oh gosh.
SPEAKER_02 (06:46):
Um we perfection and I go way back.
Way back uh since August 26th of1993.
Um moment I came out of theroom.
That is that is how longperfection and I go back.
Um and we had to, we have had toreally work on our vote ship.
(07:12):
We've had to take space awayfrom each other.
Um, and we have had to, I think,redefine what the relationship
is and what it should be.
So for me, I you know, I'm awoman of faith.
And so I, you know, I I believethat uh, you know, Jesus is the
only perfect one.
(07:32):
Um, and but I feel likethroughout my life, um, it
wasn't that I was trying to aimto be more in the image of God,
but I feel like I was trying togo beyond what God had for me in
a way.
Um, yeah, I I feel I feel like,you know, when you try to take
the reins out of God's, becauseI think the one of the thoughts
(07:54):
that I really struggle with, um,I'm someone who dreams really
big and I tend to visualizethings.
And in my head, it seems perfectand this is right, and this is
amazing, and this is thingsright now, right?
Exactly.
And like right now, this is whatit needs to look like, and this
would be perfection to me in myeyes.
(08:15):
And a lot of times I struggledwith well, are my dreams bigger
than God's?
Which it sounds crazy when itcomes out of my mouth because
it's a total lie, right?
Because I know God's plans arehigher than my plans, and his
ways are higher than my haze,and the way he thinks is is more
than I can possibly understand.
(08:35):
But it was a sense of waiting onhim to move in my life.
And that perfectionism andpatience usually don't go hand
in hand.
They tend to be um almostenemies in a way, right?
Of waiting your turn, waitingfor God to show up in your life,
(08:58):
waiting for um the success toreally reveal itself.
Um, and I think in in everyaspect of my life, you know, you
mentioned that I've got threeEmmys, and every single Emmy
that I have ever won, I thoughtthat the moment I won the Emmy,
oh, this is it.
(09:18):
This is it.
Every door is gonna open now,everything's just gonna flow,
right?
Like this is it.
Yes.
And it's interesting because Iwould build it up, I would build
it up, I would build it up, andthen you get the Emmy.
And you know, I mean, it'ssitting right behind one of them
is sitting right behind me.
I mean, it sits on the shelf andit collects dust.
(09:39):
Yeah, and it's there.
And the truth is, is like, yes,that was a great moment, but
life still goes on, right?
And and and the thing withperfectionism is that there's no
it it never stops.
It has this way of making youfeel like you need more.
There's nothing that's everenough, right?
(10:01):
There's nothing that you canget, nothing you can attain,
nothing you can be that would beable to be so perfect that this
is this is the final look, ifyou will, right?
This is this is this is it,because you get there and you
realize, oh man, I want anotherEmmy.
SPEAKER_00 (10:20):
Oh man, I want Master said something this
morning that I thought man didhe nail it.
When you have that perfectionismspirit on you, it's always
what's next.
Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (10:36):
That blows and I'm mine, like because it's actually
and yes, yes, absolutely.
And I think, and I for me, Ithink where God has really had
to work on me and transform myheart and my mind and the way I
see him, the way I see life, theway I see myself, is
(10:56):
understanding that there isbeauty in the here.
Yes, and so many times,perfectionists, uh maybe like
you and I, right, we're thinkingabout when I get there, when I
have this, when I look this way,I will be X, Y, and Z.
I will be happy, I will havemore joy, I will have more peace
(11:19):
when I get married, when Ibecome a mom, when I fulfill the
CEO role, whatever that is,whatever that when is, we think
that it's going to equalhappiness and joy.
And then you get there and yougo, Well, there's more that I
want.
And so there, and I what I'vehad to learn is that there is a
(11:41):
beauty and a specific intentionand purpose in exactly where you
are.
Uh, I had a friend tell me, youknow, Jazz, I just want to be
where my two feet are planted.
Wherever that is, that's exactlywhere I want to be.
And I think that was verydifficult for me.
(12:03):
Um, but as I've learned to sortof accept, okay, God, even in
this moment, with whatever is inmy bank account, with whatever
losses I've taken, whatever winsI've taken, whatever trophies
I've had and uh nominations I'velost, um, in singleness and
relationships, whatever thatlooks like, there is purpose for
(12:24):
me in this moment.
You have carefully constructedmy life that even in this
moment, even if I feel like I'mat the mountaintop or I'm in the
depths of the rivers, I'mexactly where I need to be.
I'm exactly where I need to be.
And and and I think there isfreedom in being able to say
(12:45):
it's okay to be exactly where Iam.
And perfectionists, we're notgreat at thinking that and
feeling that.
Um so for me, I it's been anit's it's a I think ever long
relationship that I've had towork on and develop.
(13:06):
Um, you know, I I think I thinkthere are good there are good
things with being aperfectionist, right?
Uh you tend to be veryambitious, very driven.
You tend to have a vision foryour life or what you're trying
to do, a dream.
And I don't think there'sanything wrong with that.
I think it's when we separatethe dream and the vision away
(13:30):
from, well, what does God'svision look like?
What does his dream look like?
And are they the same?
And that's when we kind ofthat's when the um, you know,
they talk a lot aboutperfectionism, it sort of it
sets an expectation, right?
And when we set an expectationand we don't ask God, hey, what
(13:55):
becomes is that disappointmentdisappointment, right?
Um, and so that's where I'vereally had to, I think, uh
churn, if you will, um feedingme and and and giving to me and
figure out, you know, hey, can Ihave God's expectation?
(14:18):
Um, and the truth is, is that itin the here and now it is is
intentional and purposeful, andit's something that he wants me
to have joy.
You know, he says we havegoodness in the land of the
living.
He didn't mean like, okay,tomorrow when you do this, he
said, no, I have given you allthat you need, right?
(14:41):
So I I I've had to really learnthat over the years.
Um that has been a and keeplearning, right?
That's been a struggle.
It's been a struggle.
SPEAKER_00 (14:51):
Yeah, yeah.
But I think I think that that'swhat you're saying is so good
because I think many of us, um,when you have that drive and
that determination, and whetherit was you on your own or
whether it was parents orsomebody family for you, right?
(15:15):
Um, it's hard to accept that allhe ever needs is our yes.
That's it.
And we overthink that Ioverthink that, right?
I overthink that and startmaking it into the picture that
(15:35):
I believe he wants instead ofgiving the yes and allowing him
to fill it in.
Um, I love, oh wow, this is sowell.
SPEAKER_02 (15:46):
It's like handing him the paintbrush, right?
Yeah, it's like you're trying tomake the picture, whether that's
a painting drawing, and it'slike, give him the paintbrush,
give him the pencil.
And it's almost like he'ssaying, daughter, sit back,
relax, enjoy the masterpiecethat I'm making.
You don't have to try so hard.
(16:09):
And I think there's a freedomwhen there's a level of
acceptance in that.
SPEAKER_00 (16:14):
Oh my gosh, so good.
Okay, so let's take it all theway back to Jasmine as a young
girl, growing up with thisunique and beautiful skill set
and amazing parents that pouredinto you so much to bring that
to life, right?
So tell us about, you know, your11, 13 to 12, 13 years old.
(16:38):
Um, you know, what what's inyou?
What are you doing?
Um, and we'll walk that intokind of a helpful gift.
SPEAKER_02 (16:46):
I'll start, you know, slightly a little bit
earlier because I feel it camevery quick for me.
I was five years old and myparents put me in tennis
classes.
And I remember I would come inand I had a bit of sass, you
know.
You know, you're talking aboutperfectionists, you know, we
always think that we're right.
I don't, you know, it's like wecan let that go.
(17:07):
But and so yes, exactly.
And I would stop class, likeliterally halt the class at five
years old and tell the coach,no, no, no, no, no, no, that's
not the way you do it.
This is how you yes, I was thatkid.
And I remember uh well, I myparents told me this.
I don't actually remember doingthis, but you know, my mom and
(17:28):
dad would get so embarrassedbecause all the other parents of
the other kids would be like,goodness, Jasmine is
interrupting class again.
Uh so they so they pulled me outof tennis for about a year.
Um, and then I came back and Ihad to learn, you know, to be
coachable, to listen, to kind ofbe quiet, that kind of thing.
(17:50):
Um, but it was a sport that Iloved.
My older sister played and Ikind of followed in her
footsteps.
Um, I went on to play divisionone tennis at Georgia Tech.
Um, there I studied marketingand finance and had my business
degree.
Um, and I'm actually one ofthree girls.
And so we're the first and onlyfamily in history to have three
(18:11):
black women play division onetennis.
It's really been it was really akudos, I think, to my parents.
Neither my mom or dad um wereathletes or really played a
bunch of tennis, to be honestwith you, at our level.
Um, but they were just a firmbeliever that whatever you pick,
whether it's piano or a balletor you want to be in chess club
(18:35):
or tennis, whatever it is, thenumber one rule was you give it
110% that if you're gonna do it,you actually do it.
And then if you really justdon't like it, then you do
something else.
But it was you're if you'regonna do something, you put the
time and the effort in toactually see what it can be.
Um, and so my mom and dad werevery big on that.
And I think that that really setus up, not just for the sport,
(18:58):
but I think for life um as asyoung women.
Um and then, you know, I thinkmy junior year, I actually uh
hurt both of my it was things.
And I think this is really wheremy relationship with God was uh
(19:20):
the most developed in college.
Um not necessarily in a fun way,but in a way where he really had
to uh kind of tear some thingsdown in me, really and take the
veiling off.
Um and I I got to a point whereyou know I wasn't gonna play my
(19:41):
senior year.
I just couldn't compete at thesame level.
Um, and I was pretty lost.
You know, I I really didn't knowwhat to do.
It was something, you know, thatI had been doing for almost 20
years at that point.
Um, it was everything that Iknew.
Um, and the plan, the vision,right?
The perfect dream or life to mewas being a professional tennis
(20:05):
player.
Like that was it.
That's what I wanted.
Um, and there was a lot offrustration that happened with
that.
Um, and I think, you know, I wascoming out of a very uh
turbulent and abusiverelationship in college, and
that took so much out of me.
Uh, but really, I think the daythat it flipped a switch for me
(20:28):
um is I was coming home and thatrelationship had landed me in
the emergency room.
And it was, I was at acrossroads and a point where
look, this is you got to get upand fight.
Like you have to make thedecision to pick yourself back
(20:50):
up because you you will not makeit if you don't.
Like that was it.
And I was at the point where Iwas like, look out, I'm done.
I'm done.
Take me home.
I meant I gave everything, Itried everything, and it just
fell apart on me.
Um, and it and it was thatmoment where, you know, I think,
especially as athletes, youknow, we know how to hold on.
(21:12):
You know, like if there's a ropeand you get rope burn in your
hand, like you can hold on.
And what God was saying to meis, I need you to let go, I need
you to let go.
And I remember coming home to myparents' house from the
hospital, maybe this was abouttwo weeks later, and I was so
frustrated.
I was so frustrated that I gothome and I just I started
(21:36):
slamming things in my room.
I was so angry at the world, soangry at God.
I was just angry at everything.
And there was this thick Bibles,the athlete's Bible.
Um, it had a blue cover on it.
And I was so fed up that I wentand I tried to like tear the
Bible.
Now, at this point, I mean, I'ma little weak link, right?
(21:56):
I just got like out of thehospital.
This is like 300 pages, and Ican, I can't even like it didn't
happen, right?
And so I'm frustrated that Ican't tear this Bible up.
Um, and I'm sitting and I'm yes,it was, it was, it was like
that.
And I'm sitting there and I'm,you know, I'm crying, I'm
frustrated, I'm upset.
And I just sit on the floor andI remember looking out the
(22:17):
window, and it was beautiful,beautiful blue skies.
It was a summer day, like theperfect said, perfect day, not a
cloud in the sky.
And this is one of the very fewtimes where I have heard the
voice of God audibly, not theHoly Spirit, like God speaking.
And I'm sitting there crying,and I hear God say, Beloved, why
(22:42):
is the sky blue?
And he asked again, he said, Whyis the sky blue?
Now, I was pretty good withscience and math growing up.
So I tried to kind of reason.
I said, you know, well, the skyis blue because you know, the
chemicals do this and theatmosphere, da-da-da, and it
creates a hue of blue, whatever,you know, kind of thing.
And I'm annoyed and frustratedand whatever.
(23:04):
And God says, that's how the skyis blue.
He said, Why is the sky blue?
And I said, I don't know, God.
I don't know.
And he said, the sky is bluebecause I made it blue, and
everything that I do is good.
(23:26):
And that day I picked up all thepieces of glass that I had
broken in that room.
I put the books on the shelf,and you know, I just got up.
I just got up and I had no plan.
Um, I had no idea what I wasgoing to do.
(23:49):
Um, I didn't know where to go orwhere to start or uh what the
right move was.
Um, and I don't think that Ineeded to.
I think what God needed me to dothat day is get up and take a
step.
That was it.
Um, and for me that looked likeeating something because I
(24:11):
hadn't actually eaten anythingin, you know, almost a week.
And I got a spoonful of yogurtdown that day.
And that was okay, I took astep.
I I I got up.
Um, and about two years later,that's when I won my first Emmy.
Um took the path of journalismand kind of poured myself into a
(24:37):
career that I had never thoughtabout in my entire life.
I I got my master's injournalism, but it wasn't
something that I went uh andstudied in undergrad.
Um, it was just kind of thisidea that had popped in my head
from a friend of mine thatthought I would be good on
camera.
And I said, okay, well, where doI start and what do I do?
Um, and it took a lot of askingdumb questions, how to hit
(25:01):
record on a camera, how to edit,like Googling, like, you know,
journalism for dummies,basically.
And I just watched shows.
Sound like me with the podcast.
Like, no, I mean, you just butyou start, right?
You took a step.
You learned by fire, but youjust kind of went with it and
you made mistakes, and then youasked for help, and then you
asked for guidance.
(25:21):
And the truth is, is that everystep of the way, God was with me
and he was holding me up.
And so um I think that was thatwas the biggest turning point in
my life.
Um, and in a moment where I feellike I had always known God, but
(25:46):
now it wasn't just knowing, itwas believing, and it wasn't
just believing, it was acceptinghis love for me.
And I think that's differentbecause when you get to a level
of acceptance, um, it means youallow permeation.
SPEAKER_01 (26:02):
Yes.
SPEAKER_02 (26:03):
And permeation, it's kind of like um you think about
a big tree, and right, you thinkabout the roots that go all
through the ground, it's it's sodeep that even if you cut the
top of the tree, the roots areso deep into the ground, you
can't.
You literally have like youliterally have to would go and
(26:23):
have to dig and dig and dig topull it up.
And that and that's what I meanis that it it came to a point
where understanding his love forme and my love for him was so
deep inside that at themountaintop or the rivers of
abuse, with everything and withnothing, in joy and depression,
(26:44):
um, and in moments where he'sbeen loud in my life and moments
where he's been silent, in thedays where I am the happiest and
where I am in grief.
I have all that I need because Iknow without a doubt that I am
his.
Amen.
And that fact, I was free.
(27:10):
So that that was that's really,yeah, that's it, that was really
the um the big, the big turningpoint.
And and and and I won't lie, youknow, I um I I think a lot of
people when they when they heartestimonies, right, um, they
almost uh hear them as ifthey're happy endings.
Yeah, and and the truth is thatthey're happy moments, right?
(27:33):
They're they're joyful.
They're a moment, but like Isaid, life still life goes on.
Life, right?
Life still goes on.
I thought that that was going tobe the hardest thing that I ever
went through in my life.
It was not, but but what God didis He developed tools in me,
(27:56):
right?
And strength and endurance andperseverance in me to be able to
take on more of life'schallenges.
Um, and so uh, you know, acouple of years ago, we uh we
lost my father um unexpectedly,Kevin Minor.
Um yeah, thank you, thank you.
Um wonderful, wonderful dad.
Um and we started the KevinMinor Legacy Fund, uh, which is
(28:21):
the single largest uh tennisscholarship in the Midwest
that's given to a female tennisplayer.
Um, we've been doing that thepast couple of years in his
honor.
Um, and I and I think I don'tthink that I would be able to do
it had I not understoodeverything that God was trying
(28:45):
to show me, which was this lifeis not yours.
It's not meant to be kept inyou, right?
It's meant to be permeatedthrough you.
SPEAKER_00 (28:58):
Amen.
SPEAKER_02 (28:59):
There's more that that that needs to be touched,
there's more people that need tobe touched, and so uh that's
really what we're trying to dothrough the Kevin Minor Legacy
Fund.
SPEAKER_00 (29:10):
Oh my gosh, jasmine.
First of all, just an inhaleexhale, because the sincerity by
which you share your testimony,your story is so beautiful.
And I love also the honesty insharing, which is just even as
(29:30):
we get to those points ofachievement, whether it's in our
physical existence or whetherit's in our spiritual faith
life, right?
There are levels to it and we'reconstantly unpacking and we're
constantly learning, right?
What do you what do you find isperhaps the biggest
(29:53):
responsibility that you yourselfhave when you've come to this
place of enlightenment, thisplace of understanding, and you
have still yet all these giftsand talents that are available
to you.
What what do you what do youfind is the hardest part about
just reconciling that, right?
(30:15):
Because there's a bit ofresponsibility that comes.
SPEAKER_02 (30:20):
No, I I think it's um I think that's very real,
right?
Um we are we are responsible forum, you know, I think not only
our actions, but when you'rewhen you're saying I've
accepted, you know, Jesus Christas my Lord and Savior, when
(30:41):
you're saying God is the I amthat I am, um the way that you
treat others and um the way thatyou go out to society, I think.
think needs to needs to matchthat.
And it's something that I I donot do perfectly.
(31:02):
But what you know, I I have a agood mentor of mine.
And for years she's always usedkind of the same phrase.
And she's she's I would sayshe's my spiritual mentor, my
personal mentor in faith.
And she always says, you know,Jazz, don't trust me.
I'm human.
(31:23):
I'm gonna fail.
I'm I'm I'm human.
Don't trust me.
She says, trust the Jesus in me.
Right.
So so when I when I um when Isort of have accepted you know
God for who he is in my life umI have I have said that this is
(31:43):
how I want to live my life thatI need that I need his
correction.
And so that means that there isnothing I can do there's nothing
I can say there's no thought Ican have there's no action I can
take that can escape his hands.
Literally nothing which alsomeans that when I do make a
(32:06):
mistake when I when I do saysomething wrong when I when I
when I in in moments where I amhurtful whether it's intentional
or unintentional um but just byway of life right and and being
human um that the Jesus in mecorrects me right the Jesus in
me gives me the right things tosay the Jesus in me says girl
you need to get up and off thatcouch and you need to go
(32:29):
apologize.
And I'll like well God it wastheir fault or it was her fault.
How do I have to go right he'slike I didn't talk about them I
said you right and and you knowto the point where it's like he
won't even let me go to sleepuntil I send the text saying I'm
sorry right like it's it I can'tit's real jasmine it's real it
(32:50):
really it really is real.
And I think um you know I thinkit's I think it's so important
to uh I think have have thatunderstanding of just um how
important that responsibility isyeah um and that we are not
going to meet it every time umand that that's really that's
(33:14):
really what like I can't sithere and say you know I get it
right because I don't I reallydon't and there are things that
throughout my relationship withGod and how that's developed
there are things that he bringsup to me that happened like
years ago years ago that he'slike you know you really hurt
(33:34):
that person when you did thatand I'm like I haven't even
thought about that I didn't evenknow right like he like he and
suddenly I you know and thishappened to me a couple of years
ago where I'm calling a friendwho I hadn't talked to in in
years at that point and I saidyou know what this just really
was revealed to me.
I just really feel it's on myheart.
I just want to say I'm so sorrythat I did that I I didn't know
(33:59):
that it hurts you so badly andthey were like you know jasmine
this really just made my day youknow it just it's amazing how
God works um and his timing butbut I but I do think it it's
very important to um you knowuse our voices and our platforms
um for good and I've had peopleyou know ask me because you know
(34:23):
of course there are people thatare not of faith and you know
don't know him and you know theyare where they are and I've had
to I've had to answer thequestion of like you know well
how do you talk about God rightwithout um putting people in the
wrong way and I said you knowpeople don't need to hear
scripture to feel God.
(34:44):
Amen you know what I mean youyou can you can love people and
you can be kind to people andyou can be patient with people
and you can be forgiving towardspeople without ever actually
uttering the word of God.
You can literally live it out inyour actions.
(35:05):
I call that be the light you canbe the light yes yes I think
that's I think that's a perfectgrace and a and a way to put it
um you know and and I and Ithink that that gives you the
ability to really uh you knowwhat I do as a journalist is I
talk to all different kinds ofpeople I talk to all different
(35:26):
kinds of cultures I talk to alldifferent people from different
religious backgroundsnon-religious backgrounds I talk
from people from differentcountries and different
languages and different ways ofthinking and different opinions
and uh political outlooks andand feelings like and
experiences right and I thinkthat is such an honor and a
privilege as a journalist to beable to sit and listen to
(35:49):
someone's story regardless ofwhat that story is.
There is a certain respect Ithink that should be given when
people are sharing who they areand what matters to them.
And that's something that Ireally do try to live at wow oh
girl so good.
SPEAKER_00 (36:06):
So all right so there's a thing that oftentimes
um we can get so focused on thatlist of goals and dreams and
then pivots happen.
And one of the things that playsthrough your life and your
(36:27):
trajectory so very well is theability to accept and to pivot
with those moves and shifts,right?
What would you say are some ofthe things that really help you
when those pivot opportunitiescome to be able to do so
certainly we know it's groundedin faith, right?
SPEAKER_02 (36:48):
Certainly we know that but are there some
practical things that youactually bring to bear that
could help somebody out yeah Ium I have this phrase that I've
sort of come up of recently um Icall it strategically delusional
you know a lot of a lot of um uhuh Gen Z have this they they
(37:11):
started the Dululu it's it'slike when you're delusional when
you like think it's you justthink way too like up in the air
basically um I I I think whatcan happen is when we are young
everything just seems possibleyes right everything seems
wonderful and big and it's likeI can be here and I can be this
(37:32):
I can be this and throughoutlife I think society and
circumstance can shrink that itcan shrink it to a point where
we stop believing.
And the reason why I say bestrategically delusional is
because I still want people todream big it's just I want you
(37:53):
to put a plan of action towardsthat.
That's the strategy behind it.
It's not saying it's notpossible.
It's not saying that whateverbuilding the business or having
the family or whatever thatlooks like for you is is
suddenly so far away orcircumstance has um has has put
it in a in a in a box if youwill because then now we're just
(38:16):
limiting what God can do in ourlives right but what I'm saying
is showing up every single dayand saying this is how I plan to
get there.
These are the people that I'mgoing to talk to I think for me
pivoting from business collegeuh athletics tennis and getting
into journalism um it was askingthe dumb question that how
(38:41):
that's how I was strategicallydelusional.
I literally would go up topeople I would just cold call
people Robin Roberts was one ofthe people I did that with she's
the good morning America umanchor and has been for a very
long time.
I found her assistant I told herhey I'm gonna be in New York for
a couple of days I flew myselfout there and the only thing I
(39:01):
did was Robin can you just lookat my reel?
Can you just critique it?
I had 15 minutes that's it 15minutes and I gained all the
knowledge that I possibly couldgain.
And this is someone who reallykind of has no idea what she's
doing in journalism askingsomeone who knows everything
about what they're doing injournalism right girl aim high
(39:22):
aim high that's whatperfectionists do.
Aim high yes but six so aboutfive six years later you know
they're introducing me at ABCChicago and we are owned by ABC
News and Robin Robertsremembered me she remembered the
college kid that came up and waslike hey like can you just help
(39:46):
me for a second tell me what I'mdoing right um and and that's
the way I'm I'm strategicallydelusional right that's kind of
a fun phrase that I'm and thatI'm making but what I'm really
saying is being able to ask thedumb questions and get critique
I don't think we do that enough.
(40:07):
We kind of get to a point wherewe stop asking for feedback and
I think the moment that we losethe humility to do that it just
kind of puts a limitation on howfar we can take that thing.
It's okay to hear from otherpeople I'm not saying every
opinion's gonna be correct ornice even right but I but I am
(40:32):
saying I think when you ask forfeedback, what you're going to
get is a thread, a common threadthrough every single person that
is going to stick out and say,this is the area that I need to
do better at.
This is where I need to improve.
I think something that helped meis the way we chose to raise
funds for the Kevin Minor LegacyFund this year is something I
(40:54):
called the Rise Society.
And that is just essentially agathering of Chicago's top women
in business.
I just wanted to put them in thesame room and bring them
together for a great cause butcreate a room where instead of
it coming in and they're likeyou know who are you and who do
you have to offer it's more oflike tell me about that dream
(41:16):
that drives you.
SPEAKER_01 (41:17):
Amen.
SPEAKER_02 (41:17):
It's a group of women that are mission driven by
impact and uh lead withcharacter and have made a
decision to give back and topour into and the reason I did
that is because so many of thosewomen who even knew me when I
was younger that were in theroom they were people who I went
(41:39):
looking for feedback from theywere the people who said be
humble enough to take this fromme because I want to see you
succeed.
And that's why years down theroad I'm able to create this
room with um so much ambitionyet so much heart yet so much
(42:03):
care um and so highly curated ofsuccessful women because that's
how I was taught that was thefeedback that I got not to do it
quick but to do it right.
And there's a difference.
And so I think be strategicallydelusional right ask the dumb
questions when you don't know behumble look for feedback and
(42:25):
critique and find the commonthread.
I think you can apply thosethings to literally anything
that you are doing.
SPEAKER_00 (42:32):
And I promise you it will take you further faster and
it will build joy all at thesame time and peace and
character it's not just thesuccess but it's also the impact
that you are making along theway and I think when you have
that that's when magic happensin my opinion Jasmine honestly
(42:54):
there's so many there's so manylanes we haven't even we haven't
even gone so many places.
Love to do part two girls we aredefinitely going to do a part
two but I think that this partone is so important just to
ground us we're in a time wherepeople are leaving faith in
(43:20):
drones people are disillusionedfor many reasons and instead of
clinging to their core and theirfaith many are saying well maybe
it doesn't exist at all um and Ithink when there's an
opportunity to host aconversation because like you I
(43:46):
do believe that conversationshave the power to change things
um but to host a conversationright now where someone who has
achieved so many beautifulthings who still humbly shares
I'm still figuring it out.
I'm still yeah I'm still notperfect.
(44:09):
I'm still being proven all thosethings right I think it's
beautiful and I want to thankyou because it takes such a
grounded soul to be able to justshare those things um that I
know will bless others and I'mso grateful to you honestly so
(44:30):
we were we should tell thepeople that we have this
connection through a beautifulsoul um yeah Maggie Maggie
O'Brien yes uh Maggie isincredible um and uh just one of
(44:50):
the most humble kind women thatI know um and uh she was
recently on a panel of mine forthe Rise Society where we raised
funds for the Kevin Minor LegacyFund.
SPEAKER_02 (45:04):
Uh she is the uh co-head of JP Morgan Private
Bank here in Chicago and justthe her resume in her own right
is absolutely incredible.
So that's how we were connectedand I'm so glad that Maggie
connected us because you knowshe's one of those people where
(45:24):
the moment she emails you'rejust like yep I don't have to
read the email yes whatever youneed got hey Jazz can you do
this?
Yep.
What is it?
You know don't care.
Just tell you know when wherekind of thing and and that's all
you need because and that's whatI'm saying that when you can put
mission driven women in the roomyes there aren't a lot of
(45:46):
questions that you need and youdon't need the answers to
everything because you can trustthat the positions that they're
putting you in is going to beones of fruitfulness.
And so huge shout out to MaggieO'Brien love her just love her.
SPEAKER_00 (46:02):
Well I'm so glad that you love her as much as I
do all those things you saidhonestly I could not say more.
But it goes back to somethingthat you said right it's it's
who you choose to show up as andwhat you choose to put out in
this world.
(46:22):
That's what people rememberright because all the extra
stuff the C's and the E's andthe P's and all the stuff no one
remembers that no but theyremember how you made them feel
I think our dear Michelle Obamasaid that did she say they
remember how you make how theyhow you make them feel um I
definitely definitely has saidit I think actually Oprah not
(46:46):
even Oprah I'm sorry Michelleand Oprah I believe got that
from Maya Angelo.
Maya let's get to the sourcegirl right and phenomenal woman
phenomenally there you goexactly yeah that's right on
well girl look I'm gonna let yougo um I've I've borrowed enough
(47:08):
time um I see so many wonderfulopportunities to do some things
and uh and because I know thatGod just has placed similar
things on our heart and so beingobedient and just saying yes
Lord and letting the rest justcome and that's it.
That's all I'm doing.
So thank you for having me on.
Oh my gosh you have blessed usthank you thank you for all
(47:30):
you're doing keep keep spreadingtruth and keep speaking for
those who don't necessarily havethe voices to speak for
themselves and keep keep beingstrong in places that sometimes
incite fear.
So we appreciate you thank youthank you
I'm gonna tell you this.
This conversation that you areabout to hear is so good.
And there are two scripturesthat I just want to preamble
this podcast with.
The first one, Psalm 2519.
The humble, he guides injustice, and the humble, he
(01:14):
teaches his way.
That's the first one.
The second one, Proverbs 3, 5.
Trust in the Lord with all yourheart and lean not on your own
understanding.
When I tell you, if thesescriptures did anything to your
soul, if they planted any seedsthat you need particularly
(01:37):
planted today, then you willwant to stick around and listen
more to this podcast.
Heck, you're gonna want to gowatch it on YouTube because
you're just gonna want to seethe vibes.
But let me tell you this (01:49):
I am talking today with Jasmine
Minor.
Jasmine is a TV celebritypersonality, especially if you
live around the Midwest.
You know, if you know, you know,she's on ABC Channel 7, and she
is telling stories, runningbeats, and doing all the things
(02:15):
um in journalism.
But perhaps the thing thatyou'll hear is most exciting to
her is a relatively recentventure that was born out of the
heart.
And I think it's prettyphenomenal to hear about.
Um, I'll also tell you thatalong with doing those things,
(02:39):
she's still very much anadvocate and telling stories for
those who don't necessarily havethe voices to tell their own
story.
This lady has shown us how topivot and pivot gracefully and
to pivot up.
And she's also shown us how tobe bold in doing so.
(03:01):
Ask for what you want, seekmentorship and be bold and
courageous in laying that pathfor yourself.
I wish that I could say it wasall because she was a
superwoman, but actually, Idon't wish I could say that.
This woman is rooted in faithand she is continuing to unpack
(03:22):
and explore her own faith.
And what I love with all of theaccolades that I can tell you
about Jasmine, when you listento this podcast, when you watch
this podcast on YouTube, whatyou will see is a humble soul
who is still very much inreceiving mode, who is still
(03:44):
very much planted at the seat ofthe throne and asking for wisdom
and understanding.
And I'ma tell you, if you um,you know, I know not everybody
shares the same faith, but ifyou're listening to this
podcast, you probably have asource that's similar to mine.
(04:06):
And I would say, even if youdon't, I would listen to this
podcast and I would just let theideas roll through your head and
see where it lands.
You're in for a treat, provennot perfect.
My conversation with the amazingbusinesswoman, the wonderful
(04:26):
articulate storyteller, and theblessed child of God, Jasmine
Minor.
Enjoy.
Hey, Jasmine.
SPEAKER_02 (04:36):
Hey, thanks for having me here.
I'm so excited.
Oh my goodness.
Like be here and doing this,seriously.
SPEAKER_00 (04:46):
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
First of all, I just can't evengo another second without giving
the roses and acknowledgingthree-time Emmy Award winning.
Three times, like not one, two,three.
Amazing CEO of your own businessthat's all about, quite frankly,
(05:07):
I think exactly what I loveright now, and that's telling
stories and uplifting those thattell stories.
Love that.
Can't wait to hear more aboutthat.
But one of the things thatspeaks so loudly is your heart
when we talk about and I learnmore about your advocacy work
and just all of the things.
(05:27):
So we're gonna jump right on in,okay?
Just right in.
I love it.
I love it.
So I wrote this book, Proven NotPerfect.
And if I'm honest with you, Iwas just having this
conversation with my husband theother day, where, you know, when
you're led to do somethingpurposeful, and you do it,
(05:52):
there's the yes that you give todo it, and then there's the
unpacking of the thing overtime.
And when I first released provennot perfect, even the words that
were pulled together for me, Ireally didn't understand what I
was saying, what words I wasputting together.
(06:12):
And it's become so clear to meas I'm mom and I watch my kids
go through various things,various tests, that I'm starting
to understand the words more,right?
The tests are the proven.
That's the proving part, right?
And it's not perfect, but thetests help us to become.
(06:36):
So I would love to just startout by asking you what's your
what's your relationship, yourpersonal relationship with
perfection?
Oh gosh.
SPEAKER_02 (06:46):
Um we perfection and I go way back.
Way back uh since August 26th of1993.
Um moment I came out of theroom.
That is that is how longperfection and I go back.
Um and we had to, we have had toreally work on our vote ship.
(07:12):
We've had to take space awayfrom each other.
Um, and we have had to, I think,redefine what the relationship
is and what it should be.
So for me, I you know, I'm awoman of faith.
And so I, you know, I I believethat uh, you know, Jesus is the
only perfect one.
(07:32):
Um, and but I feel likethroughout my life, um, it
wasn't that I was trying to aimto be more in the image of God,
but I feel like I was trying togo beyond what God had for me in
a way.
Um, yeah, I I feel I feel like,you know, when you try to take
the reins out of God's, becauseI think the one of the thoughts
(07:54):
that I really struggle with, um,I'm someone who dreams really
big and I tend to visualizethings.
And in my head, it seems perfectand this is right, and this is
amazing, and this is thingsright now, right?
Exactly.
And like right now, this is whatit needs to look like, and this
would be perfection to me in myeyes.
(08:15):
And a lot of times I struggledwith well, are my dreams bigger
than God's?
Which it sounds crazy when itcomes out of my mouth because
it's a total lie, right?
Because I know God's plans arehigher than my plans, and his
ways are higher than my haze,and the way he thinks is is more
than I can possibly understand.
(08:35):
But it was a sense of waiting onhim to move in my life.
And that perfectionism andpatience usually don't go hand
in hand.
They tend to be um almostenemies in a way, right?
Of waiting your turn, waitingfor God to show up in your life,
(08:58):
waiting for um the success toreally reveal itself.
Um, and I think in in everyaspect of my life, you know, you
mentioned that I've got threeEmmys, and every single Emmy
that I have ever won, I thoughtthat the moment I won the Emmy,
oh, this is it.
(09:18):
This is it.
Every door is gonna open now,everything's just gonna flow,
right?
Like this is it.
Yes.
And it's interesting because Iwould build it up, I would build
it up, I would build it up, andthen you get the Emmy.
And you know, I mean, it'ssitting right behind one of them
is sitting right behind me.
I mean, it sits on the shelf andit collects dust.
(09:39):
Yeah, and it's there.
And the truth is, is like, yes,that was a great moment, but
life still goes on, right?
And and and the thing withperfectionism is that there's no
it it never stops.
It has this way of making youfeel like you need more.
There's nothing that's everenough, right?
(10:01):
There's nothing that you canget, nothing you can attain,
nothing you can be that would beable to be so perfect that this
is this is the final look, ifyou will, right?
This is this is this is it,because you get there and you
realize, oh man, I want anotherEmmy.
SPEAKER_00 (10:20):
Oh man, I want Master said something this
morning that I thought man didhe nail it.
When you have that perfectionismspirit on you, it's always
what's next.
Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (10:36):
That blows and I'm mine, like because it's actually
and yes, yes, absolutely.
And I think, and I for me, Ithink where God has really had
to work on me and transform myheart and my mind and the way I
see him, the way I see life, theway I see myself, is
(10:56):
understanding that there isbeauty in the here.
Yes, and so many times,perfectionists, uh maybe like
you and I, right, we're thinkingabout when I get there, when I
have this, when I look this way,I will be X, Y, and Z.
I will be happy, I will havemore joy, I will have more peace
(11:19):
when I get married, when Ibecome a mom, when I fulfill the
CEO role, whatever that is,whatever that when is, we think
that it's going to equalhappiness and joy.
And then you get there and yougo, Well, there's more that I
want.
And so there, and I what I'vehad to learn is that there is a
(11:41):
beauty and a specific intentionand purpose in exactly where you
are.
Uh, I had a friend tell me, youknow, Jazz, I just want to be
where my two feet are planted.
Wherever that is, that's exactlywhere I want to be.
And I think that was verydifficult for me.
(12:03):
Um, but as I've learned to sortof accept, okay, God, even in
this moment, with whatever is inmy bank account, with whatever
losses I've taken, whatever winsI've taken, whatever trophies
I've had and uh nominations I'velost, um, in singleness and
relationships, whatever thatlooks like, there is purpose for
(12:24):
me in this moment.
You have carefully constructedmy life that even in this
moment, even if I feel like I'mat the mountaintop or I'm in the
depths of the rivers, I'mexactly where I need to be.
I'm exactly where I need to be.
And and and I think there isfreedom in being able to say
(12:45):
it's okay to be exactly where Iam.
And perfectionists, we're notgreat at thinking that and
feeling that.
Um so for me, I it's been anit's it's a I think ever long
relationship that I've had towork on and develop.
(13:06):
Um, you know, I I think I thinkthere are good there are good
things with being aperfectionist, right?
Uh you tend to be veryambitious, very driven.
You tend to have a vision foryour life or what you're trying
to do, a dream.
And I don't think there'sanything wrong with that.
I think it's when we separatethe dream and the vision away
(13:30):
from, well, what does God'svision look like?
What does his dream look like?
And are they the same?
And that's when we kind ofthat's when the um, you know,
they talk a lot aboutperfectionism, it sort of it
sets an expectation, right?
And when we set an expectationand we don't ask God, hey, what
(13:55):
becomes is that disappointmentdisappointment, right?
Um, and so that's where I'vereally had to, I think, uh
churn, if you will, um feedingme and and and giving to me and
figure out, you know, hey, can Ihave God's expectation?
(14:18):
Um, and the truth is, is that itin the here and now it is is
intentional and purposeful, andit's something that he wants me
to have joy.
You know, he says we havegoodness in the land of the
living.
He didn't mean like, okay,tomorrow when you do this, he
said, no, I have given you allthat you need, right?
(14:41):
So I I I've had to really learnthat over the years.
Um that has been a and keeplearning, right?
That's been a struggle.
It's been a struggle.
SPEAKER_00 (14:51):
Yeah, yeah.
But I think I think that that'swhat you're saying is so good
because I think many of us, um,when you have that drive and
that determination, and whetherit was you on your own or
whether it was parents orsomebody family for you, right?
(15:15):
Um, it's hard to accept that allhe ever needs is our yes.
That's it.
And we overthink that Ioverthink that, right?
I overthink that and startmaking it into the picture that
(15:35):
I believe he wants instead ofgiving the yes and allowing him
to fill it in.
Um, I love, oh wow, this is sowell.
SPEAKER_02 (15:46):
It's like handing him the paintbrush, right?
Yeah, it's like you're trying tomake the picture, whether that's
a painting drawing, and it'slike, give him the paintbrush,
give him the pencil.
And it's almost like he'ssaying, daughter, sit back,
relax, enjoy the masterpiecethat I'm making.
You don't have to try so hard.
(16:09):
And I think there's a freedomwhen there's a level of
acceptance in that.
SPEAKER_00 (16:14):
Oh my gosh, so good.
Okay, so let's take it all theway back to Jasmine as a young
girl, growing up with thisunique and beautiful skill set
and amazing parents that pouredinto you so much to bring that
to life, right?
So tell us about, you know, your11, 13 to 12, 13 years old.
(16:38):
Um, you know, what what's inyou?
What are you doing?
Um, and we'll walk that intokind of a helpful gift.
SPEAKER_02 (16:46):
I'll start, you know, slightly a little bit
earlier because I feel it camevery quick for me.
I was five years old and myparents put me in tennis
classes.
And I remember I would come inand I had a bit of sass, you
know.
You know, you're talking aboutperfectionists, you know, we
always think that we're right.
I don't, you know, it's like wecan let that go.
(17:07):
But and so yes, exactly.
And I would stop class, likeliterally halt the class at five
years old and tell the coach,no, no, no, no, no, no, that's
not the way you do it.
This is how you yes, I was thatkid.
And I remember uh well, I myparents told me this.
I don't actually remember doingthis, but you know, my mom and
(17:28):
dad would get so embarrassedbecause all the other parents of
the other kids would be like,goodness, Jasmine is
interrupting class again.
Uh so they so they pulled me outof tennis for about a year.
Um, and then I came back and Ihad to learn, you know, to be
coachable, to listen, to kind ofbe quiet, that kind of thing.
(17:50):
Um, but it was a sport that Iloved.
My older sister played and Ikind of followed in her
footsteps.
Um, I went on to play divisionone tennis at Georgia Tech.
Um, there I studied marketingand finance and had my business
degree.
Um, and I'm actually one ofthree girls.
And so we're the first and onlyfamily in history to have three
(18:11):
black women play division onetennis.
It's really been it was really akudos, I think, to my parents.
Neither my mom or dad um wereathletes or really played a
bunch of tennis, to be honestwith you, at our level.
Um, but they were just a firmbeliever that whatever you pick,
whether it's piano or a balletor you want to be in chess club
(18:35):
or tennis, whatever it is, thenumber one rule was you give it
110% that if you're gonna do it,you actually do it.
And then if you really justdon't like it, then you do
something else.
But it was you're if you'regonna do something, you put the
time and the effort in toactually see what it can be.
Um, and so my mom and dad werevery big on that.
And I think that that really setus up, not just for the sport,
(18:58):
but I think for life um as asyoung women.
Um and then, you know, I thinkmy junior year, I actually uh
hurt both of my it was things.
And I think this is really wheremy relationship with God was uh
(19:20):
the most developed in college.
Um not necessarily in a fun way,but in a way where he really had
to uh kind of tear some thingsdown in me, really and take the
veiling off.
Um and I I got to a point whereyou know I wasn't gonna play my
(19:41):
senior year.
I just couldn't compete at thesame level.
Um, and I was pretty lost.
You know, I I really didn't knowwhat to do.
It was something, you know, thatI had been doing for almost 20
years at that point.
Um, it was everything that Iknew.
Um, and the plan, the vision,right?
The perfect dream or life to mewas being a professional tennis
(20:05):
player.
Like that was it.
That's what I wanted.
Um, and there was a lot offrustration that happened with
that.
Um, and I think, you know, I wascoming out of a very uh
turbulent and abusiverelationship in college, and
that took so much out of me.
Uh, but really, I think the daythat it flipped a switch for me
(20:28):
um is I was coming home and thatrelationship had landed me in
the emergency room.
And it was, I was at acrossroads and a point where
look, this is you got to get upand fight.
Like you have to make thedecision to pick yourself back
(20:50):
up because you you will not makeit if you don't.
Like that was it.
And I was at the point where Iwas like, look out, I'm done.
I'm done.
Take me home.
I meant I gave everything, Itried everything, and it just
fell apart on me.
Um, and it and it was thatmoment where, you know, I think,
especially as athletes, youknow, we know how to hold on.
(21:12):
You know, like if there's a ropeand you get rope burn in your
hand, like you can hold on.
And what God was saying to meis, I need you to let go, I need
you to let go.
And I remember coming home to myparents' house from the
hospital, maybe this was abouttwo weeks later, and I was so
frustrated.
I was so frustrated that I gothome and I just I started
(21:36):
slamming things in my room.
I was so angry at the world, soangry at God.
I was just angry at everything.
And there was this thick Bibles,the athlete's Bible.
Um, it had a blue cover on it.
And I was so fed up that I wentand I tried to like tear the
Bible.
Now, at this point, I mean, I'ma little weak link, right?
(21:56):
I just got like out of thehospital.
This is like 300 pages, and Ican, I can't even like it didn't
happen, right?
And so I'm frustrated that Ican't tear this Bible up.
Um, and I'm sitting and I'm yes,it was, it was, it was like
that.
And I'm sitting there and I'm,you know, I'm crying, I'm
frustrated, I'm upset.
And I just sit on the floor andI remember looking out the
(22:17):
window, and it was beautiful,beautiful blue skies.
It was a summer day, like theperfect said, perfect day, not a
cloud in the sky.
And this is one of the very fewtimes where I have heard the
voice of God audibly, not theHoly Spirit, like God speaking.
And I'm sitting there crying,and I hear God say, Beloved, why
(22:42):
is the sky blue?
And he asked again, he said, Whyis the sky blue?
Now, I was pretty good withscience and math growing up.
So I tried to kind of reason.
I said, you know, well, the skyis blue because you know, the
chemicals do this and theatmosphere, da-da-da, and it
creates a hue of blue, whatever,you know, kind of thing.
And I'm annoyed and frustratedand whatever.
(23:04):
And God says, that's how the skyis blue.
He said, Why is the sky blue?
And I said, I don't know, God.
I don't know.
And he said, the sky is bluebecause I made it blue, and
everything that I do is good.
(23:26):
And that day I picked up all thepieces of glass that I had
broken in that room.
I put the books on the shelf,and you know, I just got up.
I just got up and I had no plan.
Um, I had no idea what I wasgoing to do.
(23:49):
Um, I didn't know where to go orwhere to start or uh what the
right move was.
Um, and I don't think that Ineeded to.
I think what God needed me to dothat day is get up and take a
step.
That was it.
Um, and for me that looked likeeating something because I
(24:11):
hadn't actually eaten anythingin, you know, almost a week.
And I got a spoonful of yogurtdown that day.
And that was okay, I took astep.
I I I got up.
Um, and about two years later,that's when I won my first Emmy.
Um took the path of journalismand kind of poured myself into a
(24:37):
career that I had never thoughtabout in my entire life.
I I got my master's injournalism, but it wasn't
something that I went uh andstudied in undergrad.
Um, it was just kind of thisidea that had popped in my head
from a friend of mine thatthought I would be good on
camera.
And I said, okay, well, where doI start and what do I do?
Um, and it took a lot of askingdumb questions, how to hit
(25:01):
record on a camera, how to edit,like Googling, like, you know,
journalism for dummies,basically.
And I just watched shows.
Sound like me with the podcast.
Like, no, I mean, you just butyou start, right?
You took a step.
You learned by fire, but youjust kind of went with it and
you made mistakes, and then youasked for help, and then you
asked for guidance.
(25:21):
And the truth is, is that everystep of the way, God was with me
and he was holding me up.
And so um I think that was thatwas the biggest turning point in
my life.
Um, and in a moment where I feellike I had always known God, but
(25:46):
now it wasn't just knowing, itwas believing, and it wasn't
just believing, it was acceptinghis love for me.
And I think that's differentbecause when you get to a level
of acceptance, um, it means youallow permeation.
SPEAKER_01 (26:02):
Yes.
SPEAKER_02 (26:03):
And permeation, it's kind of like um you think about
a big tree, and right, you thinkabout the roots that go all
through the ground, it's it's sodeep that even if you cut the
top of the tree, the roots areso deep into the ground, you
can't.
You literally have like youliterally have to would go and
(26:23):
have to dig and dig and dig topull it up.
And that and that's what I meanis that it it came to a point
where understanding his love forme and my love for him was so
deep inside that at themountaintop or the rivers of
abuse, with everything and withnothing, in joy and depression,
(26:44):
um, and in moments where he'sbeen loud in my life and moments
where he's been silent, in thedays where I am the happiest and
where I am in grief.
I have all that I need because Iknow without a doubt that I am
his.
Amen.
And that fact, I was free.
(27:10):
So that that was that's really,yeah, that's it, that was really
the um the big, the big turningpoint.
And and and and I won't lie, youknow, I um I I think a lot of
people when they when they heartestimonies, right, um, they
almost uh hear them as ifthey're happy endings.
Yeah, and and the truth is thatthey're happy moments, right?
(27:33):
They're they're joyful.
They're a moment, but like Isaid, life still life goes on.
Life, right?
Life still goes on.
I thought that that was going tobe the hardest thing that I ever
went through in my life.
It was not, but but what God didis He developed tools in me,
(27:56):
right?
And strength and endurance andperseverance in me to be able to
take on more of life'schallenges.
Um, and so uh, you know, acouple of years ago, we uh we
lost my father um unexpectedly,Kevin Minor.
Um yeah, thank you, thank you.
Um wonderful, wonderful dad.
Um and we started the KevinMinor Legacy Fund, uh, which is
(28:21):
the single largest uh tennisscholarship in the Midwest
that's given to a female tennisplayer.
Um, we've been doing that thepast couple of years in his
honor.
Um, and I and I think I don'tthink that I would be able to do
it had I not understoodeverything that God was trying
(28:45):
to show me, which was this lifeis not yours.
It's not meant to be kept inyou, right?
It's meant to be permeatedthrough you.
SPEAKER_00 (28:58):
Amen.
SPEAKER_02 (28:59):
There's more that that that needs to be touched,
there's more people that need tobe touched, and so uh that's
really what we're trying to dothrough the Kevin Minor Legacy
Fund.
SPEAKER_00 (29:10):
Oh my gosh, jasmine.
First of all, just an inhaleexhale, because the sincerity by
which you share your testimony,your story is so beautiful.
And I love also the honesty insharing, which is just even as
(29:30):
we get to those points ofachievement, whether it's in our
physical existence or whetherit's in our spiritual faith
life, right?
There are levels to it and we'reconstantly unpacking and we're
constantly learning, right?
What do you what do you find isperhaps the biggest
(29:53):
responsibility that you yourselfhave when you've come to this
place of enlightenment, thisplace of understanding, and you
have still yet all these giftsand talents that are available
to you.
What what do you what do youfind is the hardest part about
just reconciling that, right?
(30:15):
Because there's a bit ofresponsibility that comes.
SPEAKER_02 (30:20):
No, I I think it's um I think that's very real,
right?
Um we are we are responsible forum, you know, I think not only
our actions, but when you'rewhen you're saying I've
accepted, you know, Jesus Christas my Lord and Savior, when
(30:41):
you're saying God is the I amthat I am, um the way that you
treat others and um the way thatyou go out to society, I think.
think needs to needs to matchthat.
And it's something that I I donot do perfectly.
(31:02):
But what you know, I I have a agood mentor of mine.
And for years she's always usedkind of the same phrase.
And she's she's I would sayshe's my spiritual mentor, my
personal mentor in faith.
And she always says, you know,Jazz, don't trust me.
I'm human.
(31:23):
I'm gonna fail.
I'm I'm I'm human.
Don't trust me.
She says, trust the Jesus in me.
Right.
So so when I when I um when Isort of have accepted you know
God for who he is in my life umI have I have said that this is
(31:43):
how I want to live my life thatI need that I need his
correction.
And so that means that there isnothing I can do there's nothing
I can say there's no thought Ican have there's no action I can
take that can escape his hands.
Literally nothing which alsomeans that when I do make a
(32:06):
mistake when I when I do saysomething wrong when I when I
when I in in moments where I amhurtful whether it's intentional
or unintentional um but just byway of life right and and being
human um that the Jesus in mecorrects me right the Jesus in
me gives me the right things tosay the Jesus in me says girl
you need to get up and off thatcouch and you need to go
(32:29):
apologize.
And I'll like well God it wastheir fault or it was her fault.
How do I have to go right he'slike I didn't talk about them I
said you right and and you knowto the point where it's like he
won't even let me go to sleepuntil I send the text saying I'm
sorry right like it's it I can'tit's real jasmine it's real it
(32:50):
really it really is real.
And I think um you know I thinkit's I think it's so important
to uh I think have have thatunderstanding of just um how
important that responsibility isyeah um and that we are not
going to meet it every time umand that that's really that's
(33:14):
really what like I can't sithere and say you know I get it
right because I don't I reallydon't and there are things that
throughout my relationship withGod and how that's developed
there are things that he bringsup to me that happened like
years ago years ago that he'slike you know you really hurt
(33:34):
that person when you did thatand I'm like I haven't even
thought about that I didn't evenknow right like he like he and
suddenly I you know and thishappened to me a couple of years
ago where I'm calling a friendwho I hadn't talked to in in
years at that point and I saidyou know what this just really
was revealed to me.
I just really feel it's on myheart.
I just want to say I'm so sorrythat I did that I I didn't know
(33:59):
that it hurts you so badly andthey were like you know jasmine
this really just made my day youknow it just it's amazing how
God works um and his timing butbut I but I do think it it's
very important to um you knowuse our voices and our platforms
um for good and I've had peopleyou know ask me because you know
(34:23):
of course there are people thatare not of faith and you know
don't know him and you know theyare where they are and I've had
to I've had to answer thequestion of like you know well
how do you talk about God rightwithout um putting people in the
wrong way and I said you knowpeople don't need to hear
scripture to feel God.
(34:44):
Amen you know what I mean youyou can you can love people and
you can be kind to people andyou can be patient with people
and you can be forgiving towardspeople without ever actually
uttering the word of God.
You can literally live it out inyour actions.
(35:05):
I call that be the light you canbe the light yes yes I think
that's I think that's a perfectgrace and a and a way to put it
um you know and and I and Ithink that that gives you the
ability to really uh you knowwhat I do as a journalist is I
talk to all different kinds ofpeople I talk to all different
(35:26):
kinds of cultures I talk to alldifferent people from different
religious backgroundsnon-religious backgrounds I talk
from people from differentcountries and different
languages and different ways ofthinking and different opinions
and uh political outlooks andand feelings like and
experiences right and I thinkthat is such an honor and a
privilege as a journalist to beable to sit and listen to
(35:49):
someone's story regardless ofwhat that story is.
There is a certain respect Ithink that should be given when
people are sharing who they areand what matters to them.
And that's something that Ireally do try to live at wow oh
girl so good.
SPEAKER_00 (36:06):
So all right so there's a thing that oftentimes
um we can get so focused on thatlist of goals and dreams and
then pivots happen.
And one of the things that playsthrough your life and your
(36:27):
trajectory so very well is theability to accept and to pivot
with those moves and shifts,right?
What would you say are some ofthe things that really help you
when those pivot opportunitiescome to be able to do so
certainly we know it's groundedin faith, right?
SPEAKER_02 (36:48):
Certainly we know that but are there some
practical things that youactually bring to bear that
could help somebody out yeah Ium I have this phrase that I've
sort of come up of recently um Icall it strategically delusional
you know a lot of a lot of um uhuh Gen Z have this they they
(37:11):
started the Dululu it's it'slike when you're delusional when
you like think it's you justthink way too like up in the air
basically um I I I think whatcan happen is when we are young
everything just seems possibleyes right everything seems
wonderful and big and it's likeI can be here and I can be this
(37:32):
I can be this and throughoutlife I think society and
circumstance can shrink that itcan shrink it to a point where
we stop believing.
And the reason why I say bestrategically delusional is
because I still want people todream big it's just I want you
(37:53):
to put a plan of action towardsthat.
That's the strategy behind it.
It's not saying it's notpossible.
It's not saying that whateverbuilding the business or having
the family or whatever thatlooks like for you is is
suddenly so far away orcircumstance has um has has put
it in a in a in a box if youwill because then now we're just
(38:16):
limiting what God can do in ourlives right but what I'm saying
is showing up every single dayand saying this is how I plan to
get there.
These are the people that I'mgoing to talk to I think for me
pivoting from business collegeuh athletics tennis and getting
into journalism um it was askingthe dumb question that how
(38:41):
that's how I was strategicallydelusional.
I literally would go up topeople I would just cold call
people Robin Roberts was one ofthe people I did that with she's
the good morning America umanchor and has been for a very
long time.
I found her assistant I told herhey I'm gonna be in New York for
a couple of days I flew myselfout there and the only thing I
(39:01):
did was Robin can you just lookat my reel?
Can you just critique it?
I had 15 minutes that's it 15minutes and I gained all the
knowledge that I possibly couldgain.
And this is someone who reallykind of has no idea what she's
doing in journalism askingsomeone who knows everything
about what they're doing injournalism right girl aim high
(39:22):
aim high that's whatperfectionists do.
Aim high yes but six so aboutfive six years later you know
they're introducing me at ABCChicago and we are owned by ABC
News and Robin Robertsremembered me she remembered the
college kid that came up and waslike hey like can you just help
(39:46):
me for a second tell me what I'mdoing right um and and that's
the way I'm I'm strategicallydelusional right that's kind of
a fun phrase that I'm and thatI'm making but what I'm really
saying is being able to ask thedumb questions and get critique
I don't think we do that enough.
(40:07):
We kind of get to a point wherewe stop asking for feedback and
I think the moment that we losethe humility to do that it just
kind of puts a limitation on howfar we can take that thing.
It's okay to hear from otherpeople I'm not saying every
opinion's gonna be correct ornice even right but I but I am
(40:32):
saying I think when you ask forfeedback, what you're going to
get is a thread, a common threadthrough every single person that
is going to stick out and say,this is the area that I need to
do better at.
This is where I need to improve.
I think something that helped meis the way we chose to raise
funds for the Kevin Minor LegacyFund this year is something I
(40:54):
called the Rise Society.
And that is just essentially agathering of Chicago's top women
in business.
I just wanted to put them in thesame room and bring them
together for a great cause butcreate a room where instead of
it coming in and they're likeyou know who are you and who do
you have to offer it's more oflike tell me about that dream
(41:16):
that drives you.
SPEAKER_01 (41:17):
Amen.
SPEAKER_02 (41:17):
It's a group of women that are mission driven by
impact and uh lead withcharacter and have made a
decision to give back and topour into and the reason I did
that is because so many of thosewomen who even knew me when I
was younger that were in theroom they were people who I went
(41:39):
looking for feedback from theywere the people who said be
humble enough to take this fromme because I want to see you
succeed.
And that's why years down theroad I'm able to create this
room with um so much ambitionyet so much heart yet so much
(42:03):
care um and so highly curated ofsuccessful women because that's
how I was taught that was thefeedback that I got not to do it
quick but to do it right.
And there's a difference.
And so I think be strategicallydelusional right ask the dumb
questions when you don't know behumble look for feedback and
(42:25):
critique and find the commonthread.
I think you can apply thosethings to literally anything
that you are doing.
SPEAKER_00 (42:32):
And I promise you it will take you further faster and
it will build joy all at thesame time and peace and
character it's not just thesuccess but it's also the impact
that you are making along theway and I think when you have
that that's when magic happensin my opinion Jasmine honestly
(42:54):
there's so many there's so manylanes we haven't even we haven't
even gone so many places.
Love to do part two girls we aredefinitely going to do a part
two but I think that this partone is so important just to
ground us we're in a time wherepeople are leaving faith in
(43:20):
drones people are disillusionedfor many reasons and instead of
clinging to their core and theirfaith many are saying well maybe
it doesn't exist at all um and Ithink when there's an
opportunity to host aconversation because like you I
(43:46):
do believe that conversationshave the power to change things
um but to host a conversationright now where someone who has
achieved so many beautifulthings who still humbly shares
I'm still figuring it out.
I'm still yeah I'm still notperfect.
(44:09):
I'm still being proven all thosethings right I think it's
beautiful and I want to thankyou because it takes such a
grounded soul to be able to justshare those things um that I
know will bless others and I'mso grateful to you honestly so
(44:30):
we were we should tell thepeople that we have this
connection through a beautifulsoul um yeah Maggie Maggie
O'Brien yes uh Maggie isincredible um and uh just one of
(44:50):
the most humble kind women thatI know um and uh she was
recently on a panel of mine forthe Rise Society where we raised
funds for the Kevin Minor LegacyFund.
SPEAKER_02 (45:04):
Uh she is the uh co-head of JP Morgan Private
Bank here in Chicago and justthe her resume in her own right
is absolutely incredible.
So that's how we were connectedand I'm so glad that Maggie
connected us because you knowshe's one of those people where
(45:24):
the moment she emails you'rejust like yep I don't have to
read the email yes whatever youneed got hey Jazz can you do
this?
Yep.
What is it?
You know don't care.
Just tell you know when wherekind of thing and and that's all
you need because and that's whatI'm saying that when you can put
mission driven women in the roomyes there aren't a lot of
(45:46):
questions that you need and youdon't need the answers to
everything because you can trustthat the positions that they're
putting you in is going to beones of fruitfulness.
And so huge shout out to MaggieO'Brien love her just love her.
SPEAKER_00 (46:02):
Well I'm so glad that you love her as much as I
do all those things you saidhonestly I could not say more.
But it goes back to somethingthat you said right it's it's
who you choose to show up as andwhat you choose to put out in
this world.
(46:22):
That's what people rememberright because all the extra
stuff the C's and the E's andthe P's and all the stuff no one
remembers that no but theyremember how you made them feel
I think our dear Michelle Obamasaid that did she say they
remember how you make how theyhow you make them feel um I
definitely definitely has saidit I think actually Oprah not
(46:46):
even Oprah I'm sorry Michelleand Oprah I believe got that
from Maya Angelo.
Maya let's get to the sourcegirl right and phenomenal woman
phenomenally there you goexactly yeah that's right on
well girl look I'm gonna let yougo um I've I've borrowed enough
(47:08):
time um I see so many wonderfulopportunities to do some things
and uh and because I know thatGod just has placed similar
things on our heart and so beingobedient and just saying yes
Lord and letting the rest justcome and that's it.
That's all I'm doing.
So thank you for having me on.
Oh my gosh you have blessed usthank you thank you for all
(47:30):
you're doing keep keep spreadingtruth and keep speaking for
those who don't necessarily havethe voices to speak for
themselves and keep keep beingstrong in places that sometimes
incite fear.
So we appreciate you thank youthank you
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