Gabrielle Jordan talks about overcoming burnout and finding meaning in business

Gabrielle Jordan is an entrepreneur, author, public speaker, podcast host and mentor. 

Jordan founded the successful jewelry business Jewelz of Jordan when she was only 9 years old. But her story isn’t as smooth-sailing as it appears.

“I 100 percent believe that you are more than what you do, that your job or your career is not your identity,” Jordan told In The Know. 

Jordan is a certified CAD/CAM Jewelry Designer from the prestigious Gemological Institute of American (GIA) in London, a bestselling author on Amazon and a co-founder of the ExCEL Youth Mentoring Institute. She has been pictured with Michelle Obama, featured in a slew of publications and given numerous speeches — all before turning 21. 

“When I was finding early success, I was excited about what I was doing,” Jordan said. “Whether it was TV interviews or traveling, I felt very in it in those moments, and it was so exciting. But I think after it happened, I would feel either empty or like, ‘OK, what do I gotta do now?’ I was moving and operating as I should, but without knowing what I was doing.”

Jordan struggled to feel fulfilled by her budding career. She was being asked the same questions over and over again by interviewers, but nothing felt meaningful.

In 2014, Jordan became burnt out which led to some serious self-reflection. 

“I sat on the very edge of my bed, just started thinking about the timeline of my life,” Jordan said. “I’m helping people start a business, but, ‘Why should you be doing it? Why should you continue to do it? Why do you feel like you have to do it?’ All these ‘whys’ started flooding my brain. And this was like this moment of awakening, while I realized that I had to answer these questions in order to actually realize my purpose.”

Eventually, Jordan realized that her purpose is where her story first got started. She began as a jewelry-maker because it was what she loved. 

“A lot of my innate gifts are tied to the creative process of jewelry making,” Jordan said. “But then as my world kind of shifted into becoming this like public figure, like speaker, author, things like that, these weren’t things that I was necessarily super passionate about.” 

Once she was able to get back to her true motivation all of the other aspects of her career made sense.

“If someone was to ask me when I was around 9 to 12 years old, ‘What should I do to start a business?’ I would probably tell them to focus on the product or service,” Jordan said. “But I think if people were to ask me now, my response is far more about focusing on the purpose of why you’re providing it.”

If you enjoyed this story, read about this 22-year-old on a mission to provide homeless youth with footwear.

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