www.redefinepossibility.com
queen of reinvention - Yvette R. Simpson
Finding Your Purpose
Yvette R. Simpson is a highly sought after speaker, attorney, DEIB leader, and national political strategist and commentator who inspires audiences across the country. Yvette
speaks on many topics including leadership development and executive strategy. Her
inaugural book, On Purpose: The Power of Authenticity and Intention released in July
2023 and her podcast, “The Power of Y” launched in January 2024. Yvette is also Founder of Wine Inculturated, a wine tasting and education venture. She is married to cartoonist Joe Hoffecker and bonus mom of three daughters: Katie, Maggie, and Annie.
For more information on Yvette's book, click HERE.
These are the edited highlights of my conversation with Yvette. For the full interview, to find her website, and follow her on her social channels, click the Read More or Audio button at the end.
6
Tell us a little bit about your nickname, the “Queen of Reinvention”.
When I made my fourth career shift, at 26 or 27 years old, there was a women's magazine that was launching in Cincinnati. The whole edition was dedicated to reinvention. I was on that cover, and I talked about the importance of reinvention.
I'm 46 now, and since then I've probably reinvented myself 10 times. So “Queen of Reinvention” means that if there's something I wanna do, I do it.
What advice would you have for that woman who is thinking, “Gosh, how do you even do that? That sounds amazing.”
First, I would say, “Do it”, but society doesn't make it easy, right? The first question you ask someone after their name is, “What do you do?” We feel so associated with our title, our job, our position, that it's hard to think of ourselves outside of that.
Most people don't make a shift until they're actually forced to. They know in their heart they're supposed to do something different but they won't do it because they're afraid.
We need to start associating ourselves with our gifts, our talents, our passions, our purpose, and not so much with that position or that title.
I don't think that the world is out of balance because we need more. I think we're out of balance because we need people in position doing the thing that they're supposed to do.
What's your take on imposter syndrome?
It's really important to have a keen sense of who you are. We've been told who we are our whole lives. The undoing of that is real work.
The world needs you exactly as you are. You are enough. Your gifts, your talents, your insecurities are all purpose for you to do the work that you're doing right now. If I tell you that you don't have to be anybody else to go pursue your purpose and do the thing, then there is no imposter syndrome.