What Happens When You Really Show Up: A Powerful Lesson from a Rising Star

There’s a lot to worry about right now. We’re raising kids in what’s being called The Anxious Generation. There’s a documentary on Netflix called Adolescence that’s giving parents a major wake up call when it comes to children being online, and new research that shows today’s teens are experiencing real anxiety around something as simple as making a phone call. It's called telephobia.

But we’re not just worried about our kids' mental health. We're also worried about our own. And while there’s a lot keeping parents, like me, up at night, this past weekend, I slept like a baby.

Why? 

Because of a 19-year-old named Jordana Bryant.

Where It All Started

I first heard about Jordana through her manager, Rick Barker. Rick and I spoke on Loren Lahav’s Own It stage for International Women’s Day, and we bonded right away. We talked about the power of storytelling, the hustle behind the scenes, and the importance of family. 

One of Rick’s claims to fame is that he was Taylor Swift’s first manager. These days, he’s focused on his courses for parents trying to manage their child’s music career and his new book, Music Business for Parents: What Every Aspiring Artist’s Parent Must Know About the Music Industry. But when he met Jordana, he came out of retirement just to work with her. That’s how much he believes in her, not just as an artist, but as a human being.

Jordana writes about friendship, heartbreak, growing up, and figuring it out in songs like “New Friends,” which captures the ache of friends moving on, and “Miles Don’t Matter,” which reminds us that love shows up even when we’re far away. Her new single, "Remembering It Wrong," is a heartfelt exploration of post-breakup doubt and resilience. She has more than 215 million views across her social channels, her country EP hit #10 on iTunes, and she just launched a podcast called New Friends with Jordana Bryant. But you can read all of that on her website or find it on YouTube. 

Let me tell you what you won’t see online.

A Masterclass in Connection

When I found out Rick was launching house concerts with Jordana around the country, I asked if we could host one. Rick did similar small intimate appearances with Taylor in her early days, like at a yogurt shop. Rick gave us the thumbs up and we got to planning.

The morning of the concert, my daughter and I met Jordana, her mom Randi, and Rick at KTLA for a live segment. The cameras captured the interview and the music, but the real story didn’t happen on live TV. For me, it started the moment Jordana met my daughter.

She locked eyes with her.
Her phone was tucked away all day.
And she never once looked distracted.

She was truly there. With her. Listening. Laughing. Asking questions. Engaging. In a world of scrolls and distractions, that kind of presence stands out. And it was clear: this wasn’t a performance. It’s who she is.

Jordana, Randi, and Rick could’ve kept to themselves before the segment. They had every reason to want to focus and prepare. But instead, they brought my daughter into their circle. They saw her. They heard her. They made her feel like she belonged, talking about everything from her new guitar to her love of country music. She’s seven.

After the taping, the anchors stood with Jordana and Rick for a photo. As they were about to say goodbye, Jordana paused and said, “Wait! We need one more!”

Then she waved my daughter over.

My kiddo ran into the frame and wrapped her arms around Jordana like they’d known each other for years.

What everyone in the studio saw at that moment is exactly what everyone experienced at home later that night. 

Jordana introduced every song with a story and you could hear a pin drop. When she sang, they sang along. When the girls requested songs she delivered. And after her set, she could’ve gone back upstairs and had a moment to decompress in my office, but she did the opposite.

She kneeled on the floor to hug each kid. She made sure every autograph was signed. Every photo taken. And in between it all, she’d sneak a quiet moment with her mom, reminding me to enjoy this phase with my littles, but also making me excited for what’s to come as they grow.

The Jordana Effect

Every child left our house feeling so seen and it’s a powerful reminder for all of us.

Whether we’re entrepreneurs, employees, parents, or caregivers we all have never-ending demands on our time. But the secret to having meaningful relationships in life and business goes far beyond our to do lists and meetings. It’s deeply rooted in the way we see each person we meet, in the way we manage our teams, and how we engage with the people around us, especially our kids.

Later that night, my daughter recapped the whole day. Her eyes lit up, her voice was buzzing with excitement. And she said something that made me pause:

"Mom, you know what’s so nice about Jordana? She never asked for space. When she talked to us she made everyone feel like the only one there."

That kind of kindness is hard to teach.
That kind of presence? Even harder.

As someone who teaches people how to communicate and connect for a living, this weekend proved to me that no matter how noisy the world gets, being present is still the most powerful gift we can share.

Header image credit: Robby Klein