Pamela Slim, a renowned content creator at johnchen.net, has long held a professional aspiration close to her heart: collaborating with the one and only John Legend. For those familiar with Pamela’s work, this might come as no surprise. John Legend’s name frequently graces her books, speeches, podcast interviews, and even her online interactions, solidifying his place as her ultimate professional muse.
This deep admiration isn’t just a fleeting fancy. It’s a persistent vision fueled by a genuine connection to Legend’s values and work. Pamela operates with the unwavering belief that perseverance and passion will eventually pave the way for this dream collaboration. She envisions a future where John Legend, recognizing the depth and breadth of her work, reaches out not with a question of “Who are you?”, but with an invitation to collaborate, acknowledging her consistent dedication.
Expressing Admiration for Your Ideal Clients: Lessons from a John Legend Fan
Pamela Slim champions the idea of openly expressing admiration for ideal clients. She encourages her own clients to unabashedly voice their aspirations, to send metaphorical “love letters” to their dream collaborations, and to actively promote the work of those they admire. In essence, she advocates for making your professional desires known to the universe. There’s little to lose and potentially everything to gain by signaling exactly who you want to work with.
But why John Legend? What fuels this enduring admiration and the feeling that their paths are destined to cross? The story, prompted by a conversation with Amy Gray, is a testament to a series of near encounters, shared connections, and a long-held respect for the artist and his work.
The “Evolver” Soundtrack to Entrepreneurial Escape
During the writing process of her book, Escape from Cubicle Nation, Pamela found herself immersed in John Legend’s Evolver album. His music became the constant backdrop to her creative process, a source of comfort and inspiration. Intrigued, she delved into his background and discovered a surprising parallel: John Stephens, the man behind John Legend, was also a former management consultant at Boston Consulting Group. Music, initially, was his side passion.
This revelation resonated deeply with the themes of Escape from Cubicle Nation. John Legend’s journey was a real-life embodiment of escaping the corporate world to pursue one’s true calling. Pamela wrote about this connection on her blog, which elicited a fascinating comment from a reader named Jane. Jane shared her experience of working with John at BCG, describing him as “lovely and brilliant” but also quiet and introverted. Jane, who herself later left corporate America to start her own business, Julep Nail Parlor, admitted she had underestimated his potential for public persona, a testament to his transformative journey. Other readers echoed similar early career encounters, yet none provided the elusive connection Pamela sought.
“Body of Work” and a Near Interview
When Pamela began writing Body of Work, focusing on defining personal success, John Legend naturally emerged as a central figure. A well-connected client offered to bridge the gap to his agent, leading to a phone call where Pamela pitched the idea of an interview for the book. The agent, understandably busy, promised to relay the request to John.
Weeks turned into months, follow-up emails and texts went unanswered. Publisher deadlines loomed, forcing Pamela to proceed without the interview. Despite this setback, John Legend’s story became a cornerstone of her TEDxFargo talk about Body of Work, a hopeful attempt to reach him through the viral potential of the platform. However, this avenue also proved unsuccessful.
Scholarcon: Gifts and a Missed Meeting
A significant near miss occurred at Scholarcon in Florida, orchestrated by Pamela’s friend and former client, Mike Bruny. John Legend was slated to speak and perform at the same event where Pamela was also invited to present. The event planner assured Pamela of arranging a meeting. Excitement surged, and Pamela commissioned Diné (Navajo) artist Steve Darden to create meaningful gifts: a beaded staff for John and earrings for his wife, Chrissy Teigen.
John Legend, musician and entrepreneur, embodies the spirit of multifaceted success Pamela Slim admires.
Twenty minutes before the scheduled meeting, the devastating call came – a change in John Legend’s schedule meant the meeting was canceled. Crestfallen, Pamela entrusted the gifts, along with a copy of Body of Work and a heartfelt note, to the event planner, hoping they would reach him. She never received confirmation of their delivery.
Mid-Air Makeup Artist Connection
Fate offered another tantalizingly close connection on a flight home from a speaking engagement in Nashville in 2018. Chatting with her seatmate, Pamela discovered she was a makeup artist for musicians. The inevitable question arose: “Have you ever worked with John Legend?” The enthusiastic reply was affirmative, accompanied by photos of John in her makeup chair from just the previous week. Another near miss, another reminder of his ever-present orbit.
Agency Management Institute and a Fading Lead
Speaking at the Agency Management Institute’s Build a Better Agency conference in Chicago in 2022, Pamela couldn’t resist a playful mention during her talk about The Widest Net: “If any of you are cousins with John Legend, be sure to tell me at the break!” To her surprise, someone approached her, claiming a professional connection. This contact led to a discussion with someone actively working with John, with initial talks of potential collaborations, including an interview. However, due to scheduling conflicts and workload, the connection unfortunately dissolved.
Nir Eyal: A BCG Alumni Connection
During a podcast interview with Nir Eyal, author of Hooked and Indistractable, Pamela discovered another BCG connection. Knowing Nir’s background, she inquired if he had crossed paths with John Legend during their time at the firm. While they hadn’t worked together directly, Nir had met John and even received a signed CD – another thread in the intricate web of near connections.
Brookings Institution Partnership: A Shared Focus on Community
A striking synchronicity emerged when Pamela learned of a partnership between the Brookings Institution and John Legend’s HUMANLEVEL initiative. Brookings Institution’s research on innovation districts and economic development was central to Pamela’s work, particularly her K’é Community Lab in Mesa, focused on BIPOC entrepreneurs. The headline announcing the collaboration – “Brookings and John Legend’s HUMANLEVEL announce a new partnership to improve well-being, equity, and upward economic mobility for people and communities nationwide” – felt like a significant sign.
The press release quoted John Legend stating, “When we study the stories of people and places, we see that everyone can thrive if given the right tools and opportunities. I’m proud to partner with The Brookings Institution to fight for sustained investment in our local communities and reframe the narrative around racial equity by focusing solutions.” This resonated deeply with Pamela’s own work and values, strengthening her conviction in their shared purpose.
“Stardust” and a Son’s Artistic Interpretation
For her book The Widest Net, Pamela and her son Jeff, an artist, were brainstorming painting concepts. Inspiration struck during a John Legend concert in Phoenix, where Pamela had a brief, socially distanced VIP meet-and-greet. While unable to present her book directly, she experienced the concert, including a performance of a new song dedicated to Chrissy Teigen, “Stardust.”
The lyrics of “Stardust,” particularly lines like “You are made of stardust / The universe inside you, yeah / A straight-up miracle / It’s so incredible / How you sometimes can forget / You’re brilliant / Like stardust / Luminous,” profoundly resonated with the themes of The Widest Net. Moved to tears, Pamela shared the song with Jeff, who created a painting capturing the song’s essence and the book’s message.
Jeff Slim’s “Stardust” painting, inspired by John Legend’s song and Pamela Slim’s book “The Widest Net”, represents the inherent brilliance within everyone.
Later, in a podcast interview with Amy Gray, a speaker agent, Pamela learned that Connie Lim (MILCK) co-wrote “Stardust.” This connection further solidified the song’s significance in her journey and prompted Amy to suggest writing about her John Legend near-misses.
“John Legend, You Give Me All of You” – An Open Invitation
And so, here it is, John. A collection of near encounters, shared passions, and consistent admiration. Pamela’s core values, Love and Justice, mirror those exemplified in John Legend’s music and activism. She sees him as an embodiment of an Architect of Liberatory Change, and she stands ready to contribute to his impactful work.
Inspired by the sentiment of “All of You,” Pamela has poured her dedication and passion into this pursuit, hoping to one day collaborate. An interview on her podcast, after fifteen years of following and writing about his work, remains a cherished aspiration. She longs to hear John Legend articulate “the thread that ties your story together,” echoing the subtitle of Body of Work.
This is more than just admiration; it’s a call to connect, a recognition of shared values, and a testament to the power of persistent aspiration. Thank you, John Legend, for your inspiring body of work, and for consistently exemplifying love, courage, and justice in all that you do. Your dedication and artistry truly resonate, inspiring those who, like Pamela Slim, deeply admire the “all of you” you give to the world.
