Emma Grede: #1 Trick Successful People Use Every Day (THIS Will Open Doors You Didn’t Know Existed!)
Timestamps are as accurate as they can be but may be slightly off. We encourage you to listen to the full context.
Podcast Summary
In this live conversation from San Francisco's Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, Jay Shetty sits down with entrepreneur Emma Grede for an honest discussion about overcoming self-doubt, building confidence, and creating success on your own terms. Emma shares her journey from staying quiet in rooms where she deserved to speak to becoming a visionary leader with global reach. (03:45) The conversation explores why caring too much about others' opinions holds us back, how competence builds real confidence, and why chasing "passion" isn't always the most strategic move. (09:57) Emma emphasizes that excellence starts with showing up fully in whatever role you're in, and Jay adds powerful reflections on focus, leaning into your strengths, and accepting that you don't need to be great at everything to succeed.
- Core themes include building confidence through competence, using fear as fuel rather than a setback, setting personal standards over societal expectations, and starting before you have it all figured out
Speakers
Jay Shetty
Jay Shetty is the host of the On Purpose podcast and a former monk turned life coach and author. He helps people find purpose and meaning through practical wisdom and has built a massive following by making ancient wisdom accessible to modern audiences.
Emma Grede
Emma Grede is an entrepreneur and industry leader who has built multiple successful businesses with women at the helm. She's known for her work in fashion and retail, creating companies that challenge conventional standards and empower women in business. She recently launched her own podcast "Aspire with Emma Grede" focused on scaling mentorship and helping people build their dream lives.
Key Takeaways
Excellence in Your Current Role Opens Unimaginable Doors
Emma emphasizes that being excellent at whatever you're doing right now - even if it's not your dream job - is the key to career acceleration. (11:36) She shares how when she worked in a deli making sandwiches, she approached it with the same excellence she brings to creating jeans today. This mindset of applying yourself fully, regardless of the role, is how people start to recognize you as someone with skills beyond your current position. (13:00) The three most important words for career growth are "I'll do that" - constantly putting your hand up and volunteering for opportunities, even when you're not sure you can do them perfectly.
Follow Competence, Not Just Passion
Rather than chasing passion, Emma advises focusing on what you're naturally good at and what gives you energy versus what drains you. (17:41) She explains that competence builds confidence, not the other way around. When you become excellent at something you have natural talent for, confidence follows naturally. This approach is more sustainable than following passion alone, because when things get difficult (as they always do), competence gives you the foundation to push through challenges rather than losing motivation.
Define Your Own Standards, Not Society's
Emma discusses the importance of creating your own list of non-negotiables rather than adopting standards imposed by others. (35:46) She writes down what's truly important to her - like taking an annual girls' trip - and treats these as non-negotiable commitments to herself. This exercise helps distinguish between what genuinely matters to you versus what society, social media, or peer pressure suggests should matter. The key is regularly reassessing these standards as your life evolves and being honest about trade-offs.
Surround Yourself with People Who Complement Your Weaknesses
Emma emphasizes the critical importance of understanding not just what you're good at, but what you're terrible at. (25:38) She identifies her key strengths - focus, resilience, and work ethic - but also acknowledges she's "horrendous" at things like patience. Success comes from surrounding yourself with people who have the skills and qualities you lack. This applies to hiring, partnerships, and even friendships. Understanding your weaknesses isn't about fixing them, but about building a team that covers your blind spots.
Start Small and Test Your Ideas
When Emma advises an audience member about her TV show concept, she emphasizes the power of starting small rather than waiting for the perfect big opportunity. (51:08) Instead of waiting to pitch Netflix, test your concept with friends or create a small version on YouTube or Instagram first. This "test and learn" approach allows you to iterate, fail safely, and refine your idea. Emma stresses that if you've figured everything out perfectly and are waiting for that one magical meeting, that day might never come - but you can start testing your idea tomorrow.
Statistics & Facts
- Emma mentions that women need to be able to do 80% of a job description before they'll apply, while men will apply when they can only do 40% of the requirements. (06:28) This statistic highlights the confidence gap between genders in professional settings.
- Emma references that female bankers and investors make better financial decisions than their male counterparts, stating "the facts and the figures are out there." (07:23) This supports her argument for having more women in leadership positions.
- No other specific statistics were provided in this episode, though Emma references various workplace dynamics and gender disparities in business without citing additional numerical data.
