Let's Be Honest with Kristin Cavallari - No Excuses, Just Business with Emma Grede
Episode Date: April 14, 2026Emma Grede is here, and she’s not sugarcoating anything. We dig into what it really takes to build a business, lead people, and create a life on your own terms.She gets into her no-BS leade...rship style: high standards, radical honesty, and owning your mistakes. Emma shares major business missteps (including a failed product expansion), how she dissects failure without ego, and why understanding your own patterns is the key to long-term success.We also cover what she actually looks for when hiring, why being slow to hire but quick to fire matters, her take on unlimited PTO, working with friends, and when investors can do more harm than good. She breaks down why “focus” is one of the most misunderstood concepts in business, and why your customer has to be at the center of everything.This episode is honest, motivating, and packed with real insight on failure, leadership, resilience, and building something that lasts.A word from my sponsors:Shady Rays: Go to https://shadyrays.com and use code HONEST for 40% off 2+ pairs of polarized sunglasses.Momentous: Head to https://livemomentous.com, and use promo code HONEST for up to 35% off your first orderKahlua: Find Kahlúa Dunkin Caramel Swirl at retailers nationwide, including Walmart, Total Wine, Albertsons, Kroger, Ralphs, Safeway, BevMo, Publix, and more. Must be 21 or older to purchase. Please drink responsibly.Ritual: Ritual - Save 25% on your first month at https://Ritual.com/BEHONESTSam Edelman: Visit us at https://samedelman.com to explore everything you need for spring and get 15% off with code honest15.Opositiv: Take proactive care of your health and head to https://OPositiv.com/HONEST or enter HONEST at checkout for 25% off your first purchase.Good Wipes: Buy any two packs of goodwipes at Walmart or https://Walmart.com, text them your receipt, and get reimbursed almost immediately for one of them. For more details, head to https://goodwipes.com/HONEST.For more Let's Be Honest, follow along at:@kristincavallari on Instagram@kristincavallari and @dearmedia on TikTokLet's Be Honest with Kristin Cavallari on YouTubeProduced by Dear Media.This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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The following podcast is a dear media production.
This is Let's Be Honest with Kristen Cavalry, a podcast all about getting real and open on everything
from sex, relationships, reality TV, wellness, family, and so much more.
And just a fair warning, there will probably be some oversharing.
Emma, welcome.
Thank you, my dad.
I'm so happy to be here.
I am so excited you're here.
And happy Pub Day, because your book is out today.
Start it with yourself. I flew through your book. I think I read it in two, two and a half hours.
Oh my goodness. I think it's the fastest book I've ever read. And I read it on a flight from London,
which I thought was very appropriate with you. Very appropriate. Thank you for that.
Yeah. How timely. Right. I loved it so much as a businesswoman, but also just as a woman,
you're someone who's out there speaking your mind, chasing your dreams. And I really resonate with that.
I also really resonate with your leadership style.
You are transparent.
You are accountable.
You have this fire in you that I absolutely love and respect.
And so I'm curious, how would you describe yourself as a boss?
And is it the same way that your direct reports would describe you?
I mean, there's a bunch of them outside.
We'll have to go and ask them.
Bring them back to them.
First of all, I'm so grateful to you for reading the book
because I feel like this book was just written for women.
It's just the type of thing that I wish I'd have had to.
read almost like 15, 20 years ago, I honestly think that people would, I describe myself as somebody
who has extremely high standards. I have extremely high standards for everyone around me and for
myself, but I'm a really like straight shooter. Nobody's ever sitting around going, I wonder what
Emma thinks. Like, you know what I think, because I told you, like in the moment, there is no messing
around and I'm very, very clear. And so I think that most people that work with me will say, you know,
she's firm but fair. There is no fucking around. Let's just be honest. But at the end of the day,
I think that most people that work with me learn a lot from me, like in a lot of different ways.
You know, I think that after a few years of working with me, you go, you know what? Like, that was a lot,
but I really learned a lot. And she was a good girl. Right. Exactly. Which is great for people,
because then they can take that for the rest of their careers. I mean, I think so. Yeah. Why not?
How do you deliver maybe a little bit of negative feedback or some criticism?
Because I know, especially as a woman, sometimes it's really easy to get painted as the bitch, for a lack of better words.
Are you mindful of that or you just let that go and you just focus on what message you need to address?
It's a thing.
I have learned that you critique the behavior and not the individual because I know how women are wired.
I am a woman at the end of the day.
And so much of what I talk about in this book, start with yourself.
is how to manage your emotions. And when you are able to make sure that your decision making
isn't coming from a pace of emotion, that changes the whole thing. So I don't go into critique or
feedback being emotional and I don't aim it at somebody personally. I talk about their behavior.
I really show people the way. And I think I'm like constantly modeling the type of behavior
that I want to see as well. And again, I'm direct because I don't think it's helpful and useful,
especially in the context of women to like shy away from feedback.
We need the feedback.
We need it given to us, but we also need like to be shown the way.
And so I think that the type of person I am,
I'm modelling the behaviour that I think is acceptable.
I leave my office every day at 5 o'clock,
not just because I want to go home and do bed and bath and story time with my kids,
but because I want to create the conditions for other people in my company
to leave at 5 o'clock.
Now let's be fair, I come back on.
I'll do some emails that, hey, like,
Do you know what I mean? That's the reality of my life. When you run companies, you have to have
like a hundred percent mentality and always on mentality. But I make time for the things that matter
so that everyone around me can do that. I love that. What about this younger generation? Because
I know just in my own business too, you know, the early 20 year olds, they can be a bit sensitive.
And I think sometimes, like, I'm really direct as well. And same thing. You will always know
how I think and feel. No shit, girl. Yeah, no shit. I was like, really?
Yeah, not really. But sometimes this younger generation, they don't respond well to that directness.
What do you do in those situations? Or do you just not hire those people from the jump?
Can you imagine? You know what? I almost kind of feel like it's kind of unfair to label like just the younger generation.
Because I actually, you know, I'm an older millennial. I'm 43. And I think you get just as much pushback from like people in their 30s and their 40s.
I think what I'm starting to see is that, you know, there are just certain types.
And those types are not the type that I want to work with, right?
I am really honest about what it takes, right?
Really, really honest.
And I think that if you are an ambitious person, it's going to require a little bit of discomfort.
If you are career-driven, it requires proximity and visibility.
Because if you're not around me, and I mean, like, in office, in the room, seeing what's happening,
You're not going to learn as quick and you're not going to see how I move.
And so there are certain things that I require of people that work with me.
And if you're not willing to do that, then perhaps you should be somewhere else.
And that's fine too, right?
Because it takes different people.
But we all know that like none of us are in a position anymore where you're like chained to your desk, right?
Women require a certain level of flexibility.
But it also comes at a cost.
And what I've done in the book is try to be really honest about, well, what's the cost?
Like, what are we actually talking about here?
Because to tell people that, you know, you can come.
come in a couple of days a week and give 70% effort and still you're going to be a baller
and be paid the most, that's just lies. Like, it's not the truth. So I just don't want to sugarcoat
things and I don't want to gaslight people. That's such a good answer. And see, that's what
I'm saying. I love how honest and transparent you are with this stuff because it's true.
It's true. And you talk a lot about strengths and weaknesses. And of course, we all have them.
You have actually said that I think being CEO is not all that it's cracked up to be and you
prefer being in product and merch. That's really your strength.
Yes.
What are areas of weakness where you have to lean on other people?
Oh, so many.
How long you got?
I think I've learned, like, my superpower is knowing what I'm not good at, right?
And making sure that I get people around me that are really strong at those things.
I think the difficulty is sometimes specifically for women, there is this idea that you should be all the things, right?
It's like, you start a business or you go into a place and you're like, I need to know everything about everything.
It's like, not so.
You need to be really good.
and understand your strengths and your superpowers.
And then you just need to hire or patch in for all of the rest.
And what happens when you do that?
Like, when you allow your weaknesses to be known or seen,
you kind of like raise the level of the room
because people who are good in those places,
they'll be like, I've got that.
I'm going to do that thing for you.
And so by kind of pretending and being in this game,
like you don't allow people to be good and strong around you.
You keep everybody down and no one wants to work like that.
Everyone who works around me is like a baller. They want to be a boss. They want to be great. They want
recognition. And I'm like, great. Have all of that. Patch in for where I'm not good. And I'm like willing
to share because I actually know that none of us get anywhere alone. Right. It takes teams. It takes like
great people. And when you find great people, you need to keep them around you. And that means like giving
them a space and a place that they can be great. Yeah. And there's so much strength in admitting that you're not
perfect at everything. You need help. Totally. So, but give me like an
example within the company. Like, what is one area that you're like, I know that I am not good at that.
So I'm really going to lean on my CFO or whoever. I would say anything that's like operations.
I'm super dyslexic. And so the way that my brain works, as soon as like systems get really complex and a thing has to speak to a thing to tell a widget what to do to plug in.
I'm just like, no. So anything like logistics, operations, like it's just not the way I'm wired.
You're more creative. I'm a creative thinker. It's like I'm a business person.
I have taught myself, like I would have said to you 10 years ago, like, I am not good with the numbers.
I never say that anymore because to be in business, you have to be good at the numbers.
You have to be able to see the patterns and how things are linking together in your business.
You have to get good at that.
But there's other places where you're like, that is better outsourced.
I think that finance is one of those things that everyone needs to get a grip on.
And it doesn't matter if you have a corporate job, you're running a company, you're doing a startup.
Like, whatever it is, you have to be wired into the number.
numbers and you have to be wired into your money. That is such great advice. I've heard to learn that
too because I mean, I think, you know, let's say you hire a CFO and you're hiring them for their
expertise. That doesn't mean that as a founder, you get to just take a backseat. You always have to
know what is going on. No way. You need to be able to like ask the pertinent questions. You need to be
able to say to somebody, okay, like, you know, and also it's like to be strategic and to be creative
also requires you to have a head for the finances.
You need to be able to build and articulate
whatever it is that you're trying to do.
And so there's no way of getting around the numbers, right?
That's just something you have to learn.
And I think that I try to have this idea of myself
as always in learning mode.
Like I'm always trying.
Like right now I'm obsessed with AI
and I take a day of like unhealthily.
Really?
Like what part about it?
It's binding.
Just like the idea that this is even possible.
I started my working career.
before there were emails.
Right.
And so right now, I'm like, what is happening?
But you know, these big unlocks.
Do you use it ever for business?
I use it all the time for business in every way, shape, or form.
Planning in, like, planning inventory, in merchandising.
Anywhere where there's data, like, we are using it.
So anywhere where there's numbers coming in, we are absolutely making decisions that way.
Oh, I'm fascinated by that.
Yeah.
Okay.
I've sort of, I'm like almost anti-AI, but I know it's like, it's happening.
Yes.
So I kind of need to just lean into it.
You've got to lean into it.
But I do think, and I love that you say you're anti-AI, because there's a place to protect, right?
And especially, like, I'm in products. I'm in design. You know, we do beautiful marketing.
And so I think that there are places in your business where you have to say, like, this needs human hands.
This needs an emotional touch. And so you've got to protect that. And then I think everything else should be AI.
Well, you want to know, it's funny. I actually asked chat GPT one time just to see.
I was like, hey, design a collection for me.
You gave it, you know, some barometers. It was horrid.
Pants. Like horrid.
And I was like, okay, well, thank God. You can't take all the jobs out there. I'll be good. I'm okay.
We do need humans for some things. I love that you're leaning on it, though, for certain things. It's smart business move.
It is a smart business move. And I think whatever you're doing that you should be learning. I think people are scared of AI because they're scared of what they don't know.
I think actually the superpower is to become the person in your office that does know how to use AI. That does get two hours back because they're figuring it out.
You'll be even more useful to that business, even more useful to your team.
your department, whatever it is. And I try, generally speaking, not to be scared of things, right?
Like, I don't enjoy the idea that I'm raising kids and have no idea what the, you know,
employment environment is going to be in 10 years. Right. That I find as scary as anyone would find.
But I do think that like leaning in to where your fear is makes a lot of sense. It makes sense
in your work life. It makes sense in your business life. And so I actually always try to find the
things that freak me out the most that I'm most scared of and do them. Yeah, that's where the growth
is too, right? Also, with AI, it's like work smarter, not harder. That's a great example of it.
Okay, so you've had obviously multiple successful businesses, right? So I want to know,
what are you doing differently as a founder, as a CEO? Because I think it's one thing to have one
successful business, of course. But when you've done it multiple times, you've got the magic touch,
you've got the formula. What are we doing differently that other founders and CEOs are not
doing. That is so funny. I, you know, I never ever think of it like that because I always think
that you're one step away from disaster. Do you? Yeah, because I, where does that come from?
I always, oh, that's from my childhood, right? It has to be from my childhood because I think I come from a
place where, you know, the boom and bus cycle was really clear. It was like, oh, that guy has
something. He just bought a new car. Oh, it's gone tits up and now they have nothing. Like, it was just
so prevalent where I grew up. And when you're like from the hood, you see it so clearly.
right because people are so out there with like what they have and then when they don't have it anymore
you're like hyper aware of it. I think what I have done is like transitioned on the way up.
I took one thing that worked and I did the same kind of thing over and over and over again
and learned from all of the mistakes. And if I go back to my agency days like, you know,
I ran an agency that did celebrity partnerships. I was the broker, the kind of person that
nobody wanted in the negotiation. You're not the brand. You're not the company.
the talent, just the one, like in the middle, trying to make something work, trying to like get a
commission out of it. And I kind of learned from being in that very unwanted situation of how to be
indispensable. And I learned what was important. And so what I do now is really kind of focus
on the things that are important. I'm really good at building a strategy. I'm really good at
looking at things and having like an overview of them. And I can get everybody to come with me.
Right? So it's like, I'm that person that goes, do you know what? Like, here's what we're doing. Here's what's important. This is the way. And I want everyone to follow me and go in this direction. And when you can build momentum like that between people and between your goals, like, shit starts to happen. Like you just, you get, like, I'm always in motion. And so it's not like I feel like I have some special touch. I'm just like a very good organizer of people and things around my ideas. Well, you're a really good leader. To me, that's what that is. I think I am a pretty good leader. You are.
Yeah. Well, and so when you're hiring for other leadership roles, obviously it's going to vary depending on what the role is. But just when you're looking at leadership qualities like that, getting everyone to buy in on this goal, this dream, what qualities do you look for in people?
So first thing to say is that I really, I hire for attitude over experience because I think that I'm a person, you know, I didn't go to college. I was a high school dropout. And I think if you've got the right attitude that you will do a.
amazing things. I also think now, especially in the last few years, I'm hiring for a flexible
attitude over somebody who's really experienced and got a great attitude. Because what happens
is when you hire, typically I'm hiring the more senior people in the company, right? So if you're
in, you're like late 30s, 40s, 50s, I'm going to hire you to come in. You've been working
at X company for however long. You think you know it all. You think you've got it all down. And
we're doing things in an entirely different way. We're moving. We're changing. We are.
adapting, AI is coming in. So I need that flexibility of thought. I need you to say, yeah,
I've been doing it like this for 30 years, but oh, there's a better way, there's a new way.
And so that idea of being flexible and that can be really hard for people in their workplace
because you're like, I've got this down. I know how it goes. But if you have flexibility
of thought, that is like such a muscle that is so valuable for anyone in business. You're like,
oh my goodness, like they understand how to move and do things differently and see a bigger picture.
And so I think those traits are really important.
That's that startup mentality.
Like even if you've been around for nine years, like you still need that grit.
It's like that little bit of, yeah, the flexibility and the grit.
Totally.
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So you talk about how you didn't go to college. You don't have a BA.
No. But the qualities that you do have, those things can't be taught, you know, that drive, that ambition, that passion.
And so I'm curious from your childhood, because, you know, you talk a lot about your childhood and your book.
What qualities do you specifically attribute to your childhood that has helped you in business?
I would say grit is the big thing, right? I was kind of raised in a way where no one was coming to help you.
Yeah.
Like you just had to help you.
yourself. And so for me, I literally believed, Kristen, that I would need to work my way out of where
I was. You know, it's like I had a paper out. I worked in a deli. I sold fireworks. I sold, you know,
stolen shirts off the back of a lorry. Like, it's like I did everything that I could to get out
of where I was. I also, like, developed a really thick skin because there was just a lot
happening around me and no one was like careful with my feelings when I was little, you know,
how we're so precious. I'm precious with the words I use around my kids. Like, you know,
No one was doing that for me when I was little.
So you get a thick skin.
Like you learn to take a lot of knockbacks.
And in the beginning of my career, I think that I just got told no so much that I started like not even to hear it.
So I definitely think somewhere between kind of like grit, the resilience, just the fact that, you know, it's like I am a hard worker.
Yeah.
I'm going to outwork anyone in the room.
And I'm not really, you know, I've never been.
too good for anything. You know, it's like, I'll pack a box. I'll open a box. Like, when my books
came in, they weren't going on. I was like, I'm just, you know, I'm going to do it, you know,
and my team were like, it's a really good outfit in a really good place. It's time for an Instagram.
And I was like, but I'm actually, you need to let people know in the caption. I'm actually
unpacking these boxes. This wasn't just for Instagram. This wasn't like, oh, she's with like a
tape and a row. I was like, I need shit down quickly. But, you know, I do think that there's
something in that, that you are just, I am always willing to kind of get off my peg. And you know
was so crazy, I will tell you so far on my press tour, I have met three women journalists who used
to work for me. No way. Oh yeah. So the way you treat people, the way you come into a room, the way
you look after people, the way you fire them, all of it. You better be careful because it's all
going to come back around. And so, you know, when I walk into places and I'm like, oh my goodness,
how are you? You know, it's like that kind of reputational value, you either have it or you don't.
That's totally within your control. And so when I talk about,
this idea of what it means to start with yourself. It's like there's so much that we're not in
control of. And we know that as women, right? We know that there are systems and the patriarchy and all
of these things that keep us small. But I don't think you should be one of those things. I think that
we have to keep ourselves big. We have to like imagine all of the things that we can do and that
we're allowed to do because no one's coming to kind of knock on your door and go, here you go,
babe, look at this that's just happened for you. It's like you have to do it. That's why you're so
inspiring. I mean, honestly, I could just listen to you talk like that for hours. I'm like,
let's go out there and do all the things. Let's go. It's so great. What would you say is the difference
between being good and being great? It's your level of input, right? Like, how much do you care?
And I always think about this idea of like being excellent and I am obsessed with it. Like, I was
obsessed when I, you know, used to work in the deli and make like what I thought was like the most amazing
sandwich. People would wait for me because they'd be like, I want that girl to make my sandwich. I
thought that was major back then. But I kind of take that point of view to everything. It's like,
if I'm going to do something, and I really want to talk about the things I don't do, because I don't do a lot.
And I never want people to feel like guilty. It's like I outsource a lot of things. But the stuff that I do,
I put everything in. I will, you know, when we started a good American, I was like, oh my God,
I am going to obsess the fabric and the stitching and the bell. And the bell.
belt loops and the construction and the silhouette and the fits and the finishing and the wash. Like I was
like a crazy person. And I'm kind of like that about everything because this idea of like everything
being one percent better. People don't really know that but they feel it. Like they come into a room,
they see you and they're like, oh my God. Like you just, you just know that care has been taken. And so
excellence is something that you can practice. You can practice it every single day. How am I going to
show up in this room today? How am I going to behave in this meeting? How am I going to treat the person?
that sits next to me. And you know what? It's noticed. Like the person that you don't even
realize is watching notices excellence. And that's how you get promoted. That's how you get opportunities.
That's how people see you and they're like, oh my God. Like that girl, that woman. Like, you know,
and so I think when you do that and you behave like that, it kind of comes back to you in ways that you
just can't even imagine. I agree. I was raised with that. If you're going to do something,
give it 110%. Otherwise, don't do it at all. Just don't do it. Yeah. Just don't do it. That's great advice.
Is there anything that you look for when hiring that is an indicator not to hire someone?
Yes.
Yeah.
I don't like, I could like to do a whole episode just on this part, which makes me sound like such a bitch.
There's so many things that I don't like, right?
Let's list them all.
Let's go down the list.
I don't like people.
So I think that when you come into an interview situation, you should probably try to orientate it around your achievement.
what you can do and your like potential working relationship with this company, right?
You talk about the company.
I think people that come in with too much about themselves, what they need, you know, me, me,
me, me, me.
How is like this vacation policy going to work?
What is the work-life balance going to be?
You know that I love that one.
Oh, I know.
We're going to talk about it.
It's all those things that I think, you know, make you look junior.
They make you look small.
And so I think that what you need to do is like, raise.
the bar of the conversation and talk about the company, talk about the business, talk about your
observations, right? Like, raise the level of how you're perceived. Yes. To be part of the company.
Yes. Don't go in and talk about yourself and have specificity. Meaning, like, if you're at your job
and you, you know, you're in sales and you sold this that was, you know, based looking at last year's
figures was up. Like, tell me the percentages. Tell me what you did. Don't worry about being
braggadocious because again like nobody is coming to like talk about your achievements so I think
like having specificity and numbers and knowing what you're talking about is really really important.
Okay, I love that. And I know that you've said at the end when you say, you know, do you have any
questions for me? Always have a question. Have a question. Have a question. Yeah. Because that just
signals intelligence. Right. Do you know what I mean? Show me that you care and you put some thought into
this. You've covered it all. Like, oh, I'm good. Make it up. Because curiosity like is the thing, right?
So even if you don't, like they've covered everything that you expected, just asking something
random about like, you know, who's it the architecture of this building?
I don't know.
Like something, right?
Anything but life balance.
Anything.
Okay, well, we have to talk about it.
And you talk a lot about it in your book, which I think is going to be really helpful for a lot
of women.
But you went on another podcast and you said, hold on, I have it.
You said, work life balance is your problem.
That's yours to figure out.
I completely understood this.
And I appreciated it as a woman and as a business owner that you were saying it.
But you did get a lot of flack for it.
I did.
I actually don't feel like you have to defend it unless you want to.
But I'm more curious how you handle negativity like that, negative press.
Does it bother you?
Can I tell you?
Yeah.
And you might just go like, this girl's a psychopath.
You know, I never experienced it as negativity.
I got all of that clap back.
First of all, Kristen, I was on the news for the first time ever without me having been there.
So I was like, well, this is a valuer.
I was like, look at that.
I'm over there on the news and I didn't even have to go to New York.
God, I love that.
In me, I was like, I didn't even understand it.
Obviously, subsequently, I understood that people, it kind of hit people in a place that was like, oh, what is she saying?
Like, we like Emma.
She's a nice girl.
She's supposed to have our back.
And actually, I do have people's back because I want you to understand that that isn't the question.
The focus should actually be on not how am I going to.
but like balance these things. It's like what is your overall ambition? And what is the way that you're
going to get there? Because striving for this like balance, A, you're never going to get it.
There is not some magical balance. You have to have, and I talk about this so much, you need to have
a vision for yourself, right? And not vision boards, not manifestation. You need to be like,
this is how I want to live. I want to live in Nashville on 135 acres. I want my kids to breathe the
fresh air and I want to run a business at my own pace and I want to do it in the way that I feel
is good, right? You have an idea of the type of life that you want to live and then you do all
the things to get there. So striving for this mythical balance, which by the way, none of us have.
None of us has the ability as employers to give. Like that stuff is on you. And the reason I said
that is because I wanted people to take a step back and go, oh, it's up to me. Like I have to
decide the way that I want to live and what's going to work for me and be in the right. And being the
right place for that lifestyle. So that's actually what I was saying, but I'm going to even double down
on it here and go, not only is work life balance, not the point. It's actually career suicide, right?
Completely. It's killing life and it's career suicide. Because guess what? I met all of my best
friends at work. I met my husband at work. I had some of the best nights of my whole life after work.
And now it's like, you think you're going to find like the guy of your dreams while you're sitting in your
bedroom on a Zoom call in a bad outfit. You will not. I can tell you you're not. You will not. You will not.
You will not. And I say it in that joky way because I'm like the point of life is for us to be
together. The point of like work and business is actually it's your interaction point in the world.
And if you are taking that part of your life away, you're actually like taking down your chances of
all of these great things and all of this great like interaction from happening. So all I'm saying is like
don't rely on the way that we're coming to work right now,
maybe like a couple of days a week on a Zoom call,
as being the thing that is going to propel you
because it probably won't.
And I think that having like a serious conversation with yourself
is much more valuable.
It's much more the thing that we should all be doing
and really thinking about like, how do I want to live?
What's important to me?
Right.
Well, and with the work life balancing, I mean,
I know I get asked that question all the time
and I'm not even doing a fifth of what you're,
you're doing. And I love that you talk so much about it in your book. And you're very honest about
the fact that you can't be at the top of your career and make dinner every night and be at every
sporting event and have the best body. And so you can't, you can't be all the things. There's not
enough time in the day. So I want to know just for you, how do you decide in a week, let's say,
what gets your time, your attention? And does it ever shift from week to week or month to month?
It shifts all the time. Yeah. But actually, like, not in the ways that you would imagine. Because I am
so intentional and because I do have a very clear vision. It's like I love getting my kids up in the
morning. You know, like when they're all sleepy, it's like that's like a non-negotiable for me.
But of course I travel. And so there are some weeks where I'm not getting them up in the morning.
But in like a regular week, it's like I have the stuff that I really like doing. I really like
us to sit at a dinner table altogether. And I will make sure I'm home for that even if I'm going
out that night and I'm going to have like a second dinner. It's like I sit down and I eat with my kids
and we chat about the day and we talk shit and we make. And we make.
jokes and like we do the thing. That is like a non-negotiable to me. But I do it based on my
idea of what is perfect, not based on something I saw on Instagram, not based on like some
guilt that I picked out from some other lady at the school. It's like that's why I talk about vision.
It's for your work and for your life because I know what type of mom I want to be. So I set my
expectations. I have my goals and I say no to everything else. I love that. Like literally, like no.
Yeah. So it's like I don't do a lot of stuff.
because I've decided that these things are the things that are important to me.
Learning to say no is one of the best things you can do as a woman.
One million percent.
You cannot be a people please that and a leader at the same time.
And so we have to decide like, is that actually policing me?
Because you know, like, we've all been there in places where you're like, oh my God, I said yes to that thing.
I didn't even want to go.
I know it.
Like, do you know what I mean?
It's like, why did you do that?
The worst feeling in the world.
The worst.
So just say no.
Yeah.
Because actually people really respect.
that. They're like, oh, she knows what she wants to do. Like, she doesn't suffer full. She doesn't waste time.
I prefer that. Yeah. And you've got to learn how to take care of yourself as a business owner,
as a mom, as all of the things. Yes. Well, and with everything going on, I would imagine,
and probably at this point, you know how to navigate when you're starting to feel like you're
heading towards burnout. Yes. So what do you do when you start feeling that way? How do you pull back?
What are you doing to relax, find some me time? And what does your me time look like? Oh, I love some
me time. Let me tell you. I am the start with yourself, girl, so I'm right at the top of my own list.
Girl, it's like, I'm there. You know what I do? So there's two parts. One, in, like, a professional
kind of environment, when I feel like I am at my kind of breaking point, I look around me. I'm
like, who is here to help? Why am I doing so much? And it's always, because I have, like,
inhale too much. I've taken too much on. So I just literally start going. You can do that, you can do that,
and getting to that point where you are willing to delegate and happy with the end result.
And I mean that in like in my work and in my life.
I always talk about this thing where my friend was like, can you make, said to her husband,
can you make the kids lunch?
She then proceeded to like literally talk him through the sandwich making.
And I was like, what are you doing?
Like you've got to kind of be happy with like the 75% good sandwich.
Do you know what I mean?
Like the bad husband sandwich sandwich, your kids not looking quite how they should when they lead to school.
Because I'm like, let them get themselves ready.
Like, do you know what I mean?
That outsource some of the stuff.
It's not all going to be perfect.
It's not going to be perfect.
So come to terms of that.
So the first thing I do is I look around and I'm like, what can I not do?
What can I outsource to other people?
And then what just doesn't need to be done?
Right.
Because sometimes I am like, oh my goodness, like, you know, I like to have my hair dyed all
the time because I'm going gray.
I'm just going to have to do it a week later.
Right.
Right now, it's like, I don't have my nails done.
The nails.
Because I've just been so busy that I'm just like, you know what?
Let them breathe.
Take them gels off for a second.
It's like one less thing.
So I'm like, what can just give?
Those are things that can give.
But I am like militant about looking after myself.
It's like a meeting.
It's like I have a massage every single Tuesday night because I suffer with headaches and I work out a lot and I need to do the recovery because my train is like,
you can't do all the workout about doing the recovery.
So I do that.
I get that.
And it's like, I do acupuncture.
It's part of the wellness routine and massage.
I really do believe that.
And it's like that moment where it's like I know my kids are in bed.
I can do it.
I'm going to chill out.
And I like to get up early.
I like to get up early for the workout.
What time do you get up?
I'm up at 5.
But I wake up naturally at 4.45.
Do you?
Like with no alarm.
I'm like up.
What time are you going to bed at night?
10.30.
I'm like, I try to be in my bed at 10.
Okay.
But, you know, it's like.
Are you?
Never.
My phone doesn't even come in.
Into the bedroom.
No, it doesn't come into bed.
Because I have a husband and, you know, the Swedish husband.
He's like, he wants to chat and connect.
Oh, I love that.
You know, so I do that.
That's important too.
Apparently so.
You're like, I can do it about.
I'm like, oh, I'm trying to stay in this marriage.
Yes, yes. What do you do?
Oh, right.
Yeah.
Let's do that.
Locked in, locked in.
I love it.
No, but that's the thing.
I went through a phase in my life too where I was actually waking up at 5 a.m. to work out because it was the only time I could.
You just have to figure out what's important to you and that's important to you.
Exactly.
Exactly.
And it is to me.
And you meditate a lot too, right?
I do.
That is like my new thing.
It's been about maybe two years now.
I did like a course in transcendental meditation.
Which means I came to L.A. and I fully drank the Kool-A. All my English friends are like, sure you did.
Sure you did. The woman who came to teach me, she looked like, she's at a central casting.
She came in like swathes of cream cashmere and sat in my living room and I was like, this is it. I want to be you.
So I did learn that and I don't do the, like you're supposed to do 20 minutes twice a day.
I never. Yeah, that's a lot.
That is not a factory in my life. But I would say at least three or four times a week, I'm doing a 20 minute.
or a 15, 20 minute. And that has been a game changer. Because I thought meditation was to like,
quiet your mind. I think it actually gives you energy. I agree with you. I've got energy. Yeah. And I think
learning how to control your mind too in a way. Yeah. Are you a morning meditator or a nighttime?
Morning. Right when you wake up. My day unravels by that. Like, you know, it's like,
I have to do things the minute I wake up. So I meditate before I work out. Okay. I love it. Yeah.
And then what time do you get to the office? You work out and you're on kid routine in the morning.
Absolutely. I leave the house between 8 and 8.30, depending on the day. And it's sometimes, I tend to only do two school runs. So I have four kids. Okay. I do two school runs a week for the bigs and then for the littles. And then I'm the bigs and the littles. Now I have, you know, four kids and three schools. So it's a real pain in the butt. That will change in two years. So that's okay. But my morning is nuts. Yeah. Like it really is because I try to get everyone at the breakfast table for at 7.30, 4, 20 minutes of like hair,
brushing, some are eating, some are chatting. I'm signing homework. It's chaos. But to me,
it's like, it's still our breakfast moment, you know? And then everybody starts kind of leaving and
eight or eight 30 I'm out the door. So I'm in the office at either 830 or nine.
Until five. Yes, until five. So you are putting in a full day, five days a week.
Every single day. Yeah. Okay, great. Every single day.
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If you have a day, and this probably doesn't happen often, but let's say you have a day and
you don't have to do anything.
So you've got the whole day.
What are you doing from the time you wake up until the time you go to bed?
Oh, I love this question.
All right.
So it would have to be a weekend because I can't even fathom the idea of like not having
somebody to do all the weekday.
They would, like my team would just come and pick me up.
Right.
Emma, we do you.
What are you doing?
Wandering down Rodeo thinking I can go shopping.
be like, get in the car.
Like, there's stuff to do.
So, on the weekend, so I would get up and make breakfast.
You know, I love to cook.
It's my favorite thing in the world.
Oh, I love that.
And I don't cook nearly as much as I would like to.
So I cook.
I would do breakfast for the kids.
I'd get a workout in.
I would go, like, you know, to some, like, either like a farmer's market or go to the
book shop.
I like to go and buy flowers for the house.
And then I'm quite a good, like, shalomika.
Like, do you know what?
I just like would.
Shalamaka?
Yeah.
What is that, Mitch?
You just slum, like, just like, just like, go out.
Do you know what I would do?
I get a book.
I get a bunch of magazine.
Oh, do you know what I love.
I love a magazine stand.
A fashion magazine.
Oh, my God.
Yeah.
You know, like the big ones.
I'd get like a purple magazine and I would get like a good, you know, like meaty fashion
Bible.
Yeah.
And I would just like pour through the magazines.
I love it up to my husband.
You know, I've been with my husband for 17 years.
Yeah.
And he always has something to talk to me about.
I love that.
Like, literally.
He has the most abstract thoughts and ideas.
So I just chat it away to Yens.
Is that the secret to your successful marriage?
Just still chatting it up.
Yeah.
I mean, at that and that I still fancy him.
Because I think if I didn't, I'd be like, oh.
Right.
You'd be annoyed for a lot.
I'd be like, what happened to you?
Meanwhile, I'm up at 5 a.m.
Like, sort out.
Like, let's go, buddy.
No, I still really fancy him.
And he's a great, you know, he's like a great person.
Like, I've really, I chose a very.
good husband. I love that. Well, yeah, that's half the battle is choosing a good one.
Listen, I've chose wrong in the past. I'm not going to lie. We all have a love. It wasn't the first
person that I went out with. We've all been there. All right, I want to jump back into the business stuff.
Yes. So you've been a part of a few different celebrity brands. I have indeed. And so I want to know
what you guys have done differently compared to other celebrity brands or what you see celebrity brands
specifically do right and what they do wrong. So I think it's pretty easy.
when I think about the catalyst to starting a business, like the reason that you start it,
it can never be about the fame.
It has to be because there is something that you want to do, like a unique point of view,
a problem that you're solving, an aesthetic that you have.
And what we've done uniquely well in these businesses is really focus on that.
Like what was the starting point?
And then we made excellent product to match it.
And so the talent piece is always the accelerates.
And no one's taken away from that. Like, I'm very aware that that is an enormous piece of it.
But it doesn't last. It's not something that you can count on day in and day out, whereas
excellent products and pleasing your customers always works. Like every single time.
Yeah. Right. So I think that, again, I talk about this so much in the book, like what it actually
takes to build a brand and to have longevity and to, you know, really do something that is beyond the
expectations that anybody had in the beginning. And it always comes down to the unsexy.
stuff. It isn't the marketing. It isn't the influencer event. It isn't the beautiful boxes that you
sent out, right? It's like it's actually like the speed at which you get stuff to customers.
It's like delighting your customers every single time, the relationship between cost and value.
Like it's all of those things. And so I think that those are the things that often can like
take you off track when there's too much focus on the wrong thing in the beginning and not having a
distinct point of view and a reason for being. And then like the product never lives up to it.
And maybe like a little bit of a disconnect. Like I think with celebrity brands, you have to live and
breathe your brand. You have to be your brand. You know this better than anyone. It's like when it's
believable, when I'm like, yes, you do. You are. That's you. Like then and then the product is
amazing. Like then you can be such an accelerator for what you do. But if there, if it doesn't make
sense, like we're buying it. I'm like, yeah. Exactly. One thing I learned in your book,
I loved. And after I read it, I went into my team on Monday and I said, you guys, listen to what I read
in Emma's book. But I was always under the impression that we are a marketing company. And you said,
no, it's all about the product. And so I thought that was fascinating. And I am fully bought in and it
fully makes sense to me now. And so. Well, you are especially. Well, right. I look at what you do.
And I'm like, you are a lifestyle. Like you are a product business with beautiful product that makes
sense for you to be behind. Well, right. And I mean, I am my products. Like, I live and breathe it. And so I
think that's why it works. But yeah, that just completely flipped my narrative for me. And I and my whole,
anyways, thank you for that little tip. Because now our whole team is like, no, we are, we are a product.
We are product. You in the last few years have really kind of leaned into your celebrity.
Would you say you're sort of a face of the brand now? Has that been a strategic move? Or is that
just sort of been a natural progression with people's interest in you? You know what happened?
and it's so interesting, I think that people started to see me as a face and I really had an aversion
to that and a problem with it. Because I thought, do people not understand that I go to work in an office
every day? If you see me with my legs up on the desk, you know I'm actually at my desk. There's something
on my screen. Like, I'm on a phone call and a lovely girl from social came and took a photo of me.
So I kind of wanted to right size this idea of like what it is that I do. And I was like, no, no, no,
guys, like, you have to work. I felt that everybody was like thinking about brands and business
as like going to conferences and taking a picture and posting it and being like a boss.
And I was like, no.
It's also aesthetic.
I was like, guys, like, I have a nice surrounding because I've worked for 25 years to buy a beautiful
building to have an office. Not because like I've like put the surrounding together and
piled the books. Like, do you know what I mean? So a little bit of it was to kind of create the
the real narrative around the reality of what it has taken me to get to this point.
And also to share that I've had so much failure and so many mistakes.
Because people imagine that you kind of roll out to bed and your hair's great and you roll into a
great business.
And so I wanted to be honest about like, here's what it took.
Here's how I started my career in corporate.
Here are all the mistakes that I've made and the businesses that didn't work.
And guess what?
Like you get another chance.
It's not either or.
it's both and.
And I think specifically for women, you know, there's a lot of business books out there, right?
Yeah.
There's not a lot written by or not nearly as many as we would want written by women,
not a lot written by mothers and mothers are four.
And certainly not high school dropouts that are mothers of four.
Exactly.
So to me, I had like some sort of wisdom to add to the collective narrative that's out
there.
And I do want women to understand that, you know, there is a place for you in this, like,
business world.
a place for you in corporate America and we actually are desperate right now for more women in
positions of power. We need women to make more money and be paid what they deserve to be paid.
And so I just thought if I was honest about my own journey that people would be like, oh,
like she did that? Like I can do that for sure. Like she didn't like, you know, have the background
that I thought she did. And that means like I can do this thing too. So that's what I was hoping for
that I could dispel some of the kind of stuff that was circling around me because I was like,
that's not my truth. Yeah. I've got to work. I'm in the office every day. Exactly. Well, and that's
why you're such an inspiration. Well, and I love how you talked about how you've had a lot of failures.
And I think when you're at your level, we love to just talk about the successes that you've had.
And any founder and CEO knows for every good idea. There's a million bad ideas. I want to know a risk that
you took, a bad idea that you had that didn't work out the way you wanted it to. Oh,
my goodness, I have so many. I'll give you an old one and then I'll give you a new one. I think the old
one was that, you know, when I first, I had this agency in England that was killing and I opened an
office in New York and it was so good. And then I came to LA and I failed so miserably. And it wasn't
just disappointing for me. It was disappointing because, you know, you hire people, you take them out of
their jobs. You, you know, I was moving them across the world. And it was such a failure for me at the time.
And I felt like, I felt it so personally.
And how old were you at this point?
I was, that's a great question.
I must have been 30.
Okay.
Was that 30?
Yeah, Gray wasn't born.
Yeah, maybe I was 29.
And I really, you know, I really was drinking the Kool-Aid.
I was that, I'm so amazing.
There's nothing I can do wrong.
And I really was, like, baffled for so long.
I was like, how did I fail?
And it started this practice I always have now.
Like, when I get something really wrong, when something goes really bad,
in the businesses, which it always does. I then figure out, I'm like, obviously, what went wrong?
I'm like, what was my part in that? What was I telling myself the stories that allowed me to
not see what was going on? And then you see patterns. You're like, oh, I do that over and over and over
again. So it's really an interesting thing to do. And so I think that was one. I also think,
you know, when Good American launched shoes, I believed in my head, I was like, that makes sense.
We're a brand that is, you know, like rooted in this idea of inclusivity.
I make all of these different sizes and we can do shoes.
It's like customers didn't accept that we would do shoes.
I didn't know that you guys did shoes.
Thank God because I buried it real quick.
I was like, that happened and then it didn't happen.
How long wore shoes out for?
At least two years.
I mean, I gave it a gum.
Listen, here's the thing.
I had an, you know, because I know how to package things.
I need to market things.
We had an amazing launch.
We had an amazing sort of three, four months.
Right.
Until we didn't.
Yeah.
And it was that lack of acceptance.
You know, we've had categories where if you think about the brand is based on fit and fabrication.
Yeah.
That is really what makes good American, good American.
So I can go into swim.
I can't do sunglasses.
So I can't do shoes.
Yeah.
Right.
So there's certain places where you're allowed to operate, given what people believe.
And I think that there was a naivity that I could apply the same thinking to anything and be accepted.
And that was a really hard one for me because I had, you know, I told the board.
I spent a lot of money.
I was like, it's going to be amazing.
And then I looked and I was like, I don't want to wear those shoes.
I don't like it.
Money, you know?
Shoes are a beast too because it's so many sizes.
It takes up a ton of room in the warehouse.
I mean, it's, yeah, shoes are a lot.
That's a really good example.
Is that a hard thing for you to say, okay, I screwed up and we need to close the door on
the shoes?
No, no.
I'm so good at it.
Like, I'm really good at being self-critical.
I do it with my kids all the time.
And you know why, again, I do it so.
that other people can do it. Yeah. Because when you used to go, oh, that was, that was a bad decision. Like the other
day, I switched some episodes around. I messed around with things and it wasn't the right decision.
And I'm the first one to call it out. I'm like, oh, that thing that I made everybody do and
rush for, like, that was a bad decision. Sorry. Yeah. And then people don't feel bad when they have to
do exactly the same thing. Because everyone makes mistakes. It's just part of business. It's just part of
business. The only thing I find unforgivable is not the ability to not dissect it.
It's like, why was it wrong?
What about it was wrong?
What did we lose?
Somebody calculate that.
How would you do it again next time?
I need the full loop of the thing.
Let's learn from it.
Yeah, like, not like, so's.
Like, no, that's unacceptable to me.
I need you to come full circle.
And then I'm like, great, let's go.
And then I'm going to be fully supportive.
I love that.
Yeah.
With a brand, I think, you know, I think investors are great, obviously, with marketing,
because that's how you get it out there.
But if you don't have any investors, you don't have.
a lot of money, you're a newer business. What are ways that you could get your brand out there?
Well, you know, I, again, this is one of the things I talk about in the book because I feel
like so many women feel like they have to be the front and the lead of their brand. And I think
that that is great for some people, but it isn't for everybody, nor is it a necessity. You think
about all the brands that you grew up with. Right. You didn't know who was behind them.
No. I think that's become a relatively newer thing that people care now. But like some of the biggest
and leading brands in the world are faceless and nameless. And that is completely fine. I think what
you have to do is be really focused. And I think that what happens, I invest in a lot of startups
and they come to me with like a list of 10 things that they're focused on. I'm like, that's not a focus.
A focus is like three things. Like literally, you're going to narrow your focus. And if customer
is not one of those things, you will not win. Because you need your customers to be your marketing.
People need to get your thing. And they need to feel so.
amored about it that they're going to tell your friend. And that good old word of mouth, that
delighting customers so much that they tell people is the single best marketing that any brand
could have, regardless of how much money they've got to spend. So when you are really, really
focused and you make your customers so important to you and what they think and feel, because
even if they're giving you bad feedback, you can go back in and iterate on that and correct it
and then hopefully start the flywheel. So I always go.
like really have your customers and what they are saying, not what you believe in your business
to be the number one thing. I love that. That's great. So in your case, is the customer always right,
sort of speaking? Yeah, they are. You always try to. Yeah, I think the customer is always right.
Do I think the customer always knows what they want? No. Right. Like, you could never have said you wanted
like a pair of jeans that fits like five different sizes. Like we had to make that for you to understand
that that's what innovation is. But I think the customer is always right. Yeah.
Because that's their truth.
It might not be that that's your customer.
Right, right, right, right.
You might be like, okay, girl, like, but maybe we're not for you.
But it's like, that's their truth.
And I think there's so much to glean and so much for it.
Still now, and I should have said this on my day off.
On my mystical day off that I'm having.
That you'll never have.
I literally comb the comment sections.
I go into reviews.
I still have all of the passwords.
And I go in deep.
And I will like, you know, I text the team and I'm like, do you know that customers are saying about this
particular skew?
That's so great.
Thank you, Emma.
Yes, we saw that in insights, but thank you for bringing it to our attention.
Like, I'm just letting you know that I know.
Three days too late.
I'm just like, so you know, I'm switched on here.
I can see this happening.
Oh, I love that you do that.
I'm in red here.
I'm in, I'm in it.
Oh, wow.
Yeah.
See, you do have tough skin to be able to do all of that.
Oh, I know.
Because what they say ain't always nice.
Yeah, I would like, excuse me, ma'am.
I'm like, quiet.
What is the driver for you today? Because, you know, you've built this beautiful life. And I know that that was your goal, right? Was to have a different life than you did growing up. And money is not the driver anymore. So what's getting you to the office now? What motivates you and keeps you going? You know, it's so funny. I don't know anything else but to work. You know, I was with somebody yesterday and she was like, I can't, like, I'm working towards my retirement. I was like, you are? Like, I think I'll work when I'm 93. I really do think about everyone else.
You know, it's like I go back to where I came from.
And I think that, you know, talent is fairly evenly distributed, right?
Opportunity isn't.
And because we're women, sometimes we have to take responsibility for how much we're holding ourselves back.
And so my point of view is that if you are, if you're somebody that can, for whatever reason, galvanize other people, if you can go out and tell your story, if somebody goes, oh my goodness, like because she did,
I can. That feels really important to me at this point, especially like where we are in the world,
politically, economically, socially, like all the things, right? It's like all the people making
decisions around AI for the very large and most part are men. That stuff's going to have a huge
impact on our lives. So I don't want to miss that. I don't want to miss out. So I would like to
make sure that as many women as possible get into positions of power and influence, in business,
in politics, in every part of our world and our lives.
And I think that I could probably, because I'm a good organizer,
I can probably help that happen and probably make that a reality.
Yes.
I love that.
Yeah, that's what I'm doing.
Like every week I sit on that podcast and I'm like,
tell me how much money you made.
Tell me how you built your company.
Explain to me how you raise that money.
Tell me how you like do an insane best in class negotiation.
So I think people like, we need that information.
I agree.
I know.
I love that.
That's such a great answer.
Oh, thanks.
So what is your goal, like in 10 years where do you see your life?
You won't be chilling on a beach somewhere, huh?
You're still going to be grinding.
I don't think so.
You're going to be bringing all the women together.
I will.
I'll be there being like, look at that girl.
She listened to her episode 579.
She got it and took it.
Exactly.
I invested in her.
I think it's like, you've got to put your money where your mouth is.
You know, I invest in a lot of amazing women.
And I think when women are,
given opportunities, they do insane stuff. I mean, look at you. You know, it's like you've got an
opportunity and you run with it. And you learned and you, you know, you've changed and you iterated.
And we need to know that. We need to see that. And I think if you can give women information and
opportunity, like, they're going to do insane things. I agree. I think that, like, to me,
that feels exciting. I love that. Like, imagine that. Imagine you're raising your kids and it's like
all women and girls that are like leading the best.
most exciting, brilliant things.
Yes.
It's like all, you know, I think about my life.
Imagine I only had female bosses.
Oh, my God.
It would have been like insane.
Right.
Right.
It would have been so much easier.
I know.
It would be very different.
Right.
It would be very different.
And I'm like, oh, I can see a future where at least like 50% of that could be true.
Oh, I definitely think we're headed that way.
We are.
Because of people like you.
Because you're out there inspiring the women, Emma.
Go, go, go.
Okay, I want to play a game with you.
Always.
It is hot or not, but we're going to do business edition.
Okay.
So I'm just going to give you a little business scenario, and you're going to tell me if you think it's hot or not.
Okay.
A loose work-from-home policy.
Not.
We know that answer.
Okay, enough said.
I think I know the answer to this one.
Unlimited PTO.
Oh, can I tell you?
Hot.
Okay, great.
Okay, tell me why.
I have that in all of my companies.
Yeah.
Because ultimately, what do people want more than anything else?
they actually want autonomy over their lives. And when you give people the idea and the ability to be
able to maximize like the good stuff in their life, the vacations, the time, they work so much harder.
I've seen it in practice. Yeah, we do that. It totally works. Yeah. Totally. Absolutely.
Okay. Bonus structure for the entire company. Oh, hot, hat, hat, hat. Hadding hat, hat, hat. I like to
pay people well and bonus them well. And again, like, it's just you get what you pay for.
Okay. I love that. Starting a company with a company with a lot.
friend. I mean, listen, I work with my husband, sister. Right. My best friend's company. I'm going to say
hot, hot, but be careful. Exactly, exactly. But, you know, make sure they're good. Like, not any
old friends. Yeah, exactly. Could easily blow up on your face. No investors ever. I think that is hot,
hot, hot. Okay, I love it. Yeah. You know, Mark Cuban says it best, so I can't steal it from him.
He says, investors are an obligation. Right. That's all you have. You raise money. It's like a huge
obligation. If you don't have investors, like you get them when you really, really, really need them.
And you have something that is so good that the ability to scale it is so appealing that you have
your pick of investors. Exactly. When you're struggling, you will struggle. Exactly. Okay, great answer.
Faking it till you make it. I think that's hot. Yeah. Asking questions when you don't know,
even if it makes you seem green. Halt, halt, halt, halt, halt. Yeah, you talk about that in your book.
You have to. Yeah, you have to. That's how you learn. Being quick to fire.
it's not good for eating
for anyone, right? It's like, it's not
great for your employee, it isn't great for you
and you owe that to the other
people in your organization as well.
Let me tell you, like, bad people, they drag
the whole place down. It's so true.
No one wants to work next to a slacker. It's like, you're
working your ass off and the girl next to you is like a 70%
or it's like, get her out. Yeah, get her out.
Being quick to hire.
I'm very thoughtful
in my hiring, so I say not.
Okay. I'm going to reference the shit out.
Yeah, you're smart. You're smart. That's bit me
the ass a few times.
You know, unless it's a nanny or something.
Like nannies, I'm like, you're coming with me, girl.
It's so, like, critical.
I'm just like, I'm not messing around with those decisions.
Okay, that's fair.
Okay, and then the last one is becoming friends with your employees.
I have to say that that's hot.
Because here's the thing.
When you are in, like, a high-pressured environment with people,
I think that it's natural that you build relationships.
It's natural that when you're going to.
like you're in startup mode and you're in like small situations with people, you are going to be
personable. I think what you've got to do is keep the professional lines always open. And that's why,
you know, you can be honest. You don't need to be brutally honest. You can still be a kind,
empathetic, lovely person and yet be a straight shooter. So I think that that's more about like a level
of honesty. Like what are we all here to do to make money, to grow the business, to do X, Y, and Z
because these are our kind of critical goals. And we're going to have a glass of wine at the
end of the day because we're on a work trip. And we're going to be nice together. And, you know,
if we happen to be out late, we're going to dance. Right. Right. Exactly. Yes. I love it.
I think so. Yeah, I agree. Emma, you're the best. You are such an inspiration.
Thank you so, so much for being here. Your book is out today. So everyone needs to go and get it.
Also, your podcast, Aspire. Where can people find you on socials? Give us all the, all the things.
Oh, all the things. Come and listen to the podcast. It's Aspire with Emma Greed. The book is available
everywhere you buy your books. And I'm Emma Greed.
dot com, I guess, and then, you know, the same on all the socials. On all the things. Oh, yeah,
because you're on TikTok too. I mean, you're all over. Apparently. I mean, listen, TikTok.
Apparently. I mean, yeah, I think they should follow you on TikTok. I don't know. I see you pop up.
You're pretty damn good. Thank you so much for being here. Thank you, my darling. You are the best.
You are the best.
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