Podcast Summary
From young entrepreneur to CEO, Grace's journey was marked by determination and resilience: Determination and resilience, even at a young age, can lead to remarkable success. Persist through challenges and learn valuable lessons along the way.
Determination and resilience, even at a young age, can lead to remarkable success. Grace, the CEO of two multi-million dollar companies, started her entrepreneurial journey at 18 and faced unique challenges as a woman in business. Her journey wasn't a sudden "eureka moment," but a gradual process of monetizing her content and gaining confidence through small successes. Despite the challenges and personal costs, she stayed true to her values and learned valuable lessons. Her story reminds us that persistence, even in the face of uncertainty, can lead to remarkable accomplishments.
Building a business takes small steps and confidence: Focus on progress, not perfection, and take small steps towards your goal. Confidence plays a role, but don't compare yourself to others.
Starting a business or pursuing a dream doesn't require one grand decision or a perfect circumstance. Instead, it's about taking small steps, building confidence, and testing ideas. The speaker shared her experience of gradually building her business, Shreddy, through a series of decisions and experiments. She also acknowledged that external factors like circumstance and confidence play a significant role in taking the first step. The speaker encourages those who aspire to start a business not to compare themselves to polished, successful entrepreneurs but to focus on the progress they make, even if it feels small. She emphasizes that every step, no matter how insignificant it may seem, brings you closer to your goal.
The road to success is filled with trials and unique challenges for women in business: Acknowledge the challenges faced by women in business and work to overcome them, recognizing the progress made along the way.
The success stories we see are often the result of multiple attempts, some of which may not have made it to the finish line. The good experiences get replicated and shared, while the bad ones are often overlooked or hidden. Additionally, women in business face unique challenges, including being underestimated and dealing with preconceptions. These challenges can come from both external sources and our own internalized biases. It's important to acknowledge these issues and work to overcome them, while also recognizing the progress that has been made. Ultimately, success is a journey, not just a destination, and it's important to share the whole story, not just the highlights.
Navigating the complexities of success and criticism: Understand the sources of success, value criticism, and focus on self-awareness and resilience.
Success is not always a straightforward or fair concept, and dealing with criticism is an inevitable part of it. Being honest about one's work ethic and understanding the sources of one's success are essential for personal growth. It's important to have open conversations about success and the impact of social media on perception. While taking criticism can be challenging, it's crucial to recognize its value and address any necessary changes. In the end, focusing on self-awareness and resilience can help individuals navigate the complexities of success and criticism.
Handling sacrifices and criticism in business: Entrepreneurship requires determination, adaptability, and resilience to handle personal sacrifices and criticism for business growth.
Running a business comes with unexpected sacrifices and the ability to handle criticism is crucial. The speaker shares how they had to make choices between their personal goals and business growth, which often meant sacrificing time for themselves and relationships. They also emphasized the importance of learning to deal with criticism rationally, as it's a natural part of being in business. Additionally, they reflect on the all-consuming nature of entrepreneurship and how it can be both rewarding and challenging. Overall, the speaker's experience highlights the importance of determination, adaptability, and resilience in navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.
Family influences and fear of mediocrity fuel work ethic: Understanding family influences and personal motivations can drive work ethic, but beware of burnout and prioritize self-care and relationships.
The drive to work hard and succeed comes from various sources, including family influences and a fear of being stuck in a job one dislikes. The speaker's parents, who were hardworking and dedicated to their careers despite having a large family, instilled in her the desire to love what she does and find fulfillment in her work. However, this constant pursuit of work and success can lead to burnout and an unhealthy work-life balance. It's essential to recognize the importance of balance and prioritizing personal relationships and self-care alongside professional goals. Ultimately, knowing oneself and understanding what truly motivates and fulfills us is crucial in finding a meaningful and sustainable work-life balance.
Pursuing goals under immense pressure: Determination to achieve goals can lead to immense pressure, but it's important to consider the potential consequences and strive for balance.
Despite the challenges and sacrifices, some people are driven by a clear goal and will persistently pursue it, even if it means putting themselves under immense pressure. The speaker shares an example of launching a business during university finals, which was both a huge challenge and a validation of her work ethic, but also an unproductive and unwise decision. This experience led her to question the culture of hustle and the need for constant validation, and ultimately, to write a book about it. The speaker's determination and introspection highlight the importance of staying focused on one's goals, while also being mindful of the potential consequences and the need for balance.
Overlooking mental health can lead to physical symptoms: Mental health matters, prioritize self-compassion, challenge stigma, and create safe spaces for open conversations and support.
Mental health is a complex issue that can be overlooked or downplayed until it manifests in physical symptoms. The speaker, who is an advocate for mental health awareness, shared her personal experience of ignoring her mental health issues until she experienced seizures due to PTSD. She acknowledged the importance of self-compassion and understanding that mental health issues deserve the same compassion and attention as physical health issues. The speaker also highlighted the need to challenge the stigma surrounding mental health and prioritize self-care, even when it may seem difficult or unnecessary. Mental health advocacy is crucial, and it's important for individuals and businesses to create safe spaces for open conversations about mental health and provide resources and support for those in need.
Prioritize mental health for business owners: Business owners should prioritize mental health, seek regular therapy, and create a supportive work environment to prevent burnout and injury, physically and mentally.
Business owners, including themselves, should prioritize mental health by seeking regular therapy. Ignoring mental health can lead to burnout and potentially serious consequences. By setting the example and making mental health support accessible, business owners can create a safe and supportive work environment. The productivity culture that prioritizes working all the time is unsustainable and can lead to injury, both physically and mentally. It's essential to recognize that working hard does not mean working all the time, and taking care of oneself is just as important as getting the job done.
Acknowledging the importance of self-care in hard work: Find a sustainable working style that balances productivity and self-care, avoiding extremes and focusing on a middle ground.
Hard work looks different for everyone, and it's essential to recognize our limits and find a balance between productivity and self-care. The speaker emphasizes the importance of acknowledging that hard work doesn't always mean pushing oneself to the limit and neglecting self-care. Instead, it's about finding a sustainable working style that allows for productivity and creativity while also recognizing the need for rest and self-care. The speaker also highlights the importance of avoiding extremes and instead focusing on finding a middle ground. The conversation around burnout has led to a shift in the narrative, making it important to recognize that both productivity and self-care are crucial aspects of a balanced and fulfilling life.
Sharing Authentic Experiences on Social Media: Avoid extreme positivity or negativity, share vulnerabilities and challenges, and be true to oneself while creating a nuanced and realistic online presence.
Authenticity and personal responsibility are important in sharing experiences on social media, but it's essential to avoid being overly positive or negative. Sharing vulnerabilities and challenges, as well as solutions and positivity, can help create a more nuanced and realistic online presence. The speaker acknowledges the existence of toxic positivity and the importance of self-awareness, but also emphasizes the need to be true to oneself and not try to please everyone. Ultimately, the goal is to find a balance and share experiences in a way that resonates with your unique perspective and lived experience.
Challenges of being a successful woman in business and dating: Successful women in business may face intimidation or emasculation in romantic relationships, but it's essential to find a partner who respects and values accomplishments. Balance and shared values are crucial.
Being a young, successful woman in business can present challenges when it comes to romantic relationships. Some men may find a successful woman intimidating or emasculating. However, it's important to remember that not all men hold these views, and it's crucial to find a partner who respects and values your accomplishments. The speaker emphasizes that she is not in a rush to find a partner and values her current relationships with friends and family. The main difficulties she foresees are finding someone who can understand her dedication to her work and making time for a relationship. She believes that finding a partner with similar values and creating a balance between work and personal life will be key.
Navigating Business and Friendships: Maintaining balance between business success and loyal friendships requires growing in confidence, staying grounded, and valuing diverse relationships.
Running a business and the dynamics of power it brings can shape a person's relationships, particularly friendships. The speaker shares how they've had to grow in confidence to assert themselves in a business setting but values staying grounded and equal in friendships. They've found that having friends from diverse backgrounds and experiences enriches their life and allows them to empathize with others. The speaker considers themselves a generous person and uses their resources to support their friends, even if they're in different situations. They believe it's essential to maintain this balance between being a successful businessperson and a loyal friend.
Navigating the Complexities of Generosity and Self-Preservation: Success can lead to financial burdens and blurred boundaries, making it essential to find a balance between generosity and self-preservation.
While being successful and having good experiences to share with loved ones is rewarding, creating those experiences can put a financial burden on the successful individual. This can lead to a complex situation where the individual wants to be generous but also feels taken advantage of. The lack of clear boundaries between work and personal life, which has become more prevalent in recent times due to remote work, can further complicate matters. Companies offering perks like unlimited vacation can also inadvertently lead to employees working longer hours. It's essential to be aware of these dynamics and maintain healthy relationships with friends and colleagues. Ultimately, it's crucial to find a balance between generosity and self-preservation.
Pressure to constantly work and achieve leads to confusion and unhealthy habits: Recognize the cost of perpetuating societal pressure to work all the time and prioritize well-being by setting healthy boundaries.
Our modern societal pressure to constantly work and achieve more, without questioning its impact on our well-being, creates a lack of clarity and understanding of what truly serves us. This pressure, fueled by social media, can lead to cognitive dissonance, overworking, and unhealthy habits. The contradiction between progressive values, such as a four-day work week, and the pressure to work all the time is damaging and confusing. It's essential to examine these complexities and acknowledge the potential harm, even if we continue to participate in them. By recognizing the cost of standing for something and the subsequent interrogation for perfection, we can begin to prioritize our well-being and set healthy boundaries.
Social media magnifies negative aspects, leading to a culture of cancellation: Recognize the power to choose what makes us happy and aligns with our values, even if it means taking a break from social media, and focus on self-improvement rather than judging others.
Social media magnifies the negative aspects of our lives, making it easier for us to judge others for their actions while often ignoring our own inconsistencies. This can lead to a culture of cancellation that can be detrimental, but also reflects the cognitive dissonance we experience in our daily lives. When we decide to step back from social media, it can be a difficult decision, but it's important to recognize that it's a personal choice and not a defeat. We all have the power to decide what makes us happy and what aligns with our values, even if that means taking a break from the online world. Ultimately, it's important to acknowledge our own shortcomings and work on improving ourselves, rather than focusing on the perceived imperfections of others.
Realizing your strengths and passions in business: Identifying and focusing on your strengths and passions in business leads to long-term success and fulfillment.
Identifying and focusing on one's strengths and passions in business is crucial for long-term success and fulfillment. The speaker shares her experience of running a YouTube channel and how she came to realize that marketing and branding were her areas of expertise. She also mentions that founder-led businesses with a strong brand identity tend to be successful in today's market. The speaker emphasizes the importance of stepping back from day-to-day execution to focus on the bigger picture and vision. She concludes by noting that many founders have similar realizations and that focusing on one's strengths and passions can lead to a fulfilling and successful career.
Focus on your strengths and hire experts: Founders can grow their business faster by focusing on their strengths and hiring experts in other areas, allowing them to lead effectively and build a strong team.
Founders often feel pressured to do everything themselves due to hustle culture and the desire for validation. However, focusing on areas where you can make the biggest impact for your business and hiring experts in other areas can lead to greater growth and success. This requires letting go of the ego and trusting others to handle their specific disciplines. The fear of illegitimacy or being seen as just the face of the business can drive founders to micromanage, but ultimately restricts the potential of the business. It's important to remember that the most effective people in a company are those who hire and manage the team, allowing the founder to focus on leading the business. This mindset shift can be challenging, especially for young founders, but ultimately leads to a more successful and sustainable business.
Recognizing the importance of hiring and trusting a talented team: Hiring talented individuals and trusting them to excel in their areas of expertise leads to greater business success. Let go of the need for constant validation and allow your team to thrive.
As a business owner or founder, it's important to recognize the role of ego and validation in your decision-making process. You don't have to hold onto every aspect of the business yourself, and hiring talented individuals can actually lead to greater success. The speaker shared her experience of hiring students and recent graduates during her time at university, and how it forced her to outsource and trust others. She also acknowledged the insecurities that come with starting a business young and the importance of recognizing and addressing them. Ultimately, the better your team performs, the better you and your business will do. So, let go of the need for constant validation and allow your team to excel in their areas of expertise.
Recognizing strengths and weaknesses in leadership: CEO Grace Beverly shares the importance of delegating tasks, trusting team, empowering members, and showing grace in leadership
Effective leadership involves recognizing both strengths and weaknesses. Grace Beverly, the CEO of a branding and marketing agency, shared that she's learned the importance of delegating tasks and trusting her team. However, she also admitted to struggling with getting involved in areas where she doesn't need to be, stemming from a fear of taking responsibility when things go wrong. She emphasized the importance of empowering team members and giving them the responsibility they deserve. Additionally, she discussed the importance of grace and forgiveness in handling mistakes, rather than reacting with anger or frustration. Overall, Beverly's insights highlight the importance of self-awareness, trust, and empowerment in effective leadership.
The Power of Introspection and Self-Reflection: Valuing introspection and self-reflection helps us understand challenges, prioritize self-worth, and bounce back from setbacks, leading to personal growth and self-awareness.
The speaker values introspection and self-reflection in dealing with challenges, whether in personal relationships or professional settings. They believe in taking a step back to understand the situation better before reacting, and prioritize self-validation and self-worth over external validation. The speaker acknowledges their own imperfections and the importance of bouncing back from setbacks to maintain a positive self-image. They also express the importance of being true to oneself, even if it means stepping away from social media or other external influences that may hinder self-understanding. Overall, the speaker emphasizes the importance of personal growth and self-awareness in becoming the best version of oneself.
Defining worth through others' opinions can harm mental health: Instead of seeking validation from external sources, focus on self-love and authentic self-expression to improve mental health.
Being overly critical of ourselves and focusing too much on external perceptions can negatively impact our mental health. The speaker shares her personal struggle with this, particularly in the context of social media platforms like Instagram. She discusses how she used to define her worth based on others' opinions and how it led to toxic cycles of highs and lows. Now, she uses Instagram primarily for social connection and shares her life authentically, without the need to present a perfect image. She also emphasizes the importance of self-love and celebrating successes, even if they don't align with societal expectations. The speaker encourages everyone to focus on their own perception of themselves and learn from past experiences, rather than dwelling on regrets or negative feedback.
Unexpected twists and turns in life lead to growth: Even disappointing events can lead to new opportunities, and stepping away from social media during tough times may spare unnecessary stress and regret. Acknowledge past regrets and learn from them, while embracing the natural desire for approval and acceptance when sharing work with the world.
Life's unexpected twists and turns, even those that may seem disappointing at first, can lead to growth and new opportunities. The speaker shares her experience of having a dream job offer cancelled due to the pandemic and how she eventually came to terms with it. She reflects on how stepping away from social media during that time may have spared her from unnecessary stress and regret. The speaker also discusses her upcoming book and the excitement and fears that come with sharing her work with the world. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes the importance of acknowledging regrets and learning from them, while also expressing the natural desire for approval and acceptance that comes with putting oneself out there. The speaker's resilience and entrepreneurial spirit shine through as she shares her experiences and insights.
Deciding which ideas to pursue: Successful entrepreneurs prioritize and focus on executing fewer ideas well rather than spreading resources too thin, and unexpected opportunities within existing businesses can be just as valuable as starting a new one.
Successful entrepreneurs, like the speaker, face the challenge of deciding which ideas to pursue among the constant flow of new possibilities. The speaker shared that they use their audience and instinct to help distinguish worthwhile ideas, but it's also important to execute fewer ideas well rather than spreading resources too thin. Additionally, unexpected opportunities and projects within existing businesses can be just as time-consuming and impactful as starting a new business. The speaker emphasized the importance of patience and focusing on doing things well rather than constantly pushing for more. Ultimately, the key is to find the right balance and prioritize effectively.
Focusing on quality over quantity: Success comes from giving your business the attention it needs, rather than starting too many at once. Be open to change, but stay true to your goals.
Focusing on quality over quantity is key to success in business. Starting multiple businesses may seem impressive, but it can lead to being spread too thin and not giving each business the attention it needs to thrive. It's better to have one or a few businesses that are doing well than many that are struggling. Additionally, entrepreneurs should be open to the possibility of selling or pivoting their businesses, but also stay in touch with their goals and what they want for their companies. Balance in life is not about a 50-50 split between work and personal life, but rather what adds up to a fulfilling existence. At the moment, the speaker is happy with her current focus on work, but recognizes that it may not always be the case. She encourages constant self-reflection and openness to change.
Embracing youthfulness and experience: Self-awareness and appreciating nuance are vital for personal growth and success. Stay true to oneself and recognize complexities in the world.
Self-awareness and the ability to appreciate nuance are essential traits for personal growth and success. The speaker, who has accelerated through life in the public eye, emphasizes the importance of maintaining a youthful perspective while also recognizing the value of experience. She finds inspiration in individuals who exhibit these qualities and has poured her heart into her upcoming book, which she encourages listeners to pre-order. The conversation highlights the importance of staying true to oneself and recognizing the complexities of the world around us. The speaker's self-awareness and appreciation for nuance make her a wise and inspiring figure.
