🎙️ The Mel Robbins Podcast: If You Only Listen to One Podcast Today, Make It This One
From East London to Billion-Dollar Brands: Emma Grede's Blueprint for Success Through Grit, Excellence, and Unwavering Self-Belief
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One-Sentence Takeaway
Emma Grede's journey from a struggling childhood in East London to building three billion-dollar brands teaches us that success comes from taking radical responsibility for your life, pursuing excellence in everything you do, and recognizing that anything is possible when you combine vision with relentless hard work.
Brief Summary
In this extraordinary episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast, Mel Robbins hosts Emma Grede, one of the most successful self-made businesswomen in the world and the force behind three billion-dollar brands: SKIMS, Good American, and Safely. What makes this conversation exceptional is its raw honesty and practical wisdom that transcends typical business success stories.
Grede shares her remarkable journey from growing up in East London's Plaistow neighborhood, raised by a single Jamaican immigrant mother, to becoming a Shark Tank investor and entrepreneurial powerhouse. Despite struggling with severe dyslexia, dropping out of college, and facing numerous setbacks, Grede's unwavering belief in herself and her philosophy of excellence propelled her forward.
The episode delves into Grede's early career in fashion, where she worked countless "dog jobs" while maintaining her commitment to excellence in every task. She reveals how she identified market opportunities, particularly the underserved plus-size fashion market, which led to the creation of Good American with Khloe Kardashian. Grede doesn't shy away from discussing the challenges of launching a business, including the disastrous first day when they sold out of inventory immediately but couldn't restock for months.
Throughout the conversation, Grede shares practical frameworks for success, including her "Rule of Thirds" for navigating life's ups and downs, the importance of taking responsibility rather than placing blame, and the power of choosing your thoughts carefully. She emphasizes that success isn't linear and that the journey to building something meaningful takes years of consistent effort.
What makes this episode truly special is Grede's authenticity and vulnerability. She openly discusses her fears, mistakes, and the personal work she's done to overcome anger issues and limiting beliefs. Her insights on perfectionism versus excellence, the value of storytelling in business, and the importance of getting out of your own head provide listeners with actionable wisdom they can apply immediately.
By the end of this powerful conversation, listeners are left with a clear roadmap for transforming their own lives, regardless of their starting point. Grede's story is a testament to the fact that with vision, hard work, and unwavering self-belief, anything truly is possible.
Frameworks & Models
- The Excellence Philosophy:
Grede's core approach to work and life, emphasizing that excellence in small things leads to big opportunities:
- How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything: The principle that your approach to small tasks reflects your overall character and work ethic
- Excellence as a Magnet: Taking pride in even mundane work creates an "invisible magnetic pull" that attracts opportunities
- The Million-Dollar Question: Approach every task as if someone were paying you a million dollars to do it
- Excellence vs. Perfection: Excellence is internal (about your effort and standards) while perfectionism is external (about others' opinions) "When I made sandwiches in a deli, I made the best sandwich. When I worked in the cupboard packing clothes, I would do it with excellence."
- The Rule of Thirds for Life Journey:
Grede's framework for understanding the emotional journey of pursuing ambitious goals:
- One-Third Great: Accept that approximately one-third of the time you'll feel fantastic and on track
- One-Third Okay: One-third of the time will feel average or neutral
- One-Terrible: One-third of the time will feel difficult and challenging
- Acceptance and Balance: Understanding this pattern helps maintain perspective during difficult times and humility during success "If you are doing something difficult, if you're chasing a dream, you are going to be happy about a third of the time. And the other third of the time you are going to be like, life is kind of all right and the final third of the time you're going to feel terrible."
- The Self-Responsibility Framework:
Grede's foundation for personal and professional success:
- Take Ownership: Stop blaming external circumstances and take responsibility for your life and outcomes
- Choose Your Thoughts: Be deliberate about your internal dialogue and thought patterns
- Acceptance Without Resignation: Accept your reality while still working to change it
- Action Orientation: Move from thinking to doing, recognizing that you can't think your way into success "The combination of taking responsibility for yourself and choosing your thoughts really carefully will take you really really far in life."
- The White Space Opportunity Model:
Grede's approach to identifying and capitalizing on market opportunities:
- Identify Underserved Markets: Look for groups of people who are being ignored by existing businesses
- Solve Real Problems: Focus on genuine pain points rather than creating solutions in search of a problem
- Obsess the Details: Thoroughly understand pricing, distribution, and competitive landscape
- Leverage Your Unique Perspective: Your personal experiences can reveal opportunities others miss "I really understood what was missing. Where was there a problem that I could find a solution for? And Good American was a solution. Most women are massively underserved by the fashion industry."
- The "How You Do Anything" Principle:
Grede's belief that small actions create your reputation and future opportunities:
- Sweat the Small Stuff: Pay attention to details others overlook
- Consistent Excellence: Maintain high standards regardless of the task's perceived importance
- Energy as Indicator: If something gives you energy, you're likely good at it; if it drains you, you're not
- Build Through Action: Your reputation and network are built through consistent excellent work, not networking events "All of these things matter. They matter to who you are. They matter to how you're seen. And they matter to how you're viewed."
Insights
- Excellence as the Ultimate Differentiator:
Grede demonstrates that excellence in even the smallest tasks creates opportunities that credentials and connections cannot. Her commitment to making "the best sandwich" while working in a deli and folding clothes beautifully in a PR agency closet built a reputation that eventually opened doors to billion-dollar opportunities. This insight reveals that sustainable success is built on a foundation of consistent excellence, not occasional brilliance.
- The Transformative Power of Self-Responsibility:
Grede's journey illustrates how taking complete responsibility for your life circumstances, regardless of how unfair they may be, is the first step toward changing them. Growing up in a culture of blame, she had to consciously shift her mindset from victimhood to ownership. This insight is particularly powerful for those who feel disadvantaged by their circumstances, showing that external factors don't have to determine internal outcomes.
- Thoughts as a Choice That Shapes Reality:
Grede emphasizes that choosing your thoughts carefully is as important as taking responsibility for your actions. By deliberately selecting empowering thoughts rather than reactive ones, she transformed her anger and frustration into focused energy. This insight reveals the practical power of mindset work—not as abstract positive thinking, but as a daily discipline that shapes perception, decisions, and ultimately, results.
- The Non-Linear Path to Passion:
Contrary to popular narratives about following your passion, Grede's story shows that passion often emerges from excellence rather than preceding it. By committing to excellence in whatever she was doing, she discovered what gave her energy and what drained it, gradually moving toward work she loved. This insight challenges the conventional wisdom about passion and provides a more practical approach to finding fulfilling work.
- The Hidden Value of "Dog Jobs":
Grede reframes menial jobs not as obstacles to be endured but as essential training grounds for success. Each "dog job" taught her something valuable about herself, the industry, or business in general. This insight is particularly relevant for young people impatient to find their dream career, suggesting that all work experience contributes to future success if approached with the right mindset.
- The Critical Distinction Between Excellence and Perfectionism:
Grede's explanation that excellence is internal (about your effort and standards) while perfectionism is external (about others' opinions) provides clarity for anyone struggling with perfectionist tendencies. This insight reveals that perfectionism is actually a barrier to excellence, as it focuses on external validation rather than internal standards and growth.
- Your Network Is Who You Actually Know:
Grede's experience shows that meaningful networks are built through genuine work relationships and shared experiences, not through formal networking events. Her most valuable connections came from people she worked with in various capacities, from the lighting designers at fashion shows to the clients she served. This insight challenges conventional networking advice and suggests a more authentic approach to building professional relationships.
- The Decade Perspective on Success:
Grede emphasizes that meaningful success takes years, often decades, of consistent effort. Having only truly enjoyed her work for the past five years despite working for over twenty, she provides a realistic counter-narrative to overnight success stories. This insight helps manage expectations and encourages persistence through the inevitable challenges of building something meaningful.
- The Power of Storytelling in Business:
Grede's experience pitching Good American reveals that successful business pitches are about storytelling, not just product features. By crafting a compelling narrative about the underserved market and the solution she was providing, she attracted investors and partners. This insight highlights the importance of emotional connection and narrative in business communication.
- The Necessity of Getting Out of Your Head:
Grede identifies the biggest barrier to starting as being trapped in one's own thoughts—fear, self-doubt, and overthinking. Her advice to "get out of your head" and take action, even imperfectly, reveals that momentum often precedes clarity, not the other way around. This insight is particularly valuable for aspiring entrepreneurs and anyone feeling stuck in their current circumstances.
Quotes
- On Excellence in Small Things: "When I, you know, made sandwiches in a deli, I made the best sandwich. When I worked in the cupboard packing clothes, I would do it with excellence. Every little thing, because that is what makes people gravitate towards you."
- On Taking Responsibility: "I honestly think about my life and more specifically my career as a bit of a blueprint for what happens when you take responsibility for yourself and when you really manage your thoughts carefully."
- On the Rule of Thirds: "If you are doing something difficult, if you're chasing a dream, if you are on the road to whatever it is, you are going to be happy about a third of the time. And the other third of the time you are going to be like, life is kind of all right and the final third of the time you're going to feel terrible."
- On Excellence vs. Perfectionism: "Perfectionism is when you are focused on the outside. Perfectionism is when you are measuring what other people are going to think about what you just did. Excellence is on the inside because excellence is about the effort in and whether or not the effort that you put in is good enough for you."
- On Starting Where You Are: "When you have nothing and I have been there, how you do anything is how you do everything. And that starts to set the tone and people notice. They really, really notice."
- On the Non-Linear Journey: "I've done a job that I love for 5 years, not longer. For five years, I've spent my entire career doing things that have been okay and I've enjoyed, but I never had like the dream of the dream job. I've just kept going and going and going to get closer to the thing that it is that I love."
- On Not Taking Rejection Personally: "It's never about you, Mel. It's never ever about you. And this is the big thing that I want specifically women to understand. We are have become as a group obsessed with this idea of perfection that it always has to be perfect that it always has to be as it is in the movies and that is just not it's not my experience."
- On the Power of Action: "You can't think your way into what you want. You can't wish it. You can't hope for it. You got to do."
- On Finding Your Strengths: "If it gives you energy, you are good at it. If it takes your energy away and you feel exhausted and depleted, that's what you're bad at. Make it simple."
- On Getting Started: "You have to get out of your head. You have to change the narrative that fills you with the fear that stops you from moving. And I say that because I've been there. I've been in a job where I've been dreaming of something else for the longest time and I've written proposals and I've done presentations and I've filed them on my desktop and then I left them and I didn't see the light of day."
Habits
- Practice Excellence in Everything:
Apply high standards to all tasks, regardless of their perceived importance:
- Approach every task as if someone were paying you a million dollars to do it
- Find the value and learning opportunity in every job, no matter how menial
- Pay attention to details that others overlook
- Build a reputation for quality that precedes you
- Take Radical Responsibility:
Own your life circumstances and choices without blame:
- Stop blaming external factors for your situation
- Look for what you can control rather than what you can't
- Accept reality while working to change it
- Practice the mantra "figure it out" when facing challenges
- Choose Your Thoughts Deliberately:
Be intentional about your internal dialogue:
- Question automatic negative thoughts
- Reframe challenges as opportunities
- Practice self-compassion rather than self-criticism
- Use positive self-talk as you would with a good friend
- Embrace the Rule of Thirds:
Maintain perspective during life's inevitable ups and downs:
- Recognize that difficult periods are normal and temporary
- Stay humble during successful times
- Don't make permanent decisions based on temporary emotions
- Remember that all phases pass and are part of the journey
- Focus on Energy Indicators:
Use energy as a guide for what to pursue:
- Notice which activities give you energy versus drain you
- Move toward tasks that naturally energize you
- Minimize or delegate tasks that consistently drain you
- Trust your energy levels more than external expectations
- Build Authentic Relationships Through Work:
Develop your network through genuine collaboration:
- Focus on doing excellent work with the people already in your life
- Value relationships with colleagues at all levels
- Look for opportunities to help others succeed
- Build connections through shared experiences and mutual respect
- Take Action Before Feeling Ready:
Move forward despite fear and uncertainty:
- Start before you feel fully prepared
- Accept that imperfection is part of the process
- Focus on progress rather than perfection
- Build momentum through consistent small actions
Sources
Primary Sources
- "The Mel Robbins Podcast: If You Only Listen to One Podcast Today, Make It This One"
- Emma Grede's appearances on Shark Tank
- Interviews with Emma Grede in Forbes, Essence, and other publications
- Emma Grede's social media accounts and public statements
Biographical Information
- Emma Grede's background and upbringing in East London
- Education at London College of Fashion (before dropping out)
- Early career in fashion production and brand partnerships
- Founding of her agency before launching consumer brands
Business Context
- History and founding of Good American with Khloe Kardashian
- Development of SKIMS with Kim Kardashian
- Creation of Safely with Kris Jenner
- Market research on the plus-size fashion industry
- Business challenges and successes in direct-to-consumer retail
Philosophical Influences
- Grede's mother's influence on her work ethic
- Experiences growing up in a single-parent household
- Impact of dyslexia on her approach to learning and problem-solving
- Cultural influences from her Jamaican heritage and East London community
Expert Commentary
- Mel Robbins' analysis and questions throughout the episode
- Business experts' perspectives on Grede's success
- Fashion industry commentary on inclusive sizing and representation
- Entrepreneurial thought leaders on Grede's business strategies
Resources
Core Podcast & Video
- The Mel Robbins Podcast: "If You Only Listen to One Podcast Today, Make It This One" - Apple Podcasts
- Video version of the episode - YouTube
- Emma Grede on Shark Tank - Available on ABC and Hulu
Books & Publications
- The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
- Forbes 100 Self-Made Women list - Featuring Emma Grede
- Business publications featuring interviews with Emma Grede (Forbes, Essence, Entrepreneur)
- Fashion industry publications covering Good American and inclusive sizing
Brands & Businesses
- Good American - Official Website
- SKIMS - Official Website
- Safely - Official Website
- Emma Grede's agency
Personal Development
- Mel Robbins' content on taking responsibility and changing your life
- Resources on dyslexia and learning differences for entrepreneurs
- Mindset and thought management tools referenced in the episode
- Excellence frameworks for personal and professional development
Entrepreneurship Resources
- Startup and business development resources for fashion and retail
- Pitching and storytelling frameworks for entrepreneurs
- Direct-to-consumer business guides relevant to Grede's business model
- Inclusive business resources focused on underserved markets
Conclusion
"The Mel Robbins Podcast: If You Only Listen to One Podcast Today, Make It This One" offers a masterclass in authentic success through the remarkable story of Emma Grede. What makes this episode extraordinary is Grede's impressive achievements like building three billion-dollar brands, becoming a Shark Tank investor, and transforming the fashion industry, and the raw honesty and practical wisdom she shares about her journey.
From her challenging childhood in East London, raised by a single Jamaican immigrant mother, to struggling with severe dyslexia and dropping out of college, Grede's story defies conventional narratives of success. Yet through it all, she maintained an unwavering commitment to excellence, taking radical responsibility for her life and choosing her thoughts deliberately. Her philosophy that "how you do anything is how you do everything" provides a simple yet profound framework for anyone looking to transform their circumstances.
Perhaps most powerful is Grede's "Rule of Thirds" framework, which normalizes the emotional rollercoaster of pursuing ambitious goals. By acknowledging that success involves equal parts feeling great, feeling okay, and feeling terrible, she provides permission for listeners to persist through difficult times without self-judgment. This perspective is particularly valuable in an age of social media, where others' curated success stories can make our own struggles feel abnormal.
Grede's distinction between excellence and perfectionism offers liberation for anyone trapped by the need for external validation. By defining excellence as internal (about your effort and standards) and perfectionism as external (about others' opinions), she provides a path to high achievement without the paralyzing fear of judgment.
Throughout the episode, Grede's authenticity shines through as she openly discusses her fears, mistakes, and the personal work she's done to overcome anger issues and limiting beliefs. Her vulnerability makes her success feel accessible and her advice feel actionable. Whether she's discussing the importance of "dog jobs" in building character, the value of energy as an indicator of strength, or the necessity of getting out of your head to start, her insights are both profound and practical.
By the end of this powerful conversation, listeners are left with more than inspiration: they have a clear roadmap for transforming their own lives, regardless of their starting point. Grede's story is a testament to the fact that with vision, hard work, and unwavering self-belief, anything truly is possible. This episode provides the blueprint for becoming the person you've always wanted to be.
In a world filled with overnight success stories and quick-fix solutions, Emma Grede's journey reminds us that meaningful achievement is built through consistent excellence, radical responsibility, and the courage to start before you feel ready. This episode isn't just worth listening to, it's worth living by.
Crepi il lupo! 🐺