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Welcome to another episode of Aspire with me, Emma Greed. Now, I'm really glad that you're here today because we're going to talk about something that is very important to me. Building a network and community that will help propel you in your career and business life. Now, from this episode, you're going to learn what a network actually is, why it is not what you think, and why it has zero to do with networking. You'll learn why you need one, how exactly the right network can help you unlock your potential and solve problems, and most importantly, how to create and utilize a network all of your own. Now I want to discuss what got me thinking about this topic in the first place. Recently, I wanted to have a small gathering with some of my inner circle, my colleagues and my friends. And I could have booked a reservation at a restaurant I but I was hoping for something so much more intimate and relaxed. So I decided to check out the new Airbnb Services feature where you can actually book a high quality service such as a chef, a photographer, or even a little hair and makeup. I found a great local chef to come and prepare a meal and I try honestly to host so many dinners at home, at least one a month. It's a great way as a working mom to get business done while still being at home and around my kids. And there is something wonderful about and personal about bringing people into your own space. Plus, let's be honest, I want people to feel comfortable, to share, to overshare. So home is where that happens best. After a long day at the office, I don't always have time to cook, so you've gotta love the option of booking a chef on Airbnb. And you know what, it's actually really affordable, especially when you think about how much time you're saving, not rushing around through the market, planning a menu and preparing a meal while trying to be a good host or. Or when you compare it to the prices of actually going out in la, it feels nice to spend quality time with your guests, connecting and catching up in a totally relaxed way. Now, I love nothing more than being around a group of like minded people in that kind of setting, or talking about our challenges, our businesses, sharing honestly and figuring out how we can support each other. So this dinner got me thinking about a thing that always comes up when I speak to founders, but also it's something that's really shaped my career and network and community. So I'm partnering with Airbnb today for this special holiday episode where we're going to talk about just that now, after you listen to this episode, I want you to walk away with a crystal clear definition of exactly what a network is, why you need one, and most importantly, how you can create it for yourself from where you are, with what you have, and how you can use it to your advantage in your business and in your career. So let me start first by making this very important distinction between networking and building a network. Networking is not what has made me successful. Building a network of people that can help me get shit done that I can call on, that I can get advice from, that I can leverage knowledge and contacts from, and get into the not so polite nitty gritty detail that is what has helped make my career successful. I'm not saying that there's no value to trying to attend networking events, but in my life, it's not where I've cultivated useful relationships. And if you know anything about me, I am militant about how I use my time and being honest with you so that you can use your time well. This episode is all about what it means to build your network. Because if there's one thing I know for certain, it is this. Both ambition and success grows faster when you surround yourself with the right people. So here's where I want to start because it is so important to acknowledge that entrepreneurship and climbing the corporate ladder, it can be really lonely and we don't talk about it enough. When I first began, I didn't have a fully fleshed out roadmap for myself. I knew that I wanted to have a big life, that I wanted to travel, I wanted to leave where I was from, and I wanted to experience a different world from my reality. I was 100% sure that I wanted to work in fashion. And I made a promise to myself that I would work and work and work and work to get to where I wanted to be. But I didn't grow up around people in business and I had zero exposure to anyone that would be able to help get me on that journey to fashion. I had no network that would be useful to help me just get to where I wanted to be. Like literally not one single person. The first relationships I made in that business came from my internships. I can't count how many companies I interned for for free. I was working so hard to stand out though, crossing my fingers and hoping that somebody would notice. And of course, whenever you do really good work, somebody will usually notice. Now, I don't just mean showing up and being pretty good. I mean going above and beyond taking an interest, learning everything you can, and being available and picking up extra work. Importantly, making your intention known. Because when I was interning, everybody in the office or everybody in the studio knew that I was looking for full time employment. It wasn't a secret I would tell anyone that would listen. I was clear about what I needed and I never left it to chance that someone was going to guess what I was there to achieve. And this is a practice that I still rely on today. No one is going to guess what you want. You have to show up with intentionality and ask for exactly what you need. Now, another thing I was doing back then, and I still do to this very day, is work hard to forge and make relationships. Asking questions relentlessly meant that eventually people would ask me questions back. I took an interest and I got to know people beyond a superficial level. I devoured information about the fashion industry and I had a lot of opinions and a lot of faults. And eventually people started asking what I thought about an idea or about something that had happened. I offered ideas and I saw those ideas. But the key takeout here is that I was setting myself up as someone who had a point of view, who could be relied on as a thought partner and at the very least would have something to say on any given matter. And I think it's important to share this because the best and most productive relationships are always a two way street. And I established myself as someone that would give as much as she would take. So for me this has been a total unlock because when we set out to create a network, it's often one sided, but it's really important to have something to, to offer in any transaction and that includes in a transactional relationship you get as much as you're willing to give. So think hard about what it is that you might have to give someone who you are asking something of looking backwards on my career, the people that I met as an intern were the firestarters of my early career. They gave me recommendations, they gave me advice, they introduced me to my next opportunities. And many, many years later, I still enjoy that network of early supporters and wise older who were present right at the top of my career. Now when I started my first company, it was in my early 20s. It was just me for the longest time, just my ideas, my drive, and a lot of trial and error. And I came up with strategy for potential clients. I wrote pitches and I delivered the work. And at the end of a long day, I would be the one that issued the invoices. Now I know that so many of you listening, you feel the same you got this big dream, but you're operating in isolation. You're trying to be the strategist, the accountant, the marketing team, all the things, all in one. And somewhere in that chaos, it becomes really easy to actually convince yourself that you have to do everything alone. That if you ask for help, it means that you're not cut out for it. When I finally allowed myself to admit that I needed other people, things changed. And they changed fast. But let me tell you something, I wish I had embraced this earlier. No one who is successful builds alone. Not one person I've interviewed on Aspire, not one founder that I know, not one leader, like literally every single one, has a network, formal or informal, that lifts them, that shapes them, that sharpens them. They all have someone who's impacted their point of view or the way they do business. And all the really successful people I know work at building their networks. Now, when you start out, you will have a belief that no one else will ever deliver. Like you can. Let me tell you, it might be true. But if you want to grow, if you want your business to thrive, then you will need to find your people. So let me just take you back a little bit. In my 20s, in my 20s, I was building ITB, my first company, which was an entertainment marketing agency. We put brands and talent together to create partnerships. And like many of you, I had this absolute obsession with making every detail perfect. I sat within a talent agency, protecting my ideas like they were, you know, a fragile little egg. But the reality is, and it took me years and years to understand this, that guarding your ideals until they're perfect, it only isolates them. What your ideas need is interaction. They need stress testing. They need someone who didn't come up with them to tear them apart. You need to bounce them off of people in your network. Sharing ideas, no matter how developed they are, exposes them to new perspectives. People will ask you questions you would never have asked yourself. So you must remind yourself that feedback is a gift and go out and actively seek it. Keeping an idea hidden might feel safe, but sharing it is what gives it room to transform and to strengthen and to actually matter. Ideas mature through exposure, not perfection. Now, at that stage, for me, my network was my colleagues, the people that were working for me and around me every day. Sometimes the people you need are way closer than you actually think. And utilizing what you have, what's at your disposal before you have what you really need, is a very entrepreneurial move. You might not want to think about it this way, but when you have nothing you got to use whatever you do. Have that person that works with you that kind of rubs you out the wrong way. Well, they're going to have something and know something that you don't. Use whoever is around you and take what you can. And here's the thing. You absolutely must find your people. When you surround yourself with the right people, you'll be surrounded by people that believe in the version of yourself that you wanna become. People that believe in your future self. They remind you of what you're capable with. Even if you forget, they challenge you in the right way. Now we grow into the best version of ourselves when others can already see that version and treat us like we're capable of becoming it. Their belief bridges the gap between who we are now and who we're working to be. And now this doesn't come easy. It can be frightening to be vulnerable. But you know what? Fear can cripple ambition. Taking a chance on yourself and your vision, that makes all the difference. Taking chances on yourself is how you expand your life. Taking chances on your idea is how you create impact. And when I really embraced this type of thinking and begun to build a community, I learned a fundamental truth. So let me just take you back. When I started my first company, itb, I was lucky enough to have a desk in, like, a shared office space. The women in that office would all share clients. They'd collaborate on pitches, they'd share information about fees, all sorts of things. When I had the opportunity to pitch for a piece of business that I thought was a little bit out of reach and out of the scope of my tiny agency, one particular woman gave me the courage to myself in a bigger context. The way she saw it is that I was already doing this type of work and providing these services. I just hadn't packaged it and sold it as such. She saw something in me that I hadn't seen in myself. And because of her belief, I took a leap and I did something out of my comfort zone. Even as I say this, I go back a couple of years ago to thinking about this podcast or my book that comes out next year. I have a network of people that not only do I leverage to get things done, but they believe in me to do a lot of new things. And that carries a lot of weight when, and it comes from people that you respect. Now, I want to be clear about something. A network is not a room full of people that are blowing smoke and telling you that your ideas are brilliant no matter what. If that's what you're looking for you're not looking for a powerful network. You're looking for a cheer squad and good vibes. It's something totally different. And while encouragement is lovely, that alone is not going to build you up. You have to surround yourself with a network of people who see your potential and tell you the truth. And that can help move the needle for you. I always say you cannot manifest your way into success without action and hard work. And the same goes for building your circle. You don't need people who only cheer for you. You need people inside your network that challenge you and stretch you in the right ways. The kind of people that help you grow, not just help you feel good. The strongest networks, the ones that actually support growth, they're four things. Now, the first thing that they have is honesty. You want your network to be full of people that can offer honest, constructive feedback right on the verge of what you can handle. Now, I have this with my husband and I'm lucky because he's Swedish. So cold as ice never sugarcoats anything. Just how I like it. If you haven't watched our episode together, you should go and watch it now. Episode 24. It's called Love family and Love family and business and how to work with your partner. And it'll give you a great insight on the feedback that I get daily, which I've learned to savor. Now, someone in your network who can give you really honest feedback is so powerful because it helps you clearly see where you shine and where you need support. And the good news is that this person doesn't always need to have a deep understanding of your business or the business that you're in. It's more about them knowing you and being willing to coach you and see your worst tendencies. So I encourage you all to go out and find that person in your life. I married mine. Now, the next thing you need, and you cannot skip this one, is deep sector specific knowledge. Now, this can often be the hardest part of your network to build. Now, because I worked in and around fashion and lifestyle brands throughout my career prior to starting my own brand, I had a lot of clients who became my early network. And when I started a business of my own, before I'd started Good American honestly, I would just book meetings with clients whether we needed them or not. I just needed to have the opportunity to ask one or two questions for myself. But I leveraged those years of working with clients to my advantage. But obviously that wasn't always enough. But I have called competitors big and small and funny enough, all the big ones were willing to share information with me. I made the people at my first retailer, Nordstrom, my sounding board network, asking questions about what was working in store, what what other brands were seeing success, and learning all about my customer in that channel. And of course, I read everything I could get my hands on from anyone who had scaled a brand in the apparel category. When I found something interesting that I thought could be valuable to my own business, I tried to get in touch. And I think like 1 out of every 10, or even like 1 out of every 20 would come back to me with just a nugget of information that I could use. The most important part here is to get out of your own way. You gotta be willing to ask questions, willing to sound like you don't know because you probably don't. And you gotta put your ego to the side and again, be clear about what you need because closed mouths don't get fed. And what you can learn from someone who's been there, seen it and done it is honestly, it's worth eating some humble pie for. There's nothing I love more than hearing about people's side hustles. You can host your home on Airbnb while you're gone, and it's such a practical way to earn a little extra money without it feeling like a full time job. Just a few nights of hosting could help to cover travel costs or maybe even a nice meal on your next trip. It's simple, easy, and doesn't require constant attention. You just open up your space while you're away and let others enjoy it. So if you've got a trip coming up, whether it's for work, a family visit, or just to get away, hosting really does feel like a smart, practical. Seriously, your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much@airbnb.com host. Now. The third thing, third quality that you need in your network is accountability. When you have a strong network, they hold you accountable. And when someone that you respect expects you to follow through, it becomes so much harder to procrastinate or say, I'll do that tomorrow. Accountability isn't pressure. It's actually where intention meets action. It keeps you moving. And you've heard me speak about forward momentum. We always need to keep it moving. Now while I was writing my book, which is out next year in April, I actively went out to find a partner. I had to make sure that I was working with someone who is really disciplined. There was so much work to do, so much research, so much writing, so much just organization to make it what I intended it to be like a useful tool for people to learn from and actively use. So I had no choice but to ensure that I had an accountability partner that would help keep me on track with the workload. It was honestly one of the best moves that I've ever made. It's really key to find someone in your orbit that you don't want to let down, who keeps you honest and who can help keep you accountable. Now, the fourth thing that is vital to have in your professional network is people with shared ambition. A powerful network elevates your ambition. And what's that great coat you become the average of the people you surround yourself with. It is so true. When you surround yourself with people that want meaningful things out of life, it forces you to raise your standards. It turns individual passion into into collective drive. And it also teaches you that you can and should want more for your own life. Now, when I see a fellow entrepreneur in my network achieving something truly great, it inspires me. It tells me that I can push for more. But a strong network elevates your ambition by reinforcing your belief in yourself and your vision. And that belief is what helps you endure all the challenges. Ambition also expands in the presence of people that believe you're capable of. So when you stand next to people that dream big, your own dreams actually rise to meet them. Now, when I started out, I would always look to Emily Wise, who started Glossier. I'd known Emily when she was a beauty blogger. When she had into the Gloss. Not super well, but we had a couple of meetings and conversations and we ran in similar circles. I was so impressed by what she was building, but at the same time, because I'd known her before all of the success of Glossier, she gave me so much hope because I'd witnessed this meteoric rise and for me, that signaled that I could do the same. It's really important to find those people for yourself. Both aspirational, like minded, people that you can just hang with and people you can admire and aspire to from afar. Now let's talk about some of the tangible things that having a strong network can bring to you and your career. Learning, access, perspective, belief, support. Firstly, you are going to get on a faster learning curve. You can learn more in one hour of an honest conversation with three founders than you can in months and months of searching online. I promise you that is the power of shared experience. That's why I do my dinners. I have to tell you, one of the reasons that I love doing this podcast so much is that I learn from every single guest. Now, when Melody Hobson came into the Aspire podcast, she spoke about urgency. And she said like this. She said, you must, and I mean this with serious intensity. You must care a lot and have a sense of urgency. You have to have a sense of urgency. You have to want to be great. Now, I thought about that line every day for a month, and even I resolved to move with more urgency. The next thing that your network will bring you is access. A strong network is a bridge to opportunities, to connections, introductions, insights, other mentors, and the doors open when your network is strong. We spoke about this perspective, but this part is key. When you're too close to your own ideas, you can't see them quickly. A network actually expands your viewpoint. It serves as a window and as a mirror, and it will actually reveal the blind spots and offer you clarity. You'll gain so much emotional stability and support. And as empowering and as amazing it is, being ambitious can also be very emotionally heavy at times. Having a network reminds you that you're not alone. And that emotional intensity, the ups and the downs of the business, they're normal. In other words, your network can actually help keep you sane. Now, lastly, belief. Sometimes belief is the most important part. When you have days when you doubt everything and you will, having someone in your network, or in your life in general, who can remind you of who you are and what you're capable of is priceless. I actually want to share with you a real moment when my network propelled my life and my career. Now, the first thing to mention is when I had the idea for Good American, for Good American launched. I had the mission and the vision, but it was my network that actually helped me refine it. They helped me find the proper partners. They challenged me. They pushed me to expand the idea into something even more powerful. And they let me know where I might struggle, given that they know me so well in a lot of places. But I thank God that I had people that were doing what felt like shredding my idea into pieces early, because it actually helped me future proof the concept of that business. Next, I have to thank the women that I speak to about motherhood and building something I care about deeply. Some of the most valuable relationships in my network are with fellow entrepreneurs that are also mothers. These are the women that understand the juggle, the ambition, the guilt that you have, the hope and what it takes to make it happen. But we don't just support each other emotionally. We actually challenge each other to keep going, keep growing, and Keep dreaming bigger for ourselves and our families. And I honestly don't know what I would do without that type of conversation. And finally, those are relied on when I was launching Aspire. Now, this podcast was born in because of my network. People who said these conversations matter, they need to be shared. Aspire itself has become a network of builders, dreamers and leaders. And I owe my network in part to the very fact that this show can exist today. Now that I've built up the power of the network so much, you're probably thinking, emma, I'd love a strong network. I just don't know where to start. So let me walk you through it. First off, the first thing that you need to get in your head is that you have to start small. You don't need a massive group or a giant event. Some of the most life changing networks I've been part of started with two or three people just meeting consistently. Ask yourself, who do I want to connect with in my industry? And just as importantly, who are some people who aren't in my industry who might have perspectives that will help me think differently? So when you're thinking about this, always choose quality over quantity. Look for people that show up, who ask questions, those that offer guidance and contribute, and people who you like being around and want to help in return. That's important. Don't seek out like passive or surface level networking. Look for true, meaningful connection. Remember, you're building a circle, not an audience. So it's okay for you to be selective. These are the people that are going to influence your future. Make sure that your values, your work ethic and your ambition all align. And please, please don't overthink it. Building a network starts with one small step. A genuine message of admiration or kindness. A little invitation, a conversation. Ask someone you admire out for a coffee. Send a voice memo. Start like a weekly accountability check in. You will be amazed at how open people are to connection. But also don't be hurt if people say no. It's so often not personal, and you never know when that connection will come back around in the future. Now, another important lesson is that your networks will evolve. Some people will support you in the early days, others will become essential later on. It's natural. It's healthy for your network to shift as you grow. And every time that you level up, you may have to bring new people. And some of the people that were there in the beginning, well, they might naturally fade away. It's all okay and it's all normal. Always try to be grateful. Try to part on good terms and continue to stay in people's corner, even if you're just wishing them well from afar. It's fair to say, honestly, that over the years my network has really evolved and not everyone stays on the journey. But that's okay. It really is okay for some relationships to just be transactional. You might not like it or be comfortable with the idea of that, but the truth is that life, your career, and our businesses, they all have seasons. And it's part of your job to figure out what you need and when. It's equally important to work out what you no longer need and you have to just make move away from it. So to wrap this part up, here's what I want you to remember. Asking for help is not a weakness, it's a strategy. It's going to accelerate your growth without taking away your ownership. Investing in relationships is not a distraction. It almost always returns more value than working alone. Remember, it's a two way street. Connection is not optional. Business is built on relationships. Always has been, always will be. People are everything. Your word is everything. A powerful network is one of the greatest assets that you can have. And honestly, it's just more fun to build something in great company. And remember, it's not just about how your network shows up for you. It's also how you show up for your network. Now, if you've accomplished anything meaningful, someone has helped you along the way. So it's important also to become part of somebody else's network and help them on their journey. It's so simple and it actually matters so much more than you think. So don't only reach out. When you need something, show up for people. Because consistency builds trust and the best relationships are mutually beneficial. If you want support, give support. If you want honesty, offer honesty. Networks thrive on generosity and this give and take. I cannot tell you how many women I have supported early in their careers that have gone on to unbelievably great things. I'm so proud of them. But I'm also kind of proud of me that I had the good sense to support and nurture those relationships really early on. Sometimes supporting others is incredibly simple. It could be an introduction, and sometimes that introduction changes somebody's entire path. It could look like sharing honest feedback and saving somebody months and months of wasted time. Sometimes it's sharing access to a resource. I do that all the time. A contact, a workspace, a tool. Being transparent about what something costs. You heard that? Sharing financial information. But anything that helps somebody take the next step, that stuff is useful. Being part of somebody else's network is about connection, support, and empowerment. And the smallest gesture can actually create this really big shift. So remember, you don't need a certain title or level of success to support others. You just need willingness. Early on in my career, I actually didn't have a ton of mentors. I didn't have access. I mostly had to figure things out the hard way. But there were a few people that really encouraged me. Andrew Rosen, who is an investor in many of my businesses today, was a client of mine when he was the CEO of Theory. Now, I never dreamt in a million years, ever that I'd even need to raise capital. But turns out I did. And those early seeds of a good working relationship really paid off. Not just from a business point of view, but today I count Andrew as one of the most formative relationships that I have. My early journey is so much of why I created this show. I wanted to give you guys the resource that I never had in early entrepreneurship. So this show could be step one in creating your network. Now that you've learned all of this great information, it's actually time for you to start using it out in the real world to actually build. So let me recap the things that I really want you to have taken from this episode. Remember, number one, the important distinction between networking and building a network. Number two, importantly, making your intention known. You've got to show up with intentionality and ask for exactly what you need. Number three, the best and most productive relationships are always a two way street. The fourth one, remind yourself that feedback is a gift and go out and actively seek it. Number five, sometimes the people you need are way closer than you think. So think about utilizing what you already have. Number six, go back and really digest what I said about what makes a powerful network. Number seven, put your ego to the side. Number eight, start small and look for real connection. And number nine, remember, networks evolve and be prepared to shed. Lastly, never ever stop trying. You know I'm all about action. So let's end with like a little challenge to help you create the network of your dreams. Now, in the new year, I want you to choose one of the following and to actually go and do it. Either send a message to someone you admire and ask for a 15 minute conversation, or you could start a three person weekly accountability call. You could join a little small group online that aligns with your goals, or reach out to someone that's also building and say, hey, let's support each other. Name a time and a day to meet up and because, as you know, I love being right in the trenches with you, I'm gonna commit to you something that I will do in 2026 to build my network. Now I'm gonna continue to listen to each and every one of you that reaches out with a suggestion of who you want on this podcast and I'm gonna do my best to go out and bring the right people here and ask all the right questions that we need answered. I am always thinking about how I can grow and learn and challenge myself so we can do it right here together. Your next level of growth might be just one little conversation away. So let me know how these conversations and reach outs go. And after you do this little networking challenge, comment and tell me the ways that building your network is actually changing your life and career as we move into a new year. Remember, ambition is powerful, but a good network makes it sustainable and scalable. You are not meant to build your dreams alone. The right people will lift you, they'll sharpen you, they'll steady you, and they'll push you towards the future that you're working so hard for. Surround yourself with those people, invest in those relationships and allow yourself to be supported because you actually deserve that. Thank you for spending this time with me today on Aspire and make sure you share this episode with someone who's building right beside you or who you want to build alongside.