← Aspire with Emma Grede
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Hi my darlings and welcome back to the Aspire Podcast. I am so glad you're here today because I have so much to share with you, including a big announcement that I'll reveal in just a moment. Introducing the new Eggo Protein Waffles. The same great Eggo taste people know and love. Now with 20% of your daily protein in every serving, protein never tasted this good. These waffles deliver an excellent source of complete protein with 10 grams per serving and are made with wholesome ingredients fresh from the griddle. Perfect as part of a complete breakfast. Eggo Protein Waffles pair easily with fresh fruit, almond butter or whatever is already in the kitchen. Then they offer a delicious way to start the day with irresistible taste families are looking for. When something tastes this good and delivers this much protein, no one can say no. Head to your local grocery store to fuel your morning with Eggo Protein Waffles and Pancakes. Available at retailers nationwide. You know I'm always looking for ways to support my energy, my skin and just my overall wellness without over complicating my routine. That's why I'm loving Peak. I use this brand every single day. They're a luxury wellness brand that blends rare precious plants with science backed ingredients to support sustained energy metabolism, immune health and radiant skin. So it doesn't need all of that. I've been starting my day with Peak's Radiant Skin Duo and I can already feel the difference. The Sun Goddess Matcha is my favorite. It's calming, packed with antioxidants and it really helps with my skin glow while flushing out toxins and the BT Fountain Beauty Elect Electrolyte that's a total game changer. It hydrates deeply and strengthens my skin from the inside out. And honestly, my complexion has never looked better. It's not just effective, it's delicious. I love sipping the Yuzu and sweet Raspberry blend throughout the day. I feel energized, hydrated and my skin has a natural, healthy glow that all my friends keep asking about. So if you're ready for your healthiest glow, you can get 20% off for life a complimentary gift and explore the clean plant powered essentials for behind your favorite new routine@peaklife.com aspire that's P I Q U E life.com aspire that's hydration refined. Try it and glow from the inside out. Let's get right into today's episode. What I want to dig into today is how you can reach your full potential and achieve lasting success. The truth is most People don't. And it's not because they aren't smart or talented or hardworking. It's because they never learned how to master their mindset. Now, I know this because I've lived it. I've worked jobs that I hated. I've dreamed endlessly of something more. And it wasn't until I realized that everything starts with yourself and your mind that my life truly started to change. And here's the good news. You can actually do the same. And over the next 30 minutes, I'm gonna give you the tools to rewire your thoughts, to quiet your negative self, talk, handle your haters, and train your mind to create the success that you want. This is how you turn your mindset into your superpower. Now, before we dive in, I have to tell you, today isn't any old day. Today I've got a big announcement. A huge announcement. In fact, the announcement is that I wrote a book and it will be out next year. It's called Start with Yourself. This book is for any anyone who's seeking success on their own terms. And honestly, I wanted to write it to share with you all what I believe is the central theme of my life. Call it a philosophy, call it a mindset, call it a tool, call it whatever you like. But when I landed this title, nothing has ever felt more true for me. Learning to always start with yourself is the theme of this book. And it's gonna really give you the tools and the mindset to unlock your full potential. This book is a blueprint to my mindset and how I think about business and in life. It's structured in easy takeaways so you can immediately apply my philosophy to whatever you're trying to build and create. It's not about prescribed actions. Do this, do that. It's about a way of thinking. The book is about creating a mindset, an overall system of thought that manages and clarifies ideas. And it points the way to the right next step while always, always staying positive. It's about gathering yourself after failure. It's about being accountable, but it's also about forgiving yourself. It's about never expecting shortcuts, never being shy. About grabbing things when they appear in front of you. And it's about pushing hard for the wins and never, ever apologizing for being a winner. In this book, I'm going to share my secrets. I'm going to reveal the hard fault truths, no bullshit allowed. And the lessons collected during my 20 year journey. I'm going to explain how, against all the odds, success can Be achieved and sustained because it's not magic. And I'm telling you, you can do it, too. It's going to be out in the spring 2026, and you can pre order now wherever books are sold. I cannot wait for you to get your hands on it. It's a lot for me to take on. Okay, so here we go. Back to business mindset. Now, it doesn't matter what you're climbing the corporate ladder if you work in a hospital, in a restaurant, if you're dreaming of starting a business, or if you're thinking that you want to make some extra cash with a side hustle. But I really believe that our success is directly linked to our mindset. For all the successful people we think about, from entrepreneurs to athletes to artists, mindset is the invisible force behind what separates those who rise to the top and those who stall. Mindset shapes how you see yourself, how you face challenges, how you deal with uncertainty, our daily habits. And we all know how I feel about habits. The mindset that you have can literally rewire your brain. And all success starts in the mind, and you can shape that starting today. So the question becomes, can you change your mindset? What if I told you you can engineer success? You can learn to deal with the haters, you can learn to cope better with negative thoughts. You can train your mind to think positive and not BS toxic positivity, but real shit that will help you become successful. Get comfy, because in the next 20 minutes, I'm gonna spill the tea. On the way, you will actually master your mindset. So let's begin. We hear the word mindset thrown around all the time, but let me give you a clear definition for what it is and why it's so important so that we're all on the same page. Your mindset, by definition, is your established set of attitudes, beliefs, and ways of thinking that shape how you interpret the world. It's how you respond to situations and how you make decisions. Pretty important stuff, so you really, really want to be in charge of it. Think about your mindset as a garden. Whatever you plant, whether it's weeds of negativity or seeds of growth, they will take root, grow, and shape the environment that you live in. You have to be intentional about what you plant and what you pull out. And one thing I know is that it's all within you. It starts with yourself. See how I did that? I know for me that the attitude I bring into my office and to my team and to the people I work with every day, that is what has helped shape and determine my success. So I want you to take a minute and have a think about what attitude you bring into every day and what is that manifesting for you? And I want you to share this episode with anyone that you think could benefit from hearing this, too. Because what I'm going to take you through, if taken seriously, will change your life. Now remember that your mindset influences your behavior, your resilience, and ultimately the outcomes in your life and your business. And I know there's gonna be so many people that listen to this podcast that have a really, really difficult life, difficult circumstances. You might hate your job, you might be in debt, you might be struggling to get where you want in life, and things are not easy or quick to change. But that's your reality. And trust me, I know. I've been there. I've worked every crappy job imaginable and dreamed of a different life. But it wasn't until I took full responsibility for my life that everything changed. What I'm 100% sure of is that mastering your mindset will change the way you relate to everything in your life. It will change the way you see things and your ability to handle what life throws at you. Something that's really helped me understand how mindset works is this framework from Carol Dweck. There are two types of mindsets. A fixed mindset, where you believe that your abilities and intelligence are static and unchangeable. You know when you say things like, I'm just not good at math. I'm bad with money. We can all recognize that in ourselves or other people we know, right? Then there's the growth mindset, when you believe that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort and through learning. As an example, I can get better at math if I practice. I've taught myself to be 100% responsible for my finances. That right there is a growth mindset. And by the way, here's a little tip. If you haven't read Mindset by Carol Dweck, you need to go out and immediately buy that book. It's one of my favorites. And if you happen to be Carol Dweck and you haven't seen my emails or my calls, call me, love, because I'd really love to have you on the podcast. So here's how I like to think about mindset. A very, very wise woman once told me, the most important relationship you'll ever have is the relationship you have with yourself. And that stuck with me for so many reasons, but mostly because we all have a conversation going on with ourselves daily. And you've heard the quote, what you think you become, or my other favorite, what you tell yourself repeatedly, becomes your life. It's so true. So this episode is about making your mindset a superpower. And the first step to change is to understand what. What your baseline mindset actually is. You might have an optimistic mindset, a defensive mindset, a pessimistic mindset, but it's key that you understand your baseline so you can begin to shift it. So pause for a second and write it down. What is my baseline mindset? Be honest. Are you optimistic, pessimistic, defensive, whatever it is, that's okay. But make that your starting point. And then it's really important to figure out what when. The mindset you have, the mindset you've adopted no longer serves you. And the most amazing news is that it's completely within your power to change it. You just have to make a decision and get serious about that decision and then use some of the tools that I'm going to show you to make a big, big change. So ask yourself, when challenges show up, what's my first instinct? Do I see them as opportunities or threats? Do my daily thought patterns build me up or tear me down? Am I more focused on what's possible or what could go wrong? And does my mindset energize me or does it drain me? If I stayed in this same mindset for the next five years, where would it take me? That's a big question. It's a really big question. And most importantly, does my current mindset align with the life I actually want to create? Just write it all down. Ask yourself those questions. And if your honest answers don't feel empowering, that right there, that's your signal that it's time for a shift. So take a minute to jot down one question from that list, the one that hit you the hardest. And if you feel bold, text that question, the one that hit you the hardest to a friend or share it with someone who needs to hear it too. I'm always talking to people about starting a side hustle to make some extra cash. My view is that you have to start with what you have, exactly where you are already. And it got me thinking. What about your own home? When you're away, your home doesn't just have to sit there. A lot of people are putting their space to work while they travel by hosting on Airbnb. It's a simple, flexible way to earn a little bit of extra income without a big time commitment. Even just a few nights can help offset travel costs, meals, or maybe even a nice dinner while you're gone. It's a practical option that doesn't require much, just making your place available while you're away and letting someone else enjoy it. And because you're in control of your schedule, it really can work around your life, not the other way around. If you've got a trip coming up, whether it's work related or just a weekend away, it might be worth looking into your home could be more valuable than you think. Check it out at airbnb.com host calling all sourdough tamers, souffle whisperers and Jammy egg Savants. Whether you're a professional chef or just whipping up something delicious on the weeknight, there's one brand that can truly up level your kitchen style and functionality. Hedley and Bennett. They make premium kitchen gear that combines style, durability and function. We're talking everything from aprons to super sharp Japanese steel knives. In fact, they've sol a million aprons. You've probably seen their gear on some of the best chefs in the world, in your favorite restaurants and even on TV cooking shows. 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Today you can visit fromourplace.com aspire and use the code ASPIRE for 10% off sitewide with 100 day risk free trial free shipping and returns. You can experience this free game changing cookware with zero risk. So here we go. The first tool that I want to talk to you about is the power of dreams or what I've come to understand as creative visualization. Now, as a kid and still now, I am a day dreamer. I've always spent a lot of time playing in my head with what I wanted to see in my future. Two things happened to me to make me understand why creative visualization is really real. I read a seminal book about it in my twenties and then later I visited the Hoffman retreat. I did daily visualizations and I've kept it as part of my routine because it works. And the benefits of creative visualization are huge. Now, before you think I'm a little off here, it's not magic. Visualization doesn't replace action, but it does fuel it. When you practice this technique, it is a game changer. It can boost motivation and clarity. It increases your confidence and your focus. It's actually proven to help reduce anxiety and fear. Creative visualization can rewire limiting beliefs or mental blocks. And here's the absolute best part. It actually primes your brain to to notice opportunities all around you. So as I mentioned, I learned this technique after reading the most amazing book. It's called Creative Visualization by Shakti Gwain. The premise is exactly what it sounds like. You use your imagination to create vivid, detailed images of the outcomes you want to achieve. It's like mentally rehearsing your ideal future, tapping into your brain's ability to influence your emotion, your focus, your motivation, and even your behavior through imagery. Now, you've probably heard about athletes that use this technique where they mentally run a race and they visualize themselves like moving down the track, crossing the line and winning. Well, the same technique can be used for anything that you want to achieve in your life. When you vividly imagine something, your brain responds almost as if it's happening for real. And that activates neural pathways, making your goals feel more achievable and aligned with your subconscious. So if you've never tried this before, why not? I'm going to teach you my step by step to getting started. So first, you have to have an intention. Decide exactly what you want to visualize. This could be a really specific goal, like you want to start your own business. It could be that you want to give a great presentation in the office. It could be a feeling that you want to have, but you need a concrete example for your intention. Then you wanna find some solitude, a bit of quiet space. And just as you would with meditation, you're gonna sit down somewhere very calm, close your eyes, breathe slowly and deeply, Completely relax yourself. And I want you to do that for five or 10 minutes. Then what I want you to do is to paint a mental picture as if your intention, the thing that you want, is already happening. And that part is really important. You need to be clear with what you see, what you feel, what's around you, what do you hear. You need to make your visualization the most detailed possible. It's gonna help your brain believe that what you're doing, like, so much more deeply. You have to really feel the emotions, feel the thing that's happening to you. Like, how would you feel in the moment that your wish is actually happening? Now, after you try this exercise, you need to write it down, exactly what you visualize and how it feels as though it's already happened. Because seeing it on paper will make it feel even more real. You let that feeling sink in and you really imagine what it feels like. And the last thing you need to do is reinforce it with repetition. You need to repeat your visualization daily, even if it's only for a few minutes. Me? First thing in the morning. It can be before you go to sleep. But over time, your brain will start to align your thoughts and your actions and your focus. The most important thing for you to take out here is this. It's seeing plus feeling plus repeating. Imagine your goal is already real. Feel it emotionally, and repeat it consistently with the most clarity and confidence that you can muster. The next technique that I want to talk about is training your mind to think positively. Now, listen, I want to be clear that training your mind to think positively is different from positive thinking. I am allergic to toxic positivity. I cannot take it when people try to light up a situation. That is shit. I will never, ever, ever ask you to do that. But I have been thinking long and hard about what exactly in my Own life impacts my positive thinking the most. Because if you're listening to this podcast, you want strategies, you want takeouts, you want things that you can apply immediately. So this is what it boils down to for me. Three things. Number one, the first thing, and probably the most important is understanding this. You become the average of the company you keep. I'll say it again, you become the average of the company you keep. So you have to be super intentional about being around supportive, optimistic people that actually improve your outlook. Successful people, people that are trying shit, people that have big dreams and are intelligent and open minded and those that are striving to be better. Negative environments, negative people, bad relationships, they pull you downwards. One of the greatest things we can do for ourselves as we get older is take responsibility. Remember, I'm the start with yourself girl, which means taking control and sometimes making changes and doing like a little check of who you're surrounding yourself with is the best place to start and put your energy. I feel like every couple of years I have a reset. I look around me and I figure out who's net positive in my life and who could I do without. And then I shed. Sometimes, honestly, I wonder, given everything that I know, how I even end up with people that drain my energy. But it happens. And the important thing is that you recognize it and you move away from it quickly. Number two, consumption matters. Now, if you know me and if you follow me, you know that I work hard to make sure that what comes into my world and what comes out of me is positive. Because I know that consumption matters. Your attention is your most valuable cognitive resource. What you give to, what you give power to, even the words that you regularly hear and you read, they influence you massively. Maybe you've got a friend who's like doom scrolling too much or someone that just, you know, overindulges in the gossip, like in the worst ways. You need to share this episode with them because it could help shift their energy. So think about it. What's the one thing that you're consuming daily that lifts you up? And what's the one thing that you know that's draining you? And then you need to write it down so that you can act on it. Because your brain is constantly rewiring itself in response to what you pay attention to. And over time, this reshapes how you think, your thought patterns shift. What you believe about yourself and about the world, what you feel, your emotions and your moods and how you act, your behaviors and your habits, it's all constantly shifting. Remember, every Time you consume information, whether it's educational, emotional or entertaining, you're training your brain to strengthen those related neural pathways. We all know that constant comparison on social media actually lowers your self esteem and it triggers insecurity. All of us have felt that. So you've got to balance that with purposeful good stuff. Listen, repeated exposure to fear based news, it trains your brain to expect danger and that just increases your anxiety. Whereas repeated exposure to uplifting, solution orientated content that strengthens your hope, gives you creativity and it gives you resilience. Books that inspire you and expand your mind, they challenge your assumptions and they improve your ability to think. Well, every single morning I post a quote, I post it out to my followers on social media. But make no mistake, that quote is as much for me as it is for anyone else. I also read all the time. I usually have like two or three books going all at once. But what I choose to read again, that's about my growth and my learning and the things that I'm gonna find motivating and inspirational. And it has a massive, massive impact on my ability to speak. Stay positive, because I plan it that way and you should too. So I have made it a habit to consume one positive, meaningful or uplifting thing every day. It could be a podcast that inspires you. I know a great one. Of course, it could be a book, an article on growth, a spiritual or philosophical passage that means something to you. Could be a five minute motivational talk on YouTube. My favorites are the Steve Jobs Stanford commencement speech and also the famous Admiral William McRaven's make youe Bed speech. I love that one so much I even made my kids watch it. But this works because just like food, your mindset actually reflects what you feed it. The third thing that makes the biggest shift to your ability to stay positive, and you've likely heard this one before, but I had to include it because it's so big is gratitude. Gratitude changes the brain. Gratitude practice has proven scientific benefits that directly improve your mindset. They do it by reshaping how your brain processes thoughts, emotions and stress. And it's one of the simplest yet most powerful tools for fostering a more positive, resilient and growth orientated way of thinking. That's what you need to be successful. It really does it in the most simple way. It shifts you from a focus on what you don't have to a focus on what you do have. And when you orientate your thinking that way, you will feel better. And that is what we all want. Nobody wants to pay rent. But if you have to, Bill makes it worth it. Bill is revolutionizing how millions think about paying rent by rewarding their members with points and exclusive benefits around their neighborhood every single month. By paying rent through bilt, you earn flexible points that can be redeemed against hundreds of hotels and airlines, a future rent payment, your next Lyft ride, and so much more. But it doesn't stop there. Built is about making your entire neighborhood more rewarding. You can dine out at your favorite local restaurants and earn additional points, get VIP treatment at certain fitness studios, and enjoy exclusive, exclusive experiences just for Built members every month. BILT is turning a monthly expense into an opportunity to earn rewards and discover the best that your neighborhood has to offer. Your rent is finally working for you. Earn points on rent and around your neighborhood, wherever you call home, by going to joinbill.com emma that's J-O-I n b I l t.com emma make sure to use our URL so they know that we sent you. You know Success demands stamina. Whether you're scaling a business, making high stakes decisions, or pushing through early mornings and late nights, your energy is your greatest asset. That's why I've been using Amra Colostrum, nature's original performance fuel. 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Get 25% off your first month for a limited time at ritual.com emma start ritual or add higher Sarah to your subscription today. That's ritual.com emma for a 25% off your first month as someone who's really inspired by entrepreneurs, especially women building brands that change industries, I love supporting companies like saie. I learned about Saie from my makeup artist Christy, who's been using it on me for forever. It's a clean, high performance makeup brand that's not only women owned, but it's setting a new standard in beauty. Their products don't just look amazing on they're actually good for your skin and they work to improve it over time. My personal favorite is the Glowy Super Gel. It's their number one bestseller and an Allure Award winner and I totally get why I use it as my first step and it instantly gives me that fresh lit from within glow without ever feeling heavy. And when I want a bit more coverage I go for the Slip Tint tinted moisturizer with SPF 35 sheer and dewy and I love that it's protecting and hydrating my skin at the same time and the dew blush that brings seamlessly for a wash of color that never looks streaky. What I love about Stay is that it's effortless, chic and mission driven beauty that feels good and does good find. Stay@sephora.com and every Sephora store across the United States and Canada and@sayhello.com Now I want to talk to you about how to to deal with the inevitable negative thoughts and how you can reduce stress and those negative thought loops. Negative thoughts are actually part of being human and what matters most is how skillfully and kindly you respond to them. I've recently had Dr. Tara Swarth on the podcast and she put it so simply for us, she said, talk to yourself like you talk to a best friend. And my point of view is this, you don't need to eliminate negative thoughts. You just need to create enough space and enough awareness to stop believing every one of them. Now, in my late teens and in my early 20s, I went to therapy. I still do. And the biggest simple takeout for me was learning how to separate myself from all of my thoughts every day. And still to this day, it's something that I think about. I understood whatever I was thinking was exactly that. It was just a thought. And I could create distance between myself and the thought. The book that helped me clarify this the most is the Untethered Soul by Michael Singer. And you have to replace some of your language, why is this happening to me? And you replace it with, what is this showing me? That single shift can move you from victim to to student. You'll go from overwhelmed, totally stressed out, to empowered. I have a couple of other tried and tested ways that I deal with negative thought loops. I try to focus on one win per day. I set a tiny goal. Could be an email I need to send, a corner that I need to clean, a walk that I need to go on, whatever it is. But at the day end, I write it down and I acknowledge it. And it works because when you complete something small, that creates dopamine, which actually helps break the stuck mindset and it builds self trust. Here's another, like, super easy one. I try to connect with actual people. I do this all the time. I'll call one of my sisters, I'll call one of my friends in London, I'll chat to someone in the office. And honestly, that works because human connection reduces cortisol, it increases oxytocin, and it reminds your brain that you are not alone. Another little one. When Jay Shetty came to this podcast, he taught us his 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 method. And it works so well. I've been using it nonstop. So here's how it goes. When you're spiraling, you stop and you focus on five things that you see, four things that you feel, three things that you hear, two things that you smell, and one thing that you taste. And it works because it anchors you in the present moment and deactivates the fight or flight responses. So these are a few things that seem so small, but if you start to implement them, you're going to see a noticeable difference in how you process any negativity that comes up. So next up, it's learning to ignore the haters. I believe it was Nicki Minaj, who once wisely said, they need rappers like me so they can get on their keyboards and make me the bad guy. Haters will always find something to say, but that says more about them than about you. And listen, she was right. Now, I told you I'm allergic to toxic positivity. We have to learn to do better and create coping strategies when our own mind is creating negative thought loops for us. Sometimes these bitches are out here and they be hating. So the lovely people that listen to the Aspire with Emma Greed podcast, they know that these people, those with the pessimistic and the negative mindset, they're not our people. But we still have to learn to deal with them. Learning to live with haters isn't about being cold or being indifferent or pretending they're not there. It's actually about building mental strength, self awareness and emotional boundaries so that you don't let other people's opinion own your energy or your worth. Now, you can use what people might say about you in many, many ways. But this is what I do. I ask the question, is it feedback or fuel? Is the criticism useful? Can you grow from it? And listen, sometimes it is useful. Great, then use it. And sometimes it's just noise. It's just jealousy or ignorance. Let it burn out on its own, but don't spend days and weeks and months ruminating on it. It's not your stuff. It belongs to someone else. Mentally, park it where it belongs. Not in your house, over there, somewhere else. Not everyone's opinion deserves your attention. You have to build, and this is one that I really love, you have to build a circle of credibility. And I really strongly suggest you do this so that you can decipher whose opinion matters and whose just doesn't. Who's doing what you aspire to, who truly knows you, who gives you feedback with love and intelligence. Those are the ones whose opinion matters. And if they're not in the arena with you, honestly, their voice just doesn't get priority. Remember, you do not need to be liked by everyone, but you do need to be loyal to yourself. You can't stop people hating, but you can decide what to do with it. So let's talk about something that keeps a lot of talented, brilliant, capable people stuck. The fear of failure. Now, if you've ever felt paralyzed by the thought of getting it wrong or not being enough or of falling short, you are not alone. Fear of failure isn't weakness. It's incredibly human. One of the quotes I love is, there is no failure Only feedback. It's a Robert Allen quote, and I just. I just love it, and I constantly go back to it. According to research, there are four key reasons why so many women experience a deeper or more complex emotional response to failure compared to men. These aren't about personal weakness. They're about conditioning, culture, and context. First off, social conditioning starts early in our lives. We all know girls are far too often praised for being good, not for being bold. From childhood, many, many girls are rewarded for perfection, politeness, and for avoiding risk. We're criticized more harshly for mistakes. And we're taught to seek approval and avoid risk taking and rocking the boat. So failure isn't just about getting something wrong. It can feel like a loss of worth or identity. Then second, we've internalized perfectionism. Dr. Bernay Brown says perfectionism is one of the biggest barriers to female leadership. Imagine that so many of us women are socially conditioned to tie our value to how well we perform and avoid errors at all costs. This, as you well know, leads to overthinking, fear of starting, obsessing over every detail, taking failure more personally than constructively. Sounds familiar. No? This isn't just a personality trait, though. It's a survival strategy in environments where women have to prove themselves more. Third, women have a greater fear of judgment for a good reason. It's not made up in your head, ladies. According to the Harvard Business Review, women are actually more likely to be punished socially for failure than men, especially in leadership roles. Failure is often seen as a learning opportunity for men, but it's a credibility issue for women. This really, really pisses me off. But this double standard leads women to fear of losing respect, authority, or reputation. And then we internalize failure as confirmation of other people's doubts, and we stay quiet instead of owning or learning from the loss. Ultimately, this creates more pressure and more fear around even small setbacks. All of this and so many other factors creates an unconscious belief. If I fail, I'll prove I don't belong here. They'll never give me another shot. Lastly, failure feels more personal for women than situational. Women are more likely to attribute failure to internal flaws, men to external factors. If a man fails at a pitch, he says, this client wasn't ready. If a woman fails, it's, I didn't prepare well enough. I should have done better. This difference in attribution style leads women to carry heavier emotional burdens, even when they're not at fault. So what do we do about this? As someone who's failed a lot, let me offer the benefit of My experience, because it's something that I've stopped doing, because that fear isn't useful to get ahead and meet my goals. It just isn't. The first thing I want you to do is almost go back to the start of this podcast. Visualize failing and handling it. I promise you, it really works. I want you to detach your worth from the outcome. I want you to redefine failure as data, not defeat. And here's a hack. The next time something goes wrong, you can ask, what is this teaching me? What worked? What would I do differently? And then you have to move on. You have to reframe. What if I fail into what if I don't try? And you ask yourself, what is the cost of playing small? What's the cost of staying where I am? And remember, you guys know what I'm going to say. If you play small, you stay small. It's not my quote, but it is one that I absolutely love. Now, if someone you love is holding back because of fear, please, please, please share this episode with them, because it might just be the push that they need. One of the reasons I actually decided to do this podcast is to lift the lids on all the things that make us successful. And failure is actually one of them. It's a growth step. It's not judgment. We need to make sure that we share more stories around women that overcome failure. But most of all, you have to train your mind if into self compassion and resilience. Address the perfectionism that lives inside you through doing coaching and therapy and a lot of self work. And what I want to do is change the culture and build environments for women where failure is okay, where it's safe and it's totally recoverable. Cause guess what? It is. Here I am, having failed miserably at so many things, and I'm alive and still trying to. Now make sure that you remind yourself that women don't struggle with failure because they're weak. They struggle because we've been taught that we're not allowed to fail. We've been conditioned to equate failure with unworthiness rather than evolution. But failure is not proof that you're broken. It's actually just proof that you're trying. And that is where every strong story begins. Now listen, one final and crucial point that I need you to do is to celebrate your wins. Now, our culture has actually trained us to move really, really quickly. We scroll through information super fast. When we walk down the street, we do it without noticing people around us or the route that we're Taking. We hardly even look up when we're checking out of the store to notice the person that's serving us. So it's no wonder that we forget in the haze of our every day and in all of our busyness, to celebrate our wins, no matter how big or small they might be. And listen, that has to stop. Celebrating your wins really is crucial for your mindset because it directly reinforces the emotional patterns that help you stay motivated and resilient and confident. When you never pause to celebrate, you fall into this idea of, like, constant urgency, nothing really mattering. You get better, burned out, and you get a mindset of nothing ever being enough. But when you pause, when you pause to celebrate a win, even like a little tiny one, your brain releases that dopamine, the motivation and reward chemical, and it builds and connects positive reinforcement for your effort. And if you begin to associate those things with satisfaction, guys, this creates such a powerful loop. You act, you feel good, you want to act again. Super simple. But without celebration, your brain only notices what's missing or what's wrong, which trains you to focus on lack and not progress. That is not what we're doing here. And remember, we're in training. So when you normalize wins, especially the imperfect ones, you actually take the pressure off of needing every outcome to be huge, to be flawless, to be Instagram worthy. It trains your mind to take more risks, to try more things, and then to bounce back quicker. Celebrating your wins builds a mindset of experimentation, not perfectionism. What I want you to do here is enjoy every damn day. You have to learn to stop and smell the roses. Focus on the things that actually matter. Your family, your friends, your loved ones, your progress. You trying something new that you would never, ever, ever have done before. And you've got to pick up and notice all of those little things. It's a total rewire for how you think. And as Oprah says, the more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate. So you have to start today. Choose one win, no matter how small, and you celebrate it. Encourage a friend or a family member to do exactly the same. Because the way you train in your mind to see progress is exactly the way that you'll create more, more of it. This is how you build momentum. It's how you build confidence, and it's how you create a life that you dream of living. So thank you so much for listening. If you enjoyed this episode and there's someone you could think that could get a lot out of it too, then please share it with them. And don't forget to leave a comment telling me your biggest takeaways from this episode because I really want to hear from you. See you next time. And don't forget to always, always bet on yourself. If you're loving this podcast, be sure to click Follow on your favorite listening platform. While you're there, give us a review and a five star rating and share an episode you loved with a friend. We'll be so grateful. Aspire with Emma Greed is presented by Audacy. I'm your host Emma Greed. Our executive producers are Corinne Gilead Fisher, Derek Brown and me. Our executive producers from Audacy are Maddy Sprung Keyser, Leah Rees Dennis, Asha Saluja and Jenna Weiss Berman. Stephen Key is our senior producer. Sound design and engineering by Bill Schultz. Angela Peluso is our booker. Original music by Charles Black Video production by Evan Cox, Kirk Courtney, Andrew Steele, Carlos Delgado and Arnie Arkansas Legacy Social Media by Olivia Homan Special thanks to Brittany Smith, Sydney Ford, My teams at the lead company and WME Maura Curran, Josephina Francis, Hilary Schuff, Eric Donnelly, Kate Hutchinson, Rose, Tim Meekol, Sean Cherry and Lauren Vieira. If you have questions for me, you can DM me at Aspire with Emma Greed. Greed is spelled G R E D E. That's Aspire A S P I R E with Emma Greed. Or you can submit a question to me on my website, emmagreed Me. Look, we get it. You can hardly go anywhere or do anything these days without hearing AI this or AI that. And if you're like most people when it comes to AI, you're impressed but have a few concerns. But what if AI was used not as a tool to replace people, but as a way to help understand people better? 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