Success used to come with a formula: study hard, work harder, wait your turn, and somewhere along the way, it would all fall into place. At least, that’s what we were told. But for many of us, that version of success feels increasingly out of sync, like following a map that no longer leads anywhere worth going. So when Emma Grede announced that she was publishing a book, I knew she would bring a more grounded, modern perspective to what success actually looks like.
I woke up on April 14 and immediately picked up my phone to download the audiobook of Start With Yourself: A New Vision for Work & Life. And yes, I was also awaiting my physical copy to arrive in the mail. There’s just something so inspiring and calming, listening to Emma speak and I enjoyed every second of it.
Although this book may initially seem targeted at working mothers like her, it is just as relevant for young women navigating the early stages of their careers and thinking about their future. At its core, the message is simple: if you want to be successful in any area of life, you have to start with yourself first.
Throughout our lives, priorities shift. We get off track, we shrink ourselves, and we stop making ourselves the main character in our own story. But through mistakes and failures, we begin to understand what actually matters. And by sharing those lessons – just as Emma does in this book – we can help the next generation avoid the same pitfalls. Success is not only about what you build for yourself, but also about the example you set for others who are watching and learning.
There is no single handbook for success, because no two journeys are the same. Start With Yourself: A New Vision for Work & Life offers something different: a framework for thinking about success on your own terms. It acknowledges that sacrifice and compromise are inevitable, and that external judgment should never dictate how you design your personal or professional life. Ultimately, you are the one who has to live with your choices, so you should be the one who defines them.
One of Emma’s most important ideas is the value of self-awareness, especially when it comes to your weaknesses. You cannot do everything and you are not supposed to. Instead of chasing perfectionism, she encourages outsourcing what you are not good at and building strong teams that allow you to focus on what you do best. There is no shame in not knowing everything. In fact, knowing when to ask for help is a form of strength, not weakness.
When you look at Emma’s achievements, you see success, financial independence and a life built with intention. But none of it happened overnight. It came from discipline, persistence, self-belief and an extraordinary work ethic. Even when she faced setbacks, failure or doubt from others, she continued to move forward.
What stands out most is her clarity of purpose. She knew what she wanted and refused to let obstacles define her limits. And that mindset is ultimately her real superpower.
A while ago, we published an article on how to channel your inner Emma Grede. I’ve always spoken highly of her and have shared episodes from her podcast Aspire with Emma Grede with friends who needed guidance or perspective. Her advice has personally influenced me in many ways and has even helped spark my creativity again. When she announced her book, I pre-ordered it immediately and couldn’t wait to read it. The physical copy feels intentional and thoughtfully designed, something I know I’ll keep and revisit.
What makes the book even more interesting is not just what is inside it, but how it is structured. There is an index at the back that allows you to go directly to the topics you personally need, which makes it feel practical and personal, rather than just something you read once and put away. There is also space to add your own thoughts, which turns it into something interactive and not just words you consume.
And that feels very aligned with what Emma is trying to say throughout the book. It is not just about inspiration, but about ownership. About actually engaging with your own thinking instead of passively receiving someone else’s version of success.
At the end of the day, this book is for anyone who is tired of feeling like a passenger in their own life. It is for those who want to stop waiting for permission and start building with intention instead. It is about resilience, accountability and the willingness to keep going, even when things fall apart.
But more than anything, it is about this: You don’t become successful by following someone else’s version of life. You become successful when you finally decide to write your own. And maybe that is the real takeaway from Start With Yourself. Not that there is one right way to succeed, but that there is a point where you stop waiting, stop outsourcing your direction, and start taking responsibility for your own path. And once you truly start with yourself, everything else starts to move forward.
ROARA Magazine 