Start With Yourself: A New Vision for Work & Life by Emma Grede - 16

There are so many people I want to thank, but in the spirit of Snoop Dogg, I need to Start with Myself. No seriously! I’m so proud of myself for doing this.

What I also know is true is that it took a hell of a lot of people to get me to the point where you can hold this actual book in your hands. First, I would like to thank my wonderful husband, Jens, for encouraging me and supporting me every single step of the way. I’m so grateful to have a partner in business and life who understands the meaning of true partnership and how to take the lead with our family to give me the freedom to pursue yet another project. Jens, your love, patience, and kindness know no bounds.

To my beautiful children, Grey, Lola, Lake, and Raffi: I hope one day you read this book and take a sense of pride in what I do and understand why it is so very important to me. To my entire extended family, for always looking out for me, for your never-ending love, and for giving me a sense of security that has set me up for life. To my mum, Jenny-Lee: Thank you for raising a girl who truly believes anything is possible—so long as you’re willing to work hard for it. I have my mindset because of you. To my sisters, Charlotte, Rachelle, and Katie-Beth, who know every part of me: I love you all dearly.

To my incredible team: First, my right hand Derrick Brown (my numero uno) and my agent, Caroline Simionescu-Marin: I literally would never have written this book without you both. I’m grateful every day for the endless work, friendship, encouragement, patience, and belief that comes from the two of you, and I’m so happy you have each other to commiserate with! I love you both. To Jill Smoller: Thank you for being a no-BS agent and never lying to me. To Alyssa Reuben: I appreciate your unwavering support, for really pushing me to do this book, and for answering all my basic-bitch questions along the way. To my wider WME team: I’m grateful to know you all and have you on my side making everything I do make sense and make money! Thank you to Amanda Silverman and my team at Lede PR. Thank you to Jazmin Zamora for having my back. Last, but not least on the team front, thank you Brittany Smith, my incredible EA, who keeps me on track, helps me organize my work and thoughts, and keeps everything else together: I’m grateful beyond measure.

I write in this book—and speak all the time—about finding the right people to work with to bring every project to life, and this book is no exception. I am beyond fortunate to have found Elise Loehnen, who worked side by side with me to help write this book and guide this project. Elise was the perfect choice and a serendipitous match given her work around the cultural conditioning of women, herself a New York Times bestselling author of On Our Best Behavior: The Price Women Pay to Be Good . Elise understood exactly what I was trying to do in these pages and brought a depth of knowledge and experience, serving as a critical thought partner for me throughout the process. I’m forever grateful to Elise and her brilliant, brilliant mind.

My immense gratitude goes to Shannon Welch at Avid Reader Press: Shannon, thank you for believing in this project from the very beginning and for editing and publishing my book. It was my dream to have someone so supportive, someone who would not change what I wanted to do—you lived up to all my ideals. Thank you to the entire Avid Reader Press team for your careful attention and stewardship of this project: Meredith Vilarello, Ilana Gold, Jofie Ferrari-Adler, Ben Loehnen, Alison Forner, Clay Smith, Alicia Brancato, Megan Noes, Annalea Manalili, Jessica Chin, Kayla Dee, Chelsey Drysdale, Elisa Rivlin, and Katya Wiegmann. Thank you to Erik Torstensson for putting his magic touch on the cover design.

An immense and heartfelt thank-you to my teams at Good American, SKIMS, Safely, Aspire , and Off Season. I’m endlessly inspired by the talented women and men who make these incredible companies work. A special mention and immeasurable thanks must go to Melissa Anderson and Lindsey Frawley, who have both given so much to me personally and professionally. I have learned so much from both of you since moving to LA and would never have experienced as much success as I have without the knowledge and expertise you have shared with me.

To my business partners and investors Andrew Rosen, Josh Kushner, John Howard, and Nick Brown: Thank you for your ongoing guidance and support. Thank you to Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, and Khloé Kardashian for the years of partnership.

Thank you to every guest I’ve had the opportunity to learn from on my podcast, Aspire with Emma Grede , especially Mellody Hobson, Michelle Obama, Mark Cuban, and Michael Rubin.

There are so many people in East London who helped me grow myself up. There is no place like it, and so I have to thank the whole of East London for making me who I am. I want to give a specific shout-out to Perry, for being so good to me when I had nothing to offer in return.

Thank you to my best friends Chenelle Hall, Melissa Wolford, Holly Scott Lidgett, Etty Bellhouse, and Poppy Bartlett: You are my greatest cheerleaders while also being honest to a fault—this keeps my feet on the ground. You are the best friends a girl could ask for.

Last but by no means least, I am so thankful to the community of followers and listeners who have joined me on this journey. As I explain in the book, I don’t think I’ve been so successful simply so I can make a lot of money or just live out my dreams. I think I’ve been successful so I can help other people do the same. Nothing makes me happier than passing on what I’ve learned to all of you. I hope you find yourself Starting with Yourself, too.