Using Fear as Fuel, Not Self-Preservation

What’s one habit that’s helped you succeed lately?

What made you decide to stick with that habit?

In this special live conversation, at The Theater at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, Jay sits down with entrepreneur and industry leader Emma Grede for a conversation every builder, creator, and business-minded thinker needs to hear. Together, Jay and Emma unpack a challenge that holds so many talented people back, caring too much about what others think. Emma shares the early moments in her career when she stayed quiet in rooms where she deserved to speak, the times she underestimated her own value, and the double standards she had to navigate as a woman in business. This episode is a powerful reminder that confidence isn’t something you wait to feel, it’s something you build through action, decision-making, and showing up for the opportunities in front of you.

As the conversation deepens, Emma shares the mindsets that shaped her path, from a kid obsessed with fashion magazines to a visionary leader with a global reach. She breaks down why excellence starts with showing up fully in whatever role you’re in, how competence is the foundation of real confidence, and why chasing “passion” isn’t always the most strategic move. Jay adds powerful reflections on focus, leaning into your strengths, and accepting that you don’t need to be great at everything to succeed. This is an honest and refreshing look at what it really takes to trust yourself, take bigger swings, and grow into the person you’re meant to be.

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to Stop Caring What Others Think

How to Build Confidence Through Competence

How to Use Fear as Fuel, Not a Setback

How to Become Excellent at What You’re Doing Now

How to Set Your Own Standards, Not Society’s

How to Start Before You Have It All Figured Out

You don’t have to wait until you feel fully ready, fully confident, or fully “enough.” Start where you are, use what you have, and trust that focus, effort, and self-belief will do more for your future than fear ever will. 

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

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What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

00:44 Why Do We Worry About Others’ Opinions?

02:12 Opportunities Lost to Comparison

04:09 The Double Standards for Women in Business

07:19 Why You Must Start With Yourself

09:57 The Three-Word Mantra for Career Growth

11:58 Visualize the Life You Want

14:27 Follow What Gives You Energy

16:47 How Competence Builds Real Confidence

18:23 What’s Actually Distracting Us From True Focus?

20:52 Build a Circle That Complements Your Strengths

24:46 Teaching Kids to Chase Their Own Dreams

28:38 Defining Your Life’s Non-Negotiables

32:25 How to Choose What Truly Matters

37:46 Owning Your Truth Creates New Opportunities

40:59 Start Small: Scale Down and Test Your Idea

Episode Resources:

Emma Grede | Website

Emma Grede | Instagram

Emma Grede | Facebook

Emma Grede | LinkedIn

Emma Grede | TikTok

Emma Grede | YouTube

Good American

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