Grace Beverley: How To Build A Multi-Million Pound Empire At 24
Feb 22, 2021
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Grace Beverley, a young British entrepreneur and the mastermind behind the sustainable activewear brand TALA and the fitness app Shreddy, shares her inspiring journey. She dives into the realities of youth entrepreneurship, emphasizing challenges, sacrifices, and the impact on mental health. Grace reflects on the balance between personal life and business while addressing social media pressures. She also discusses the importance of self-compassion and authentic leadership, all while navigating her own path of success and self-validation.
Starting businesses at a young age requires gradual progress and monetizing content
Challenges faced by women in business in fashion and fitness industries
Prioritizing mental health and recognizing warning signs of burnout
Having confidence in one's achievements and not letting others' opinions define self-worth
The importance of self-validation and not seeking validation from others
Deep dives
The Challenges of Starting a Business at a Young Age
Grace Maviline, CEO and founder of two multi-million dollar companies, shared her journey of starting businesses at a young age. She emphasized that her path was not a straightforward decision, but rather a gradual process. She monetized her content through ebooks and gradually expanded her product offerings. Confidence was not always present, but she pushed forward and learned from mistakes. Grace highlighted the importance of understanding that success can be achieved through small steps and not just one big decision.
The Challenges Faced by Women in Business
Grace discussed the challenges she faced as a woman in business, specifically in the fashion and fitness industries. She highlighted the preconceptions and biases she encountered, including not being taken seriously and being underestimated. Grace emphasized the need to contextualize these challenges within the intersectionality of race, privilege, and other factors. While progress has been made, there is still a long way to go regarding gender equality in business.
The Importance of Mental Health and Self-Care in Business
Grace shared her own struggles with mental health and burnout. She admitted that she initially neglected her mental well-being and only took it seriously when it manifested physically in the form of seizures. She emphasized the importance of recognizing warning signs and the need to prioritize self-care, even in the midst of owning and managing successful businesses. Grace acknowledged the unrealistic expectations society often places on entrepreneurs and the importance of finding a balance between hard work and self-care.
Dealing with Criticism and Perceptions of Success
Grace reflected on the criticism and preconceptions she has faced as a successful businesswoman. She stressed the importance of having confidence in one's achievements and not letting others' opinions define self-worth. Grace also acknowledged the curated nature of social media and highlighted the need for honest and balanced representations of success. She encouraged individuals to focus on their own journey and to recognize that success looks different for everyone.
The importance of self-validation
One of the main ideas discussed in the podcast is the importance of self-validation. The speaker emphasizes the need to focus on one's own perception of oneself rather than seeking validation from others. They share their journey of finding self-worth and the realization that external validation, whether positive or negative, can be detrimental. They encourage listeners to prioritize self-love and not let others' opinions define their value.
Navigating working culture and boundaries
Another key point discussed in the podcast is the challenges of navigating the current working culture, especially in terms of boundaries and work-life balance. The speaker reflects on the blurred lines between work and personal life, particularly in the age of remote work and constant connectivity. They highlight the importance of setting healthy boundaries and reevaluating working norms to prioritize personal well-being and mental health.
Lessons from business and personal growth
The speaker shares insights and lessons learned from their experiences in business and personal growth. They discuss the importance of staying true to oneself and not being swayed by others' perceptions or expectations. They also reflect on the balance between personal and professional relationships and the value of maintaining diverse connections. Additionally, they touch on the challenges of self-validation and the impact of social media on self-perception and personal growth.
Importance of Delegating Responsibilities
Delegating responsibilities and focusing on your strengths can benefit your business. Rather than feeling the need to do everything as a founder, it is crucial to identify your strong points and hire talented individuals who excel in areas where you may be lacking. This allows for the business to grow and thrive as each team member can contribute their expertise. By acknowledging that you don't have to do everything yourself, you can become a more effective leader and create a business that is not limited by your ego or insecurities.
Balancing Ideas and Execution
As an entrepreneur, it is common to generate numerous ideas and have a constant stream of new business ventures in mind. However, it is important to distinguish between ideas worth pursuing and those that may be unhelpful or distracting. A key factor in determining which ideas to pursue is the feedback and input from your target audience. By considering their wants and needs, you can focus on executing a smaller number of ideas successfully rather than spreading yourself too thin. Prioritizing quality execution over quantity of ideas can lead to long-term success and growth for your businesses.
Grace is an entrepreneur, brand founder, influencer and Oxford University graduate who defied expectations and took her post-grad journey in an unexpected direction by launching 2 major brands: [We Are] TALA (sustainable, slow fashion activewear label) and fitness app Shreddy. TALA’s performance since its launch in 2019 shows it to be one of the biggest positive disruptors in the gymwear space both in the UK and overseas. At the core of the brand is a focus on ethical, eco-efficient manufacture practices. The designs are inclusive in terms of size and shape range: Grace has spoken of the importance of personalising your fitness and health journey rather than subscribing to what's most popular or promoted on social media. Grace has remained outspoken on the challenges faced by women in business, even in 2021.
A social conscience runs through all three of her companies: up-cycled offcuts and recyclable materials are incorporated into products from TALA while remaining available to consumers at affordable prices. Grace also used to vlog her daily life with great success, sharing her ups and downs as a 20-something year-old. Longtime subscribers of hers have had the chance to join her on a more personal journey.
However, she stepped away from vlogging a year ago to pursue her business ventures. Grace launched both Shreddy and TALA within a month of her final university exams. She is frequently discussed by followers for her drive and ability to be able to take on multiple projects at once with tons of enthusiasm. Shreddy has received widespread press coverage since its launch, and Grace has recently pulled off a major partnership with celeb/influencer Jordyn Woods in LA, as well as collaborations with brands such as KOI footwear (an exclusive line of vegan footwear released in 2019).
