Get In The Room: What Attending the Emma Grede Tour Taught Me About Proximity, Perspective & Purpose
Why The Right Rooms Can Shift Your Mindset, Expand Your Vision, & Remind You What’s Possible
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Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the Emma Grede Start With Yourself Tour Atlanta and it was inspiring, to say the least.
When friends asked me what I wanted for my birthday this year, I honestly had no idea. But when I saw Emma Grede announce she was coming to Atlanta, I was interested. And when she shared that Sarah Jakes Roberts would be joining her, I knew I needed to be there.
My good friend Zana ended up buying me a ticket as part of my birthday gift, and I was so excited. But then, just a week before the event, the news broke that Sarah wouldn’t be attending due to a neck injury. Of course, I was happy she was okay, but if I’m being honest, I was disappointed. I had really been looking forward to seeing her again.
The whole week leading up to the event, I kept going back and forth with if I should still go or sell my ticket?
Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve been a fan of Emma for years. If you know me, you know I’m an interview junkie. I’ve loved talk shows since I was a kid. I enjoy hearing people’s stories, how they made it, how they think, how they move, especially when I admire them.
Emma has a unique path to success. It wasn’t quick and it wasn’t traditional, and her grit, vision, and work ethic is something to take note of. I’ve also enjoyed listening to her podcast Aspire.
But I’ll be honest, some of the clips I had been seeing of her recently gave me mixed emotions. It started to feel like what was being pushed was a little too heavy on hustle culture, and it didn’t fully sit right with me. She came off a little out of touch in those moments.
But that’s the thing about clips, they don’t tell the full story.
So I did what more of us need to do, I went back and watched full interviews, start to finish. And it completely shifted my perspective.
It reminded me that I can’t form a full opinion off of a few seconds on the internet. And I also don’t have to agree with everything someone says to still learn from them. Everything isn’t for everybody, and if it doesn’t apply, I can let it fly. And honestly, that applies to more than just this. It’s a reminder to be more intentional about what we consume and how quickly we judge it.
The morning of the event, I still wasn’t fully in it. It was gloomy outside. I had a long week. And if I’m being honest, I’ve been in a season where leaving the house for anything besides work or the gym has felt like a lot.
If it were up to me, I would’ve stayed home. But I’m learning: you can’t wait until life feels perfect to live it. And sometimes the things that shift your mood, your mindset, or even your direction are the very things you almost talked yourself out of. So I got up, pulled myself together, picked a cute outfit, did my makeup and hair, and went.
I ended up Ubering, because I wore heels, and of course, I was late. The whole four minute ride, I was beating myself up for oversleeping. But when I got there and saw other women still walking in, I relaxed.
As I was walking in, I made a quick comment to a woman who was also there alone, and we instantly clicked. We stopped to get merch together and ended up sitting next to each other thanks to a kind usher.
And it was such a small moment, but it reminded me how easy it is to connect when you’re open to it. A simple comment, a small smile, a quick conversation, that’s sometimes all it takes to not feel alone in a room you almost didn’t walk into.
Since Sarah couldn’t attend, Crystal Renee Hayslett stepped in, and she was amazing.
I’ve followed her journey too, from Sistas and Zatima to her interviews and podcast. Her story is a reminder that success doesn’t have one path. From working as Tyler Perry’s assistant to becoming a multi hyphenate entrepreneur all while keeping her faith at the center.
The conversation between her and Emma was really good. They were both honest and vulnerable, talking about failure in business and life, and how to keep going when things don’t work out the way you planned. They spoke about shifting out of an “either/or” mindset and realizing you can have both. They also touched on boundaries, knowing what works for you in both your personal life and your career.
And when Crystal talked about letting God lead her decisions, not just in business but even in dating, that part really stuck with me. Because at the end of the day, success isn’t just about what you build, it’s about how aligned you are while building it.
The second half of the event was Q&A with women from the audience. Real stories, real struggles, real ambition. And Emma gave advice that didn’t just apply to them, it applied to all of us.
She closed the night by reading an excerpt from her book and talking about vision and emotional management. Not avoiding emotions, but learning how to manage them. Not controlling everything, but doing the internal work.
She broke down the idea of shifting from old, limiting beliefs to new, empowering ones, and how that applies to every area of life, not just business. And one line stayed with me:
You are one choice away from deciding what matters most to you.
But if I’m honest. My favorite part of the night wasn’t even on the stage. It was the room.
Women like Milan Harris of Milano De Rouge, marketing strategist Maya Elious, artist Summer Walker, comedian and entrepreneur Pretty Vee, beauty founder Danessa Myricks, and Alicia Scott, just to name a few.
No extra barriers, no separation, just in the room taking it all in like everyone else.
Entrepreneurs, creatives, women building real things. And the energy felt different. Everyone was kind, speaking, complimenting each other, hyping each other up. It felt like real girlhood.
And being in that room did something to me.
It made everything feel closer. More possible. More real. And it made me realize that sometimes the only thing separating you from the next level of your life is proximity.
Everywhere I turned, I saw women doing things I aspire to do. Women I’ve followed, women I’ve seen making moves, even women I recognize from the gym who are quietly building their lives.
And it gave me a different kind of motivation. Not pressure, not comparison, just a reminder that it’s all within reach. Because when you see it up close, it stops feeling like something that only happens to “other people.”
I started the day not even sure if I wanted to go, and I ended the night grateful that I did. And it really made me think about how many moments we almost miss just because we don’t feel like showing up.
Because the truth is, you won’t always feel ready. You won’t always feel excited. But that doesn’t mean the opportunity isn’t still valuable.
I’ve gone to events like this before, but somewhere along the way I stopped. And this reminded me that I need to get back to it. Not just being in any room, but being intentional about the rooms I choose. The ones that connect me with like minded women who are actually going after the life they want.
Because the rooms you choose will either stretch you or keep you exactly where you are.
I’m excited to dive into Emma’s book Start With Yourself and I’ll definitely share an update when I do.
But more than anything, I hope this reminds you of something too.
Go.
Even when you don’t feel like it.
Even when you’re tired.
Even when it would be easier to stay home.
Because the life you want isn’t going to come find you there. It’s in the rooms you almost talked yourself out of.
