How Guy Raz and 'How I Built This' Inspired My Entrepreneurial Journey

Starting a business is never a straight path. It’s a journey filled with twists, turns, setbacks, and victories. For me, the inspiration to take the leap into entrepreneurship came from an unexpected source—Guy Raz and his legendary podcast, How I Built This.

The seed idea for starting Primrose and May started to grow when I saw how many moms had to stuff their own stockings, however, it remained just an idea. It wasn’t until my sister sent me the Kiwi Crate episode of How I Built This, a podcast that dives deep into the stories of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, that I started to see how my idea might actually be a possibility.

It was the summer of 2024, and I was spending 10-12 hours a day painting the exterior of our house, listening to audio books to keep myself entertained. After listening to that first episode I was hooked. From Sara Blakely of Spanx to Howard Schultz of Starbucks, Guy Raz masterfully uncovers the struggles, risks, and pivotal moments that shaped their companies. Listening to these stories was nothing short of transformative. Each episode pulled back the curtain on the raw, unfiltered realities of building a business. I learned that even the biggest names in the industry started with doubts, setbacks, and sometimes even outright failures. These weren’t just tales of success—they were narratives of perseverance, resilience, and relentless belief in an idea.

Each episode of How I Built This reinforced an important lesson: No one has it all figured out at the beginning. It’s about taking risks, learning from mistakes, and adapting along the way. Guy Raz’s ability to highlight the humanity behind these entrepreneurs made their successes feel more attainable, not just reserved for a select few with perfect business plans. Instead of waiting for the perfect moment, I embraced the unknown and focused on progress over perfection and simply started my journey.

Now, as I navigate my own entrepreneurial journey, I continue to listen to How I Built This for inspiration and guidance. It serves as a reminder that every business, no matter how big or small, has a beginning. And in that beginning, there are lessons, struggles, and moments of doubt—but also the potential for something great.

If you’re on the fence about starting your own venture, I highly recommend tuning in to How I Built This. You might just hear the story that pushes you to take that first step, just like it did for me.

https://www.guyraz.com/howibuiltthisbook