Conversations with the founder of theRealReal
Reflections on Episode #5 of Passing the Torch Podcast
LISTEN TO EPISODE HERE AS YOU READ:
NOTE: What is the one reason for you receiving this email? The mission of Passing the Torch Media is actually quite simple. Create a media universe which accepts Gen Z for who they are, allows for growth & stimulation for young people, and reminds young people around the world that entertainment and education need not be two poles of a spectrum. Everyone reading this is likely a stakeholder of Gen Z. Please share with friends & family if you find what you read interesting and you believe in what we’re doing!
TLDR; In our latest episode speaking with Julie Wainwright, founder of The Real Real, we discussed what separates the ideas that die in notebooks from the companies that change industries. The core insight? Taking action beats perfection every time. The solution to getting started isn’t more planning—it’s making that uncomfortable first move.
When Julie Wainwright—the guest on our latest episode of Passing the Torch Podcast—said the following, it really struck Emile and I: “If you don’t do anything, you’re not going to get information back. So the key is to take a step, understand what works, what doesn’t, and iterate.”
It wasn’t just the simplicity of this advice that was so powerful—it was who was saying it. This is a woman who took a company public (one of only 23 women founders to ever do so), who built a billion-dollar business, who disrupted an entire industry so thoroughly that legacy brands like Chanel literally tried to intimidate her with “thuggish practices.” And her secret? She just started.
Here’s what Julie made crystal clear: Ideas are everywhere. Execution is rare.
She told us about meeting entrepreneurs who have “great ideas” but haven’t done anything about them. She watches companies launch, predicts their outcomes, and learns from watching them succeed or fail—all from her armchair. But the difference between Julie and those people with ideas? She took the first step. Then the second. Then the thousandth.
“Making a decision is more important than trying to figure out what the ultimate right decision is, because there are many right decisions and being immobilized by inaction is never the right decision.”
I don’t want to spend too long discussing paralysis analysis. I would rather discuss solutions. And Julie’s solution is refreshingly simple: just start.
The Real Real wasn’t some completely novel invention—consignment had existed forever. But Julie applied technology, changed perceptions, and built it into the world’s largest luxury resale marketplace with 38 million members. She didn’t wait for the perfect moment. She didn’t wait until she had every answer. She started, learned, and iterated.
So what does this mean for us at Passing the Torch?
It means we need to keep reminding you to take the first step. Whether that’s starting a company, making a friend, learning a new skill, or just showing up. Julie’s entire career is proof that you don’t need to be the smartest person, or have a computer science degree, or even have a completely original idea. You need to start, learn from what happens, and keep going.
We want to hear from everyone who has an idea they haven’t started yet. Tell us what’s holding you back. Tell us what that first step would look like.
If you aren’t someone with an unstarted idea, share this with someone who is. The person sitting on a great concept but waiting for “the right time” needs to hear Julie’s story.
It’s of the utmost importance that the right people are saying the right things when content is ever-so abundant and overwhelming. Trust that Passing the Torch can be your weekly reminder that the journey matters, that starting beats stalling, and that the best time to begin was yesterday—but today works too.
Here’s to many more months of turning ideas into action!
—J&E