Zibby Owens witnessed first-hand the payoff of great entrepreneurship as she watched her father build his company, Blackstone, from the ground up. She freelanced as a writer earlier in her career. She focused on raising her kids for 10+ years. Then her marriage ended. So she spent her weekends without the kids rekindling her love of literature – and developing a media empire focusing on all things books.
In this episode, Zibby shares:
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The story behind her iconic color-coordinated bookshelf
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What she learned watching her father build his private equity business, Blackstone
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Her recent Vogue article she published – and why she almost wishes she hadn’t
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How her podcast became the vehicle to sell her first book
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Why building your personal brand is key in almost any industry today
On Taking her Time with Her Writing Career
Zibby: There was no career path from being an intern or even at the very bottom to being one of these contributors whose contracts I was filing in a cabinet. There was just no path. I figured I had to go do other things. I’m interested in tons of things, but I never totally gave up. I always wrote on the side. I always hoped and dreamed that one day I’d write a book. And then when I first tried to really write a book, and I wrote a novel after business school, it didn’t sell. I was so devastated that I gave up on my dream for over a decade and just went deep into child rearing. I stayed home with my kids for 11 years. When I got divorced, I had four kids. I suddenly had all this free time on the weekends when they went to their dads. I started writing and reading again. And then I started podcasting and that’s how it really all started.
On How She Feels After Hitting “Publish”
Zibby: There’s always a moment where I hold my breath after I put it out there. Like, this could go either way. I hope this is okay. Usually, someone says “thank you, I feel the same way,” and I’m like, OK: at least one person got it. I’m gonna be okay. I do have that fear right when I press, send on Substack or I publish an article. But I’ve had so much reinforcement over the years that what I’m saying and thinking – even the most private things – other people are thinking and feeling some version of that.
On How to be a Better Writer
Zibby: Take a class, get to know other writers. There are so many platforms that offer great writing classes online or in-person. I think getting to be a part of the writing community, start going to book events, start going to conferences and just get into the thick of things and in places where you’re inspired by others. Start really small. Don’t try to write a whole novel on day one. Start with a scene, try writing a scene. Have a writing group or some accountability – that’s my personality type in the Gretchen Rubin world. I have really found that learning from others, being in writing groups or having my editor now is life changing, really.
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