Turning Small Beginnings Into Big Dreaming: A Review of Just Getting Started by Brittney Saunders
When I first heard about Just Getting Started by Brittney Saunders, I was immediately intrigued: a memoir + business book hybrid, by an Australian entrepreneur who built her brand from scratch. As someone who loves reading about how real people navigate uncertainty and build something meaningful, this book promised stories, vulnerabilities, and lessons—and it delivers.
Below I share what works, where it could dig deeper, and who I think this book will resonate with.
What Just Getting Started Is—and What It Promises
Published in May 2025, Just Getting Started (272 pages) positions itself as both a memoir and a practical guide. Booktopia+2Angus & Robertson+2 The subtitle—Building an Empire From Your Back Pocket—accurately hints at the heart of this book: how to leverage what you already have, step by step, to build something bigger.
Saunders shares her journey from Newcastle, NSW, to being the founder of FAYT the Label, a fashion/entrepreneurial venture she describes as once “started in her garage” and now an 8-figure business. Talent Corp+3Omny Studio+3smooth.com.au+3 Along the way, she lifts the curtain on her personal life—childhood challenges, self-belief struggles, and decisions she’s later rethought. Jane and a Plane Her voice is candid, often humble, and generally avoids the trappings of a “success guru” tone.
Because the book straddles memoir and motivational/business writing, it doesn’t always deliver exhaustive step-by-step frameworks. But what it does offer is a narrative light on complexity but heavy on inspiration.
Structure, Style & Voice
Narrative Framing & Flow
Saunders’ storytelling is straightforward. She begins with early life (family, identity, limitations), then moves into “how I got here” chapters: the early business experiments, mistakes, pivots, and growth moments. Interspersed are reflective chapters on mindset, failure, burnout, and recalibration.
One thing I appreciated: the transitions never pretend that growth is linear. Saunders shows regressions and doubts. The narrative feels more like “walking through the weeds” than skipping up a finish line.
That said, because the book aims to be accessible, the pacing leans toward the breezy and broad. Some chapters end abruptly, or feel like sketches rather than deep dives. That’s not necessarily a flaw—it's a stylistic choice—but it may leave readers craving more texture in certain business or emotional moments.
Tone & Emotional Honesty
Where Just Getting Started shines is in tone. It doesn’t posture as a flawless playbook. Saunders openly acknowledges her mistakes, regrets, and insecurities. In a lot of business-memoirs, the author waits until the end to admit vulnerability; here, vulnerability is woven all through.
Reading it feels like sitting down with a friend who’s been through hard things, succeeded, and wants to share the messy middle. The narrative often reads like someone offering encouragement rather than preaching, which makes it more accessible to readers who are just starting out (which, to me, is clearly the target audience). Jane Taylor’s review described it as “relatable … the kind of way a friend would encourage you to chase your goals if you were chatting with them at brunch.” Jane and a Plane
Use of Practical Advice vs Anecdote
Because the book is partly memoir, the “actionable advice” sections are fewer and lighter than you might find in a dedicated business handbook. Saunders highlights lessons she’s learned—“do this,” “avoid that,” “this mindset shift helped me”—but often in the context of a story rather than systematic instruction.
Some readers may want more concrete spreadsheets, templates, or deep tactical blueprints (e.g. marketing metrics, costing breakdowns). The author doesn’t claim that depth; instead, she gives principles, warnings, encouragement, and insights from lived experience.
In her own words, she shares “do’s and don’ts I wouldn’t do again” and reflections on which decisions paid off (or didn’t). Jane and a Plane For many readers, that kind of lived wisdom is more motivating than dry theory.
Major Strengths
Relatable origin story
Saunders’ backstory—growing up with constraints, having to hustle, and having few guarantees—is not atypical for many readers. That relatability helps make her wins feel tangible, not distant.Balance of humility + ambition
She doesn’t pretend to have all the answers, yet clearly she has ambition and drive. The balance is refreshing: it’s not arrogant, nor is it apologetic.Emphasis on mindset & resilience
Many of the most compelling passages are about the internal journey—self-doubt, burnout, recalibrating expectations. For aspiring entrepreneurs, those internal battles are often more daunting than external logistics, so Saunders’ attention to them is valuable.Inspiration over intimidation
Because the writing is not overly technical, the book can inspire someone who’s just thinking about starting something, rather than making them feel behind or unprepared.
Areas Where the Book Could Do More
More business case studies / depth
While Saunders recounts many business decisions, I wanted more concrete examples—for instance, a full breakdown of a successful campaign, or how she pivoted unprofitable lines. Some “in the weeds” business challenges feel skimmed over.Stronger structure for the action sections
The “lessons learned” sometimes feel tacked on rather than tightly integrated with narrative arcs. A more consistent structure (e.g. summary questions, worksheets, or reflection prompts) might help readers internalize lessons.More transparency about failures
Saunders does share mistakes and doubts, but occasionally the narrative glosses over big mis-steps or financial risks with just a sentence. Deeper introspection on those painful moments would have strengthened the sense of authenticity.Audience mismatch for advanced readers
If you are already running a mid-ish sized business or have several years of experience, some of the material may feel elementary. This is not a deep tactical manual—but I don’t believe that was the goal.
My Experience Reading It & Key Takeaways
Reading Just Getting Started felt like being handed a compass rather than a map. It won’t show you every step forward, but it helps orient you, encourages you, and gives you sanity checks when you wobble.
Here are a few of my personal takeaways:
Small beginnings do matter — Saunders reminds you that many big outcomes started from ideas, clothes in the garage, Instagram posts, side hustle time blocks. The micro-steps count.
Mindset is the foundation — Some of the most powerful passages deal with what she tells herself when things go sideways. For a new entrepreneur, the internal narrative is often more limiting than external conditions.
Pivoting isn’t failure—it’s learning — I liked that she frames many pivots as feedback rather than defeat. That reframing is helpful when I (or many readers) feel stuck or uncertain.
Your environment matters — Saunders talks about the support (or lack thereof) she had, the people around her, and how those influences shaped her decisions. We often underestimate how much our physical, emotional, and social environment steers us.
Legacy thinking vs short wins — She touches on thinking bigger—beyond mere revenue chasing, toward what impact, brand, or story she wants to leave. That long view is often lost in early hustle phases.
Who Will Love Just Getting Started (And Who Might Skip It)
Best for:
Aspiring entrepreneurs and side hustlers in the early phases
Readers who need encouragement, not intimidation
People drawn to memoirs who want business insight in story form
Anyone feeling stuck at “start line” and wanting a push
Less suited for:
Advanced entrepreneurs seeking deep frameworks, templates, or spreadsheets
Readers who prefer methodical, structured “how-to” business books
Those wanting highly technical breakdowns (e.g. ad metrics, supply chain logistics in detail)
Final Verdict & Rating
Just Getting Started by Brittney Saunders is not perfect—but it doesn’t aim to be. It’s a warm, honest, readable account of what it feels like to begin building something from little, with all the stumbles, doubts, and small victories that come along. If you’re at a stage of ideation or early launch, this book will feel encouraging, grounding, and realistic.
If I were to rate it (on a 5-star scale), I’d give it 3.75 to 4 stars. It doesn’t always hit depth in tactical instruction, but the power of its narrative and the sense of possibility it generates are worth it.
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