DESTINED FOR GREATNESS

GRAYSON PRUETT, a graduate of Lake Forest High School and a senior at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, makes no small plans. A political science and business student and entrepreneur, Pruett is on a mission to motivate, empower, and inspire those who want to make their dreams a reality and step into their best versions through her podcast, Meant for Big Things.

What started as a self-improvement motivational podcast has evolved into a business encompassing event curation, content creation, and merchandise business. It all started with the podcast which was inspired by Pruett’s freshman year of study abroad in Switzerland. She, along with some friends, rented a boat and rode out to the middle of Lake Lugano. Pruett took a jump into the lake and it was at that very moment her life was forever changed.

“Once resurfacing, I only had my head above the water and realized how vast the world really is and how small I was,” says Pruett. “In that same breath, I also thought about the excitement of discovering the world and the idea that anything is achievable.”

On that same day, another great moment happened.

“I was scrolling through Instagram and saw a quote that said, ‘made for greatness’ and I felt so empowered,” she says.

Riding on the coattails of that energy, Pruett wanted to spread that feeling with the hopes of injecting something positive into the lives of her friends and peers.

“This phrase made me feel like I was meant for big things,” she explains, and that’s when the Meant for Big Things podcast was born.”

When Pruett arrived back in the states, things started to come together quickly. She signed up for a self-improvement program, wrote out the goals she wished to accomplish, and shared them with her mother and her mother’s friend.

“I wanted to find a platform that best suited my strengths and best helped other people,” she says. They then suggested she start a podcast. “It was a spur-of-the- moment decision to follow my intuition and take a risk.”

However, Pruett wasn’t an avid podcast listener and didn’t have the experience or knowledge even to start one. But that didn’t stop her.

“I went right to my brother and used his gaming microphone to sit down and record the first episode on a free audio software I learned how to use in sixth grade,” explains Pruett. Equipped with a background in music and theater, she started to record content. Delivering her message came naturally to her.

Pruett released the first episode in January 2020 and two years later, the podcast now inspires more than 1,500 listeners globally, reaching 23 countries. The episodes consist of short inspiring stories packed with positive energy, motivation, and insights that listeners can use to elevate their lives.

“I usually have a topic in mind and a personal anecdote in which I learned great life lessons,” she says. “I think about how the lessons of this story relate to teachings at the many self-improvement conferences I have attended and just start speaking from the heart.”

Then naturally, the topic unfolds and palpable lessons with actionable insights come full circle.

One of Pruett’s favorite episodes is her third episode, “How Words Can Transform Your Life.” The episode shares how she shifted her confidence through words.

“It discusses the importance of the words used to describe ourselves and how positive words can amplify one’s confidence and success,” she says, adding that the feedback was overwhelming. “I had multiple people message me saying how this episode has helped them feel less alone, how it’s changed their perspective, or how it’s cleared their minds, and I was really happy and fulfilled with the response.”

In addition to the podcast, Meant for Big Things offers events on Villanova’s campus focusing on peer-to-peer learning, an Instagram featuring nominated individuals who are “meant for big things,” and a merchandise line that provides community and tangible motivation. With a strong Instagram following and merchandise for sale to back up the success of the podcast, she has made big things happen.

Pruett has released six sold-out merchandise collections since 2020. The success of this has spurred her to create a website as a one-stop shop offering products, direct links to the podcast, content creation, and more.

“All in all, I want people to feel their inner power and prime themselves to live a life that was meant for big things,” she says.

You can find Meant for Big Things on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Follow @meantforbigthings on Instagram or visit meantforbigthings.com.