PERMISSION TO SCREW UP is the laugh-out-loud, inspiring story about how Kristen learned to lead, not despite her mistakes, but because of them. As she took her business from living-room-based startup to local powerhouse, Kristen made almost every mistake in the book: giving out hugs instead of feedback, fixing employee errors instead of enforcing accountability, and throwing parties instead of cultivating meaningful relationships. But when things weren’t working and failure seemed imminent, Kristen turned her problems into opportunities to learn and grow. PERMISSION TO SCREW UP follows Kristen’s journey to build a company in which people are happy, loyal, productive, and empowered—even as they scrub toilets. Though she started as an almost comically inept leader, Kristen is now a sought-after CEO who teaches others how to lead by rejecting perfection and embracing mistakes. And a decade later, Student Maid is thriving.