Most of us are Facebook addicts.
We like, we comment and we share content. Thankfully, I landed on this Shared
video, which was Sheryl Sandberg’s TED TALK. It wasn’t 15 minutes of just
another video. It led me to follow her and become a Fan. Next, I read her book-
Lean In: Women, work and the will to
lead.
She puts things so simply and
makes them so relatable. I read the book and gathered a lot. I thought of
sharing the 5 lessons I learnt from her writing:
1.
Women
should not underestimate their ability:
She says, “Women are not making
it to the top in any profession in any part of the world. The numbers are
merely 15% and haven’t moved since 2002”
She gives interesting examples of
her day to day life, how women accept things the way they come to them and
don’t negotiate. How women give credit to others for their accomplishments. You
don’t move ahead if you don’t believe in yourself and don’t feel you deserve
that. You must love yourself for what you are and make others see your
abilities too. She mentions, “Fortune does favour the bold and you’ll never
know what you’re capable of if you don’t try.”
2.
Make
sure your job excites you:
Sheryl Sandberg is the Chief
Operating Officer of Facebook. Before she joined Facebook as its COO, she was
Vice President of Global Online Sales and Operations at Google. Many would not
want to leave a stable job for a newer organization. Sheryl talks about
following your gutfeel.
Every morning when you get up,
you must feel passionate and excited to go to work. Well, if it is not like
that, think over it. You need to find something that you love doing. You and
only can decide the right career for yourself.
3.
Don’t
leave before you leave:
Women start thinking too much in
future, way too early. Work in the present; don’t take decisions too far in
advance. She says, “You need to start out your career with the assumption that you are going to
stay in, Even if later on you do drop out for personal reasons, you shouldn’t
go into your career thinking you.” Many women assume too much and compromise on
career goals to make room for partners and children who may come in the future.
Women need to start aiming big.
4.
Make
your partner a real partner
When it is time to settle, find a
partner who wants an equal partner. Someone who thinks women should be smart,
opinionated and ambitious. When both partners are working, understanding,
mutual respect and lifelong partnership emerges.
She says, “As a society we put
more pressure on our boys to succeed than on the girls.” It is a harder job for
both genders to work inside the house, than outside. Life will be more settled
if your partner becomes your real partner within your house.
5.
Stop
comparing yourself with others, It’s ok to have Guilt:
A common mistake we do, not only
in our careers, but also in our lives is- ‘comparing yourself with others’.
Everyone has a different journey, different purpose and path in life. One must
not feel small or big basis what is happening in others life. Follow your
decisions and if they make you unhappy or dissatisfied, think, introspect and
move forward.
A stay at home mom is not better
or worse than a working mom. It is ok to have guilt of not spending enough time
with your kids or being with them on their sports day. Sheryl Sandberg says,
“Having it all is best regarded as a myth.”
……………………………………………
I follow these 5 lessons in my
life. I’ve been working for 7 years and like everyone, there have been Highs
and Lows in work and personal life. In such situations, you compare yourself
with others. These lessons helped in balancing work, personal life and
expectations. They helped in understanding that I need to believe in me and my
capability and that I am the best judge of my situation. Following these makes
me happy and positive about myself. I
realised that job for me is not only office; you cannot leave behind things
that you love i.e. your hobbies. That’s when I took out time for myself and
started with Painting, Craft and Writing again!
These lessons help me in aiming
big and having clarity in life. So, what are you waiting for? Lean in, you know
your life, your goals and calling the best.
Do what you love and do that like you are your
own boss.
