Just Breath, Lean In and Jump for it!

Unless you have been living under a rock without access to tv, internet or other engaged human beings, you have no doubt a heard about Sheryl Sandberg's new book, Lean In.  From the devoted followers to the diligent detractors there are a lot of people talking about this book.  I guess it stands to reason that the COO of one of the largest social media platforms in the world would know how to create some buzz!

I first became a fan of Sheryl Sandberg about 2 years ago when I heard her 2010 TED talk, "Why There are So Few Women Leaders".  Her three key points were: (1) that you need to step up and sit at the table instead of volunteering to take seat in the back row, (2) pick a life partner who is a true partner and (3) don't leave before you leave.




Sheryl's new book, Lean In, follows the same theme but expands greatly on those key points.  I really liked her use of real facts and figures, as well as, examples from her own career to substantiate her points in the book. But the thing that most drew me in when I read the book was to hear Sheryl's confession that she often feels like a fraud and like someone is going to realize she doesn't belong.  I couldn't believe this extremely smart, well spoken and wildly successful Harvard grad turned corporate executive battles the same self-deprecating internal dialogue that I sometimes hear in my own head.  I have always assumed that really successful people (i.e. people higher up the food chain than me) feel, well, really successful.  Who knew many other successful women also have a tendency to sometimes "feel like a fraud" at work too??

It was Nelsen Mandela who said "Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it."  He was probably talking about facing challenges that are much more life threatening than life in the corporate world, but I think the principle applies here as well.  You have to find a way to overcome your fears if you want to succeed.  My new mantra these days - just breath, and lean in and then jump for it.  I repeat it to myself whenever I am doubtful I can do something.  So far all the leaning and jumping is serving me very well and I (surprise surprise!) I haven't fallen yet!!

So what about all the criticisms to this book?  Well, I think a book can be very valuable and inspiring even if not every single word in it speaks to your personal situation.  Take what works for you and leave the rest for someone else.

You do not have to aspire to a C-suite job or have the perfect life partner or even be able to afford a nanny to find something of value in this book.  Your version of leaning in might look different from Sheryl's plan for her life and that is ok.  Maybe your version of leaning in involves be just having more confidence in your abilities or seeking a board position for non-profit or starting to speak up more in front of your manager or teaching your daughter how to seek leadership roles in her extracurricular activities or teaching your son how to value leadership traits in the girls in his class.  There are lots of ways to lean in and seek a higher challenge.  It is up to you to pick the challenge that you want to take on - then just breath, lean in and jump for it!