I spent most of my career, including my time at McKinsey, never acknowledging that I was a woman. And, you know, fast forward - I'm 43 now - fitting in is not helping us. Sheryl Sandberg More Quotes by Sheryl Sandberg More Quotes From Sheryl Sandberg Most people assume that women are responsible for households and child care. Most couples operate that way - not all. That fundamental assumption holds women back. Sheryl Sandberg couple children people Presenting leadership as a list of carefully defined qualities (like strategic, analytical, and performance-ori ented) no longer holds. Instead, true leadership stems from individuality that is honestly and sometimes imperfectly expressed.... Leaders should strive for authenticity over perfection. Sheryl Sandberg individuality leader perfection Real empathy is sometimes not insisting that it will be okay but acknowledging that it is not. Sheryl Sandberg empathy real sometimes I hope you find true meaning, contentment, and passion in your life. I hope you navigate the difficult times and come out with greater strength and resolve. I hope you find whatever balance you seek with your eyes wide open. And I hope that you - yes, you - have the ambition to lean in to your career and run the world. Because the world needs you to change it. Sheryl Sandberg passion ambition running Feeling confident - or pretending that you feel confident - is necessary to reach for opportunities. It's a cliché, but opportunities are rarely offered; they're seized. Sheryl Sandberg careers feelings opportunity Aiming for perfection causes frustration at best and paralysis at worst. Sheryl Sandberg frustration causes perfection If more women are in leadership roles, we'll stop assuming they shouldn't be. Sheryl Sandberg leadership-roles assuming roles It is the ultimate luxury to combine passion and contribution. It's also a very clear path to happiness. Sheryl Sandberg luxury passion success Fear is at the root of so many of the barriers that women face. Fear of not being liked. Fear of making the wrong choice. Fear of drawing negative attention. Fear of overreaching. Fear of being judged. Fear of failure. And the holy trinity of fear: the fear of being a bad mother/wife/daughter. Sheryl Sandberg daughter roots mother We hold ourselves back in ways both big and small, by lacking self-confidence, by not raising our hands, and by pulling back when we should be leaning in. Sheryl Sandberg self-confidence believe hands Real change will come when powerful women are less of an exception. It is easy to dislike senior women because there are so few. Sheryl Sandberg senior powerful real Talking can transform minds, which can transform behaviors, which can transform institutions. Sheryl Sandberg behavior mind talking Believe in yourself and negotiate for yourself. Own your own success. Sheryl Sandberg believe-in-you believe-in-yourself believe When you want to change things, you won't please everyone. Sheryl Sandberg perseverance want success When people are really suffering, and we know they're suffering, that question can be a very difficult one. Inadvertently, I think without anyone meaning it, it communicates a lack of empathy. Sheryl Sandberg empathy people thinking The time is long overdue to encourage more women to dream the possible dream. Sheryl Sandberg overdue dream long I would love to meet J.K. Rowling and tell her how much I admire her writing and am amazed by her imagination. I read every 'Harry Potter' book as it came out and looked forward to each new one. I am rereading them now with my kids and enjoying them every bit as much. She made me look at jelly beans in a whole new way. Sheryl Sandberg writing kids book When companies offer support and assistance for personal and family hardships, their employees become more loyal and more productive. Sheryl Sandberg hardship support loyal I go around the room and ask people, 'What do you think?' Sheryl Sandberg people rooms thinking Trying to do it all and expecting that it all can be done exactly right is a recipe for disappointment. Perfection is the enemy. Sheryl Sandberg business disappointment inspirational