14 Awesome Quotes From Sheryl Sandberg for Small Business Owners

Sheryl Sandberg’s much-talked about, read, and discussed book, Lean In, put her on the map as a business leader who cares passionately about the success of others, but especially the success of women. As it turns out, a lot of her brilliant advice and words of wisdom are applicable to anyone, including small business owners of both genders.

Here are 14 awesome quotes from Sheryl Sandberg:

For those really hard days when you need some inspiration

“We can each define ambition and progress for ourselves. The goal is to work toward a world where expectations are not set by the stereotypes that hold us back, but by our personal passion, talents and interests.”

“Being confident and believing in your own self-worth is necessary to achieving your potential.”

“I look forward to the day when half our homes are run by men and half our companies and institutions are run by women. When that happens, it won’t just mean happier women and families; it will mean more successful businesses and better lives for us all.”

“Careers are a jungle gym, not a ladder.”

“There is no perfect fit when you’re looking for the next big thing to do. You have to take opportunities and make an opportunity fit for you, rather than the other way around. The ability to learn is the most important quality a leader can have.”

“Fortune does favor the bold and you’ll never know what you’re capable of if you don’t try.”

“The reason I don’t have a plan is because if I have a plan I’m limited to today’s options.”

When you’re hiring

“At Facebook, we try to be a strengths-based organization, which means we try to make jobs fit around people rather than make people fit around jobs. We focus on what people’s natural strengths are and spend our management time trying to find ways for them to use those strengths every day.”

As you think about your leadership style

“Leadership is not bullying and leadership is not aggression. Leadership is the expectation that you can use your voice for good. That you can make the world a better place.”

“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.”

“Presenting leadership as a list of carefully defined qualities (like strategic, analytical, and performance-oriented) no longer holds. Instead, true leadership stems from individuality that is honestly and sometimes imperfectly expressed…. Leaders should strive for authenticity over perfection.”

When you need a kick in the pants

“So please ask yourself: What would you do if you weren’t afraid? And then go do it.”

“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”

“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.”

Which quote is your favorite, and why? Do you have another favorite Sheryl Sandberg quote that should be included on this list?

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