Tara Mohr is all about playing big.
As an expert on women’s leadership and well-being (read her bio) Mohr says that women are sometimes simply too comfortable with keeping a low profile and staying in the background.
I’ve shared these before and it’s because they’re so spot on and inspiring. Here are Mohr’s “10 Rules for Brilliant Women:”
1 Make a pact. No one else is going to build the life you want for you. Make a pact to be in it with yourself for the long haul, as your own supportive friend at every step along the way.
2 Imagine it. What does a knock-the-ball-out-of-the-park life look like for you? Start envisioning it. That’s the beginning of having it.
3 Gasp. Start doing things that make you gasp and get the adrenaline flowing. Go for the gasps and learn how false your inner critic’s narrative really is, and how conquerable your fears.
4 Get a thick skin. If you take risks, sometimes you’ll get a standing ovation, and sometimes, people will throw tomatoes. Work on letting go of needing to be liked and needing to be universally known as “a nice person.”
5 Be an arrogant idiot. You know those guys around the office who share their opinions without thinking, who rally everyone around their big, (often unformed) ideas? Be more like them. You can afford to move a few inches in that direction.
6 Question the voice that says “I’m not ready yet.” Jump in the deep end of the pool. Find out just how ready you are.
7 Don’t wait for your Oscar. Don’t wait to be praised, anointed, or validated.
8 Filter advice. Most brilliant women are humble and open to guidance. Some people will find you to be not their cup of tea. Some will feel threatened. So interpret feedback carefully.
9 Recover and restore. If you start doing the things that make you gasp, doing what you don’t quite feel ready to do, and being more of an arrogant idiot, you are going to be stretching out of our comfort zone–a lot. Regularly do things that feel safe, cozy, and restorative.
10 Let other women know they are brilliant. Let them know what kind of brilliance you see, and why it’s so special. Call them into greater leadership and action. Let them know that they are ready.
And here’s one last quote from her bio that I thought was particularly appropriate for today.
“From my mother I learned that our inner lives determine what we do in our outer lives.”
Wishing all moms a very Happy Mother’s Day. Have a great week.
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