Words Of Wisdom From Sheryl Sandberg, The Ultimate Miss Bossy Pants!

Lately, I've been taking inspiration from some pretty interesting people. Lucille Ball, Steve Jobs, Sandra Day O'Connor, Abraham Lincoln, Helen Keller, Oprah Winfrey... these are just a few of the fascinating folks whose quotes I've pondered and shared. This week I'm thinking about leadership, so I'm adding Sheryl Sandberg, COO at Facebook and author of Lean In, to the list. I've always been one of those people who likes to be in charge. I have ideas, I want to execute them and if people want to help me, that's great. But let's not forget who's the boss!

When I was young — like childhood kind of young — I was usually the kid in charge. I had my own entrepreneurial endeavors. Selling plums and shrinkie dinks, and writing a not-quite-best-selling book about the joy of gift wrapping, published circa 1980 something. But I also had a natural inclination to offer direction, make decisions and, shall we say, delegate? I don't know if that's a word my friends used. I'm pretty sure to describe me they said things like "bossy" or "Miss Bossy Pants" — that one was for emphasis when they really wanted to stick it to me. Kids don't have the most varied vocabulary so that about covers it. But you see what I'm getting at, don't you? I was the stereotypical girl in charge who was called "Miss Bossy Pants" instead of "the leader" or team captain.

Name Your Leadership Style: Bossy Or Decisive? What's The Diff?

Sheryl Sandberg has talked about this a lot. When she wrote about it in her book, it became something of a national conversation. Whether or not you agree with her — and whatever your opinion of the term bossy (which she does not like, FYI) — it probably resonates with a lot of people, women especially. OK, I'm gonna guess it resonates with women a little more so than men, because they were probably called bossy as girls more often than the boys were. Just goes to show what a tricky thing leadership is, even at an early age.

Personally, I don't have a problem with the term bossy. Or girl boss, or lady boss, or bossy boss. It's all fine with me. Only difference today is that I insist my friends call me Ms. (not Miss) Bossy Pants. Sounds more professional. Heck, I even wrote on my website in the 'jobs' section that applicants must be fine working for a chick (that would be me!). So clearly I'm not too serious about terminology. I've been my own boss forever, so I can be as sarcastic and flippant as I want. And I get to say flippant! Anyway, opinions on 'bossy' aside, I really admire Sheryl Sandberg and her ideas about leadership. And she's totally not bossy btw. Just an awesome leader!

Be Oh So Quotable This Week!

I hope you like the quotes I'm sharing this week. Maybe they'll get you thinking about leadership and what kind of leader you are. I always say running a business means the work never ends! Ain't that the truth? I bet your to-do list is a mile long! Make sure that the items at the top of your list are the things that relate to being more profitable. Everyone is so proud of being so "busy"...But Are You Making Any Money? Don't be too busy to focus!

Check out the summary of last week's business tips and motivational quotes from my Instagram page which you hopefully got to see in real time! If not, let's make sure we're following each other on Instagram!! So...here is this week's roundup of Instagram images of My Top Business Tips and Motivational Quotes.

Leadership – Tip #1:

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"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." – Sheryl Sandberg

Leadership – Tip #2:

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"Taking initiative pays off. It is hard to visualize someone as a leader if she is always waiting to be told what to do." – Sheryl Sandberg

Leadership – Tip #3:

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"Leadership belongs to those who take it." – Sheryl Sandberg

Leadership – Tip #4:

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"The ability to learn is the most important quality a leader can have." – Sheryl Sandberg

Leadership – Tip #5:

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"If you do please everyone, you are not making enough progress." – Sheryl Sandberg

Let's talk! I'd love to hear if you have any favorite quotes about leadership... yours or anyone else's!

Do you have any favorite quotes about leadership — or being bossy? Tell us! What advice would you share with your fellow business owners? Which tips above did you find helpful? I would LOVE to hear from you!

Anyhoo...I publish these business tips and motivational quotes to get you fired up for your work week! And, if you want more business tips, get my book, But Are You Making Any Money? or contact me to really take your business to the next level!

xoxo M

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