What would you do if you weren't afraid?

This is the question Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook asked in her keynote speech at the 2011 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing. I saw this post on Innovative Interactivity blog and found it an extremely inspiring. Please take the time to watch this all the way through - it's worth it.

The Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology press release condensed by Innovative Interactivity, highlights the following five pieces of advice given by Sheryl for women who want to stay in a career.

1. believe in themselves, see their successes clearly and don’t underestimate their achievements – no one ever achieved what they did not set out to do

2. dream big, be ambitious – success is positively correlated with men, while the opposite is true with women; but with more women in power, this will change

3. choose a supportive partner – this is the single most important decision a woman can make for her career, because women typically assume the additional responsibilities of raising a family

4. avoid making career decisions too early – trying to plan life too carefully can close doors rather than keep them open

5. start talking – it’s important to acknowledge the challenges women face and communicate them openly, or change will never happen”

One New Years resolution I am going to make and stick to is to celebrate my achievements and successes from the past and continue to be ambitious in the future. I hope all the women I know working hard in their careers will do the same. We don't congratulate ourselves often enough.