7 Kick-Ass Winning Habits for Girls Who Want to Triumph in Life ...

Although we all crave recognition and praise, I want you to realize and believe that you do not need anyone else to validate you. Someone else's stamp of approval 🆗 – or lack thereof – has no bearing whatsoever on your goals. Eff that. Don't wait around for someone to validate your talents, skills, or dreams. If you believe in them yourself, and if you believe in yourself, that's all you need. That's more than enough validation.

This charming little piece of advice is so trite and oft-repeated – but that's because it's true. It works. Not all of us can step out into the big wide world 🌐 with confidence for days. That doesn't mean we can't look like we were born with an overabundance of it, though. Walk 👞 the walk until you learn how to talk 📲 the talk. Keep your head up, trust in your knowledge, and learn 📕 what you can as you go.

You don't have anything to be sorry for. Don't apologize when you disagree with someone. Don't apologize when you have a better idea. Don't apologize for calling out incorrect information or behavior. Don't apologize for being smart, powerful, creative, talented, knowledgeable, or right. You apologize for bumping into someone or stepping on a person's foot, not for being awesome.

You've worked for the things you have. You've worked to get where you are. If you're successful, don't feel bad about it. If you're in a good place in your life, don't say you're sorry.

It's a sad 😓 fact, but yeah, sometimes you have to learn guy-speak. I mean, you have to just to get by, especially in certain environments. You don't have to change who you are or how you do things, though. Take a page out of the man-book, but paraphrase it so that it fits with your personality and philosophy. Be assertive without being aggressive. Be confident without being arrogant. Teach without being condescending.

Seriously, you need to be networking right now. Are you doing it? Do it. You can network almost anywhere, but making contacts in your own and related industries is vital for your success. You never know when you might need a favor, a referral, or even a job.

You are a brand. There's the real you and the professional you, and the professional you is your own personal brand. You have your name, your reputation, your skill set, your talents. You have the opportunity to build 🔧 your brand from the ground up, using social networking sites galore. Build something strong, resilient, and trustworthy, something reputable, knowledgeable, and relatable. Humor never hurts, either, but that's up to you.

With these tools, you can do anything. You can be anything. You can conquer anything.