It's only fitting to launch our leadership series with soccer superstars Mia Hamm and Alex Morgan as the United States women's national team plays in the SheBelieves Cup. Both players have been instrumental in making a lot of young girls do just that -- believe in their potential and believe in their ability. The importance of that is pretty clear: the belief in your own ability is at the heart of every decision you make for the rest of your life.
Leadership has always fascinated me, and it's one of the reason I wrote my new book, "Choose to Matter: Being Courageously and Fabulously YOU." Its breadth intrigues me. Its diversity excites me. And most important, its potential inspires me. For the book, I sat down with amazing women to talk leadership, life lessons and the importance of laughter. Not stuffy, not preachy and certainly not glittery, just real. Shoes off, feet up, socks on -- #SockTalk we call them.
For this #SockTalk with Mia and Alex, we talked specifically about leadership and the importance of finding your own style. The beauty of leadership lies in the fact that there are so many different styles. You can be quiet, loud, cerebral, emotional or a combination of all the above. The important thing is being authentically you. We women, especially, are excellent at looking at others and thinking, "Hmmm, I wish I was more like that. I want to look more like her. I want to have that confidence, that swagger," instead of loving the skin we are in.
Instead, we should make a pact to be kinder to ourselves. Let's make a pact to not fall into the comparison trap. Let's resist the pursuit of perfect. In fact, let's not just resist perfect, let's shatter the idea of perfect. It is boring and, frankly, impossible. Instead, let's make it a habit to celebrate who we are and what we bring to the table. I can always appreciate and learn from others, but let's not forget to own our own damn awesome. That's right. Own. Your. Awesome. Even if you are not quite sure you can do it, remind yourself you will get there. You might as well choose to matter.
In the meantime, kick off your shoes, put on your craziest pair of socks, enjoy our leadership #SockTalk series and join the conversation. The idea is to first embrace your awesome and then help a girl believe in her own awesome. #ChooseToMatter.