Sheryl Sandberg Has Written Her First Book

Facebook COO and advocate for working women Sheryl Sandberg has written her first book and the title comes from her favorite piece of advice: Lean In. She told the Barnard class of 2011, “Do not lean back; lean in. Put your foot on that gas pedal and keep it there until the day you have to make a decision, and then make a decision. That’s the only way, when that day comes, you’ll even have a decision to make.” The book will comprise much of the advice and insight on how women can succeed in the workplace that Sandberg has shared in numerous speeches and a prominent TED Talk.

The book is expected to be a best seller and why wouldn’t it be? Women are fascinated by Sheryl and take her advice very seriously. Sheryl has been talking about career women’s issues for years. At TED talks and commencement ceremonies Sandberg has reminded us that we can’t simply blame men for women not making greater strides in various industries but rather that women need to be the ones to lean in and asset their power. “If you don’t believe there is a glass ceiling, there is no need,” Sandberg said. The highest-paid Facebook employee also literally blew up the internet when she made a comment in a Makers.com video about being proud she leaves the office at 5:30 every single day. People take what she says very seriously so a book will do great.

Here is an excerpt from her Barnard graduation speech last year where she tells women to lean in:

“Women almost never make one decision to leave the workforce. It doesn’t happen that way. They make small little decisions along the way that eventually lead them there. Maybe it’s the last year of med school when they say, I’ll take a slightly less interesting specialty because I’m going to want more balance one day. Maybe it’s the fifth year in a law firm when they say, I’m not even sure I should go for partner, because I know I’m going to want kids eventually. These women don’t even have relationships, and already they’re finding balance, balance for responsibilities they don’t yet have. And from that moment, they start quietly leaning back… So, my heartfelt message to all of you is, and start thinking about this now, do not leave before you leave. Do not lean back; lean in. Put your foot on that gas pedal and keep it there until the day you have to make a decision, and then make a decision. That’s the only way, when that day comes, you’ll even have a decision to make.”