Here are my takeaways from the book “The Life Lessons Of Kamala Harris: How to use your voice, be assertive and own your story by Hitha Palepu” – Part 5. These are captured from the last few chapters of the book:

Always speak the truth no matter how uncomfortable it makes you or other people feel. Truth helps us confront the realities and identify the problems.

When you have to deliver a speech, try this:

• Take a deep breath and step into the room knowing that people are hoping for you to succeed.
• Use stories to convey your point.
• Move about the space and make eye contact.
• Know that you are exactly at the place where you belong and share your words with pride and joy and power.
• Take a deep breath.
• Push your chin up and your shoulder down.
• Smile and speak.

Always show up excellent. Decide a signature look, it helps craft a reliable visual brand. You deserve to feel your very best every single day, so dress the way in which you want the world to see you. Have some power pieces of clothes which make you feel powerful when you wear them. Don’t take your dressing lightly as your dressing style is a reflection of where you have been, who you are and where you are going. Your dress tells a story so make sure it is a powerful one. Show up and show out.

Put work on every worth having relationship. The relationships that appear natural and effortless are not really effortless. Time and energy needs to be spent on them to build and keep the connection. One of the ways is to have check-ins (weekly, monthly, yearly depending on the relation/ need and keep having the check-ins consistently) and as the questions like the following: Since our last check-in

• What was your best ever memory?
• What was your worst memory?
• What can I do differently to be more effective ( partner, sibling, mother) to you?
• What is your biggest worry?
• What is your greatest gratitude?
• What is your biggest point of pride?

Prioritize your relationship with yourself as much as you prioritize your career and build a wonderful life that you love living. If you have a right partner it will enhance your life but realizing your dream should not depend on who is on your side. Remember your relationship with yourself is the most important one you will have, and which is most often prioritized the least. Life becomes fun when you prioritize the relationship with self and next the relationship with your partner.

Eve Rodsky came up with the term “Unicorn Space” which is an active pursuit of what makes you uniquely you”. It’s the time and space where you do things that bring you joy, with no regard to productivity or expectations of others. You have always had your own passion and interests, which is probably sidelined due to other things that you have prioritized over yourself. Remember that you are not defined by the home you live in, partner in your life or the children you may have. Make a list of things that keep you occupied and take your time away from your unicorn space. Automate or delegate the tasks to make time for your unicorn space. Take some time to think about what you loved to do as a kid or the hobbies you wanted to do and do them.

Learn to respectfully challenge the status quo and when you have power and influence make sure to recommend others and prioritize diversity and inclusivity, so that you are not the last.