Do You Have the Confident Genes?

After finding successful women at odds with their success, two journalists decided to explore their needling self doubt.
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After finding successful women at odds with their success, two journalists decided to explore their needling self doubt.

I'm grateful to Claire Shipman and Katty Kay for writing The Confidence Code because it reveals that confidence is a choice and their book inspires women to choose it.

The Confidence Code reveals there's a real confidence gap between men and women, and confidence is the missing link that holds women back.

Among the authors' surprising findings:

1) Confidence is, in large part, genetic. According to the latest neuroscience research there's a set of genes that contributes to confidence or the flip side -- anxiety.

2) You can overcome your genetic make-up. One neuroscientist said you are born with a set of genes and that's your concrete highway. But during the course of your life you can build bridges, tunnels and roads to create confident pathways.

3) Confidence is a choice women can make and here's a key step: Give up that debilitating habit of stewing over criticisms and mishaps. Men are less prone to ruminate and lament.

4) The final shocker? Research reveals that confidence is more important than competence. In tomorrow's Part II of the Gratitude Report learn why confidence trumps all -- the compelling reason why women MUST override their genes.

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