We Fell in Love with Mindy Kaling on The Office, and we Still Can’t Get Enough of Her. It’s almost like we know her personally, since every character she plays seems so real and exactly how we imagine she would act in everyday life. She’s talked about her own experience in her New York Times bestseller Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, where she tells stories from her childhood and explains how she got into the TV industry. (We’re waiting anxiously for September’s release of her next book, Why Not Me?—and her collaboration with B.J.!)

Mindy Kaling is a magnificent role model who, in only 36 short years, has managed to unveil an innumerable amount of secrets to success. A few of our favorites are below:

Once You Find Your Strengths, No One Can Stop You.

“…sometimes you have to take destiny into your own hands. It forces you to think about what your strengths really are, and once you find them, you can showcase them, and no one can stop you.” (Is Everyone Hanging Out With Me?, 2011)

[Related: Successful Businesswomen: 5 Things They Wish They Had Known]

Never Limit Yourself.

“I never want to be called the funniest Indian female comedian that exists. I feel like I can go head-to-head with the best white, male comedy writers that are out there. Why would I want to self-categorize myself into a smaller group than I’m able to compete in?” (New York Magazine, 2012)

Root for Your Counterparts.

“You don’t hear, ‘Is Will Ferrell too Steve Carell-y? Is Danny McBride too Aziz-like?’ There’s this mentality that there can only be one woman who is funny and running her own show and if there are more than that, you must hate each other. And, no, it’s like, I wish you could see them more.” (SXSW, 2014)

Don’t Be an Outsider.

“I know why people are interested and I know why people want me to speak about [being a pioneer]. But I sort of refuse to be an outsider, even though I know that I very much look like one to a lot of people, and I refuse to view myself in such terms.” (NPR, 2014)

Do Be a Boss.

“I love women who are bosses and who don’t constantly worry about what their employees think of them. I love women who don’t ask, ‘Is that OK?’ after everything they say.” (Rolling Stone, 2013)

It’s OK To Pretend.

“Sometimes you just have to put on lip gloss and pretend to be psyched.” (Is Everyone Hanging Out With Me?, 2011)

You Don’t Have To Be an Extrovert.

“I just want ambitious teenagers to know it is totally fine to be quiet, observant kids. Besides being a delight to your parents, you will find you have plenty of time later to catch up.” (Is Everyone Hanging Out With Me?, 2011)

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