Aurora James Preps Women for Success in Confidence-Building Pep Talk: 'Shoot Your Shot'

Aurora James knows that with a new day comes new opportunities.

With summer around the corner and the second half of the year right behind it, James teamed up with e.l.f. Cosmetics and PEOPLE to give a pep talk about the importance of tackling every day with a positive mindset.

“I don’t want you to get overwhelmed thinking about how much there still is left to do,” the founder of Brother Vellies and the Fifteen Percent Pledge says as she begins to use e.l.f’s Eyelash & Brow Wand. “You really want to take one second and think about how much we’ve already done so far this year. And I want to talk to you about how you can get even more done this year.”

Before using some of e.l.f’s Primer-Infused Matte Blush, she reminds women to “take stock of the progress you already made” and keep striving for more.

“If you don’t shoot your shot, you won’t get the ball in the hoop,” she says, adding that you “do what you gotta do to gain the confidence to do it.”

“I’m giving you a pep talk. You need to give a pep talk to your friends. You need to remember that you are the most qualified person to go after your dreams. You are. Not Todd? You,” says James.

As she applies e.l.f’s Lash XTNDR Tubing Mascara, she stresses the importance of opportunity.

“When I get like really nervous, sometimes, which I still do, I just try to remember when I was younger how I’d say to myself, ‘Oh my God, if I’d only got the chance,’ you know?” she said. “And then I think about how lucky we actually are to get the chance — because they say talent is distributed equally, but opportunity and access or not.”

James stresses that failure occurs only when people are “too scared to try,” as she applies e.l.f’s Cream Glide Lip Liner.

“That’s the failure. We’re not going to do that. We’re not going to be that girl. We’re going to be the girl that went out there,” she says. “We’re going to try. And if we fail, we’re going to realize it’s not a fail. It’s a pivot. It’s only a failure if you give up. Otherwise, its just process”

“These men? They’re not failing. Those Wall Street guys? They’re not failing. They’re pivoting. They’re pivoting. They’re pivoting. Okay? We as women must also pivot,” she continues. “You just pivot. It’s not a failure. It’s a pivot. We’re failing up.”

As James begins to apply e.l.f’s Pout Clout Lip Plumping Pen, she stresses, “If you don’t believe it, you’re not going to be able to do it.”

PEOPLE Pep Talks, presented by e.l.f., offers a confidence boost via motivational chats with everyone from actors and comedians to athletes and beauty pros. So whether you’re going on an interview, taking on a daunting task, getting ready for a date or just not feeling your best, these talks will help you #GoPepYourelf