Laura Gassner Otting 
Picture me, dancing around my office, singing, “That’s Ms. Jackson, if you’re nasty.” Yes, my friends, we’re talking about control. (And, go ahead, play this little ditty while you read on… Ms. Jackson would want it that way.) This time of year, control feels like the ultimate luxury. Between the wild pace of holiday commitments, … Read more
Last weekend I found myself entranced by the Martha Stewart documentary. I am, you see, a female entrepreneur, well on the other side of what my mother once called the “F*ck You Forties,” and in possession of exceptionally high standards which seem to me to be obvious and, really, table stakes at the barest minimum. … Read more
It’s 2018 and I’m sitting in the dark in a hotel room on an US Army Base in Japan. It’s 3:00am, and I’m jetlagged. I’m not saying that the freeze-dried coffee of dubious age that I just brewed in the coffeemaker of dubious cleanliness is the worst I’ve ever had. But, it’s pretty damn close. … Read more
Well, I wasn’t going to tell this story…but it’s just too good. And after last week, I think we could all use a little lightness. So, it turns out that my husband—my wonderful, endearing, and apparently very confident husband—signed up for my newsletter ages ago to support me (thanks, honey!). You know the drill: you signed up too. … Read more
I am from Miami, I’m think it’s cold when it is 65 degrees outside. Because my son was raised in Boston, he thinks it’s warm when it’s 65 degrees outside. The fact is that it’s 65 degrees outside.But our personal truths are a different matter entirely, and those personal truths determine how we internalize actual … Read more
When I was about eight or nine years old, dressed up for Halloween in a cute little clown costume my mother handmade for me — or maybe it was the year I chose to go as a “car accident” and wrapped bandages all over myself and sprayed ketchup to look like blood? I don’t know, … Read more
Before becoming your favorite author and speaker—come on, now!—I ran an executive search firm. We had 35 staff living all around the globe, from Seattle all the way to Siberia (literally). And yes, I know Seattle is not far from Siberia if you take the short way, but going the other way around, we had … Read more
Here we are deep into the first month of the last quarter of the year. 2024 is almost over, and already you can hear the screaming swarms of snake-oil success salesmen, cajoling you to go big in 2025. They are going to tell you to crush it, to lean in, to 10x everything. And, you … Read more
I ran into Robin Roberts in the hallway last week before my latest Good Morning America appearance. (Okay, look, I know that sentence is ridiculous. I recognize that. It makes me uncomfortable even to say it. But, we’re going to have to get through this together, because there is just no other way for me … Read more
Did you know that one in four people apologize for something outside of their control every day? I’m not saying we should never apologize. Genuine apologies have their place and are crucial for maintaining healthy relationships and owning up to our mistakes. But there’s a big difference between apologizing for something that genuinely requires an apology … Read more