Laura Gassner Otting 
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
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
It’s Bagster Week in my house! What’s Bagster Week? It’s the one week each year that I get to purge the piles of random, broken, and outdated “stuff” that we have accumulated. My husband is maniacal about recycling, composting, and donating. It’s honorable, and I love him for it and appreciate it deeply. But it … Read more
How do you measure a life? Four years ago last week we lost a giant whose thoughts on how to measure his own life were formative for so many, including me. Though emanated from his religious faith, this exercise is one we can all do. It’s been a minute since I’ve sat down to think … Read more
My word for 2024 was supposed to be EASE. But then everything changed. Last year, my word was ELEVATION. If I am to launch a new book, how do I do it in such an elevated way that I make the Wall Street Journal bestseller list? If I am to go big on public speaking, … Read more
I have a favorite Christmas cookie. Imagine that you are a nice Jewish Girl from Miami going home for your very first Christmas at the childhood home of a nice Catholic Boy from Cincinnati. Greeting you is your future mother-in-law, and she’s carrying the most delicious cookies you’ve ever tasted: the thumbprint cookies. They are … Read more
A couple of years ago, I gave a giant keynote to my biggest audience ever. It was one of my first talks back after COVID shut down the world. And, I was recommended to the event planner by a friend whose reputation I would never want to sully. So, you might excuse the fact that … Read more
Do you have problems? I like logistics. I like efficiency. I like maximizing opportunities. In short, I like solving puzzles. But sometimes I am drained by all the small annoying things, and I’m exhausted by the big, overwhelming things. The problems sometimes seem just too hard. This week, I was whining about some of those … Read more