Laura Gassner Otting 
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 It’s the one week each year that I get to purge the piles of random, broken, and outdated “stuff” that we have accumulated.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
If you follow me on social media — And if you don’t, what are you waiting for? — In my Instagram stories right now I’m demonstrating how I taught my doberman to give gentle hugs — then you know that on Saturday I was on Good Morning America. It was my fifth time, but only the second mug I … Read more
Last week, on a flight back from Los Angeles, I had a radical a-ha moment that has the potential of opening up an entire swatch of speaking clients. It was one of those head-smack-obvious-in-hindsight moments after which we feel equally proud (to have had) as annoyed (that it too so long to realize). As an … 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
How’s book launch going? It’s gone. Done and dusted.Kaput.It’s over.Goodnight. I just gave my very last keynote of the book launch. Three months of pedal-to-the-medal, go, go, go. And, y’all, I’m tired. Like, emotionally, mentally, physically — metaphysically — tired. It occurred to me to maybe go take a look at this post that I … Read more
This is not your usual banana bread. It’s also not even a good banana bread. It’s the banana bread of exhaustion. Sure, it looks pretty from the outside. But on the inside it has an extra half cup of flour. And in addition to its usual teaspoon of baking powder, it also has a teaspoon … Read more