Blog
Break Some Rules
It's Independence Day weekend. That means freedom. And, yet, tyranny abounds. No hats, no sunglasses, no fun. It's time to break some rules.I grew up understanding that there are hard rules and soft rules. Hard rules: don't cross the street without looking both ways, don't steal, don't kill people. Soft...
My Country, ‘Tis of Thee
I've been thinking a lot about our country lately.I'm a democracy nerd of the highest order. I once thought I'd be the first female US Senator from the Great State of Florida. (That title is still open, btw. Get your shit together Florida!).The Preamble to the Constitution of the United...
The Purpose Fallacy
“Do your job, make your money, and volunteer on the side,” they advised. “Get your purpose outside of work,” they counseled. Once we’ve gotten out of the passion trap, we muck about in the other long-held college career center trope, where one conflates consonance with purpose, having a higher calling,...
What Did You Do for Fun Today?
“What Did You Do for Fun Today?”Ten years ago, I picked my son up from preschool and, per usual, asked him about his day. Normally, a happy, chatty kid, he didn’t hesitate to regale me with tales of story time, snack time, painting time, pee-in-your pants time. But then, suddenly,...
If Only We Could Freeze Time
Do you ever reflect on your life – the past and the present – wishing if only you could freeze time?A friend of ours recently passed away. He was 47, a year younger than I am right now. My heart wrenches for his wife and his two young daughters. I...
Want Success? Stop Keeping Score.
There are two types of people in the world: those who keep score, and those who don’t.I’m not a scorekeeper. Never have been.That doesn’t mean I’m not hella competitive. Trust me, if you’re on a rowing machine, treadmill, or spin bike next to me, I’m racing you… even if you...
Stop Living a Consonance Crisis
If the “who” you are doesn’t match the “what” you do, regardless of how it manifests, it’s time to figure out why. We suffer a consonance crisis when we know when things aren’t right; we just don’t quite know what’s wrong, and so solving for the void becomes difficult. Not...
Wonderment Awaits
Sitting at my niece’s high school graduation, and listening to the speeches about their potential and the wonderment that is to come for these fresh-faced, young vessels of promise. There is nothing but open road for these graduates. It is a sheer delight. And yet, I can’t help but wonder if...
Greetings from Wonderhell
Laura Gassner Otting and Malala Yousafzai Four days ago I published my new book. The day before that I found out that it was debuting as a bestseller, #2 in the Washington Post list behind Michelle Obama. (Squee!) And, the day before that over a hundred of my dearest friends...
Why Do We Need Control?
“I’d like to ride that terrifying roller coaster of unknown length, in the dark, for an uncertain number of times, without any guarantee that my seatbelt is fully functioning or that the ride has been inspected anytime in the past ten years,” said no one ever.I’m not ashamed to say...
What is Contribution?
The work we do should contribute something to our lives—but what? When we sit back and fantasize about the life we want to live, we all have different definitions of success. Some of us want to pay off our student loans. Some of us want to increase our vocational velocity....
What Is Connection?
We are distracted. As slaves to the Tyranny of Urgency, we mistake being busy and stressed for important work. We run on the hamster wheel, doing more work, but not necessarily work that matters. Don’t believe me? Try to describe your biggest professional achievements this year, the ones of which...