Laura Gassner Otting

Work–life balance is a myth. Not because rest isn’t essential (it is). But because the idea that “work” sits over here and “life” sits over there—and you’re supposed to keep them perfectly even—sets you up to feel like you’re failing at being a person. You’re not failing.You’re just trying to “balance” something that was never designed to balance. What you actually want is alignment: work that makes sense inside the context of your whole life. The Work–Life Balance Lie Here’s why balance...

It’s my birthday week. Every year around now, I do two things: Consume an absurd, questionably-illegal amount of sheet cake. Reintroduce myself to... myself. Because birthdays, for me, are this weird, wonderful little wormhole where Past Me and Future Me have a standoff in the mirror and ask Present Me: "So... who the hell are you becoming... and are you happy with her?" And also: "Why is there frosting in your hair?" More on that in a minute. But first, a question I ask myself annually: Who...

Boston right now? It’s giving Hoth. And I know I’m not the only one out here freezing my ambition off. If you’re reading this with numb fingers and a warm beverage, we’re in this icy hellscape together. #frozemaste This weekend? It was a perfect storm of Chinese sticky rice, snow angels, and a wee bit of academic . Yes, I played hooky and hit the slopes with my son yesterday (don’t judge me), but I also cracked open the most boring, most mathy, most quanty textbook ever because, surprise! I'm...

The last six weeks has been a roller coaster for me. The unexpected death of a respected (and same-aged) peer.A mass shooting event at my son's college.A surprise hip replacement for my 83-year-old father. And that's just to name a few... Moments like these remind us of what (and who) truly matters. And, when they come in fast-paced succession? Well, that's when you lose all ability to fend off the big emotions that they courier straight to your heart's doorstep, all wrapped up in a...

Two weeks ago, I shared all the things I said YES to in 2025—the accomplishments I was proud of, the boundaries I honored, and the decisions that shaped the year. But instead of just celebrating the checkboxes I filled, this week, I want to share something even more important: What those accomplishments taught me. Here’s the truth most people won’t tell you: Your strengths aren’t always obvious. They’re hiding in the places you overlook. In the compliments you brush off.In the wins you rush...

You’ve probably been told to “just say no” a thousand times. But for high-achievers like us, that’s easier said than done. Why? Because the problem isn’t that we’re too nice or too accommodating. It’s that we see potential everywhere. Opportunity in everything. And we hate to miss a chance to help, to shine, to show up. We say yes because we can.Because we used to do it all.Because we think we should. But if you want to build something bigger—whether it’s your business, your career, your...

If you're anything like me, your inbox and social media feeds are filled with the same old fluff: “Set your big goal!” “Get ready to crush 2026!”"Time to 10x, baby!" And maybe… you felt a flicker of excitement. But also, if you're anything like me, you also thought: “Cool. But how?” Like, um, if it were just about deciding... you’d already be done. You Don't Need Motivation. You Need a Roadmap. So, how do we get roadmaps? Most of us look for mentors.But, how many of us really have time to...

Normally my keynotes happen in the morning, as the opening session to set the tone for the entire event. (Fun fact: the word keynote comes from the idea that there is a note that sets the key for the entire orchestra, so that’s why it is used for conferences.) For morning keynotes, you get up, you get on stage, you get gone. And, in those mornings, I barely have enough time to get nervous. But, every once in a while, I get hired for an afternoon keynote. And, whoa nelly, my nerves go wild...

Buckle up, turkeys, it's time to get nerdy. I know that you are being inundated this week with talk of gratitude from every brand whose website you ever even had the audacity to sneeze near. So let me do what I love to do: tell you a bit about the science behind the story. Yeah, that's right, I'm going to tell you why you should be grateful for gratitude. Our story begins 12.5 weeks ago, when I was assigned a talk to watch in class. Like most videos or podcasts I have to consume, I decided to...

This week, I’m finally doing the thing I’ve been putting off for way too long: foot surgery. But, Laura, you say: could you possibly write about a less sexy topic? By the way, to all of my new subscribers -- hi! -- I don't actually promise sexy topics. And, yet, I can promise that some, maybe this one still, might hit you squarely in the solar plexus. Why? Because while foot surgery isn't sexy, prioritizing yourself is. Let me tell you what I mean. My mother's birthday is November 25th. And,...