28: Tough Love and Wisdom: How to Get out of Your Own Way

Laura Gassner Otting is a serial entrepreneur, philanthropic activist and former White House political appointee. She has interviewed thousands of leaders at crisis points in their lives and careers. She is a speaker, consultant and executive coach. Laura is also the author of Limitless: How to Ignore Everybody, Carve Your Own Path, and Live Your Best Life. She says when we don’t find success in our own terms, “finding our purpose and carving our own path becomes impossible.” Laura tells us how to get out of our own way!


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Here’s what you’ll learn about in this episode:

  • In the midst of this global pandemic, dig in and serve people you love, serve others, and show up for causes you care about.
  • When working at home, don’t “eat the frog first.” Start with the thing you are most excited about. What gets you out of bed? Do what creates joy and momentum.
  • Do something you are proud of to get a grip on uncertainty.
  • When we look back at this pandemic, we won’t talk about what our titles were, how fancy our houses were, or what kind of cars we drove. We will talk about who we were as individuals and collectively.
  • We are going to look at this time as terrible and tragic. Lives will be lost. Businesses will fall apart. But the good news that will come out of this is an incredible amount of innovation.
  • Success doesn’t always equal happiness. People who have both success and happiness have defined success for themselves. Seek moments of flow where what you do matches what you are. Carve your own path.
  • Don’t make choices based on the ideas or values of others.
  • Figure out what you do when you have a choice. What do you gravitate towards? What would you do if you knew you wouldn’t fail? What is your mission? Find your calling. That’s your passion.
  • Stop comparing your blooper reel with everyone else’s highlights!
  • If you’re the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room.
  • You will never outperform your inner circle. You need people who are supportive, but also those who are a couple steps ahead of you.
  • Read books, listen to podcasts, watchTed Talks. When it’s time to jump on that horse, you’ll be ready to go, slay the dragon and save the princess.
  • Take time to think about who you are and what makes you tick. Write it down. Think about how you can become that person all the time.