Why Success Doesn't Feel Like It Should and What to Do About It with Laura Gassner Otting

This week on the Growth Guide, our guest is Laura Gassner Otting, a keynote speaker, media personality, executive coach, and Wall Street Journal best-selling author. She encourages audiences to imagine bigger and accept greater challenges that go beyond their existing, constrained scope of belief in order to help them think beyond the uncertainty and indecision that leave wonderful ideas in limbo. She joined us today to talk about her book, ‘Wonderhell: Why Success Doesn't Feel Like It Should... and What to Do About It.’

Laura discusses the struggles that successful individuals often face behind the scenes, shedding light on the importance of personal freedom and prioritizing what truly matters. Laura introduces the concept of consonance, emphasizing the significance of alignment and flow in our lives. She highlights the experiences of individuals who have achieved work-life alignment rather than traditional work-life balance, showcasing how their calling, connection, contribution, and control align with their values and goals. 

We also delve into Laura's personal journey, from her overachievement struggles during the pandemic to her decision to start a search firm with a mission-driven focus. She shares the lessons she has learned about defining success on one's own terms and making decisions based on personal goals and values rather than societal expectations. Throughout the episode, Laura addresses the challenges of motivation and accountability, drawing from her own experiences as an athlete. She reveals how she overcame a sprained ankle during the New York City Marathon, pushing through the pain to finish the race. 

Join us on this episode of The Growth Guide as we unpack these transformative insights and learn how to navigate the journey towards personal growth and success.

[07.13] The vote - We've been trained to crave opinions, permission, and votes from other people. But in reality, we don't need any of those things to do what we want to do. 

[13.01] Imposter syndrome - Laura defines imposter syndrome and how to navigate the negativity.

[21.29] Dreaming in elephants - It takes a long time to create a big idea, but the end result is going to be worth the effort. We’ve got to start dreaming in elephants.

[29.35] Doing bigger - It's good to dream big. But you have to feel ready for the big steps.

[36.08] Creating luck - We talk about the four factors of creating luck and how to overcome imposter syndrome with that. 

[44.33] Making decisions - Making a wrong decision is far better than not making a decision at all because you can at least learn from your mistakes. 

[54.06] Baby steps - You start doing things as small as possible. Every step you take towards the goal will feel like you are the person who completes challenges that others won't.

[01.01.01] Being uncomfortable - It's important that we get comfortable with being uncomfortable. 

[01.07.02] Accountability - Motivation doesn't drive you forward. But accountability does.

[01.16.03] Gratitude - Gratitude means you pay attention and are grateful for the things you have.

Resources

Connect with Laura

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/heylgo/  

Twitter - twitter.com/heylgo  

Instagram - instagram.com/heylgo/  

Website - lauragassnerotting.com/ 

Book by Laura

Wonderhell: Why Success Doesn't Feel Like It Should . . . and What to Do About It

Book by Richard Wiseman 

The Luck Factor