Creating Confidence with Heather Monahan

Confidence Classic: Redefine Success and Create Limitless Possibility with Laura Gassner Otting

Jul 30, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Laura Gassner Otting, a best-selling author and former White House appointee, explores the true meaning of success. She reveals the emptiness of chasing impressive titles, emphasizing that fulfillment comes from living authentically rather than seeking external validation. Laura shares her journey to rediscover alignment in life, including the pivotal moment that led her to accept a TEDx talk. Listeners learn to redefine success on their own terms and shift from obligation to opportunity, ultimately embracing their limitless potential.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Passion Requires Investment

"Follow your passion" is terrible advice because it suggests giving up at first failure.
Success comes from investing in your passion despite failures and challenges.

ANECDOTE

Podcast Crisis Turns Opportunity

Heather Monahan almost lost her podcast due to a miscommunication showing evaluation risks in media.
The crisis led to a strategic meeting and increased support after uncovering strong show performance.

INSIGHT

Success From Saying Yes

Networking and seizing unexpected chances build career success more than rigid plans.
Saying yes to opportunities leads to paths you can't foresee.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Have you ever crushed a goal and still felt empty? In this episode, I sit down with best-selling author, keynote speaker, and former White House appointee Laura Gassner Otting to talk about why success isn’t always what it seems and what it means to break the “shoulds”. We dive into the difference between being impressive and being fulfilled, how chasing external validation leads to burnout, and why confidence doesn’t come from pleasing others. Laura shares how she rediscovered alignment in her life, what finally made her say yes to a TEDx talk, and how she’s helping high achievers rewrite their definition of success. Plus, I also reveal the strategy for my viral LinkedIn posts that reached 850,000+ people. Get ready to step into your limitless potential.

In This Episode, You Will Learn

How a miscommunication taught me to choose clarity over panic.
How to know if you’re living for someone else’s version of success.
Why it’s time to stop proving and start LIVING.
How to shift from obligation to opportunity.
How letting go of old expectations creates space for something better.
Why chasing impressive titles can leave you unfulfilled.
My blueprint for creating viral LinkedIn posts.
How Laura’s son helped her say yes to the TEDx opportunity.
Why I’m passionate about ending workplace bullying.

Resources + Links

Learn more about Laura HERE!
Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/monahan
Download the CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning at NetSuite.com/MONAHAN.
Want to do more and spend less like Uber, 8x8, and Databricks Mosaic? Take a free test drive of OCI at oracle.com/MONAHAN.
Get 10% off your first Mitopure order at timeline.com/CONFIDENCE.
Get 15% off your first order when you use code CONFIDENCE15 at checkout at jennikayne.com.
Call my digital clone at 201-897-2553!
Visit heathermonahan.com
Sign up for my mailing list: heathermonahan.com/mailing-list/
Overcome Your Villains is Available NOW! Order here: https://overcomeyourvillains.com
If you haven't yet, get my first book Confidence Creator

Follow

Heather on Instagram & LinkedIn
Laura on Instagram & LinkedIn