Limitless: How to Ignore Everybody, Carve your Own Path, and Live Your Best Life

by Laura Gassner Otting

Limitless will help you get "unstuck" -- and achieve extraordinary results. This book is like a high energy masterclass and brainstorming session all in one - with actionable tips to transform your vision for your career and do work with purpose. What if success doesn't equal happiness? Many of us spend our lives pursuing a singular idea of success, one that was created for us by someone else. We give votes to those who shouldn't even have voices and strive to go faster and faster even as we find ourselves falling further and further behind. We chase gold stars, we check all the boxes, we Lean In - and we still feel incomplete. This is not a story about failure, but it might as well be. When we don't define success in our own terms, finding our purpose and carving our own path becomes impossible. How do you break the cycle so that you can be better at work and life? In this book, Laura Gassner Otting teaches you how to ignore the rules that created your limits, align your energies and your actions, and do work that really matters so that you can live your best life. Often described as "a kick in the ass surrounded by a warm hug," Laura brings both tough love and wisdom and offers a no-holds-barred look at what it really takes to get out of your own way and earn your success today. If you ever dreamed about discovering and crushing that personal goal that is so big and so scary that you've only dared whisper it to yourself, this book is the permission you didn't even know you needed to live into it as only you can.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Business, Personal Development, Personal Growth

156 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

I see the greatness in others and reflect it back on them in ways that help them get them unstuck. Because I am turned on by The Big Idea, I encourage people to think audaciously, motivating them to be dream boldly and then act decisively. I am an instigator and a motivator, and I’ve never met a revolution I didn’t like.

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

How much do I wish I had this book when I was 20? 25? 30? (I would continue, but I think the point has been made sufficiently.) For someone who was told "you have a mouth on you" and should be a lawyer, that you should continue the path to law school and in law school), that you "look like a litigator" (ie, female, is what I discovered that meant), and then continue in that job just to get the salary, this would have been so amazingly helpful. This book is for everyone, including (but not limited to) those who: have had opinions passed over; have said yes to too many things; and to those who have felt that certain paths are considered more virtuous than others.

There is so much good information and insight in this book--I highly recommend it, and encourage everyone to read for themselves. I am already working to take some steps that I should have taken earlier! Very inspiring read.

[Freya Hurwitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Limitless is for anyone who is stuck, feeling like what they are doing is sucking the life out of them instead of allowing them to live. Laura brings a new perspective to the idea of finding your calling and your purpose, and helps you realize that you can be valued and valuable without sacrificing the things that are most important to you. She provides concrete examples of people who have changed their trajectories and found fulfillment in different ways, and encourages everyone, regardless of level, position, skill to think about what fuels them so they can live their #limitless life.

[Susan Wynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been following Laura Gassner Otting for a few years through her blog and social media. I wasn't sure what to expect from Limitless, but I can tell you that it was exactly what I needed that I didn't know I needed. I knew that I wanted more of her words when I found what might be my favorite sentence in the whole book (also that I want to plaster everywhere so I can see it every day) on page 4, "I encourage you to stop giving votes to the people in your life who shouldn't even have a voice. " Never did I think that a book would cause the significant pivot and perspective shift that it did. Full disclosure, I read it after a few soul-sucking weeks at work, wheee I really began to question if I was in the right place. This gift of a book showed up at just the right time. I changed jobs last year after a long tenure at a job I loved, but was probably a little too comfortable in. After jumping in the deep end, I've found myself having some challenges with organizational structure, how I can best contribute, and what success looks like for me in my current role and beyond. This book provided the kick in the pants I needed. Chapter 3 brought me to my first "Aha" moment, and I was able to work through a messaging issue that I have been working on for months. The anecdotes shared throughout the book spanned a variety of professions, and the author noted at the very beginning that everyone isn't in the position to make sweeping changes in their lives to find that consonance she speaks about. I loved that she addressed this, as it's something that I've always found was missing in a lot of books like this. She makes it relatable to everyone, and gives real, practical steps that can help shift your perspective in a way that will pave the way for you to reach that level of success or consonance in your life. I loved how this book forced me to pause and take inventory of where I am versus where I want to be.

[Sarah Spitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for anyone with even a twinge of wonder about how, and if, their work and life values align.

For anyone pivoting their career, considering a change, or feeling either a frustration or a spark, and wondering what to do with those emotions.

Gassner Otting writes like a crystal glass sings—clear, sharp, and she cuts through all the noise. It’s a fast, no BS read, without a single word of jargon or filler.

She provides clear, concise tools for how to make an assessment of where you are in your life and how to reevaluate as your life evolves and continues to change. It guides you towards pointed questions to make your own inquiry. Most importantly, it guides you towards YOUR OWN INQUIRY. This is about acknowledging your goals and your vision, and mapping a course to it. There isn’t an ounce of judgement about what ‘purpose’ means or what are ‘good’ or ‘bad’ ways to spend your time. Laura encourages you to throw off the chains of everyone else setting your bar of what is ‘right’ and digging deep into what is ‘right’ for you.

She also acknowledges that change may not be immediately possible and provides interim steps to move towards the change you seek, when you are able. No navel-gazing here. It’s real and practical, and it makes sense.

While “Limitless” focuses on the alignment between satisfaction in work and the life values that you hold dear, this notion can be applied widely across any area of your life. Perhaps you don’t work for a living. Limitless provides useful tools to consider the ways you spend your time and gives you rigor to evaluate if you’re allowing yourself to be the best version of yourself.

[Richard S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book I wish I had decades ago. Breaks down beautifully why smart, hardworking, passionate people get stuck and burned out - and more importantly, the surprising ways you can create a meaningful, successful AND happy life. As someone who left corporate life at midlife to write, teach, and become a therapist - and was much happier AND more successful as a result - this is the first book I've seen that really lays out WHY following your own path to success is important, and HOW to get there.

[Danielle gilchrist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book and the actionable advice. The stories were helpful and I finished the book feeling inspired and uplifted. May we all be limitless!

[Diane B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Laura Gassner Otting was promoting her latest book as part of the Art of Leadership for Women series in Toronto (April 2019).

Her bio introduced her as a 'Bad Ass' and disruptor.

She took the stage with advice to stop taking advice from girls in flower crowns, and to screw the Jones's. Don't judge your bloopers by everyone else's show reel. Stop giving votes in your life to people who shouldn't even have voices.

Make room for your own definition of success. With reference to the gamers in the room, she said when you are not on your main quest, take a side quest (do those things that will prepare you best for battles ahead).

If things don't go as planned, take a 'do over.'

Seek consonance : doing the things you love to do, and do well, to accomplish things you care about.

"Is this all there is? Surely I was meant for something more." Purpose is the reason for which something is done, there isn't a grand calling for everyone.

[Liane Davey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I'd had this book 5 years ago. It might have made me make the changes I needed in my life a little sooner. As it was, I read it after jumping out of the corporate world to become an entrepreneur. Laura Gassner Otting made me feel fantastic about that choice...and helped me to understand why the choices I made really worked for me. I loved the stories and anecdotes that really brought to life how empowering it is to feel like you're living your best life!

[Gemini · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an interesting take on how to be successful. I guess when you have privilege already that gives you a leg up on things but obviously as a woman, still an uphill battle. It was a confusing thing to have this word "consonance" come up as a thing. I wasn't totally clear on how to make this be a part of the things you trying to achieve though. There are definitely things in the book that make you think on how to go about things & move forward. Or at the very least what to change about how you are doing them. The mind is a powerful thing of course so using in the context that she takes about may be a different thought process. Being able to be in certain positions in your career & have it take off successfully doesn't happen to everyone. Going through the ups & downs then how to push to enable your better self while happening isn't easy. She talks about specific things to achieve in order to gain more, so have at it. It's worth reading even to gain a new perspective.

[Christine Perkett]

Laura does a good job of sharing examples of others who have pushed beyond their boundaries to build a different life. There could be a few more specific steps on how they did it, or how to apply it to your life, but overall this is a good book to help those feeling unmotivated or stuck in their career to push limits and break through to something better.

[Misty Mechelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A kick-in-the-pants for any professional pushing through a career they never really wanted, but thought was expected of them. It's a wake-up call for those of us wondering why we are "successful" in our careers but still unhappy. This book will help you discover what calls you in life and give you the courage to act on it while tuning the naysayers out once and for all. You're going to wish you had this book in college!

[Mohammed Alali · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book starts nice and smooth. The introduction and the first chapter "Why are we stuck" has some good sights and keep you wanting to read more. However, after that it just seems repetitive. The author shares all her ideas in the beginning, and the rest felt more of explaining what has already been said.
While reading the book, i got the feeling that it is so directive in its ideas and there was no room for me to think about the opposite direction. Rather, it makes you feel that the role of "Consonance" is the only way to success in your work career.

If you are really unhappy with your current job, and you just need a little push to quit and move on, then this book is for you.

[Hallie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't with this book. Usually I love this type of book and when I came across it this year I was in a place where I felt like I could have really used it. With Limitless though it felt like the author gave away the secret in the beginning and then something about her conversational tone made me not want to keep going. It's more like an article you read from a woman's magazine. Not for me.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book and I appreciate the message but it all felt very common sense to me and I kept zoning out. Not sure I was gaining any real insight so I stopped reading.

[Hestia Istiviani · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read in English but this review is being written in Bahasa Indonesia

I want you to become limitless... And in order to do that, you will have to align your work and your personal self. In order to become limitless, you must achieve consonance."

Pernah terpikirkan mengapa kita seakan-akan stuck di satu kondisi? Biasanya merasa sudah tidak punya lagi teman untuk diskusi, pekerjaan terasa menjemukan, atau kehidupan pribadi kok tidak mengalami perubahan yang signifikan. Bisa jadi, kita belum menemukan apa yang dinamakan sebagai "consonance".

Laura Gassner Otting melalui buku Limitless ingin mengajak para pembaca agar berani mengubah pola pikirnya dahulu. Bahwa kesuksesan yang seringkali ada di benak kita merupakan hasil definisi orang lain. Bukan dari diri kita sendiri. Istilah "consonance" sendiri menjadi sebuah kata kunci sepanjang buku ini. Yang intinya adalah, mencoba menyelami ke dalam diri, apa yang sebenarnya selama ini menjadi penghambat kita dalam mencapai apa yang sesungguhnya inginkan.

Yang termasuk dalam unsur "consonance" ada 4: dimulai dari "Calling," dilanjutkan dengan "Connection," lalu "Contribution," dan yang terakhir adalah "Control." Keempat unsur itu dijelaskan dengan cukup baik di bab-bab selanjutnya.

Buku ini diawali dengan kesan bahwa pembacanya adalah mereka yang mengalami "kebuntuan" dengan perjalanan karirnya. Maka jangan kaget jika studi kasusnya kebanyakan soal karir maupun hubungan interpersonal antarkaryawan atau dengan atasan. Akan tetapi, semakin dibaca ke belakang, Otting juga ikut menjelaskan bahwa ke dalam diri sendiri-lah seharusnya kita bercermin terlebih dahulu.

...most of us spend our time shoehorning ourselves into other people's definitions of success, in pursuit of the gold stars we hope they'll deem us worthy of receiving.

Bagi orang-orang yang sudah pernah membaca tulisan self-help atau pengembangan diri, rasanya akan berpikir kalau buku ini punya kesamaan di beberapa ide. Misalnya saja, menurutku, ide tentang "consonance" punya kemiripan dengan "ikigai." Basisnya sama, apa yang membuat hati kita merasa senang dan mau mengusahakan hal tersebut meski harus dilalui dengan bersusah payah.

Secara kesuluruhan, Limitless tidak terlalu membawa pembaruan. Hanya sekadar ide yang bisa dijelaskan dengan baik, singkat, dan tanpa bertele-tele oleh penulisnya. Dengan jumlah halaman yang juga tidak lebih dari 200 halaman, aku rasa bisa diselesaikan kurang dari seminggu (meskipun ternyata, aku butuh waktu lebih dari seminggu).

[Karma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Limitless is a book about the opposite of 'leaning in' i.e. instead of being bold and assertive all the time, try being in consonance. Who you are and what you do should not be at odds with each other.

The book focuses on the four aspects of consonance i.e. calling, connection, contribution and control. The book talks about each of these aspects in detail along with many examples of people who have applied these concepts in their lives. The author also shared a few other concepts of work life that resonated with me.

The author was authentic throughout the book. There are some books which are written because people like writing but this book isn't one of them, this book is a must read for people at various stages of their careers just to see what else is out there.

I received a free copy of the book from Netgalley.

[Roy Peek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read, I had the opportunity to hear Laura Gassner Otting speak about Limitless and Wonderhell, her talk intrigued me and I looked deeper into her writing. I am glad I did. Limitless was inspiring to found one’s Constance and to define success on your terms. It is not about what others think it is about what makes you shine, get up in the morning and be ready to attack the world and make the impact only you can make.

For all of those I. Corporate world, Coaching environments and anyone else. It is worth the ready I promise Laura will share insights that can make an impact for you and all those that you influence.

[Nick Bongiorno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quit my job and picked this book up on day 1 and couldn't have picked a better book.

Laura picked some amazing people to interview and was extremely easy to pick up each morning to knock out a quick chapter to reflect on for the the day. By the end I had a book I had a incredible insight into what had been lacking in all my jobs to date.

She laid out so many amazing types of situations people find themselves in and why they just weren't quite right. I felt like she was writing directly to me somehow and couldn't be happier I took a chance and picked it up.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura did something magical with this book. She blended stories (both personal and of others) to prove that work doesn't have to define us. She outlines ways for us to bring meaning to our WHOLE life, while still reaching for our higher calling and purpose. She's funny, appropriately self-deprecating, and BOLD. Read this today if you're feeling lost on your path. Perhaps this book is the key to your better self.

[Navneet Nair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually 3.5. There are some typos in the book that shows lack of attention and though she says she spoke to numerous people, the results are not structured. Her idea of consonance deriving from calling, contribution, connection and control is good but not necessarily a complete framework. She is familiar with the non profit space and uses those examples a lot but some of those examples and recommendations may not work in other cases. Overall I was expecting more from this book

[Karen Briscoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

To live the life you love and create and co-create the life of your dreams, read this book. Laura shares the metric of Calling, Connection, Contribution and Control to help you achieve a higher level of success in work and life! Karen Briscoe, author and podcast 5 Minute Success

[Cindy Correia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

I enjoy reading Laura Gassner Otting's blog posts, follow her on LinkedIn. Her no nonsense style and tell it like it is writing is great. Limitless followed that style. I enjoyed reading it and learned you can have a satisfying job and pursue a passion part time.

[Leslie M. Cann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read. It had great points I will try to take to heart. It just didn’t speak to me as I hoped it would. It is geared more towards the business side.

[Haley Arzt · Rating 1 out of 5]

First #NonFictionNovember read this year and a complete and total FLOP for me.

[Sapna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book, but it didn't resonate with me. The advice felt very basic and commonsensical.

[Jenna LaRiviere · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much focus on non-profit work and entrepreneurship for me.

[Teri Temme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Now to do something about it…

[Stephany · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not worth reading

[Seena Zarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book with new concepts.
The author is sharing her experience about success in life

[Michelle A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved section 3 the most. It started slow.