Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Portfolio Hardcover (September 17, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1616847093
ISBN-13: 978-1616847098
Table of Contents:-
Introduction
Chapter 1 "Great Work, You're Fired"
Chapter 2 The Now Trap: Stuck in the Status Quo
Chapter 3 Breaking Away: The Three Rules
Chapter 4 Primary Colors: Tapping the Energy Within
Chapter 5 What Is My Primary Color?
Chapter 6 Big, Selfless, and Simple: How Ideas Become Contagious
Chapter 7 The Spark Sequence: Stacking the Deck
Chapter 8 Aristotle on a Lily Pad: A Perspective on Life-Work Design
Acknowledgments
Index
From Publishers Weekly
Smith (The Five Patterns of Extraordinary Careers) examines the commonalities among individuals who transcended their dull day jobs to launch truly extraordinary careers. He is most taken with identifying what precipitated their leap into authentic and meaningful work, interviewing hundreds of people to craft replicable steps that everyone can use to initiate a personal and professional evolution and achieve remarkable success without taking reckless and unnecessary risks. His examples of highly profitable leaps include Sara Blakely, who went from a fax machine sales person to the owner of SPANX, a highly successful women's clothing line; Frances Hesselbein, who went from a stay-at-home mom to the executive director of Girl Scouts of America; and Brad Margus, who channeled his feelings of futility over the rare and terminal disease his two sons inherited to become a genetics expert on the National Advisory Neurological Disorders and Stroke Council. Smith's book—a lively readable romp—motivates without preaching and gently coaxes readers to overcome innate fears and to use their greatest passions to bring about fulfillment. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Other Reviews
"This invaluable book leads you around the common traps that so often keep us from pursuing our strengths and passions." - Marcus Buckingham, bestselling author of Now, Discover Your Strengths
"Finally, a book that kills the myth of the daredevil. This is must- read for anyone who thinks they are a breed apart from Bill Gates or other mavericks deified as risk takers. The truth? To do the impossible-whether as an entrepreneur or an employee-minimizing risk and making small bets is the rule rather than the exception." - Timothy Ferriss, number one New York Times bestselling author of The 4-Hour Workweek
"Rick Smith goes from flat line to the front line of life and shows you how to ignite your career." - Dr. Mehmet C. Oz, author, YOU: the Owner's Manual series
"Packed with actionable insights and inspiring stories, The Leap shows how to not just improve but redefine your career. Rick Smith brilliantly lays out three simple, manageable steps that make it possible for anyone, anywhere, to take the leap and unlock their ultimate potential." - Tony Robbins
"An inspiring book for anyone who has ever looked at his or her life andwondered: Is this it? The Leap will help you discover your true path to personal and professional success." - Arianna Huffington, cofounder and editor in chief, The Huffington Post
"Extraordinary! I understand what it feels like to leap into a bold new life. But as Rick Smith explains in this inspiring guide, achieving fulfillment in work and in life doesn't require you to jump off a cliff! The Leap captures the steps anyone can take to achieve his wildest dreams while staying true to himself. Try it out. True success is not as far away as you thought." - Sara Blakely, founder, Spanx Inc.
About the Book
Have you ever asked yourself, "Is this it?"
Maybe you're trapped in a dead-end job that you're afraid to leave. Or maybe you already have a good job-one that gives you room to grow and exercise your talents-but you don't really feel like you're doing your best work. Your life is plain vanilla, yet you know in your heart that you can be a triple scoop banana split. You just don't know how to make that leap.
So what do you do?
Rick Smith knows firsthand what it's like to feel stuck in a career rut. He worked in a midlevel job where he had modest success. Then his life took an unexpected turn and he found himself creating a business that became successful beyond his wildest dreams. He unlocked a level of performance he did not know he had in him. After all, Smith was just a regular guy who didn't like to take chances or even step outside his comfort zone. But as he found out, those qualities don't have to be stumbling blocks. In fact, they're two of the keys to making the leap from good to great.
And after talking to others who had also transformed their careers from mundane to magnificent, he realized that the secret doesn't lie with some mysterious talent, trait, or affinity for risk. And it certainly doesn't require you to quit your job and start from scratch. Rather, it lies with your ability to harness your true strengths and passions-what Smith calls your Primary Color.
You'll meet remarkable people who've made the leap, such as:
• A soft-spoken middle manager who transformed her company, her industry, and her career with a simple-yet groundbreaking-idea.
• A door-to-door fax machine saleswoman who became a global fashion mogul after developing her own line of women's apparel.
• A Florida shrimp farmer who became a globally recognized genetics expert after both of his sons were diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder.
• A software designer who became a leading advocate for the homeless after volunteering part time at a local shelter and realizing his true calling.
Through powerful anecdotes, lessons from brain science, and tools for self-assessment, Smith shows how, with the right amount of passion, determination, and three simple steps, anyone can make the leap to a more successful and fulfilling life.
About the Author
RICK SMITH is the coauthor of the national bestseller The Five Patterns of Extraordinary Careers. He left the executive search firm Spencer Stuart to launch World 50, Inc., an elite and senior executive networking company. A serial entrepreneur, he is currently working on the launch of several new ventures.
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