The Leap: How 3 Simple Changes Can Propel Your Career from Good to Great

I'm absolutely LOVING the book on a variety of levels. I love the focus on "the rest of us average people." You know, I'm fairly average myself and whenever they profile some of these amazing entrepreneurs (especially the young ones) I find myself thinking "Why didn't I think of that or do that?!" I've been on the Primary Colors site and taken the assessment. But to be honest, I'm one of these people who is SO CLOSE to a match - so I'm looking at distinctions that will get me closer. The other wonderful aspect of the book is that it's fun and entertaining to read. You might assume that this would always be the case, but trust me -- I read a couple of books per week and when the material is dull and lifeless, the reading becomes painful especially if you need the information that inside the book. As I write this, the holidays are quickly approaching and I am considering purchasing a few copies of this book as a gift for the friends in my life that are going through transitions. I would recommend this book for entrepreneurs as well. The success of a small business is often a function of how clear the owner is on his/her mission and purpose - and LEAP will help get you there. There are stories about employees, entrepreneurs and everyone in between. Pick it up.

Easily the best book I've read "work" related since 4HWW or The Entrepreneurial Imperative. The Leap is immediately applicable, practical, and at the same time inspirational. A rare find and must read for anyone on an entrepreneur's path.

I was laid off from my corporate marketing position during this economic meltdown and have been reading every business/motivational book I could get my hands on. I heard about The Leap and read it cover to cover in two days. Three days later I picked it up and read it again. Rick Smith has a wonderful writing style that is easy to follow and understand. He writes about his background and how he made the leap to an extraordinary career as well as profiled others who did the same. I love that all the amazing people he profiled had a big idea that was simple and selfless. After reading through the book and then opening my eyes up to the world around me I realized how right on he was when he wrote that. Most of us try to make "the leap" a lot more difficult than it needs to be and oftentimes get too comfortable, expect to keep climbing the career ladder even though we don't like where we might end up of think money is the answer to all our problems. Rick's book will give you great insight about how to make your strenths and passions work for you. You may just end up happier than you ever have been before! I highly recommen this book to anyone who is in a rut with their current job, those who are looking for a job or career transition and those who want to branch off as an entrepreneur. The Primary Colors Assessment test is really cool as well. I took the leap this year and now own my own business. Rick's book was instrumental in helping me accomplish this goal.

This book gives anyone who is either moderately unsatisfied or deeply unhappy with their career a tangible course of action to take so that you may discover the career that you've always hoped you might find; one that makes you fulfilled and satisfied. It gives you the tools to find out how to create a job so satisfying that you will jump out of your bed in the morning excited to do it! Rick Smith's clear and accessible exercises and assessment show you a strategy to find the path that fits your natural gifts/talents. In spite of the title The Leap shows us that the majority of those we think of as very successful weren't crazy dare devils that leaped head first without thinking, in fact quite the opposite. The book also provides a link to a free assessment test that is 27 questions long yet very revealing. My primary color is Blue Velvet, which means Incredible Inspiration. I'm right at the top of the Leadership line but with a 0% enjoyment of execution; yep that's me. My passion is to inspire others to execute. And after reading this I will finally accept that I will never enjoy the more left brain tasks and try to outsource them even more than I do. The books exercises along with your primary color move you right along at getting clear on how to determine the next step which will be using this measuring stick; Is it "Big, Selfless & Simple?" Now that is where it gets really juicy. Taking your primary color to create something "Big, Selfless and Simple" - well that is where it gets exciting. My mind is racing right now on what I can create that will satisfy these 3 requirements. I'm very excited to see what I will come up with! Not to mention what everyone else who reads this will come up with! I still am in awe of what Rick Smith came up with for himself. But you have to read it for yourself but boy oh boy -is it REMARKABLE! To re-cap my biggest take-away is that those that are very successful are not reckless but either by need or default have discovered their natural gift/passion met the needs of the world/market in a way that was/is Big, Selfless & Simple. And the inspiring part is that that is a doable for everyone. Buy this book and take the Leap you've been dying to take!

I recently discovered this book and I couldn't put it down. It is certainly one of the more provocative and entertaining books I've read in years! The Leap is relevant to my situation, just a guy trying to figure out my what to do with my life. Where and how I can have the most impact. On top of that Rick provides some great resources on his book website, I encourage everyone to check them out! [...] And don't forget to take the Primary Color Assessment, well worth the time!