Every so often I’ll come across a book that not only takes my breath away, but “speaks” to me as well.
Books like Body by Science, The Four Hour Work Week, Purple Cow, The Entrepreneurial Imperative, The Way of the Superior Man, and so on.
Well, it’s time to welcome a new member to the club- The Leap: How 3 Simple Changes Can Propel Your Career from Good to Great.
I first saw it on Tim Ferriss’s blog. Not long after, I had a copy in my hands, and before I knew it, I had read it front to back.
What follows are personal “takeaways” from the book. Basically I went nuts with a highlighter, and these are select quotes from that collection.
They are in chronological order in regards to the book itself (and like the book, pick up “steam” towards the end).
I’m not sure how my takeaways will read (since the quotes I chose reflect my own personal biases), but, I have a hunch it will be of immense value to a select number of readers.
Both inherently and if it encourages you to check out The Leap.
Here we go… (all bolding, italics, and other markings are from the book, not me).
”But once inside, I realized that was where I was supposed to be.”
When my friend finally gave up his day job, he was already a full-time writer in his own mind.
Created confidence in the skills to get us there and the passion to sustain ourselves once we arrived.
…the danger of staying where we were was greater than the danger of moving on.
If, after serious consideration, the answer to the question “What do you want to be?” is “Exactly what I’m doing now,”…
The Roots of Human Ability
- Curiosity
- … This is the search for truth.
- Leadership
- Execution
- …willingness to try, to step up, to dive in.
We have to be the one steering the ship- the one deciding which way to tack and when, and how much reach to give the sails. If we simply let ourselves drift towards happiness or fulfillment or any other goal— or if we let others determine the route that will get us there or what the goal itself will be— we have lost control of our own journey and can never fully enjoy or even, at a subconscious level, embrace the outcome.
We look to the end result without considering the journey that will get us there.
And even when you do win it, what have you won? A game whose rules were set by someone else in the first place. That’s not winning. It’s succumbing.
Winning is trying and failing. Winning is finding your own lily pad, your own definition of success, your own rules of happiness. Winning, in a word, is variance, not conformity.
All of this works, but it also takes work.
Work to find your strengths and passions, and once you have found your Primary Color, work to move in whatever direction it points you.
And remember that even failed sparks have more value than never sparking at all. It’s the movement that counts. The outcome will take care of itself.
It’s the action that holds real meaning. That’s where the real clarity lies, where the careers become callings.
All in all, excellent book. Easily the best book I’ve read “work” related since 4HWW or The Entrepreneurial Imperative.
Pick it up here on Amazon and be sure to check out the main book site here.
…
Was it a coincidence I got this book at a pivotal point in my life? I have my doubts =).
Thanks Rick.
Real good book. Pounds home a lot of the points 4HWW addresses. Ineresting tie-ins to Atlas Shrugged too if anyone’s read that. I was wondering , did you do the primary color thing, and if so, did it help much?
Also, you might want to check out quantum light breath meditation (just google it), its pretty a pretty insane brain tapping meditation that gave me direction at a cool junction in life. Although it looks like hippie shit theres actually interesting science behind it.
I like it, Dream.
Especially the parts about living your way into the new reality. That’s what I’m doing, and what I help my clients do.
Also, I interrupted my strike to post about the 21 Convention on my blog.
xoxo,
Erika
@John
I did not do the primary color assessment. From what I did read about it, it seems really cool though, and I recommend others do it if they have any doubts about whether or not it would benefit them, what they are doing with their life in regards to career/work, and so on.
@Erika
I saw the post and commented. Again, thank you for the kind words =). Your blog looks 100x better with the new background btw.
Oh…and have you guessed who the mystery speaker is? I’ll give you a hint, it’s a bit ironic you commented on THIS post
-Anthony
Dream,
Thanks for the review. I’m always looking for new things to read.
On an unrelated note, what do you think of the swine flu vaccine? I usually don’t get flu vaccines since I believe in the “Primal” way of life in diet and health, but my school is actually supplying free swine vaccinations and everyone seems to be going crazy about it. I don’t see whats the big deal, the swine isn’t as bad as SARS and I don’t think I got vaccinated for that. Not many people have even died from the swine, most just get sick for a week and get on with their life.
Anyway, I was wondering what your opinion is since you are very good at objectively researching and writing about controversial topics like this.
UCF (my college) has also offered cheap vaccinations…
I won’t be getting any.
Nor, has anyone ever stuck a needle in my body (since age 5 anyway). I intend to keep it that way- short of a trauma related injury that causes significant damage.
-Anthony
This book might seem too woo-woo for me but I’ll add it to my Wishlist. All the other books you’ve mentioned I did read, so maybe this book is good too. We’ll see!
It’s good, I promise =)
I’ve read a lot of books lately actually, expect a post up soon about them.