When I started out as a coach, “The Big Leap” was one of those books that fellow coaches kept talking about—foundational reading for personal growth.
But as a former English major and MBA, I was skeptical of what I perceived as a particular brand of self-help book.
I bought the book but:
It collected dust on my nightstand for months
I almost couldn’t finish Chapter 1 at first 😆
Yet—stay with me here—I’ve come to genuinely love the ideas in this book.
It’s become required reading and a book I recommended regularly to people who want more for themselves.
Why it’s important
“The Big Leap” is ultimately about living your most successful life, but at its core is the idea of living in your genius.
It isn’t written for entrepreneurs explicitly, but I find this idea of genius to be particularly useful for those on the brink of entrepreneurship as well as current entrepreneurs who are still refining what they’re best at.
The book is both aspirational and practical, offering a simple framework for:
How we can spend more time doing what we love and what we’re great at
How to identify the forces that hold us back
How we can create more success in our lives
Of course, we all seek full ownership over our lives and impact, but for entrepreneurs, it’s a deep and considerable motivation.
My favorite ideas
In this week’s podcast episode, I discuss my favorite concepts from the book:
The Zone of Genius: The activities that hold the keys to our own success and fulfillment
The Upper Limit Problem: The emotional ceiling we’ve created for ourselves that keeps us from our Zone of Genius
The Seduction of Excellence: The activities we’re recognized for but that ultimately drain us and keep us from our genius
Take a listen. Enjoy!
- Elliot
Want to read this book? I’ll send a copy to the first 10 people who leave a comment or send me an email sharing what they thought of the episode!
More resources for you
“Purpose for Entrepreneurs” Group Course: In late April, I’ll be leading a group course for entrepreneurs who want to clarify and build confidence in their purpose. It’ll be an 8-week virtual course limited to 10 people, and I’ll be running it with an amazing fellow coach. Full details coming soon, but if you might be interested, sign up here for updates or send me a note!
Individual Coaching: I coach experienced, early, and could-be entrepreneurs who want to step more fully into themselves and their vision. If this is you—or if you know anyone who might benefit—I’d love to hear from you. Take a look at my website and click “Let’s Connect” to set up time together. One-third of my clients are referrals, and I appreciate those who share my name with others. 🙏
This Newsletter: Earlier this month, I wrote an update called “What This is Becoming”, where I talked about how this newsletter and podcast are evolving. I’ll be focusing more on helping entrepreneurs access their inner courage, and I’m working with a podcast coach to keep refining this over the coming months. Check out past episodes here.
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