Take the Leap: Change Your Career, Change Your Life

by Sara Bliss

Overview

A road map for landing your dream job.

Take the Leap features inspiration and advice from more than sixty-five people who transformed their lives—and with this guide, so can you. These are game changers, rule breakers, and side hustlers who once stood where you are now, wondering if they should take a risk. They went from production assistant to million-dollar screenplay writer; attorney to surf instructor; mom to DJ; hairdresser to firefighter; real estate agent to award-winning chef.

Do you want to go for that career you’ve always dreamed about? Launch a new company? Become a tech mogul? Live a life of adventure? Save the world? You’ll find wisdom from successful mentors like creative visionary and writer Simon Doonan, entrepreneur Barbara Corcoran, NFL player turned artist/activist Aaron Maybin, and wellness and beauty guru Bobbi Brown.

This is a career guide for today’s ever-changing job market. Thinking about your own next chapter? Take the leap.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781501183188
Publisher:	Gallery Books
Publication date:	12/04/2018
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Sara Bliss is an author, speaker, brand advisor and New York Times bestselling author. A Forbes contributor covering career pivots, Sara's articles have also appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Travel and Leisure, and Yahoo. Sara is the co-author and author of eleven books including Hotel Chic at Home and Beauty from the Inside Out with beauty and wellness guru Bobbi Brown. Sara's eleventh book Take the Leap has been featured in The New York Times, GOOP, and the TODAY show.

Read an Excerpt

Take the Leap
ADMIT IT. You sometimes fantasize about living a completely different life.

YOU IMAGINE HEADING TO WORK via sailboat, not subway. Trading in your dreary cubicle for a job that pays you to travel the globe. Or replacing your small paycheck with a six-figure advance. Maybe you’re looking to do something truer to who you really are, moonlighting as a yoga instructor or a comedian or even a firefighter. Perhaps you feel the call to transform other people’s lives through education or art or therapy. Or you finally want to see your name in lights. Whatever it is that you sometimes dream about—what if it could actually be your life?

Take the Leap features more than sixty stories of people who made their fantasy a reality. The Texas lawyer who now runs a surf school in Nicaragua, the professional football player who is making it as an artist, the movie studio president who sold all his possessions to move halfway around the world and start a charity. It turns out that changing careers isn’t always about the job as much as it is about changing your life.

The landscape of work is radically shifting. Fifty years ago, it was common to choose a career for life. Today only 9 percent of Americans have the same employer for more than twenty years according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Thanks to the internet, it’s never been easier to apply for jobs, connect with other people in your field, research another industry, learn a new skill, market yourself, create a brand, or launch a business. According to a survey by the Freelancers Union and Upwork, 2017 saw 57.3 million people freelancing, an 8.1 percent increase from 2014. Some people find themselves needing to pivot because the job they thought they would always have no longer exists. For others, what they want out of life can change.

I know how challenging it is to make a career switch, even in the early stages. Growing up, I dreamed of being a writer like Nora Ephron. I imagined publishing a book a year, with a few movies or plays thrown in. Then in college, I became obsessed with art history. When I landed a job working at the front desk at Christie’s auction house in Manhattan, I was paid hourly with no benefits (while expected to dress impeccably). After a year it felt as though all I was doing was helping move art from one fancy apartment to another.

So I went back to my original plan and decided to be a writer—but being a novelist was out of reach (I had to write one first). Magazines and newspapers with staff writing positions didn’t care about my college fiction awards. So I took a night course called Writing for Magazines at New York University and learned how to get published.

I landed as an assistant at House Beautiful thanks to my art world background. I mistakenly thought I would be able to hop to women’s magazines from there and cut my teeth into writing about antiques and building products. Neither was an interest. Luckily, I eventually found editors who saw that I could write about anything and assigned me travel stories and profiles, which is where I really found my groove.

To survive in the era of shrinking magazines (and writers’ paychecks), I’ve had to pivot my career countless times. I’ve written four books on my own, but then seven books as a ghostwriter. I also created a new identity as a brand advisor for hotels and lifestyle brands. Through it all, I have written a novel and three screenplays, none of which has sold—yet. Maybe that’s why I’m so drawn to the people in this book, all of whom didn’t give up on a crazy dream and found success later in life. Their stories are motivation not to give up. Maybe Hollywood is still within reach . . .

The main constant in my career has been writing profiles. I’ve found that no matter who I’m covering—a celebrity, an entrepreneur, a hotelier, designer, or an athlete—I’m most interested in people who didn’t follow a linear path. The most inspiring stories are of people who decided one day to set an entirely new course for their lives, whether it was because they were facing an obstacle or they were driven by something bigger.

For this book, I found people who aren’t just dreamers but doers. They dived in, went back to school, found mentors, ignored naysayers, and sometimes took steps backward in the hope of leaping forward toward the life they really wanted.

What can they teach you about changing your life?

Everything.

People who have radically changed their lives provide serious inspiration for the rest of us. They are the ones who have lessons to teach everyone who has ever wanted to switch gears but worries they are too old, too young, too broke, too much of a novice, or even too successful at something else to really do it.

The college professor who found happiness as a farmer, the tech employee who now spends her days scuba diving around the world, the woman who started a beauty brand when she hit retirement age—they have been where you are today, wondering if life could be better. They have dealt with disapproving friends, lack of resources, nagging doubts, a steep learning curve, and other hurdles. Their stories and advice provide answers, guidance, and real insight into the reality of making a leap.

When you are thinking of making a move, the best people to listen to are always the ones who have done it. That’s the concept behind Take the Leap. I hope you will walk away from this book feeling inspired that real change is possible. This isn’t a book about blowing up your life, so don’t run into your boss’s office and announce you are moving to Belize. Follow the wisdom of the people who have changed their trajectory. Start by taking a class, finding a mentor, working for free, teaching yourself a new skill, and see where it leads you.

Whether you want to quit your nine-to-five to open a beach bar, want to try something new at the company across town, or just want to live vicariously through a few adventurous souls, you’ve come to the right place. Now, let’s get started.

SARA BLISS

FROM

AUCTION HOUSE FRONT DESK ASSISTANT

TO

WRITER AND BRAND ADVISOR

Table of Contents

Introduction 10

It All Started 14

1 Unleash Your Creative Side

Sell Your Screenplay 18

Be an Artist (Without the Starving Part) 23

So You Want to… Sell Your Art 26

Write Comics 28

Before They Were Successful Novelists 31

So You Want to… Write a Novel 32

Find Work That Makes You Happy 34

Create Show stopping Interiors 37

Make Art for Everyone 41

Rock a Career You Have No Experience In 45

Star in Your Own Show 49

2 Launch Your Own Business

Become a Social Media Guru 56

How I Got Here 59

Launch a Start-up 61

Get Your Idea Out There 64

Invent Something 67

Start a New Brand When Everyone Else is Retiring 70

Code Your Way to a Career 74

So You Want to… Land a Job in Tech 76

Find a Gap in the Market 78

Don't Follow Your Passion 81

Build a Legacy 84

Create Something New 88

3 Choose Your Own Adventure

Live on the Water 94

So You Want to… Live on a Boat 98

Defy Expectations 100

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone 104

Downward Dog Around the Globe 108

Make the Ocean Your Office 112

Go for it Even if You're Afraid 116

How I Got Here 119

Get Paid to Travel 120

Income Stream Your Way to Success 124

See the World 126

4 Give Back

Step in When No One Else Does 132

Listen, Heal, Empower 137

So You Want to… Pivot into Charity Work 140

Raise Awareness 142

Run Toward Disaster 146

So You Want to… Help People 149

Kick-Start a New Economy and Restore the Oceans 150

Let God Be Your Boss 154

Make an Impact 157

5 Follow Your Bliss

Open a Bookstore 164

How I Got Here 167

Envision Your Future (Along with Everyone Else's) 168

Relive Your Youth 172

Get Paid to Talk Sports 175

Face Down Imposter Syndrome 179

Screw Up, Get Smarter, Move Up in Your Career 181

Say Good-Bye to Corporate Life 184

Create a Financial Safety Net 188

Work with Your Hands 190

Go for Financial Independence 193

Leave Your Job, Then Go Back 197

6 Become A Wellness Warrior

Run Toward a Better Life 204

Transform Lives One Climb at a Time 207

So You Want to… Transition Out of the Military 210

Choose Two Careers Instead of One 212

Launch a Brand in Your Kitchen 215

So You Want to… Go Back to Work After a Parenting Gap 218

Blog Your Way to a New Business 220

Overcome Hurdles, Triumph at a New Challenge, Inspire, Repeat 223

Adapt to Change 228

7 Become A Professional Foodie

Make Your Hobby Your Career 232

So You Want to… Start a Winery 235

Learn on the Job 236

Move to Paradise and Take Your Job with You 240

Realize Your Dream 244

Live Off the Land 247

Become Famous in a Foreign Country 250

Acknowledgments 253

Photo Credits 254

Editorial Reviews

Have you ever fantasized about making a massive life change to pursue a dream job in travel? Take the Leap is about to become your how-to guide.”
—Forbes

"I've always believed that a fresh perspective is the key to disrupting an industry or acing a new career. I've switched up my career multiple times and it keeps things interesting. If you are ready to go for the life and the job you really want, Take the Leap is the go-to book for anyone making a career change."
—Bobbi Brown

“Get ready to leap! A great career should be like a rollercoaster: exhilarating, scary with lots sharp turns.”
—Simon Doonan, Barneys New York creative ambassador

“This book doesn’t just tell you that you can change your life. It shows you how. Take the Leap is filled with valuable advice for any budding entrepreneur, along with the stories to back it up.”
—Barbara Corcoran



“OK, so you've been wanting to leave your crappy job forever, or finally start that podcast you've been sitting on for months. Sara Bliss has compiled the stories of over 65 people who took the very leap you've been afraid to take, and shares their advice for how to dive into the next chapter of your career, creative and personal life.”
—Bustle

“Sometimes... people hear a quiet voice inside their heads insisting that the life they currently have isn’t the life they should be living. Bliss interviewed over 65 people for whom that whisper became a shout... The diverse interviews will undoubtedly resonate with different readers for a myriad of reasons, making this book a helpful text for both entrepreneurs and those on a self-help journey.”
—Sarah Steers, Booklist

“Feeling stuck in your career? Lost in your life? Grab Take the Leap and read every page. You'll have a personal coach, cheering you on. Sara Bliss does the hard work for you. Read all about the careers of talented, successful people, and how they pivoted dreams and careers. Each chapter is filled with sound advice from people like entrepreneur Bobbi Brown, businesswoman Barbara Corcoran, and NFL athlete Aaron Maybin.”
–Women.com

“If you are ready to go for the life and job you really want, Take the Leap by Sara Bliss is the go-to book for anyone making a career change.”
–JustBobbi.com

“Sara Bliss has assembled one of the best collections ever of short but super effective, inspiration-boosting insights into the professional journeys of over fifty entrepreneurs and business people from fields as varied as farming to financial advising.”
—MsCareerGirl.com

“If you’re yearning to make a change in your career, you need to check out this book. Take the Leap features inspiration and advice from more than 65 people who have made massive leaps in their careers. With this guide, you can definitely build a roadmap towards making your dreams come true.”
—BestLife

"What a delightful book! ... This is a great manual for making big changes."
—Kirkus

From the Publisher

An ensemble cast narrates the stories of more than 60 people who left monotonous, confining jobs to pursue careers as writers, restaurateurs, scuba diving instructors, travel consultants, and many other expressive careers. The performances are all wonderful. Alive and engaged, these narrators embody the required courage and excitement of breaking free and expressing yourself in work that you love. Some of the people interviewed offer a list of tips or specific advice on career change strategies. But the real payload in this inspiring production can be found in the stories, which are all colorful, personal, and evocative of the hero’s quest. Though these journeys and the advice offered are instructive in their own right, the ensemble format and the artistry of the narrators help make this a potentially transformational learning experience. T.W. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

DECEMBER 2018 - AudioFile

An ensemble cast narrates the stories of more than 60 people who left monotonous, confining jobs to pursue careers as writers, restaurateurs, scuba diving instructors, travel consultants, and many other expressive careers. The performances are all wonderful. Alive and engaged, these narrators embody the required courage and excitement of breaking free and expressing yourself in work that you love. Some of the people interviewed offer a list of tips or specific advice on career change strategies. But the real payload in this inspiring production can be found in the stories, which are all colorful, personal, and evocative of the hero’s quest. Though these journeys and the advice offered are instructive in their own right, the ensemble format and the artistry of the narrators help make this a potentially transformational learning experience. T.W. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

DECEMBER 2018 - AudioFile