The Leap: Launching Your Full-Time Career in Our Part-Time Economy

by Robert Dickie

The economy has made major leaps in the past decade. Have you made the leap along with it? Work is different for this new generation than it was in the past. Long-term careers are on the way out, and “gigs”—part-time, contract, or freelance work—are becoming more common. Whether you're in the midst of a career or just getting started, now is the time to prepare for changes headed your way. President of Crown and former CEO of an international company, Robert Dickie has a wealth of knowledge and experience to draw from. With these he outlines seven proven strategies for operating in our ever-changing landscape and helps you make an action plan to achieve results. What does it look like to avoid anchors, create multiple income streams, and brand yourself? The Leap will help you navigate these and other critical tasks for having lasting work in a changing economy.

Genres: Business

208 pages, Hardcover

First published December 22, 2014

About the author

ROBERT DICKIE III has served as a decorated Air Force Officer, the CEO of an international company, and as the leader of several non-profits. In July 2011 he became the President of Crown. This unique and bold career path has given Bob a first-hand look at the changing economy/job market we now find ourselves in.
Bob and his wife Brandi reside in Knoxville, TN with their six children and two dogs. They are both graduates of the University of Tennessee. Bob earned his Master's Degree from the University of Arkansas in Industrial Engineering and is currently in the Harvard Business School Executive Education Program.

Reviews

[Jay French · Rating 3 out of 5]

This covers a large swath of topics relating to careers, including learning, marketing yourself, and more. If you read a lot of these kinds of books, you’ve likely heard everything before, but I found the mix was quite well done. It was a broad coverage but the details were well thought out and interesting. Good as a reminder for those familiar with advice like keeping your Facebook pristine prior to looking for a job.

I listened to the audio version of this, which was well produced. I was surprised to run across patches of Bible scripture while listening – there were a few sections that were a few minutes each. This is apparently a Christian career book. These sections were rather well segregated, and didn’t detract from the book, although they didn’t add to the value of the book either. It seemed the author was looking for any scripture that related in any way to the topic at hand, and this seemed to be reaching too much. I was just surprised, not realizing this was marketed as a religious career book.

[Susan Card · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pretty weak.

[Jeremy Gardiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introductory book on working for yourself or positioning yourself for your dream job. Unfortunately, I've read a few similar books recently so there was a lot of repeat material for me. But for someone who hasn't read anything on this topic, I think you'd love it. #vtreadingchallenge

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

You need flexibility and the right resources to launch a full-time career in this part-time economy in which unemployment is growing, and many jobs are being automated. This helpful book by Robert Dickie will certainly give you a head-start.

Dickie covers almost everything, including how to obtain the right knowledge and the right degree, online courses, and the importance of having a freedom fund. He also has chapters on staying focused, building a strong personal brand and social media.

This is a great book for anyone anxious to improve their career or start a new one! Some people may be annoyed by the biblical focus, but I quite liked it.

[Carter Hemphill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful book for new college grads as well as those who have been in the workforce for some time. The main takeaways for me were the links to useful books and websites to explore further. The chapters on networking and social media were the most helpful, while the chapter on side employment was less so (since it's discouraged in my current work environment). The book spans a wide range of topics, some less relevant than others.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very encouraging book with fabulous ideas on taking "the leap" toward a different career path specifically but also applies it to becoming debt-free, starting a new business, getting in shape, etc. The author gives you a step-by-step and plays the cheerleader for you. He lists so many wonderful resources. I especially loved his focus on not only succeeding yourself but then helping others along the way. I will probably have to get this again and again from the library to re-read various passages.