Leap: Leaving a Job with No Plan B to Find the Career and Life You Really Want by Tess Vigeland

Leap: Leaving a Job with No Plan B to Find the Career and Life You Really Want by Tess Vigeland is a powerful, inspiring true story about taking a leap of faith and leaving a long-term career as a journalist to start anew in radio at NPR. Vigeland shares her personal, arduous journey through fear and doubt to eventually uncover a life of deeper meaning and contentment than she ever imagined possible.

Vigeland began her broadcast career at NPR, a historic feat as the first female to host the daily program Marketplace. Despite her success, Vigeland gradually started to feel stuck in her career and resigned from her job, unsure of what the future held. Chased by the myth that all adults should have their lives planned, she felt overwhelmed and scared of what leaving the safe career would bring.

Far from the uncertainty and inadequacy this decision entailed, Vigeland took her experiences and founded the book “Leap.” She wanted to provide insights for those considering leaving a safe job over pursuing a new endeavor. Vigeland establishes how, though it might seem easier to stay in the confines of a comfortable job, the joy of living with intention and creating a life of purpose can be greater than any achievements a “plan B” job may offer.

Vigeland provides advice, examples, and support along with her personal experiences in "Leap." She honestly addresses people’s fear of stepping away from established solutions, encouraging readers to find the courage to dive head first into the unknown. Vigeland also encourages us to take our experiences and make them into something bigger, allowing us to use our own stories to gain insights into life changes and personal growth.

For those considering embarking on a new path, Vigeland offers tools, advice on coping with fear, ways to create conversations with others, and the importance of cultivating a good support system. Above all, Vigeland dives into how this transition may shine light on other parts of life, motivating readers to think about broader questions of identity, goals, and misconceptions about success.

Ultimately, "Leap" is an inspiring look into leaving a career and questioning what will make us truly happy. Through Vigeland’s personal experiences and wisdom, readers are offered an opportunity to step out of their comfort zones and follow the journey to make a fulfilling career and life for themselves. Of course, many of the ideas require courage and Vigeland understands this, providing relatable examples and gentle reminders that no matter our age or certain life circumstances, it is never too late to make a change.