Walking the Jagged Edge

Reflections and Lessons from a Forty-Year Career

The jagged edge on the cover of this book comes from a century of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. I’ve always felt it mirrors life. We rise, we fall, we correct, and we climb again—sometimes abruptly, sometimes painfully. My upbringing taught me to stay optimistic, to keep moving, and to trust that in time, we head in the right direction. I’ve been blessed in my career. I became a better leader because of what life handed me. I became a better advisor and, in turn, helped develop better advisors and leaders. The lessons I carried forward—resilience, empathy, urgency, awareness—continue to drive how I lead today. This book is about how those experiences shaped my journey, and how the stories and ideas that follow might serve as a platform for you, helping you think more deeply, innovate more boldly, and lead more effectively.
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ISBN: 979-8-90026-616-9
Imprint: Amplify Publishing
SKU: 18-1765-01
Categories:Amplify Publishing, Leadership and Management, Memoirs and Biographies
“Rarely does a book blend timeless leadership lessons with such clarity, humility, and real-world relevance. This is Greg’s masterclass in leadership and culture. It will challenge, inspire, and equip leaders at every stage of their journey.” —Bonnie L. Godsman, CEO, GAMA Global
“This book is a must-read and a walk through life with Greg. I felt as if I were in the same room with him. If growth and personal development are on your list of things to do, read this book.” —Harry Hoopis, CEO, Hoopis Performance Network
“You have in your hands a masterpiece on how to navigate difficult challenges in day-to-day leading and life. Each chapter offers hard-won wisdom for how to grow and impact lives in your sphere of influence.” —Bob Fashano, former CEO of Alliance Advisory Group, author, and leadership coach
“This is arguably one of the finest leadership and LIFE books I have ever read, and it goes far beyond a quick hit of motivation. No one is exempt from the jagged edge, but we are all better for it—especially when we look through the lens Greg so brilliantly provides us.” —Ed Deutschlander, CEO, Northstar Resource Group
“Greg has a unique ability to take decades of leadership experience and distill it into lessons that are both practical and deeply human. This book is a reminder that great leadership isn’t about complexity; it’s about discipline, empathy, and consistently doing the fundamentals well.” —Michelle Hubert, president, Korsgaden Practice Management Program

Gregory R. Smith

High-Performing Insurance Leader

Greg Smith is the founder of G.R.A.C.E. Inspired Communications, which empowers leaders

to hone their purpose and deepen their impact. His perspective rests on a forty-year career with Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan, where he saw the full spectrum of risk, hardship, and reward firsthand, leading teams to become highly effective, trusted advisors.

In 2004, Farm Bureau honored him with the Distinguished Management Award. In 2023, the company established the Greg Smith Leadership in Action Award (one of only two given in an employee’s name). He received the Lifetime Luminary Award from Finseca in 2024.

Greg holds a master’s degree in insurance management from Boston University as well as designations for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU).

He has been married to his wife, Shari, for forty-one years, and they enjoy the fullness of life with two children and three grandchildren.

Greg lives in Port Huron, Michigan, where he cherishes his view of the lake.

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