You know that feeling? When work is amazing, time flies by… but when things get tough, every day feels like a week? That’s the career rollercoaster we’re all riding.
Hey there! Coach Maya here. So I was chatting with some friends the other day about this whole work rollercoaster thing, and it reminded me of a story I love.
There’s this farmer, right? His horse ran away one day. Neighbors come by saying, “Oh man, that’s rough luck.” The farmer just shrugs and goes, “Good luck? Bad luck? Who knows?”
A few days later, the horse comes back – but not alone! It brings a whole bunch of wild horses! Everyone’s like, “Wow, you hit the jackpot!” And the farmer? Same response: “Good luck? Bad luck? Who knows?”
Then the farmer’s son tries to break in one of these wild horses and breaks his leg instead. Ouch. The neighbors shake their heads, “That’s terrible.” The farmer says, “Good luck? Bad luck? Who knows?” But when the army rolls through town, taking young men for war? They skip right over the son with his broken leg.
Good luck? Bad luck? The farmer knew better than to get too high or too low. I think about this story all the time in my own life. When COVID hit, I watched all my contracts get cancelled in a single week. Just like that – poof! Gone. No clients. No keynotes. Nothing. I completely freaked out at first. Then I remembered Carol Dweck’s book “Mindset”. Instead of a fixed mindset, what I needed was a “growth mindset” – seeing change as a chance to try something new.
So instead of worrying, I channeled all that nervous energy into writing a new book. You know what? I finally wrote that book I’d been dreaming about for years, but never “had time” for. Some days, I’d sit at my desk with a knot in my stomach, wondering if clients would ever call again. But then I’d look at my growing manuscript and feel this surge of… possibility. That “bad luck” period? It completely transformed my career in ways I never could have predicted. And honestly? I’m grateful for it now.
Here’s what I’ve noticed about most of us: When we’re swamped with work, we barely come up for air, let alone think about what’s next. Then, when things slow down, we panic and forget that everything changes. Always.
Something that really helps me is just taking a moment to check in with myself – during busy times AND quiet times. I ask myself simple stuff like: What else matters to me besides work? What else gives me joy? What could I learn right now that might open new doors?
So here’s something little to try this week if you’re up for it: Just grab 15 minutes somewhere quiet. Think about where you are right now – super busy or maybe in a slower season. Jot down three ways you might grow from exactly where you are. It could be learning something new, reconnecting with someone important, or just finally starting that side project.
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, rate, and share with someone who needs this boost!