How a Little Frog’s Journey Mirrors Your Career Growth
The other day, I was driving home after one of those long, what did I do all day?, kind of days. You know the kind—where your to-do list laughs in your face, your lunch is still in the fridge, and your inbox multiplied like rabbits.
I’m cruising down the highway, windows up, podcast yammering about the next great idea, when something catches my eye. Perched on the edge of my driver’s side mirror is… a little green tree frog.
Yes. A frog.
Now, let me paint the picture: I’m going 60 mph, and this tiny guy is gripping the mirror like his life depends on it (because, let’s be honest, it kind of does). Every time he tried to adjust his position, one leg would lift—and whoosh—the wind would fling it back like a little green flag in a hurricane. I couldn’t stop glancing at the little guy, unsure whether to be amazed, horrified, or both.
For a split second, I considered rolling down my window to let him hop inside. But then I pictured the chaos of a frog loose in my car while I’m flying down the 3-lane highway. Not ideal. So instead, I just kept glancing at him nervously, silently cheering him on. Hang in there, little buddy!
Eventually, he inched his way to the inside lip of the mirror, tucking himself into a cozy little ridge where he was finally shielded from the wind. Safe. Steady. Smart frog.
He stayed there until we pulled into a parking lot, and then—boop—he hopped off into a completely new part of town. I doubt he had any idea what kind of wild ride he signed up for when he leapt onto that mirror.
But here’s the thing—don’t we all feel like that frog sometimes?
Our careers can feel like we’re clinging to the side of something speeding wildly ahead, flailing in the wind, trying to find our footing. We commit to growth, chase new opportunities, say yes to things that terrify us… and then bam—imposter syndrome hits, our confidence wobbles, and suddenly, we’re gripping the metaphorical mirror for dear life.
So what do we do? We hunker down. We retreat to safety. We find the cozy ridge of the familiar and hang on until things calm down.
And that’s okay—sometimes we need that pause. But here’s the magic: like my little frog friend, if we keep hanging on and trusting the ride, we eventually land somewhere new. It may not be where we thought we were headed, but it might be exactly where we’re meant to grow next.
Career growth isn’t always a well-marked trail—it’s a twisty highway full of wild winds, unplanned detours, and the occasional leap of faith. But if a frog can hang on through 60 mph winds and land safely in the suburbs, you, my friend, can handle the wild parts of your journey too.
Your Next Leap
If you’re feeling unsteady in your career, take a moment to reflect on where you’ve come from and where you’re going. What’s the next small “ledge” you can reach for to gain stability? And once you’re there, will you have the courage to leap into your next chapter, even if it’s uncertain?
Ask yourself, what’s holding you back from taking on that new project, asking for that promotion, or pursuing that skill you’ve always wanted to learn? Are you too worried about the chaos of the highway to realize the opportunity that lies just ahead?
Resilience doesn’t mean you won’t encounter challenges along the way. It means knowing you’ll adapt, just as the frog did, to the winds of change.
Final Thoughts
Like that little green frog, we often don’t know where our decisions will lead us. But if we stay flexible, persistent, and willing to hop into the unknown, we can find ourselves in places we never imagined—growing in ways we never thought possible.
Hold on when the winds pick up. Adapt when it feels chaotic. Leap when the time comes. And trust that, like the frog who found a safe spot and then moved forward, you are capable of navigating this wild adventure called your career.
So cling when you need to. Regroup when you must. But don’t be afraid to hop off when the moment’s right. Growth doesn’t come from staying safe—it comes from staying in it.
What are you holding onto, and what leap will you take next?
If you liked this article, check out my new Substack! No Blueprints: A New Chapter for Women in Construction (and the people who support them)
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