Chutes and Ladders – The Rocky Road to Upward Mobility
- yourvegasva
- Aug 22
- 3 min read
Board games were the big thing when I was growing up. We didn’t have computers, no Xbox, PlayStation, or virtual reality. I loved most of the board games—the classics like Monopoly, Life, Trouble, and CandyLand—but one of my favorites was Chutes and Ladders.
Now that I think about it, Chutes and Ladders might be the best metaphor for a career.
The goal is simple: move your way up the board until you reach the top. Along the way, you’ll hit ladders that launch you forward and chutes that drag you back. Just when you’re cruising toward the finish line—WHAM!—you land on a chute and slide halfway down.
Sound familiar?
That’s what work is like. You start at the bottom, grind your way up, and then life throws a curveball. Layoffs, downsizing, lost clients, missed promotions—the professional version of landing on a chute. One day you’re celebrating a big win, the next you’re dusting yourself off at the bottom again.
But here’s the good news: just like in the game, you always get to roll again.
3 Lessons from Chutes and Ladders for Your Career
1. Keep Rolling the Dice
In the game, nobody quits after sliding down. You pick up the dice and keep moving. Same goes for your career. The only way to stay in the game is to stay in motion. That might mean applying for new roles, launching new offers, or investing in your personal growth.
How a VA helps: A VA can keep the wheels turning even when you’ve been knocked down. From managing your calendar to handling client communications, they make sure the game doesn’t stop while you regroup and strategize your next move.
2. Look for the Ladders
Opportunities aren’t always obvious. Sometimes they look like small tasks, networking calls, or projects that don’t seem like a big deal. But those little moves often turn into ladders that shoot you ahead.
How a VA helps: Virtual assistants can be your ladder spotters. They take repetitive tasks off your plate so you have the bandwidth to focus on bigger opportunities—whether that’s pitching a dream client, developing a new product, or saying yes to that unexpected project.
3. Build Resilience for the Chutes
Sliding down hurts, but every time you recover, you come back stronger. Losing a client might force you to diversify. Getting laid off might open doors to an industry you never imagined. Chutes are setbacks, but they also shape resilience.
How a VA helps: A good VA is more than just support—they’re your safety net. They help document processes, maintain consistency, and hold things together when disruptions happen. That way, when you hit a chute, you’re not starting from scratch. You’ve got a system and a partner to help you climb back faster.
Final Roll
At the end of the day, Chutes and Ladders reminds us that success isn’t a straight line. It’s full of surprises—some exciting, some discouraging. But the game isn’t about avoiding the slides; it’s about continuing to climb after them.
And you don’t have to climb alone. A VA can be the teammate who steadies the board, keeps you moving forward, and makes sure that when the ladders appear, you’re ready to grab them.
✨ Remember: setbacks don’t define you. Comebacks do. And the right support makes every climb a little easier. Now...who's ready for a game of RISK?
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