Oh no—the plane is going down. Everyone in the cockpit has simultaneously suffered a heart attack, and the flight attendants are calmly trying to regain control. They make an announcement asking if anyone on board has flight experience.
It turns out there are two people who do. One has experience flying a plane. The other has experience landing a plane. In a moment like this, which passenger is more important?
On any journey—especially a creative or entrepreneurial one—there will be moments when it feels like the plane is in a tailspin, headed straight for the ground. In those moments, the most valuable person isn’t the one who knows how to soar at cruising altitude. It’s the one who’s been here before—the person who knows how to land the plane.
The creative with experience landing—the one who carries the calm confidence of “I’ve seen this before”—is the one who knows how to navigate chaos, regain control, and bring everyone safely back to the ground. Time and time again, that’s the person who saves the day.
Life rewards those who ride the turbulence, appreciate the highs, and persevere through the lows. The moment you give up is the moment the journey truly ends.
