Are you a chicken or an eagle?

Careers. The most overwhelming topic for kids.

Ask any child what they want to be when they grow up. You’ll get one of two answers: a confident declaration… or a blank stare.

But what if I told you... most people have no idea what's possible because they're only looking at the ground beneath their feet?

You're probably thinking, that's dramatic. But hear me out.

This parable has always stuck with me:

A farmer once found an eagle's egg and placed it in the nest of one of his hens.

The eagle chick hatched alongside the chickens and was raised as one of them. It clucked, scratched the ground, and never flew higher than a few feet, believing it was a chicken.

One day, an eagle flew high overhead. The young eagle looked up in awe and said to its chicken companions,

"What a majestic bird! What is it?"

The chickens replied, “That’s an eagle, the king of birds. But don’t worry about that. You’re just a chicken.”

Believing what it was told, the eagle lived and died as a chicken, never realising it could soar the skies.

The other day, my daughter asked me what influenced my career choices—how I decided what to do and, later, the switches I made. My answer?

“I followed what inspired me to challenge myself.”

Not money. Not status. Not a fancy title. Just the thrill of discovering something new and seeing how far I could take it. Whether it was working in the film industry or teaching in schools, every step of my journey has been about exploring potential—mine and others’.

But here’s the thing: you can’t find inspiration by staying in the coop.

When I talk to kids on careers days, I always tell them:
Look for the eagle.

What inspires you?

Who inspires you?

Because if you never look around, you’ll follow the same habits as those closest to you—whether that’s your friends, your family, or your environment.

Albert Einstein said it perfectly:
“The mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size.”

So, how can you help kids find the eagle in them?

If inspiration isn't close to home, go looking for it. Read books. Watch documentaries. Follow people who do incredible things.

It's like reverse-engineering your dreams.

Here's how to do it in practice:

• Ask what they're curious about. Maybe they love cooking or baking. Do they enjoy helping in the kitchen, watching cooking shows, or experimenting with new recipes?
• Find someone who’s already doing it. Look up chefs like Gordon Ramsay, Dominique Ansel, or Nadiya Hussain. Watch shows like MasterChef or The Great British Bake Off. Dive into cookbooks and behind-the-scenes videos of how restaurants operate.
• Break it down. If they dream of being a chef or baker, what’s the first step? Learning kitchen basics, understanding flavors, or perfecting a favorite dish. Could they help plan a family dinner, bake for a school fundraiser, or take a cooking class?
• Make it fun. Turn the kitchen into a playground. Try a "mystery box" challenge with random pantry ingredients. Experiment with international recipes and explore cuisines from around the world. Start a recipe journal for their culinary creations.
• Celebrate progress. Whether they whip up their first soufflé, master scrambled eggs, or create a unique twist on their favorite dessert, cheer them on! Each success builds their confidence and creativity.

Everyone deserves to know that their potential isn’t fixed. They can fly higher than they think. But first, they have to believe they’re more than chickens scratching the dirt.

Until next time,

Nici

P.S.

Need practical advice for how to reverse-engineer inspiring a different field of interest or dream? Ping me an email directly and I'll give you some steps.

If you know a parent, teacher, or kid who could use a little inspiration this week, share this story with them.