JP is currently the Facility Manager for a large company in Fiji. His interview that follows reflects the game of snakes and ladders. This story captures JP’s unfortunate career interruption caused by ill health. While rising to the top (via ladders), a medical diagnosis sent JP tumbling to the bottom (sliding the snake). Be inspired by the power of his positivity and of key people around him, to see JP rising strong.
You may tumble down a snake, but you can work to rise up a ladder. Sometimes you can’t help but land on a snake, but only you can take the next step to rise a ladder.

The two big messages (the gold) in JP’s story are the power of positive, in having someone believe in you and being determined to lean in and take the next step. Where gold is identified in the following transcript, it is highlighted in gold. And watch for the commentary in red as the gold is highlighted.
Snakes & Ladders
JP started his work life as a deck hand on boats. After more than a decade he had made his way up to captain on large fishing vessels with a crew of more than 10. He loved this job and had been working on the boats for 14 years. Then he landed on a snake. . .
TRANSCRIPT
Caddy | You’re loving being the captain on a boat, you’re kind of at the top of that field. Then what happened? |
JP | I got diagnosed with a medical disease. I went through a medical checkup, the doctor advised that I could no longer go to go out to sea again. Just because of my medical condition. |
Caddy | So that must have been devastating for you. How did you feel when you found out that you couldn’t go out on the boats anymore? |
JP | Yes, that’s how it felt the first time, but over time I’ve got used to it. I had gained a qualification and there was a lot of sacrifice. I was beaten down for quite a while cause I knew I have to look for another employment opportunity. I had to start from the bottom again. |
Caddy | You’d be back as a deckhand, but in another field |
JP | Yeah, another field. I’d only been working on boats since I left school. |
Caddy | So three years ago you receive that news? And then what? What do you start doing? You can’t sail? How did you get from there to being with your current company? |
The Power of Positive: Someone showed belief #1: JP leaned into his networks. He found himself at the bottom . . . then someone provided a ladder. A ladder helps, but only if JP climbs it.
JP | I knew about this company because they had a fishing vessel and I worked for them doing long line fishing for their subsidiary company. I knew the manager and CEO. The manager used to buy fish from us. So when the vessel shut down, I had a chat with him to see if there were any employment opportunities. |
Caddy | Then what did he say? |
JP | He said that he’ll have a chat with the CEO. So at that time I just stayed home. I had a small business at home selling kava just trying to make ends meet. Then the manager called me in for an interview and asked me what my responsibilities were when I was on the boat. He gave me a starter job. [There’s a ladder right there!] |
Caddy | It sounds like he created a role for you? There wasn’t a job advertisement and you got it. They interviewed you and then created a role to fit. Why did they do that? |
JP | They I think they wanted to give me a try. |
Caddy | i think they saw something in you. What do you think they saw? Because at that time coming out of COVID, there’d be a lot of people unemployed. Why you? |
JP | I have no clue. Maybe I think they saw something in me. |
Caddy | So now you’re working in this company, but you’re right at the bottom. What was it like? Being back at the bottom and probably having thew hard, dirty jobs? In your previous role you were the captain directing others around, now you are at the bottom. How did it feel to be back at the bottom? |
JP | It was a challenge but I knew any role that I’ll be given, I could adjust. [And there is JP’s self-belief. See his foot on the ladder?] |
Caddy | But you were working harder for less money than when you were a captain. That must have been difficult. And you had your family to look after at the same time. |
The Power of Positive: Someone showed belief #2: JP is invited to attend the Fijian Emerging Leaders Program.
Caddy | So now i want to roll forward to what must have been about January this year and manager asks if you would like to be a part of the Fijian Emerging Leaders Program (FELP). Tell me about that story. |
JP | Yeah, he saw some potential in me. He said that. That I really need to do the course just to enlighten myself. I told him that I will give it a go. The reason I wanted to do the course was because most of the time when we usually have a chat, he was always motivating us. |
Caddy | He was motivating you. And JP, again . . . Why did he ask you? In that company, out of a few thousand staff, he could have picked anybody. Why did he ask you? |
JP | He saw potential in me. |
Caddy | There’s that belief again. For a second time now the manager has seen something in you. This is back in January, before you started the course . . . what do you think he could see in you? |
JP | He said that I’ll be a good leader. |
Caddy | Could you see that in yourself? |
JP | I’ll try my best to be. Before the course I had some plans, but I wasn’t pushing. |
JP completes the Fiji Emerging Leader’s Course: He applies himself to the ladder that was presented to him.
Over these last 10 weeks. He has become focused. He knows where he wants to go. The team is incredibly different now and I am encouraged by his ability to find solutions to issues. So I’m watching his growth in his ability, and I think it is this that most impresses me. Feedback from the manager on JP
The course has made a big improvement on myself and my family. A major thing I’ve learned through this ten-week course is planning. JP
You put a lot into this, and I think that’s why you got a lot out. And you really set a tone for the rest of the guys. When we had some of those sharing times, you were brutally honest, especially about your lack of patience. It’s because of your level of self-investment that you got a lot out. Course caddy
Someone showed belief #3: JP decides to study
JP | One of those plans I had was to do some study. I didn’t feel like going to study. Because I was just telling myself I’ve had enough. |
Caddy | So what i think you’re saying is “I don’t know if I want to go back and start again and study”. |
JP | The manager kept on pushing me, he said. He would tell me this is not the end. You can do it. [there’s that belief again] |
Caddy | So again he was believing in you. This is the third time now. |
JP | Then I started the FELP and upon hearing the other guy’s stories and all they went through, it motivated me. Then I told myself if they can do it, why can’t I do it? |
Caddy | Way to go JP. And so it was just hearing their stories, finding yourself in a spot where you could grow, with people investing in you like the manager at the same time. You’re hearing the stories of the other guys and thinking, man, they’re growing. What’s wrong with me? I can do the same. So then you’ve enrolled in your course of study. What is the difference between the JP before he entered the FELP and the JP I am speaking to now – a month later? |
JP | I’m much more focused on my work and I’ll be starting my course on the 4th of September. |
Caddy | Go you. And let me ask the question in a different way. What would the JP of today say to the JP of three years ago when you could no longer work on the boats and were struggling to find work. |
JP | I’ll tell him to move on. That being at the bottom is not the end of the road. You can do better than that. Just work harder, and you have to sacrifice. |
JP’s story highlights the power of having someone believe in you. The power of your believing in others. JP inspires us with two stories.
In one story there is a strong message of resilience and not giving up, even when you find yourself at the bottom of game after sliding down a snake. As JP stated “Don’t give up because there’s a good chance you can find your way back, but what you also need is the importance of people like my manager, who believes in people”.
The second message is the power of belief. JP’s story illustrates the impact of believing in others and the transformation that can occur. As JP said “he (the manager) motivated people to come out of their comfort zone”.
And believing into someone else and encouraging them is free!
Let’s give the last word to JP: “One thing that I’ll say to people that are stuck. Don’t give up. Don’t distrust yourself. Work towards your goal. Because anything is possible”.
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