Playing small in your career keeps your income and business potential trapped in a box
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Most professionals spend their careers deliberately avoiding risk:
NASA astronaut Christina Koch built her career by doing the exact opposite.
After traveling farther from Earth than most humans ever will and fixing the plumbing aboard the Orion capsule, the Artemis II astronaut sat down with me on Thursday for a candid discussion about what career success really looks like, and the three career rules she lives by--principles that ultimately led her to the moon.
“Find something that fulfills you,” Koch said with a warm smile. “Find something that you can do slow, that you can do forever and still love it, that still gives you meaning,” she advises professionals.
This career advice is timeless because often, it’s easy to chase trends, start a business, or pivot careers purely for the sake of earning potential, seeking quick wins.
I’ve seen it repeatedly in my coaching work, where clients have said that they wanted to start an AI business, for example, because they thought it would be quick money. I always knew from day one that if this was their sole motivation, they would quickly burn out.
When it comes to career or business, Koch’s advice rings clear: Instead of chasing what looks bright and sparkly, find meaning and fulfillment in the role itself.
If you don’t do something you genuinely enjoy for the sake of it, the “quick wins” you chase will be just that: they will fade out just as soon as they appeared.
Slow-burn work means:
Koch put it simply, “One mantra I often share is to do what scares you. To not shy away from the things that seem impossible. When you do the things that seem like they’re just out of your reach, that's actually when you get the most out of them and you end up doing the most good for the world.”
Your career will never progress, your income will never grow, and you’ll never see your full potential if you stay within what feels within reach and easy to do.
Koch’s career was built by daring to do what had never been done before, or hardly ever been done before.
Christina Koch made it to the moon by playing the long, slow game to success
NASA via Getty Images
While the rigor and training that led to each of these missions--the work that went on behind the scenes to adapt her mind and body for the physical and physiological changes--all felt uncomfortable, she rose to the challenge regardless.
In the same way, your greatest impact comes from what seems out of reach.
So if, for example, the idea of launching a startup scares you--that might be a sign that you need to do it anyway. Because while you’re contemplating and procrastinating and choosing to live your life small, someone else has plucked up the courage to say no to their fears and is already two steps ahead of you.
“Finally,” Koch added, “support those around you.”
After her almost-10-day Artemis II mission, Koch recognizes that success is not a solo endeavor. For years before, she was training and collaborating with three other astronauts and then lived with them inside rather cramped living quarters while in space.
Koch remarked earlier that the experience--including her view of Earth from space--made her realize that we are all “a crew.” We are all dependent on each other for support and we need to find creative ways to live and collaborate together for the good of all humanity.
Your career impact is tied to:
When you realize this as a leader, you’ll begin to invest in your team as your most powerful resource, and create a psychologically safe space where everyone feels empowered to do their best work.
And in a non-leadership capacity, you’ll actively seek out opportunities to pass your expertise on to others, and partner in unique ways (even getting to know the teams in your organization that do not directly work with you) to find ways to drive further impact.
I asked Koch about what it felt like to be the first woman to the moon and her plan for carrying on that legacy, and she shared something profound:
“Firsts are only important because you’re not going to be the last.”
Koch’s career mantras--to attempt what’s out of your comfort zone, create impact beyond yourself, and seek fulfillment over fads--tell you that playing safe never leads to anything extraordinary.
What’s holding you back from experiencing your full career potential right now?
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