Our story begins with a young lad named Luke, who was hale and hearty, of quick and clear mind, full of fun and adventure.  He was an earnest sort, respectful and mindful of his elders, even studying from time to time. Luke had a large family, and every Sunday they would gather around for a day of feasting and rest.  And without fail, each Sunday his father would ask him how he intended to make his life’s fortune.  And again without fail, young Luke would reply with the same words he heard his father say about his own life:  “I will go into the world with the wind at my back, and go where the winds take me.  I will do whatever it is that they do where I land.  For that is life and I will be happy.”  And the entire family would roar in delight, and his father would clap him on the back, for indeed that is what his dad had done, and his grand-father before that, and all of his other forebears before that.  Young Luke gave the future not a moment’s thought but knew just knew that something special awaited him.

One day, it came to be time that Luke was an adult, and his parents and family stuffed his pockets with money saved for this very purpose, and they bade him farewell and good luck.  Luke set off with the wind at his back, just as he said, and kept it there as he journeyed to his destiny.  And after many days, he saw way off in the distance a huge mountain, the largest he had ever seen although truthfully, he had not seen many; he was just barely an adult.  As luck would have it, the winds carried him right to the mountain, and then up it, step by step, to the very top, to the mountain peak.

There at the peak, Luke happened upon an older man inspecting all that was below. Puffing himself up, the older man gestured grandly to all the land below as his, the Pinnacle Farm, and he its lord.  They began talking and hit it off immediately, young Luke and Lord Pinnacle.  Although Lord Pinnacle was clearly self-possessed and possession-driven, he reminded Luke of his father, seemingly wise, kind and friendly.  Almost before Luke knew what was happening, Lord Pinnacle said that he was always looking for hard-working, good men for his farm and why didn’t he try it, it might be just the thing to fill all his dreams and change his life.  Lord Pinnacle said he would teach Luke a trade, and that if he worked hard there would always be a place for him.  Luke thought about that for a few seconds, shrugged and said, why not, he was young and would give it a try.

For many years, it was just as Lord Pinnacle said.  He taught Luke a trade and gave him a place at his Pinnacle Farm.  Luke worked hard and liked being there.  Most of all, he liked being rewarded and appreciated, Lord Pinnacle was always thanking him, paying him more money and that made it all seem worthwhile.  After awhile, as Luke got older and wiser, Lord Pinnacle put him in charge of all the other workers and told him that the farm would be his someday.  Luke liked that idea and almost without thinking felt that maybe that was to be his future.

As most of us know, there are always twists and turns in life, and there are verily few things that are forever.  And so it came to be one year that the rains didn’t come, not even for one day, not even just a little.  Without rain, the crops didn’t come in.  Without crops, there was nothing to sell and nothing to eat for the animals.  For awhile, Lord Pinnacle gave Luke and the other workers money, but he had just bought a new large horse farm on the other side of the mountain, and soon had no more money to give.  No matter what Luke and the others did, it did not rain, and so the crops did not come and there was nothing to feed the animals.

One day, Lord Pinnacle stopped by and told Luke that some of the other workers had to go because there was no more work for them.  Angus was the first who was asked to leave.  A week later, Lord Pinnacle said that Calum had to leave, and the week after, William, then Duncan and Ewan, and on and on it went until almost all of the workers were no more.

Then one yet again sunny day, Lord Pinnacle approached Luke slowly and with a stern face.  “Luke, I have not the money to pay you, it is your turn to go.”  Luke was incredulous, for he thought the Pinnacle Farm was his life forever, and said:  “Lord Pinnacle, you don’t understand, it has not rained so there are no crops and nothing to feed the animals.  It is not my fault or anyone’s fault, I cannot make it rain.  I will stay and it will rain someday and all will be good again.”

This made Lord Pinnacle angry, for no one ever disagreed with him, “It is you who don’t understand, you have let me down, I have given you everything you wanted, and only asked that you work hard in return.  And now you are not working hard, and I am in ruins.  You have killed my farm; now you must leave.”

Luke tried again: “Lord Pinnacle, I have an idea.  You have two farms now but only need one.  Why not sell one and we use the money for the other one until the rains come back?”
Now Lord Pinnacle was very angry, standing straight-up tall, screaming:  “You stupid, foolish idiot, the farms are mine and for my wife and family,  I wouldn't sell one freakin’ horse to keep you, you are worthless. Here are two pennies, buy yourself a night of ale, and be on your way never to return!”  And with that, Lord Pinnacle kicked Luke with his full strength, pitching Luke face-first into the dirt. Luke lay there dazed for awhile, not sure what to do, breathing in the smells of the farm.  It occurred to him that the farm smelled like any other, dirt is dirt he said to himself, and somehow that made him feel better.

Still not sure what to do, Luke did as he always did, exactly what he was told, and so he stumbled to the ale house, drinking one after another until he remembered not what had happened to him.  He woke up the next morning in the alley behind the ale house, drenched in a muddy puddle of kitchen waste water, half- covered in mud.  It was sunny once more, his eyes blinded and his head pounding.  Lesson learned, he vowed never again to forget his troubles in ale.  Luke made his way down to the small creek, where he cleaned the mud off himself as best he could.  For a long time, he sat next to the creek, pouring the soothing cold water on his sweaty forehead, pondering what to do next.  After awhile, it came to him that the water was flowing downhill and that while the creek was small here, it would likely be larger down below.  And where there was water, there would be farms, and crops, and well fed animals.  And most of all, jobs.

So, Luke found a path next to the creek and followed it as it went this way and that, always staying close to the creek.  Not what grandfather said, to follow the winds, but he stuck with the path.  And just as he thought, the creek grew larger and larger the further he went, until it was a river and then a larger river, and then an even larger river.  Now Luke knew he was on the right path, and his heart lifted and his good spirits returned.

Before too many days passed, it really didn’t take long once he knew what path to take, Luke found himself in the most beautiful, lush and green valley, such that he never knew existed.  The valley had farm after farm after farm, all filled with crops and animals and many, many workers.  He knew there were many jobs to be had here. Luke walked the entire valley, taking in the lay of the land, and decided that he would inspect each farm and only go to the owner of the very best ones to ask if there was work to be done.  For he knew that he was a hard worker, hale and hearty, of quick and clear mind, and that any farm would want him.  It would be Luke who chose where he worked.

And so it was that Luke learned that there were many farms out there, not just one, and that it was not good to just take the first one that wanted him.  He found a job at the very best farm and spent the rest of his days there in happiness.   The End.

Morals of the Story

Moral of the story #1:  If you’re stuck in the mud, it’s time to get out, it makes no difference if its quality mud or not, move on.  There are other, better places and you will be better off and happy soon.

Moral of the story #2:  Don’t just go where the winds take you.  Plan your career and how you will reach your career goals.  Follow your path.

Moral of the story #3:  We understand how you’re feeling if you’re unemployed or not happy where you’re working.  You are not the first.

Moral of the story #4:  Just as Luke in the story knew that there was a special future for him, all of us have special qualities and something positive to offer.

Moral of the story #5:  We at Great Scott Careers, Inc. know where the right career paths are.  We will help you find yours.