For those of you are more senior and chose to "chase money" in your career at some point - how did it work out? Are you happy with the decision, and are you enjoying your money?
As a 22 y/o, the tradeoff between $ and WLB seems one of the key things everybody has to figure out for themselves, and I'd love to hear about your experiences and lessons learned!

likesmart
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Work harder when you're younger. It'll pay off when you can relax a bit more once you get a wife and kids. Or as your hobbies and bucket list gets more expensive.

likehelpfulsmart

Agree with this. Work harder in your 20s so you can work smarter in your 30s, give yourself max optionality.

likesmart

27 years old now. I have a decent job and a steady paycheck. I'm single, lonely and depressed. I wish I could go back in time and spend more time having fun and just being around friends instead of chasing money and success.

likehelpful

Of course it isn't easy to do. And I'm not saying your goals can't change. But life without goals is hard and aimless and leads to depression. Start with short term goals and build from there. And if you need a jumping off point, make your first goal to cultivate a lasting friendship. There...saved you 3 hours in therapy.

likehelpful
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27 yo, realized I loved WLB more than money.

105k in LCOL, working 10-4, zero nights and weekends in an industry job. Had some opportunities in PE, but declined due to WLB.

Wouldn't trade this for anything.

likehelpful

Lol, SC1, are you me?! I gotta jump back quick

uplifting

I was “retired” for most of my 20s. Traveling the world and such. Only working when needed. Didn’t chase money but still got an MBA. Had my own company for a while,etc. still a millionaire in my 30s but my friends that really chased money have a couple of homes and are far richer. They said they would trade it for the route I took though.

likesmarthelpfulfunny

Father it’s me, your long lost son. Pls send monies thx

likefunnyhelpful

Chased $ from mid20s (100k) to mid 30s making (250k). Worked out well for savings though was starting to burn out and feeling pretty cynical the last 2 years. Took a major pay cut in exchange for amazing WLB and a company I respect. Was able to buy a 500k home at 26, investment property at 33, and trade up to 1.5m with an excellent emergency fund/401k/other traditional investments even with two kids (daycare is $$$). I think not getting caught up in the chase and feeling comfortable exiting or downgrading at the right time is key

likesmarthelpful

I would not recommend this company or model tbh... It created a culture where it was looked down on to take vacation (we had an 'unlimited' policy which meant too many never took pto) and discouraged correct scoping as this excuse became a crutch. Also the founders sold and the secret sauce at exec level fell apart. Was nice when I started, great money, but was a flaming sinking ship when I left.

People on their death bed never wish that they spent more time working. They always wish they had more time with the people they loved.

It’s great to chase money, but if you have no one to share it with in the end, it is really lonely. It was extremely hard to date as a consultant on the road. Pausing the travel for my MBA allowed me to meet my partner, and I will happily take less earning potential to spend more time together — assuming we can afford the lifestyle we want.

Also, you do not necessarily need to earn less but rather be smarter about your where you are earning. My consulting office was in a LCOL city, so I was getting paid like I was in NYC/SF but I was paying LCOL rent which was 1/3-1/2 of NYC/SF rent for an apartment that I never lived in. Could it be a social bummer sometimes? Yes. But maxing out my retirement and building my savings was worth it, especially when I could afford to alt travel to HCOL cities. Post-MBA, I chose a HCOL city to ensure I got that high base salary so that I can move to a LCOL city later on and justify a higher salary number.

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Very articulate and rational but also very different replies above. Interesting.

likesmart

I gave up a pretty lucrative banking/corporate credit structuring career that was paying me stupid money at 24-29. Quit and joined consulting with a huge wlb benefit. I miss the chase sometimes but quickly remember it almost put me in the ground

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Late thirties. Just had my first >$1m year. I thought it would make me happier. It doesn’t make me sad.

likehelpfulfunny

60 yo. In early 20’s struggle but had a good run, late 20’s -30’s state job total WLB, 40’s to current chasing money, but now focusing on WLB as I start to prepare for retirement.

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Around 60...got mult degrees in my 20’s, played around alot, didn’t make much money, built my network and had ALOT of fun in that period.

Started getting focused in my 30s (including saving some money) and the foundation I built in my 20s was helpful, especially the network. Got married, had kids and learned the meaning and importance of hustle. Made a decision with spouse that only one of us would work to avoid daycare and raising our own kids regardless of impact of short term income, so my salary had to support the family.

This all allowed me to focus on my career while my spouse had the house humming along smoothly. I worked alot and traveled but our open comms and agreement on what needed to be done made it very workable.

My income accelerated rapidly in my later 30s and 40s which made us much more comfortable and able to save for retirement. Track continued in 50s and convinced that the hard work in 30s and 40s made the 50s very comfortable - while still working pretty hard but at what I learned to love.

Bottomline for me looking back:
1) Have fun and take risks when you are young
2) Don’t wait too long to get serious about your future - direction and building wealth
3) Hustle and your network are the critical variables for all ages. The money will come if you are disciplined
4) If you have a mate (I recommend it) focus on open comms and agreement on the ST and LT plan
5) Take breaks and time off to help with balance

Hope that helps!

likehelpful

I feel like I’ve seen both paths. I had a more relaxed job in 20s and a more intense, higher salaried consulting job for 6 years post-mba.

I have no regrets from doing consulting. The experience, network, and salary have been extremely valuable.

That said, I have friends who joined tech companies and made more money than I did in the same period and did not have to work nearly as much I as I did.

My only regret is not doing more to “chase my dreams” — if I look at my career options now, they aren’t necessarily very well aligned with my interests / passions, but still pay very well.

If I could go back to 22, I’d tried to get an entry level job in sports or a cool tech startup that I thought could have significant upside.

A lot of money can be made in both. The CEO of the Brooklyn Nets / MSG has had a career in sports and I’m sure makes plenty of money.

It’s not a zero sum game, an option of one vs the other. Money makes life easier and is worth pursuing, but only as an add-on to doing something you enjoy and find fulfilling.

likesmart

Your question implies that you can’t have both. It also implies that longer hours = higher quality output. Both of which are incorrect.

like

That really depends on who and where you’re working.. but you are mostly right. You can have both - my advice is to become a true “expert” in something.. to the extent the firm needs you and you can take advantage of that. That’s how I’ve achieved the wlb, granted I came from industry.. but I barely work 30 hours 🤷

I come from extremely humble beginnings . I didn’t even know there was money to be chased when I started working . I did realize how good money is a few years into working and then focused heavily on it . From making 100K at 29 , I jumped to making about 700K by 39. At that point I lost interest in chasing money - and focused more on WLB .

Do I enjoy money ? Yes I do - but my needs are minimal thanks to my humble beginnings . My kid is very smart and is doing great in school . But if the kid doesn’t want to do a job in her life - she doesn’t need to . She can lead a great life with her inheritance . Same with my wife - if I die tomorrow , she won’t have to work to make ends meet . So that gives me peace of mind which in turn makes me happy . I made conservative investments and we definitely live under our means . That translates to not needing to think long and hard before I take decisions on buying something I want .

Net net - looking back , I am happy I chased money when I did . But even more happy that it worked out well enough for me to stop doing it when I did

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Follow your passion. Sounds clichéd but you'll only be true to the path you're most passionate about. I've got a good spot wealth wise, but started taking money seriously only after I turned 30. Those lost years are now a massive regret as I play catch up. I am career driven to the max as I chase the gap - precious few friends, no SO, energies starting to shift to my own start-up ideas. Pursue what makes you happy, what gets you up in the morning and keeps you working into the small hours - wealth and success will follow, but on your terms. Find someone to share it all with, you'll be happier and wealthier for it.

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That’s a great question to be asking at 22, but let me help you reframe it if I may. I’ve been in professional services for over 20 years and getting very close to a 7 figure income. Among my fellow partners are some of the most miserable people I’ve ever met. And some are very happy.

For many people, particularly when you’re young, ‘chasing the money’ isn’t an option it’s a necessity. Working in professional services is an excellent way to quickly get to, what most people would regard as, an amazing income (consider that the median global household income is circa $10k). The issue for many people is when the attainment of more and more income becomes how they value themselves as a person. Constantly comparing yourself to others doesn’t help - it’ll always make you feel inferior as there is always someone, somewhere earning more.

Don’t let anyone ever tell you that money isn’t important. But it’s all down to your personal circumstances and what’s important to you. Marrying making enough money with doing something you enjoy and you feel has purpose - that’s the big win in life 😊

likeupliftinghelpful

Feel like I had fun and blew a lot of money in my 20s without thinking of future me. Starting to get finances in order now in my 30s with a family post MBA. Aiming to retire by early 50s with solid income years with MBB. Wouldn’t trade the fun when I was young for anything

like

I’m in a similar situation. I left consulting for a startup, the startup laid everyone off, and then I serendipitously met the chief people officer of 2 unicorns. Now he wants me to help him build a recruiting agency / startup studio and I have no idea what to do. Not really into recruiting but the latter sounds cool.

like

Serious question, can someone teach me how to “chase money”? For real though, raises have been rough, and HCOL cities eat you alive. Maybe it just takes time, but 5 years in it doesn’t seem like there are many ways to make more money faster.

like

Yeah get competing offers

like

Sometimes it’s not even the money tho, and your scale just starts creeping towards work because your lack of life.. and that is a slippery slope!!

Take vacation even if you have no plans. That might not make sense now, but it will in 3 ywars

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