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Salary or Happiness ?
How do I choose a career that is creative but also has a high salary? How do I not get caught up in the idea of choosing a career based on salary? #CV23
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4 answers
Updated
Ravi’s Answer
The choice between salary and happiness ultimately depends on personal values and priorities. Some people prioritize financial stability and material success, while others prioritize personal fulfillment and life satisfaction.
While a high salary can provide financial security and access to material comforts, it does not necessarily guarantee happiness. Many people find that pursuing a high-paying career at the expense of their personal values, interests, or relationships can lead to burnout, stress, and dissatisfaction.
On the other hand, prioritizing happiness over salary can lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful life. This may involve pursuing a career that aligns with one's passions and values, prioritizing relationships and social connections, and finding joy in non-work activities.
Ultimately, the choice between salary and happiness is a personal one, and it is important to consider one's own values, goals, and priorities when making career decisions. It is possible to find a balance between financial stability and personal fulfillment by pursuing a career that aligns with one's passions and values, while also considering financial realities and planning for long-term financial goals.
My personal choice just enough to help you to live a comfortable living. If you love your job, you will be happy. You will make more money that what is required. At this stage you don't care about material things in life.
While a high salary can provide financial security and access to material comforts, it does not necessarily guarantee happiness. Many people find that pursuing a high-paying career at the expense of their personal values, interests, or relationships can lead to burnout, stress, and dissatisfaction.
On the other hand, prioritizing happiness over salary can lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful life. This may involve pursuing a career that aligns with one's passions and values, prioritizing relationships and social connections, and finding joy in non-work activities.
Ultimately, the choice between salary and happiness is a personal one, and it is important to consider one's own values, goals, and priorities when making career decisions. It is possible to find a balance between financial stability and personal fulfillment by pursuing a career that aligns with one's passions and values, while also considering financial realities and planning for long-term financial goals.
My personal choice just enough to help you to live a comfortable living. If you love your job, you will be happy. You will make more money that what is required. At this stage you don't care about material things in life.
Updated
Christine’s Answer
Oh man Kaylie, I’m glad to hear you asking this!
Onet has a survey you can take (https://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip) that can help you create a list of careers you might enjoy and can also provide salary range information.
You ideally want a pretty balanced mix in your career: you want to enjoy it, and be able to pay your bills.
Keep in mind you don’t have to stick with one profession until you die.
Check to see if there are stackable credentials for your career pathway of choice.
Remember lifestyle inflation can make even the most lucrative career professionals live paycheck to paycheck, so keep that in check too.
Research options that make ok money and look fun
Talk to people that are in a profession you find interesting
Stackable credentials?
Onet has a survey you can take (https://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip) that can help you create a list of careers you might enjoy and can also provide salary range information.
You ideally want a pretty balanced mix in your career: you want to enjoy it, and be able to pay your bills.
Keep in mind you don’t have to stick with one profession until you die.
Check to see if there are stackable credentials for your career pathway of choice.
Remember lifestyle inflation can make even the most lucrative career professionals live paycheck to paycheck, so keep that in check too.
Christine recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Puyan’s Answer
Hi Kaylie!
Great question. I'll start by advising you not to work backwards from your target salary, and instead look at finding something you're passionate about that satisfies your creativity. Don't sacrifice that for salary, and instead look to stimulate that creativity in some way or another. If you're passionate about something creative, don't forget - not everyone has a passion! Embrace the fact that you have something that you can invest your time into whilst enjoying the process.
The truth is - there's not really a career out there that you can choose which starts right at the top, with a high salary. You'll have to work your way up, and your ability to apply yourself to that career early will help you progress faster and move up in salary quicker. It may also contribute towards how comfortable and happy you will feel with your career if you decide on a career that you are excited about. What can you contribute towards your role that makes you feel empowered? The salary will come!
Furthermore - it's worth thinking about an anecdote that I learnt myself at the start of my career - "control the controllables". What this means is to think about what you can directly control on a day-to-day basis, and just focus on them. In reality, these are really just 3 things:
- Your thoughts
- Your words
- Your actions
Everything else is an external factor happening around you in the world, and you'll soon realise you can't control everything. But you can control how you react to events happening around you - and that comes from those 3 things you can control. How you control these 3 will dictate your behaviour and your ability to respond to events and opportunities around you. This advice can help you progress not only in your career, but also in personal life. And it helps to reduce stress levels!
Hope the above helps and remember to focus on your happiness and what really empowers you to feel you've accomplished something you're proud of. The salary should come secondary to this.
Best of luck!
Puyan, George, and Carlos
Great question. I'll start by advising you not to work backwards from your target salary, and instead look at finding something you're passionate about that satisfies your creativity. Don't sacrifice that for salary, and instead look to stimulate that creativity in some way or another. If you're passionate about something creative, don't forget - not everyone has a passion! Embrace the fact that you have something that you can invest your time into whilst enjoying the process.
The truth is - there's not really a career out there that you can choose which starts right at the top, with a high salary. You'll have to work your way up, and your ability to apply yourself to that career early will help you progress faster and move up in salary quicker. It may also contribute towards how comfortable and happy you will feel with your career if you decide on a career that you are excited about. What can you contribute towards your role that makes you feel empowered? The salary will come!
Furthermore - it's worth thinking about an anecdote that I learnt myself at the start of my career - "control the controllables". What this means is to think about what you can directly control on a day-to-day basis, and just focus on them. In reality, these are really just 3 things:
- Your thoughts
- Your words
- Your actions
Everything else is an external factor happening around you in the world, and you'll soon realise you can't control everything. But you can control how you react to events happening around you - and that comes from those 3 things you can control. How you control these 3 will dictate your behaviour and your ability to respond to events and opportunities around you. This advice can help you progress not only in your career, but also in personal life. And it helps to reduce stress levels!
Hope the above helps and remember to focus on your happiness and what really empowers you to feel you've accomplished something you're proud of. The salary should come secondary to this.
Best of luck!
Puyan, George, and Carlos
Updated
Kim’s Answer
Kaylie,
If you are willing to relocate, the short answer is to move from California. The cost of living elsewhere is much lower.
https://www.nerdwallet.com/cost-of-living-calculator/compare/chicago-il-vs-san-francisco-ca
Learning to live within your means is the whole secret. Some people get caught up in "image." Get a dependable and safe car. Buy a modest home, and upgrade it over time. Appreciate the free and inexpensive things in life - parks, museums, neighborhood events, etc. Establish a budget, and stay within it. Include money for entertainment/travel/etc. Modify it over time.
I'm not creative, so, can't really address that. I think marketing is key. I know some people who make hand-knitted scarves and sell them for over $100. And other artists who are struggling. If you can, associate with artists in an established art district, perhaps, to help get established.
Best of luck to you!
Kim
If you are willing to relocate, the short answer is to move from California. The cost of living elsewhere is much lower.
https://www.nerdwallet.com/cost-of-living-calculator/compare/chicago-il-vs-san-francisco-ca
Learning to live within your means is the whole secret. Some people get caught up in "image." Get a dependable and safe car. Buy a modest home, and upgrade it over time. Appreciate the free and inexpensive things in life - parks, museums, neighborhood events, etc. Establish a budget, and stay within it. Include money for entertainment/travel/etc. Modify it over time.
I'm not creative, so, can't really address that. I think marketing is key. I know some people who make hand-knitted scarves and sell them for over $100. And other artists who are struggling. If you can, associate with artists in an established art district, perhaps, to help get established.
Best of luck to you!
Kim