“Is There a Formula to Make the Right Decision?”

I’Ma 29-year-old bored accountant. Yup, I’ve become the stereotype, and it wasn’t by accident. When I started out, I wanted a career that would give me a secure salary. Accounting has given me that, but now I’m burnt out. I know it’s time to make a change, but I’m afraid of making another mistake.

For years, I’ve looked at people who chose creative fields with interest. I’m known as a creative person, and am interested in marketing, but also think it might be more responsible to consider law.

Is there any formula for making the right decision?

Remember Maslow’s hierarchy of needs from psychology class?

No? Well, it’s exactly that — a pyramid of a human’s needs, ranging from meeting the basics (food and shelter) on the bottom, and personal fulfillment all the way on the top. Makes sense, right? If you’re working on finding your next meal, you probably don’t have time to “find yourself.”

I like to apply this concept to careers.

Why do we work? At the basic level, it’s simply a way to pay the bills. For someone who didn’t grow up with financial stability, that concern is even more pressing. At the beginning of your career, you may have been standing at the bottom of the pyramid, just glad to have a roof over your head.