The one you wish may not be the one you need
By: Trung V. Nguyen
Tags: Development, Careers, Entrepreneur, Self, Jobs

The first time was when I had to think of being a lecturer (like my father was) or being a lawyer and going to the “battlefield” to see how businesses operate. I chose the latter, and so far, I satisfy with that choice.

It happens to everyone when we have to choose which way we should follow. It is not easy to choose between what can help you to stabilize your life and what you wish to do but you may need to take risk of being failed.

Choices

I finished my LL.M. a few months ago. The past two months, I spent time to travel around Europe after the lifting of travel restriction. Coming back from those trips, I need to think about what I should do next. I would like to find a 9–5 job, either in Europe to experience an international working environment, or in my country. I also want to start a business relating to tech-travelling or opening a dessert shop in my country or being a blogger. I have a lot of things in my mind.

Then I realize that the most important thing I need to think about is how I can finance my life. I question myself whether those things would be the thing I need the most at this moment.

Each option has its own pros and cons

For running my own business, it can help me to manage my finance well. And, it would be great when you are the employee of yourself. But, I have to exchange with that choice. I will have to be ready for the first few years of not being successful. I need to think of risks and difficulties in the first few years.

If I take the option of coming back to the 9–5 job, it can help me with stable income, with bonus and allowances. However, work-life balance should be the thing I have to consider. And, the boredom and the pressure of the job in the legal field could be a thing I have to consider.

What should I choose?

I have decided to go back to my country. During this time, it is difficult to find a job in Europe. I still have a promising option that is to rejoin my previous law firm. Although I prefer to join a corporate at this time, rejoining the firm can help me to stabilize my life after one year of LL.M. in Europe.

That couldn’t be the thing I wish, but it is the one I need. Sometimes, we have to choose between these types I things. The one you like can be tempting, but at a time, it may not help you in life.

Will I stop the other plans?

Of course not. The coming back to the 9–5 working routine will be a stop in the long journey of my career path. It will be a good opportunity for me to see which option will be the best one for me in the future. I still can use my free time to learn some business skills, broaden my financial literacy, improve my writing skill, and so on.

If you have a dream and you want it to come true, don’t quit in the middle. Sometimes, being successful is not a straightway. Sometimes, you need to find another way to get to your destination. On that way, you may have a broad view of what you want, and you may have the option to prepare for the future.

I will keep writing my blog and on Medium though it will surely be hard when I work (more than) 8 hours a day. I will spend this time to see what I should do in the following years. That is the other way I chose.

But right now, I need a job and it will help me to stabilize my life before I can think of doing something else.