Dear Ammar,

I work at a large company in a fairly stable job.  My friends are making double what I make in other companies.  However, these companies are not as stable and the positions are not as secure or , let me be honest, or comfortable as where I am.  I work in a fairly laid back environment where the work load is not that demanding.  I go home at the end of the day and do not have to even think about work.  However, I can definitely use the extra income if I move to the new position.  Some relatives advise me to stick to what I have, from the perspective of an Arab proverb: “bird in hand is better than ten out of reach on the tree.” Others tell me that I am wasting my life at my current employer and I can do much better with my career than my existing position. 

Any advice?

Regards,

Hesitant Man,

Dear hesitant,

There is no one answer to your question.  Except maybe that you cannot have it all.  Everywhere there are pros and cons, and at the end you have to make the decision based on what you want to do in life and your specific circumstances.  Let us be realistic here and say that regardless of your decision, there will always be a risk of being able to reach your goals.  This is part of risk that we have to accept as inevitable.

A good analogy of careers at companies would be the automobiles.  There are the Ferrari rides and the bus rides.  Ferraris go fast, and get to their destination fast, but at a high level of risk.  These are the fast paced companies in aggressive industries with a cut throat attitude.  These are very demanding, high paying, but only the fittest and those who are up for “a ride on the wild side” can survive or adapt to that kind of life.  If one chooses this type of company, she has to be aware of the high risk involved and the high level of demand the job puts on one’s life.  On the positive side, these types of companies pay off by either high level of compensation, or fast paced learning for its constituents. 

Then, there are the comfortable and luxurious tourist buses.  These are very safe, and once you get on one, it is easy to get used to the relaxed style of work, to the point where one would not be willing to get off the bus that easy.  Why should he, it is comfortable, safe, stable, and does not require a person to do more than enjoy the ride all the way to retirement.  This is life in some (not all) public positions and legacy organizations, whether in Jordan or around the world.  People are in for the ride to retirement, living off an OK salary, good perks, and easy going work style, without much demand for improvement or growth. 

You ask the people on the bus, they tell you they long for the Ferrari ride and curse their bad luck that got them on the bus in the first place.  Ask the people riding the Ferrari and they ask themselves why didn’t they just opt for the bus ride instead of all the misery and trouble they have to go through in this kind of high risk life.  Some on the bus do well, others do not.  It is even worse in the Ferrari, as many end up with bruises from accidents along their career path, and many do not make it to their goal.  However, some make it to the top in their Ferraris, after probably a couple of detours and derailments, and they tell you it was well worth all the trouble.

So, which one is better?  The truth is, it all depends on what one wants from a career. Regardless of the answer, it is very important to enjoy the journey, as much as picking “the ride and the destination.” 

Whenever someone asks me a similar question, I always remember a dear friend who works for the city government, outside Jordan.  He makes a decent living, but can make threefold as much in the private field.  However, he enjoys the public servant mission he is on as he offers his services to his city inhabitants, and he sees the effect of the value he offers to the city inhabitants.  He also sees, in the support he gets from a solid public system, a chance to not have to take work home, and instead focus on his social life and his kids.  If he is happy with this choice, then it is the right choice for him.  You cannot convince him to do anything else than what he does.  He found his self fulfillment.

You have to decide what works for you, remembering to always enjoy the journey and always seeing the bright side in what one does.