Cheap, Fast, Good. Pick Two.

Have you ever heard that? You can have something cheap and fast, but not good. You can have something fast and good, but not cheap. You can have something good and cheap, but not fast. You get the idea, there are compromises in life. When you get everything you want, it’s very special.

How is this a career lesson? How many times have you compromised in your career? Never? Wow. That’s rare. Careers — life, for that matter — always involve compromise. The key is picking the right compromise.

So ask yourself, what’s important to me right now? What am I willing to compromise? Do I need a job fast? Be prepared for looking at a lot of low paying jobs. Want a job that pays well? You could be looking for a while. Time to take a good, fulfilling job? It may not be fast, and you may not get top dollar, but it could be the best decision of your life!

How is this a career move? Your career will inevitably require compromise. That’s not the question. What’s essential is knowing the compromise you’re making, so you can make the compromise that’s right for you — so you can make a good decision, quickly, that won’t cost you your career.