My New Adventure, Part Deux

I made a choice about my job situation. I chose to try something new that I think is for the best (stress levels, conscience, etc.) and in so doing, I turned down an investment firm's very decent offer. While the job I chose is certainly not a bad paying gig, it pays less than the investment firm and is a longer commute from home.

However, I'm trying to stick to my belief that money isn't everything and while I certainly enjoy shopping :-) I want to enjoy my workdays and feel as if what I'm doing really will make a difference. Yeah, yeah, I know I may sound like an extreme idealist but I've had my share of working for the man who doesn't give a damn about the lil man.

Although I'm happy at work and think the environment is much better than several of my last jobs, I can't seem to shake a nagging feeling which surfaces every three days or so that says I may have just turned my back on the rewards that were starting to roll in, such as the job offers and compensation. After all, didn't I pay my dues in the financial services industry so that I could get to this position and higher??

I'm trying to figure out why I have these thoughts even though I'm happy with my job. Is it that I've been programmed to think that success is defined by how much you make and the reputation of the company that you work for, which in turn determines your worth as a person? I don't think that success is defined by $$ or status, but is there something brewing in my subconscious?

Most of my friends have been supportive of my decision while two have said that they thought I was making a mistake by a) taking less money and b) by choosing to work in DC and have to take the train to work. But hey, I'm going to do what I claimed was on my list of things to pay attention to this year, and that is to trust my instincts. Therefore, I will say that based on instincts, I made the best choice and if someone's really a friend, they'll just be happy for me.