- Top 10 Questions to Help Define Where You Should Go to Do What You Want to Do
- Top 5 Strategies for knowing where you want to go to do what you want to do
- Conclusion
Top 5 Strategies for knowing where you want to go to do what you want to do
Because I am in this boat with you, I'll give you the advice that I'm taking. This is tried-and-true advice from my experience.
- Go where the work is!
This is the first and foremost rule of thumb. If you can't do what you want where you are because the work is not there, go to where the work is.
Don't complain and whine about it. It will not solve anything. Come up with a plan to make the move and make the move. It will take a lot of planning, work, effort, and money—but if you want to follow your dream, go where the work is.
- Go where you can afford to go!
This is the second great axiom when considering a location. If you can't afford to go where the work is, find an alternative. Just as I said earlier, my ideal job is back in NYC. But I cannot afford to live and work there. So I have to have a backup location. That I am working on.
Also go where you can afford a home and where your home has resale value in case you change your mind in a year or two.
- Go where your skills have value!
The next great axiom is to go where your skills have value. If you go somewhere where everything is perfect, but no one makes close to your desired salary, you will not be happy and you might starve.
Go where your skills are needed and where you will be compensated in a way that is acceptable to you. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't make what you want. I have been told that and rejected it out of hand. You know what you know, and you should know what you are worth in the market. Based on that information, go where your skills have value.
Also go where you have options in case you want to change jobs/careers. Don't go to a one-horse town in which there are no options. Keep your employment options open.
- Go where you and your family will be happy!
There is more to life than work. Wherever your dream location is, make sure that you and your family will be happy and content. There is nothing worse than coming home from work to a family that is miserable because of the location.
You don't live in a vacuum. You need a supportive community around you in order to succeed. You also need a supportive family. If your family is miserable, look at another location.
- Go where you have options!
This falls in line with number 4. There is more to life than work. Make sure that you have options for relaxation, for retirement, for travel, for education, and for recreation in this new area. If you don't see these options, look elsewhere. If your new area has them, you are where you should be.