<p>Nothing wrong with wanting to have a plan, but don’t get so locked up in it that you can’t see outside the lines you’ve drawn for yourself. </p>
<p>Don’t let a desire to “keep up” with others define your future. Who cares what others think if you’re happy and able to put food on the table? I work with wealthy people for a living and can tell you that many of them are not happy. Believe it or not, but a person making $500,000 a year can still feel “poor” because spending tends to expand based on income. They worry about paying the bills, etc. just like someone earning a 5th of that. </p>
<p>So, don’t worry about the dollars. Worry about doing something you love and are good at. You may not know what that is yet, so just keep exploring until you find it. </p>
<p>In the meantime, the most lucrative careers are those where you can do something of value that few others know how to do. It buys security, too. So, become an expert in something, but avoid those careers with 1000’s of people doing the same thing and chasing the same clients/customers.</p>