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Ah, the classic tale of sacrifice for the finance grind. It sounds like you've traded quite a bit for the job – the six-pack for spreadsheets, romance for revenue models, and dreams for DCFs. It's not uncommon to hear about folks in the industry feeling the burnout from the intense hours and high pressure.

Here's a bit of wisdom from the WSO threads:

  1. Health is Wealth: Remember, no amount of money can buy back good health. It's crucial to find a balance that allows you to maintain your physical and mental well-being. Maybe it's time to prioritize those gym sessions and hydration breaks again.

  2. Relationships Matter: A supportive partner can be a huge asset in a high-stress career. If finance is putting a strain on your personal life, it might be worth reassessing your work-life balance or even exploring roles within finance that are less demanding on your time.

  3. Happiness is Key: If you're not finding joy in your work, consider what aspects of the job are causing the most dissatisfaction. Is it the long hours, the work itself, or perhaps the work environment? Identifying the root cause can help you make targeted changes, whether that's within your current role or by transitioning to a different one.

  4. Sleep is Non-Negotiable: Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to serious health issues and decreased cognitive function. It's important to find ways to protect your sleep, even if it means setting firmer boundaries at work or improving your sleep hygiene.

  5. The Exit Opportunity: Finance is known for its exit opportunities. If modeling "bullshit assumptions" isn't fulfilling, maybe it's time to look for roles that align more closely with your interests and values.

Remember, it's never too late to make a change. The skills you've gained in finance are transferable to many other fields. It might be worth exploring some of those exit opportunities or even taking a sabbatical to reassess what you truly want from your career and life.

Sources: Regrets Due to Finance, Regrets Due to Finance

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Now imagine going through all that anyway,  because working fucking sucks, but getting paid 1/2 if what you make now because you wanted to go into a different field 

 

it's not regret, it's opportunity cost. Whenever you think about regret, think about what would you've realistically done or what chances you did have back then, and only then conclude if it's really a regret of having done X or it's a blessing because you were to incompetent to have done something else

incentives trumph ethics
 

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