How do people know what they want to do...

I am currently an analyst at a top PE firm, and I feel like everyone around me knows exactly what they want to do. Some want to make partner, others want to go to an SM or do VC, etcetera, etcetera. I honestly have no idea how these people know what they want to do. I am so lost – I don't particularly love PE, but neither do I feel a strong pull to common exits like VC, GE, or HF (I also haven't really explored these paths either). I am genuinely curious about how people figure out what they want to do so early in their careers because I literally have no clue and have never had a clue at any point in my life. I have always just tried to seek out the most prestigious option and because of it, I feel so purposeless right now.

4 Comments
 

I truly think everyone (90%+) is just as lost as you are, including myself. Just keep your head down and keep striving to be the best you can be.

 

I think I'm pretty good at these things...

1. Settlers of Catan (Strategy board game)

2. Trick-Taking Card Games (Bridge, Hearts, Whist, 500, Spades, etc.)

3. Strategic Thinking/Planning (I like to make structured plans for everything and also really did well / enjoyed an internal strategy role in Big Tech - I hated making slides though, I just liked coming up with the ideas and creating a potential plan of action on a doc; I also really liked pitching my ideas and presenting them to leadership)

4. Evaluating Tech Companies (I am able to understand value props for companies pretty quickly and also understand what levers need to be pulled to improve them because I have an extensive background working in tech)

5. High-Stress Scenarios (In both college and HS my best work was always done in high-stress situations like having a midterm or competition the next day and I tend to only work well when I am put in such an environment)

I know these are kinda unrelated and segmented, and I'm not too sure what career would cater well to the above.

 
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