why did you choose PE?

PE is difficult to get into and also difficult once you're on the job. We all know the pay is good, but the pay also comes at a cost. There are numerous times during job search where you could just say to yourself, "hey, maybe I could do something else that pays less but has other perks (i.e. better work life balance, etc.) and overall the payoff the equal." 

So, for those of you who made it through the job search (especially if coming from a less popular background or having failed recruiting the 1st time) - what's the underlying belief or whatever that made you so determined to do this, as opposed to deciding to explore or accept something else? Is it the money, you think you'll really love the job (despite never having done it), or what is it?

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