Help With Deciding Career Path
Hello fine people,
I am in a tough spot and because of confidentiality cannot talk about this with many people in my personal life and get their wisdom in making a decision. So, I sincerely thank you in advance for any advice you can spare!
Largely, it boils down to me taking what appears to be a phenomenal REPE opportunity or joining the military. I’m already going through and have started the process with a military branch’s recruiters, so it’s not as if I have yet to explore this option.
That being said, I was approached by a friend about a potential opportunity with a blossoming international REPE firm opening up shop in the US. This is their foyer into real estate domestically, with us being their only stewards. They are well capitalized with a lot of dry powder. I am not sure what my position or salary would be, but everything is negotiable (and maybe some of you can shed some light here on what I should steer the conversation towards).
I have 5+ years in an operator role, ranging from all things such as being an analyst, associate, manager, etc. I have cut my teeth on and have been a part of projects throughout their entire cycles, starting from close to exit. Safe to say, I have a fair amount of accumulated experience.
With my friend and me being their only boots on the ground here, we have a lot of flexibility in how we plan and execute our time from day to day. We are essentially our own bosses, but have a lot riding on us finding good deals and closing on them. There is also a lot of upside on the table with the firm as far as profit sharing goes.
Now getting back to the military: I have always been interested in joining and have on numerous occasions entertained the idea to a high degree. None of us are getting any younger, so if I am to join, I don’t want to take too much longer in making my decision. However, this opportunity my friend presented me will not stay open forever, and given the appeal and nature of the offer, I can’t help but think I should give it a go. Am I crazy to even think about passing up on this?
TLDR: Looking to join the military, but was brought a great REPE opportunity allowing to get in on the ground floor and develop a national presence in the US.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's how you might approach this decision:
Evaluate the REPE Opportunity:
Consider the Military Path:
Key Questions to Reflect On:
Practical Steps:
Ultimately, this decision hinges on your personal priorities and risk appetite. The REPE opportunity seems like a once-in-a-lifetime chance to leverage your expertise and build something significant, while the military offers a path of service and fulfillment. Balancing these factors will guide you to the right choice.
Sources: What was your path to a Real Estate Private Equity job? Looking for advice, Career Advice: Family Office (RE Developer) --> MBA --> REPE, Why do so few go into Real Estate?, Development vs. REPE, Military to RE via MBA
First things first - good on you for considering joining the military when you have a very good option on the table. For most people, this would not be a dilemma.
Now to try and answer your question. No one is going to be able to help you decide between those two options. I'm not sure there is someone on this forum that has both been in the military and worked at a REPE firm, but even then, they wouldn't be able to tell you which route to go. This is something you have to decide for yourself. They are wildly different lifestyles / paths, and which is best for you comes down to who you are as a person and what you want out of life. No one on an internet forum is going to know you well enough to give you a gut read on that. I would take some time away, by yourself, and really think about the motivations behind why you might want to take each option. Why do you want to join the military? Why does the REPE job sound interesting? Where do I want to be when I'm 50? What do I want to do in my life?
I don't know if that is helpful at all, but this is an extremely personal decision and not one that any of us are equipped to really help you with.
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