Not too long ago I wrote a post titled Maximizing Your Greatest Asset: Why Your Career is So Important that demonstrated how important your career can be to your overall financial well-being. The post highlighted the fact that on a few percentage points difference in your earning power spread over your entire career can mean millions of dollars. A few readers commented on the power of this concept and I wanted to share a couple of their thoughts with you. Here's the first one:
I think that this is a really important topic, FMF. Looking forward to what you have to say about it in April. We all look so hard at how to cut expenses, make more money on side projects, be frugal, etc...but our career is really the most important aspect of our financial lives. I would guess that many of us do not spend enough time focusing on how to maximize the benefit we get from our careers...but we should. A little work to improve our careers can pay huge financial dividends over our lives...much more than clipping coupons to save some money each week on groceries.
Now I'm not saying saving money isn't important, but I cover the topic so much that it's never out of mind/sight for long. This concept, however, is just as important but rarely discussed/acted upon. I hope to change that for those of you reading this.
The second comment was similar to the first:
Wow! I never really thought about it this way, but it does make a difference. And you're right about the numbers being realistic - I went back and figured mine out and assuming next month's annual raise is about where it has been the last two years (likely), I'll be right at 10 percent too. Some of that's because I started out working for peanuts - a necessity in my field - but it was that job that gave me the experience for my next two promotions/jobs. I guess it was worth it. :)
If you haven't read the original post, I suggest you check out Maximizing Your Greatest Asset: Why Your Career is So Important. Then browse through the career category here at Free Money Finance for some tips on how to make the most of your career.
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