Part 1 – “What’s Next?”
August bonus season.
For a lot of banking analysts, that direct deposit isn’t just money — it’s a catalyst for a tough question:
“What’s next?”
Sometimes the answer is full steam ahead. Other times… it’s time for a move.
Step one in smart career mobility:
Give your current role a fair shot. My benchmark? Two years. That’s enough to build competence, credibility, and show you’re serious. Leave too soon and future managers may question your commitment — even if they never say it out loud.
Step two: Identify your three most dominant attributes.
Not “good” or “bad” — just dominant.
Then ask: Are these valued here?
Example:
A bond trader thrives on quick decisions with incomplete info — that’s an asset in trading.
That same trait could be a liability in investment banking, where every move is backed by exhaustive analysis.
Bottom line:
Know your dominant attributes, know where they’re valued, and you’ll know where to aim your career next.
Part 2 – “Triggers of Fulfillment”
In Part 1, you nailed down your dominant attributes. Now it’s time to uncover your triggers of fulfillment — the moments that give you purpose, significance, and satisfaction.
The drill:
- Recall 3–5 times in life you felt deeply fulfilled.
- Ask “but why?” until you get to the root. What kind of problems were you solving? What skills were you using? What was the environment?
Then, find the thread that connects those moments. That thread is your personal fulfillment formula.
Before you make any move, ask:
Does this opportunity include my “thread” — the conditions that trigger my best work?
Without this clarity, you risk jumping from one unfulfilling job to another. With it, you can filter opportunities fast and focus on the right ones.
Part 3 – “Who Is the Future Me?”
Once you know your dominant attributes (Part 1) and triggers of fulfillment (Part 2), you’ve got the perfect filter for short-term opportunities.
Now — zoom out.
Who do you want to be in 10, 15, 20 years?
Wall Street veterans rarely had a perfect roadmap from day one. But the most successful could always picture the type of person they wanted to become.
Here’s how to build your vision:
- Identify qualities you want — subject matter expertise, empathy, influence, negotiation skill, balance, wealth level, health priorities.
- Benchmark each quality against real people (historic figures, leaders you admire, family members).
- Write a simple paragraph describing Future You. Post it somewhere you’ll see it daily.
Then, when a new opportunity shows up, ask:
Does this move get me closer to the person I aspire to be?
If the answer is yes — kick the door open.
No hesitation. No regret. Full commitment until the next fork in the road.