My dad told me to always take the job with the higher salary, and I'm glad I didn't listen

Right after grooming school, I got two offers: one for $22 an hour at a big chain and one for $18 at a small, family-run shop. My dad pushed hard for the chain, saying the money was better and it looked more stable. I took the smaller shop job anyway because the owner said I could learn everything, from bookkeeping to marketing. Three years later, I used all that knowledge to open my own place, and now I make way more than that $22 an hour. If I'd just chased the bigger paycheck, I'd probably still just be an employee with no real business skills. Has anyone else gone against the 'take the money' advice and been better off for it?

3 comments

3 Comments

taylor_fox5d ago

My uncle took the higher salary and retired comfortably at 55.

black.amy5d agoMost Upvoted

Wow that's actually really interesting @taylor_fox. I read this article a while back that said a lot of people who chase the biggest paycheck end up burning out way before they can even enjoy retirement. It made the point that sometimes a slightly lower salary at a less stressful job lets you have a life now and still save up. Your uncle's story is cool though, it definitely shows that plan can work out if you manage it right. I guess it just depends on what you value more, having money later or having time and less stress right now.

caseys305d ago

It's like that with a lot of old advice... the world just works differently now. My cousin took a lower paying internship to get her foot in a specific industry, and now she's way ahead of people who just went for the highest starting wage. Sometimes the experience is the real payment.