Reaching Six Figures, But Feeling Lost About What’s Next

When I graduated college and started job hunting, my monthly salary was only about USD$850, but I always dreamed of one day making six figures a year. Fast forward to now—at 29, I’ve actually hit that goal. I should feel excited, right? Instead, I feel dazed.

While I was still budgeting and managing my finances, I suddenly realized I’d reached what once seemed like an unattainable target. But looking at myself, still just part of the regular workforce, I feel miles away from the confident, successful people I see in Netflix. When I ask myself what I want for my career next, my mind just goes blank, like I’m walking through a fog.

After some reflection, I’ve realized why I feel so lost.

Even though the pay is good, I know this job isn’t something I can do forever. The more I get wrapped up in this role, the more I feel like I’m getting stuck in a rut, and this fear of stagnation became even more real in my next job. Office life, with its fixed hours and routines, started to feel robotic, and I knew I didn’t want that kind of lifestyle long-term.

While the pay was stable, the trade war and the pandemic made me realize this stability was fragile. Companies can be hit hard by external factors, and not all are equipped to adapt. What if the company collapses or lays people off? That sense of helplessness started creeping in. This isn't the future I want, but what can I do about it? Figuring that out takes time.

Since I still need to earn a living, I had to balance work with exploring my interests and building my skills. It took four or five years of trial and error to rethink my career path.

Your Career Plan Shouldn’t Just Be About Your Job

In recent years, AI has revolutionized tools and reshaped the job market. Planning for the next ten years isn't just about managing your finances; it's about saving time for yourself to keep expanding your interests and skills. The real question is: What jobs won’t be replaced in the future?

In this video I watched, professionals talk about what makes their careers irreplaceable. It helped me think more deeply about the core values and direction of different jobs.

When planning my career, I had to consider that my energy and stamina will decrease every decade. So, if I want to switch fields, I need to evaluate not just the job's hours, but also the work style and salary. Of course, the experience I’ve accumulated still has value. I’ve worked in design, product engineering, development, sales, and marketing, and when I pivot to a new field, I know I’ll find ways to use those skills to stand out.

As a full-time worker, I used to need lots of time to unwind after work, which left little room to develop other interests. To avoid becoming too focused on work, I started joining clubs and activities to add more richness to my life.

Switching Careers is Risky, But Stick With It and You’ll See Results

When I was transitioning jobs, I applied for positions completely different from what I had done before, even roles that required new skills. For example, I once took a job that involved both social media management and graphic design. Sure, it took longer to adjust, but it helped me broaden my professional expertise.

If you’re thinking about switching fields, trying out different types of work can help you figure out how adaptable you are, and whether you’re truly suited for the new role. Working in different industries also broadens your perspective. I’ve worked in the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors of the supply chain, and this has given me a clearer, more holistic understanding of products, costs, and planning.

At first, I constantly doubted whether I had enough value or the right skills to succeed in a new field. When I moved into my second industry, there were still times when finding a job wasn’t easy, but gradually, my cross-industry experience became my advantage. By the third or fourth time I switched fields, being versatile turned into a selling point for me.

If you’re thinking about switching fields, I encourage you to give it a try! At first, it might just be a small step, but the more you try, the easier it gets.