Hi there, it’s Jill!

Have you ever wondered how to make a good career decision — one that feels right for you, not just one that looks right on paper or earns approval from others?

After transitioning across four very different functions in seven years, and watching many people around me make bold, thoughtful moves of their own, I’ve noticed three factors that consistently help people choose well:

Today’s post will walk you through all three. Let’s dive in.

A big part of good decision-making is simply trying things, then noticing what energizes you and what drains you.

Let me use my own path as an example.

I started my career as a Quantitative Associate in a bank — writing code, building models, testing strategies. I loved the analytical depth, but I also realized something was missing: I wanted more human interaction.

Then I moved to Retail Risk Management, designing strategies and implementing them end-to-end. I suddenly found myself presenting regularly and partnering across teams. To my surprise, I loved the storytelling, the collaboration, and the sense of ownership that came from overseeing an entire initiative.

Next, I moved into Data Analytics as a manager. This role sharpened a skill I didn’t even know would become a strength: relationship management. In one project with a top consulting firm driving strategic initiatives for the Group Head, I had to coordinate internal and external stakeholders to deliver on time. Only then did I realize how naturally I gravitated toward navigating people dynamics and building trust.

After that, I transitioned into Product Management, owning the P&L of one of the bank’s flagship credit cards. It was a blend of everything I enjoyed: analytics, ownership, cross-functional collaboration, and decision-making. But what surprised me most was how much I missed hands-on analytics — digging into the data warehouse, finding patterns and understanding trends.

Looking back across all four transitions, a clear pattern emerged. I thrive when my work includes:

If I had judged myself too early or tried to pick the perfect role before experiencing anything, I never would’ve discovered these insights.

Every role, even the imperfect ones, helps to create a personalized compass that helped shape the next decision.

One of the easiest ways to accelerate your career decision-making is:

Don’t reinvent the wheel.

Find people who’ve walked a path similar to the one you’re considering, and learn from them. If they share your background, your interests, or your goals, their story is a shortcut.

It shows you:

You can’t, and don’t need to copy everything. Timing, opportunities, and circumstances will always vary. But there is always something you can borrow:

Doing this kind of “career research” saves you months (or years) of trial and error. Every conversation is a piece of intelligence that helps you design a path with more clarity and fewer blind spots.

Here’s my favorite mindset:
There is opportunity in every move, if you decide to make the most of it.

People often worry about choosing the “wrong” option, especially when two paths seem equally uncertain or equally promising. The truth is, you can’t predict everything in advance, but you can decide how you show up once you’ve chosen.

People who go far in their careers do the following consistently:

✅ They commit fully to the path they choose

✅ They squeeze learning, and skill-building out of every step

✅ They turn neutral situations into meaningful ones through effort and mindset

When you adopt this lens, decision-making becomes much less stressful.

This removes the pressure to predict the future and puts the power back into your hands.

Good career decisions aren’t about being perfect, fearless, or clairvoyant. They’re about:

Trust that each step is giving back more clarity, more confidence, and more options.

Cheers to your journey.

— Jill

Founder of Anchor Growth Newsletter

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