Nobody can avoid making decisions. What’s that—you say you’re not going to make any? Too late, you just made one.

The average person changes jobs at least five times during their life, and some change careers as many as three times. In today’s whirlwind market, change is the rule, not the exception, and there are plenty of decisions to be made in between.

There is one thing that you should use time and time again to make good decisions regarding your career, a fail-safe compass that will guide you through the maze of seemingly endless options and opportunities. That compass is your passion. What is your passion? What is it that makes you want to get out of bed every morning and makes you want to tackle the day head-one? Ideally, this should be what you’re planning to do as a career or are already doing.

Sound easy? It isn’t. There are many pitfalls lying in wait, not only for those who are already in the workforce, but for those who are in college and are planning to take that all-important first step into the job market.

Here are three pitfalls that are the most dangerous for those who are planning the preliminary stages of their career.

Peer pressure pitfall – Are some of your friends involved in a particular course of study? Do they exert subtle pressure to join them? If it’s not your passion, don’t even consider it.

Parental pressure pitfall – This one is tougher, but the premise is the same. Sure, Mom and Dad want you to be a lawyer, but you have other plans. Follow those other plans. You’ll thank yourself later.

Paralysis pitfall – Choices, choices everywhere. Don’t sit back – attack, and start planning for your future using your passion as your guide.

Those are just a few of the dangers affecting those who are in college. But what if you’ve already graduated? Don’t worry; there are plenty of pitfalls to go around, including these four:

The Status Quo – Allegiance to the status quo is one of the worst reasons to make a particular decision. If you’re unhappy where you are and decide to stay with the “devil you know” as opposed to the one you don’t, you might regret it later. Which brings us to. . .
Monday Morning Quarterback – Making a decision based solely on the fact you might regret it in the future isn’t a sound decision. You’re not robbing a bank. You’re building a meaningful and

Peer pressure pitfall – Are some of your friends involved in a particular course of study? Do they exert subtle pressure to join them? If it’s not your passion, don’t even consider it.

Parental pressure pitfall – This one is tougher, but the premise is the same. Sure, Mom and Dad want you to be a lawyer, but you have other plans. Follow those other plans. You’ll thank yourself later.

Paralysis pitfall – Choices, choices everywhere. Don’t sit back – attack, and start planning for your future using your passion as your guide.

Those are just a few of the dangers affecting those who are in college. But what if you’ve already graduated? Don’t worry; there are plenty of pitfalls to go around, including these four:

The Status Quo – Allegiance to the status quo is one of the worst reasons to make a particular decision. If you’re unhappy where you are and decide to stay with the “devil you know” as opposed to the one you don’t, you might regret it later. Which brings us to. . .

Monday Morning Quarterback – Making a decision based solely on the fact you might regret it in the future isn’t a sound decision. You’re not robbing a bank. You’re building a meaningful and satisfying career. Don’t handcuff yourself.

“Throwing It All Away” – So you’ve invested a certain amount in a certain career choice, in terms of both time and money. Best to just keep going, no matter how miserable you are, right? Wrong.

Overconfidence – Confidence is good; overconfidence is not. It can cloud your judgment and make objective thinking nearly impossible. To safeguard against this, seek the consul and advice of others before making a final decision.

Above all things let your passion be your guide. This is your life we’re talking about, after all. Nobody should have to spend it doing something that makes them unhappy.