Would you rather…

be filthy rich and hate your job, or love your job but have to scrape by?

It's not a trick question—and it's a question you will almost certainly have to answer at some point in your life. How do you answer it? By figuring out what's most important to you. And remember: there are no wrong answers.

Except killing orphaned pandas. That can't be most important to you.

So, what's most important to you in a job?

• A big, juicy paycheck?
• Stability?
• A creative outlet?
• Fame?
• Lots of praise about how awesome you are?
• Being the boss?
• Helping people?
• Working with children?
• Working with animals?
• Cool co-workers?
• Lots of important projects?
• Challenges to overcome?
• A great office?
• Lots of perks and benefits?
• Fat cash bonuses?
• A dog in the office?
• A clown costume you get to wear every day?
• A low-stress environment?
• Lots of responsibility?

Now, which of those things are you willing to sacrifice in order to rake in some extra dough? Would you be okay giving up the in-office dog? What about the ability to help people? And at what cost?

Of course, job enjoyment is different for everyone. For one person, being able to work in a big corner office with no one ever coming by is the dream. For someone else, that may be the worst misery since chem class. A "good income" is also be different for different people. For one person, a good income might be enough to buy a house, raise two kids, and take vacations whenever you want. For someone else, a good income might mean enough to have a private jet. And for others, it might just mean enough to live from paycheck to paycheck without missing a meal.

Whatever sacrifices you decide to make for cash—which, by the way—is not a bad thing—just remember: when you start working full-time, you'll probably be spending 40, 50, or 60 hours a week at your job. Assuming you sleep 8 hours a day (try it—it's good for you), that means you're spending 35-50% of your ENTIRE LIFE at work.

We hope you like it.