3 answers
Stephen
Student
Moseley, Virginia
1
Question
Updated
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What does success look like for you financially at the end of this year ? Also are you happy with your career choice?
I am currently a freshman at West Virginia University in Morgantown. My major is Business. I am a little lost on what to do in my future. I started my own detailing cars business back home last year, which was great but I am unsure on what to major in at school right now. Maybe your insight might guide me in a direction.
I appreciate whatever insight you may have for me. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Stephen
#spring26
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3 answers
Bruno San Martin
Product Specialist
1
Answer
Milan, Lombardy, Italy
Updated
Bruno’s Answer
Hi Stephen!
It is completely normal to feel this way during your freshman year. The fact that you’ve already started a car detailing business says a lot about your initiative. Well done!
So here are a few paths you might consider within the business school, based on that experience:
- Entrepreneurship: If what you enjoyed most about detailing cars was being your own boss, finding your own clients, and managing your own schedule, this is the logical choice. It will give you the tools to scale a small business into something much larger.
- Marketing: If you enjoyed the process of attracting customers, creating a brand for your business, and understanding why people chose you over the competition, marketing will allow you to professionalize that instinct.
- Finance or Accounting: If you were most drawn to the numbers (I mean, calculating profit margins after buying supplies and managing cash flow, etc) these majors will provide a very solid technical foundation for any industry.
- Operations Management (Supply Chain/Operations): If you focused on how to get the job done faster without losing quality, or organizing supplies so you never ran out, this field focuses precisely on process efficiency.
My advice: Since you are in Morgantown, take advantage of the university's career advisors. Ask if you can sit in on an advanced class in each of these areas to see which one excites you the most.
Best of luck with your studies and your future ventures!
It is completely normal to feel this way during your freshman year. The fact that you’ve already started a car detailing business says a lot about your initiative. Well done!
So here are a few paths you might consider within the business school, based on that experience:
- Entrepreneurship: If what you enjoyed most about detailing cars was being your own boss, finding your own clients, and managing your own schedule, this is the logical choice. It will give you the tools to scale a small business into something much larger.
- Marketing: If you enjoyed the process of attracting customers, creating a brand for your business, and understanding why people chose you over the competition, marketing will allow you to professionalize that instinct.
- Finance or Accounting: If you were most drawn to the numbers (I mean, calculating profit margins after buying supplies and managing cash flow, etc) these majors will provide a very solid technical foundation for any industry.
- Operations Management (Supply Chain/Operations): If you focused on how to get the job done faster without losing quality, or organizing supplies so you never ran out, this field focuses precisely on process efficiency.
My advice: Since you are in Morgantown, take advantage of the university's career advisors. Ask if you can sit in on an advanced class in each of these areas to see which one excites you the most.
Best of luck with your studies and your future ventures!
Dalia Salazar
Consulting
19
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Dalia’s Answer
Financial success for me at the end of 2026 looks like hitting my savings goals (like maxing out my Roth IRA and 401k contributions), being able to afford two trips abroad, and making a donation to an animal charity.
I'm very happy with my career choice of consulting because I enjoy the fast-paced and ever-changing work environment. There's always something new to learn, and especially with changing trends in marketing, I can set new goals each year to get software certifications or improve my AI skills. For example, two technical goals I have for myself are to get another software certification in Adobe Workfront and to participate in a data bootcamp that teaches me the basics of coding.
Another reason I am happy with my career choice is because it allows me the financial freedom to travel, save, and support my community. While the hours can be long, intense, and sometimes stressful, the pros definitely outweigh the cons of a consulting career.
It's great that you've already started your own business - think about what you enjoy most. Then, see if there are are job titles on LinkedIn that sound interesting to you. Do some research about what classes you can take to pursue those jobs. Then, talk to your university advisor about whether these classes fit into the coursework required for a major in your business school and whether you can also add a minor in something that you're interested in or that supports your major.
I'm very happy with my career choice of consulting because I enjoy the fast-paced and ever-changing work environment. There's always something new to learn, and especially with changing trends in marketing, I can set new goals each year to get software certifications or improve my AI skills. For example, two technical goals I have for myself are to get another software certification in Adobe Workfront and to participate in a data bootcamp that teaches me the basics of coding.
Another reason I am happy with my career choice is because it allows me the financial freedom to travel, save, and support my community. While the hours can be long, intense, and sometimes stressful, the pros definitely outweigh the cons of a consulting career.
It's great that you've already started your own business - think about what you enjoy most. Then, see if there are are job titles on LinkedIn that sound interesting to you. Do some research about what classes you can take to pursue those jobs. Then, talk to your university advisor about whether these classes fit into the coursework required for a major in your business school and whether you can also add a minor in something that you're interested in or that supports your major.
Marty Meyer
General Manager
91
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Marty’s Answer
I work in entertainment - a career that was fruitful from the 1960's through 2019. Between the pandemic, union strikes, the rise of streamers and consolidation - the entertainment business is now not able to support the folks that have made a living creating and broadcasting content.
The reality of most businesses is that they aren't future proofed - AI stands to replace a significant part of the workforce that supported entry level and managerial positions. If I were starting a career in 2026, I'd look at areas that are sustainable, such as food services, traditional blue collar work such as plumbing and repairs, construction and other work that requires hands on.
Your detailing business may prove to be very successful for a long time.
Good luck - it's not easy to plan for the next 40 years....
The reality of most businesses is that they aren't future proofed - AI stands to replace a significant part of the workforce that supported entry level and managerial positions. If I were starting a career in 2026, I'd look at areas that are sustainable, such as food services, traditional blue collar work such as plumbing and repairs, construction and other work that requires hands on.
Your detailing business may prove to be very successful for a long time.
Good luck - it's not easy to plan for the next 40 years....