What You Won’t Trade Away

Before any career decision, have this conversation with yourself:

What are my non-negotiables?

Not preferences. Not things you’d like if possible. The things you have learned — through experience, through regret — that you cannot continue to trade away and remain effective.

Autonomy. Meaningful work. A culture of honesty. Room to grow. Whatever yours are.

Write them down. Then hold them.

Your non-negotiables aren’t the ceiling of what you’re looking for. They’re the floor. An opportunity that doesn’t meet the floor isn’t worth evaluating further, no matter how attractive the ceiling looks.

What are yours? And are they actually non-negotiable — or have you been trading them away?