Any road followed precisely to its end leads precisely nowhere.

Article note: To be screamed at every academic career advice to Min-Max exactly the same things that $TENURED_IN_NICHE did, every "I got fabulously lucky being in the right place at the right time (after 6 earlier attempts funded by preexisting generational wealth)" business success bloviation, and all similar advice. Circumstances differ. Objectives differ. Pretending everyone is chasing the same goal under the same circumstances is wrong, disingenuous, and the road to mass misery.