The allure of optionality

“Maximizing optionality” - the state of enjoying possibilities without being on the hook to do anything - is a key reason young people give when going for big school or employer.

• working at a consulting firm creates optionality because of the broad exposures & skills
• going to graduate school creates optionality by enabling more opportunities than a narrow professional trajectory can provide.
• working at prestigious firms and developing social networks are similarly viewed as enabling more choices and more optionality