Torn Between Corporate Consulting Path vs Independent Trading/Business Route - Seeking Guidance

Management consulting Management consulting careers and networking
1

Hey folks,

I’m a recent grad from 2024 working in digital advertising right now. Been doing paid media stuff but honestly it’s not where I see myself in the future.

I’m really torn between two different directions:

Option A: Business Consulting Track
I want to move into analyst positions at consulting companies (doesn’t have to be big names). What draws me in is getting to solve real business challenges, learning tons quickly, and having solid career options later. My worry though is the crazy hours everyone talks about. If I’m working 80 hour weeks, when would I have time for anything else?

Option B: Trading Plus Starting My Own Thing
I’m really into markets and trading, but I’m thinking long term like 3-5 years, not day trading madness. My idea is to build up money through trading and put it into stable stuff like index funds. Down the road I want to launch my own online retail business. I actually did this once before and hit around 500K in revenue, plus I know people in the space.

Here’s my problem: Consulting could give me awesome experience and open doors, but I might have zero time for trading or building anything on the side. The trading/business route is riskier and less predictable but might get me to financial freedom faster.

I keep going in circles thinking about this. I want to pick something and stick with it for years, but I need to make the right call.

Anyone here work in consulting, trading, or run online businesses? How would you think through this decision? Can these paths work together somehow or do I need to go all in on one?

2

You’ve already proven you can build a business - 500K revenue is incredible experience most people never get. Trust your gut; you’ve got the skills and connections to make it work again.

3

lol you’re overthinking this. Consulting means making someone else rich while you work 80-hour weeks for “learning opportunities.” You already built a 500k business - most consultants never see that kind of real success. Trading’s risky, but at least you’re not stuck in conference rooms pretending PowerPoint fixes everything. If you can handle the uncertainty, stick with what actually works instead of chasing corporate fantasies about “opening doors.”