Most Indians I talk to use the words ‘career’ and ‘job’ interchangeably, completely oblivious to the fact that there is a world of a difference between the two. A job, depends on somebody else’s whim, and you can loose it if you fall short of the expectations. Most times, as you have no control over what you are doing, you dislike doing the job and this leads to frustration and misery. This makes it impossible to be happy. Thus a job that you do not love ends up as an all round disaster. A career on the other hand, if well pursued, will lead to sustained interest and genuine involvement and happiness. With a career, you decide how hard you will work, what you will work for, and for how long. With a career, you are the driving force. Normally “jobs” happen, but “careers” are planned. I would like to add that a career means waking up excited, and going to bed at the end of the day feeling satisfied that you have accomplished something, and looking forward to waking up with fresh ideas related to your work the next day. Obviously, the rewards of a career are also greater than a mere job, not just in terms of money, but also in the quality of your personal life. Planning and working towards a career is lot more than striving for the academic percentage, which most think is the only critical factor. In fact, just marks get you nowhere. The moral is simple, if, and when you think of work, plan for a career – and don’t just think of a job – any job. A Duke University study of human longevity listed work satisfaction as the number one predictor of long life, even more important than good health habits or good genes. If you want to live long and prosper, pay attention to your career. Remember, your career is your and your family’s greatest asset.