An Investment into My Future Career

When we talk about investment, the 2 critical words is whether we are making a profit or a loss. Are we making an investment in the short term or the long term? What's the level of certainty that we'll get a return? 

At 20, I am experience first-hand how daunting planning and strategising on how I am going to achieve my dream career. It has made me realise that careers are a tricky investment, there are peaks, lows, risks and opportunities. Where you as an individual, will influence how it pans out in the future. At times, certain risks like agreeing to a job that may need you to sacrifice time or money which can be seen as a loss, may lead to another profit like connections in life in the long term. Over this summer, I had to debate whether to prioritise experience or money- and I would say the latter. After obtaining several work experiences and a job, it has demonstrated that it is an interconnected cycle where one directly feeds another. 

So the question is, are all losses unprofitable?