The Hardest Career Decision I’ve Made in Years

A month ago, I found myself in a situation I never expected.

I had already made a decision.

Then everything changed.

I was already working in Zürich when I was approached by another restaurant. At first, I wasn’t even looking for a new job. I was happy focusing on my work and improving my craft. But after a few conversations, I realized I was facing a genuine opportunity.

What followed were weeks of conversations, self-doubt, excitement, stress, and reflection.

One path offered a leadership position, a higher salary, and the chance to build something from the ground up.

The other path offered a strong team, a shared vision, and the opportunity to continue developing my skills under experienced leadership.

At first, the choice seemed obvious.

Then it didn’t.

The more I learned, the more difficult the decision became.

For days, I went back and forth. Some moments, I felt completely certain. At other moments, I felt like I was making a mistake.

What surprised me most was that the decision was never really about money.

Money mattered. I have responsibilities, bills, and goals. But what kept me awake at night wasn’t the salary difference.

It was the question:

“What kind of chef do I want to become?”

Do I want to lead immediately?

Do I want to continue learning?

Am I chasing a title?

Or am I chasing growth?

I don’t think there is a universally correct answer.

Different people would make different choices.

What I learned is that career decisions are rarely about choosing between a good option and a bad option.

Sometimes the hardest decisions are between two good options.

And when that happens, you have to be honest with yourself.

Not about what sounds impressive.

Not about what other people expect.

But about what genuinely feels right for your next chapter.

In the end, I made my choice.

Was it the perfect choice?

I don’t know.

No one ever knows that on the day they decide.

But I know that I gave the decision the respect it deserved.

I asked difficult questions.

I listened carefully.

I challenged my own assumptions.

And eventually, I accepted something important:

There is no future where every door stays open.

Growth requires choosing one path and walking it fully.

So that’s what I’m doing now.

One step at a time.

I remain grateful to everyone who was part of that chapter of my journey. The decision to move on was not a rejection of the people I worked with, but a choice about the direction I felt I needed to take for my own growth ❤️

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