When most people ask for career advice, they’re really asking for happiness advice.
They’re rarely only trying to ascend a professional hierarchy. Most people usually want to know how to succeed professionally, and be happy in their personal lives.
It’s important when you’re approached for advice to understand what people are looking for before spewing generic nonsense.
What gets you to the top of the mountain quickest (professionally speaking) may bear a cost you’re not worth paying.
Similarly, the balanced equation of “What will make me happiest, on net?” likely requires some small tradeoff between your personal professional life.
In other words, people rarely seek advice in a vacuum.
Most people are trying simultaneously to win – or at the very minimum, compete – at all the various game of life they play.