A lot of students and early career folks have been asking how to make the best decisions on their professional future. I still find this line of reasoning and reflection from my Uncle Larry extremely useful: 1. Make sure you are “going to something,” not “running from something.” 2. Be clear about what you are looking to accomplish. 3. Once #2# is clear, does this company afford you a great opportunity to accomplish it? 4. Are you inspired by the people and leadership? People typically don’t leave companies, they leave bosses. 5. Will the day-to-day work energize you? 6. Are you interested in their industry? Are you passionate about their mission and vision? 7. If you were underwriting them, would you invest? What would you look for in terms of leadership, value proposition, ability to execute, etc. 8. While the world is changing, I still think old economy rules follow: while many emerge, only a few thrive. Does this company have the DNA to do so.