About the Series: Between Dreams and Paychecks
Why This Series Exists
Most of us grow up with some version of a “dream job.”
A role we imagine ourselves in
A path that feels meaningful
A version of life that makes sense in our heads
And then real life begins…
Student loans
Families
Health
Housing
Economic uncertainty
Unexpected responsibilities
Over time, many people find themselves navigating between what they once hoped for and what now feels possible.
Between Dreams and Paychecks is built on a simple question:
How do people actually choose their careers when passion and practicality collide?
Public conversations about work often swing between two extremes:
“Follow your passion at all costs.”
“Be grateful you have a job.”
Most people live somewhere in between.
This series exists to document that middle ground—where ambition, responsibility, and reality intersect.
How This Research Was Conducted
The insights in this series are based on an anonymous survey conducted through The Unasked Question, with responses from over 850 adults across different ages, income levels, US locations, and life stages.
Participants were asked about:
Their early career dreams
Their current work
Financial pressures
Tradeoffs they’ve made
Feelings of satisfaction, regret, and possibility
How they think about the future
The goal is not to rank “success” or “failure,” but to understand patterns.
What choices repeat?
What pressures matter most?
What helps people stay fulfilled?
What holds them back?
What This Series Is — And Isn’t
This series is:
A data-informed look at real career decisions
A space for honest reflection
An exploration of how people adapt over time
A record of how modern adults balance meaning and money
This series is not:
A motivational manifesto
A judgment of personal choices
A “quit your job” guide
A blueprint for one “right” path
There is no single correct way to build a life.
This project respects that.
A Different Way to Think About “Dream Jobs”
One of the central findings of this research is that dreams rarely disappear.
They change.
For some people, a dream becomes:
Flexibility instead of prestige
Stability instead of risk
Time instead of titles
Family instead of fame
Autonomy instead of advancement
These are not failures.
They are adaptations.
This series treats them as such.
Who This Series Is For
This work is for:
Professionals wondering if they chose “right”
Parents balancing ambition and responsibility
Career switchers and late bloomers
People feeling restless, stuck, or quietly content
Anyone who has ever asked, “What if?”
If you see yourself in the data, you are not alone.
About The Unasked Question
The Unasked Question explores everyday topics that are rarely examined with both empathy and evidence.
From finances and relationships to work and identity, the project focuses on questions most people think about privately—but rarely discuss openly.
The goal is simple:
To replace assumptions with understanding.
Continuing the Conversation
New findings and reflections from this series are shared regularly through The Unasked Question.
If you’d like to follow along, participate in future research, or explore other projects, you’re invited to connect through our social platforms and website.
Your experiences help shape this work.
Final Note
Careers are not straight lines.
They are stories written over decades, shaped by circumstance, courage, compromise, and care for others.
Between Dreams and Paychecks exists to honor those stories.
