INSEAD -January 2014 Intake - Calling All Applicants

That is partially true. I went to undergrad for engineering, thinking I 'd be happy being an engineer. Well, here I am trying to switch to do banking. I guess the different this time around is I am a little more older, and more experience. So, nailing down what I want to do long term is a bit easier. If you are a long term vision in mind, and focus on the end goal, everything in between is just immediate steps to get you there. In my case, I want to run a holding company like BH, so investment bank, consulting, general management doesn't matter much as long as I get the skills to help my long term goal.

That's why INSEAD ask your immediate and long term goal in the first place. That's why they asked the Why's question to gauge the probability of your success. It is proven that those who know what they want to do, and map a way to get there, will end up successful. On the other hand, if you are doing something because everyone else is doing it, you will fail. If you are doing something for money, you will fail. If you are doing some thing because you know it will help you to accomplish your goal, you will be successful.

This study would be more interesting if they actually follow those who really know what they want, and those who don't, then, follow their career over the period of ten years. On the topic of work life balance, it doesn't matter what the employers trying to tell you or what your perception is about this topic, there will be sacrifice. If you position yourself right, you might get in the optimal spot, but you can't have it both way. At the end of the day, people should ask themselves what they are willing to get up for their end goal (assume that they have one).