Good points.
The first question we ask is , what kind of career will make me happy? what is it that i would love to work on ? if you feel good about what you do, its really and truly the best feeling in the world. Reward yourself with a happy life.
so, a reality check is in order, isnt it... So the second question you ask is, do i have the tools , the preparation, the motivation and the determination to go get what makes me happy ? Nothing in industry or in academia is given on a platter... if you are good at something, work, recognition, money will find you. else it will a pain no matter what you choose to do... so the second thing is... try to be the best at what you do.
The final question you ask is, what kind of life do i need? a Phd offers flexibility, but it is demanding... can you see yourself doing research and teaching or consulting for the rest of your life? if you took more than 5 seconds to answer this, you are not ready for a research career. A Ph.D student KNOWS the challenge extremely well.
Sincerely
Praetorian