“You’re probably not doing things right unless the other people in your world are at least slightly uncomfortable with some way in which you’re challenging its assumptions.” – Conor Friedersdorf

Did you see this Style profile of 19-year-old New York debutante Hadley Marie Nagel? She’s kind of amazing, with skills (skeet shooting?) and interests (like lobbying for a James Madison monument on the National Mall) all over the map. Being wealthy allows her to pursue these activities, and apparently to throw awesome dinner parties.

But according to Mr. Friedersdorf (who unfortunately gets Hadley’s name wrong in his opinion piece), having a lot of skills and interests won’t necessarily win you a good life. Important decisions about career and family are more complicated than having a sparkling resume, he says.

Having wealth and connections can score you all kinds of opportunities, and we think you’d be crazy not to take advantage of them. But those advantages can also lead you down a path that’s just not “you.” So before you start making the big decisions, do a gut check. Do you really want this, or do you think someone else wants it for you? (Or for themselves, for that matter.)

Tags: career, Hadley Nagel, wealth