Over my 30+ year career I've done startups, contract consulting, worked for consulting companies and been a Fortune 500 employee. Each has it's benefits but the longer-term personal fulfillment topic is a major concern for me. Smaller companies tend to be very dynamic and offer lots of opportunity while larger ones are more stable but survive on politics and minimizing risk. Consulting means lots of travel and great experience but little family time. Contracting means not knowing what you will be doing in 6 months and having to manage your finances closely. Startups are an adrenaline-fueled rush that take a few years off of your life but make you feel alive. So, what is the right answer? Where are you in life? How financially stable are you? How entrepreneurial are you, particularly in taking risks? How flexible are you in what you do? How good are your skills? How developed are your political skills? If you can answer these questions, one of the above options will become the clear choice. Then you will want to do something else...