Cleared Status, 12 Certs, Taught at NYU... and Honestly Lost About What's Next

Started in journalism during the '08 recession, pivoted to Salesforce, and somehow built what looks like a "dream career" on paper: - 12 certifications - Federal consultant (HRSA/Homeland Security with clearance) - Teaching at NYU (helped 160+ start their Salesforce careers) - Running my own consultancy - Large-scale implementations (70K+ records)

But here's the thing - I feel stuck at a crossroads: - Federal contracts (that clearance feels too valuable to let go) - Consulting - Teaching (most fulfilling but time-intensive)

Everyone says these are "good problems" to have, but honestly? It's overwhelming. I've built expertise in so many directions that I'm not sure which path to double down on.

For those who've been here - how did you decide? Does specializing beat diversifying? Did you ever regret picking one path over another?

Just looking for real, unfiltered perspectives from people who get it.