Most people will tell you it depends what career you're trying to get off the ground. For example, if the career is prostitute, then you can mix dating into the equation fairly easily (although playing hard to get becomes more difficult). If it's astronaut, then any attempts to date will likely end in you driving cross country in diapers with a space gun.

However, you came to me because I am not "most people." You want the cold, hard, hilarious truth, so here it is: eschew all personal happiness save the thrill of crushing your competitors beneath your feet. Otherwise, how will you ever be as fulfilled as a Citizen Cane or Richard Corey? If those great old white men taught us anything, it's that being ambitious is the same as being mentally and physically whole.

Or maybe you don't really WANT to succeed. Maybe you're one of those love-y dove-y types that's got to find the one and shave "you complete me" into each others' hair. In truth, it all comes down to a simple equation:

Make no mistake. Dating is an investment, and one that won't always pay off right away. It's often a huge, frustrating, pain in the ass filled with ups, downs, occasional sex and oceans of self-doubt. On the plus side, occasional sex!

Your career is as time consuming as you let it be. Ask yourself a few key questions. Where do I want to be in five years career-wise? Given the field I'm entering, how hard do I realistically have to work to get there? Does that leave time for dating?

If the answer's no, I think it's perfectly valid to go full bore on your career for a while and indulge in an office fling or two. Who knows; maybe you'll meet Mr. Right at the next Astronaut Prostitute's Convention.