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Comment on Ask HN: How much does “purpose” matter in a job?

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Unless you pull a Bezos (leaving an awesome job to win the biggest lottery of all time), you will regret leaving money on the table. When asked about the regret, you will say it was all worth it for some nebulous notion of fulfillment, which is all you can do dull the pain.

It is less about hitting it big, more about fulfilling a purpose / doing something meaningful with my life’s work.

I suppose I am looking toward my job to provide that level of fulfillment, when it could conceivably come from elsewhere.

it could conceivably come from elsewhere

Hit the nail right on the head.

My boss is a boy scout troop leader, he regularly goes out to the gatherings, and I can relate his mood to how their last meetup went. His job has 0 impact on it.

Keep looking, something will fill that void soon.

I, myself, found that making bread for community kitchens sorta did it, not the act of making it but seeing people eat it, and taste it, was very fulfilling. You don't have to do it for charity, there may be other things that tickle your fancy.

Yeah but let's say your job is dumb and you have enough saved up. Maybe spend 6 months just putzing around a bit to see what a fresh take on life gives you?

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