I solved whatever problem was handed to me by the employer that paid the most while allowing me to live the lifestyle I wanted to live: free time, commute, etc.

I solved whatever problem was handed to me by the employer that paid the most while allowing me to live the lifestyle I wanted to live: free time, commute, etc. When I was younger I cared more about cool projects, or things that might be recognizable by non-technical people. This was a mistake. The wisdom I'd like to pass on is unless you're curing cancer, as you grow older things like your family will be way more important. So for work, just avoid misery and spend your clock cycles making family stuff work best.