Everything is pointless, depending on one's perspective. One could ask "Why is spending Carmack's talent on developing games meaningful? Why not use his talent

Everything is pointless, depending on one's perspective. One could ask "Why is spending Carmack's talent on developing games meaningful? Why not use his talent to progress bio-chemistry computing and save lives?" Money, career success, "normal life" will not bring you happiness. Unfortunately, I do not know what will bring you happiness, because it is something very personal, and changes constantly over time. Things that make you happy today, will seem to you pointless after 10 years. You definetely need to survive to be able to be happy. So you will need some type of occupation to provide food and shelter, and make sure that the activities that make you happy do not harm you, or others. Other than that anything is fair game. But don't confuse your career with finding purpose. Your career is just a ticket to financial security, aka enabling you to do things that make you happy. If you can build a career doing something that you do not hate, that is great already!