I also didn’t know what the answer was for a long time. I count myself lucky that I lucked into the path that led to the best outcome for me once I did figure i

I also didn’t know what the answer was for a long time. I count myself lucky that I lucked into the path that led to the best outcome for me once I did figure it out. Relentlessly pursued money for the first decade and a half of my career. Worked at boring FAANGs and job hopped the moment my compensation flat-lined. Then started a family, realized the answer for me was “family time” and am pivoting to optimizing for predictable work hours and free time. Now I’m running out the clock at my current employer. My next one, if I choose to have one, will be one that can guarantee copious free time. If I had been more idealistic in my young adult years, I would have most likely grinded hard at some “change the world” startup that fizzled out and now I’d be frantically scrambling to afford a house.