Fair enough, the fact that you've been trying here and there suggests that it's possible things would be better at a startup. That's a tough decision to make, I

Fair enough, the fact that you've been trying here and there suggests that it's possible things would be better at a startup. That's a tough decision to make, I certainly wouldn't feel confident telling you one way or the other is the "right" choice. But I would suggest a few other possibilities that you may not have considered yet: - If your current role is in a non-growth area and you're a good performer, maybe see what your options are in terms of transferring to a team that better matches what you're looking for? - You've mentioned side projects in the context of financial independence; have you considered side projects or hobbies as a way of finding meaning that you're lacking at work? - If you haven't already, consider seriously discussing career growth with your manager -- any decent manager should be interested in helping you find opportunities. Also keep in mind differences in work-life balance.