Once systems get as large as the ones at Google, it can feel like the piece of the puzzle you are working on is inconsequential. This leads to boredom and ennui

Once systems get as large as the ones at Google, it can feel like the piece of the puzzle you are working on is inconsequential. This leads to boredom and ennui. There are currently a lot of opportunities to get paid well while feeling like you are making a bigger impact on the direction of a company, or simply just have the opportunity to create something from scratch. I often wonder if Google will turn into a place where older engineers go to "retire" with a stable job if their stints at startup companies never work out.