"Nothing matters" is a recipe for despair, not happiness :) Sure, money and glory are shallow motivations. Dig deeper, though, and you'll find that people aren

"Nothing matters" is a recipe for despair, not happiness :) Sure, money and glory are shallow motivations. Dig deeper, though, and you'll find that people aren't as shallow as they seem - money can be a means to gain freedom, glory a confirmation from fellow humans that your accomplishment has lasting value. I'm motivated by the satisfaction of doing something well, the "aha!" moments of learning, the knowledge that I am becoming more like the person I want to be. But even these joys are as transient as money and glory. I will die, but maybe, if I get good enough at what I do, I can make a lasting difference that improves the world for current and future people like our ancestors improved it for us. In your face, death! I don't want to change your mind, merely explaining why I disagree. Our different notions of "the good life" may be rooted in fundamental personality differences, even biology. If some of those stressed out startup people are like you - they should stop and understand themselves. Some of them are like me, and they should push on. I believe people generally know to do what's best for them. It's when we assume to know what's best for others that we get in trouble. Finally, people change. Ten years from now, you and I could both flip sides.