I really enjoyed the article. Defining your aspirations has a subtle yet profound effect on your trajectory of life. Sometimes our aspirations are chosen for u

I really enjoyed the article. Defining your aspirations has a subtle yet profound effect on your trajectory of life. Sometimes our aspirations are chosen for us by accidents of our culture or circumstances. I think thats what the article described when the author wrote about how professionalism (the kind of career we aspire to) can come to mean 'getting more money' or something equally beside-the-point of a life well lived. Money is great, but after your needs are met it's a senseless goal. Politeness is good, but it doesn't necessarily improve the world- just keeps it from getting worse. Innovation and teaching go well beyond inoffensiveness— they directly help improve the lives of others. And they even surpass the good that wealth can provide- because no matter how much money there is, someone actually has to do the work, and when that work is the result of your individual lifetime's efforts and experiences, you're the only one that can do it.