For me the alternative is not chasing the highest dollar jobs and working excessive hours that leave much less timen for leisure and family. Instead I happily work in a position that pays 30% or 40% less than I could be making if I chased constant advancement. I've actively declined opportunities like that. I am still paid very well for what I do, work a 40 hour work week, and still work on fun and interesting projects. So I'm not deferring until retirement the time I would have to wait to enjoy.

I'm not saying everyone should do this, it's just the answer I came up with. I know people who go the other way and also seem happy (though some not too) so it comes down to personal introspection abd preference.