I won't even read the piece. I skimmed it. This is the closing line: You should quit your job. But, sadly, you probably won't. (It feels like a kick in the gut to even read that much.) That and the title tell me all I need to know: This individual has poor boundaries and feels entitled to screw with other people and their lives due to his dissatisfaction.

Thank you so much for not being like him. You have absolutely nothing to feel bad about (so I am glad you don't). The world would be a better place if more people were, like you, basically happy with their lives and trying to do some little things to make the world better rather than trying to promote their own Final Solution and running around lecturing people on how they should live. As a general rule of thumb, I will read things that are titled "Why I did X" and won't read things titled "Why you should do X". He knows nothing about me or my life. It is hugely egomaniacal (not to mention delusional) to presume he knows what's best for me.

Peace.

I say so with some defensiveness because one of my greatest goals in life is to do just that, to make a difference, as cliche as it is. And yes, I've quit my old job so I could pursue it. We all look around this world and see things that aren't quite right, that we'd like to see changed, and I'm no different. I'd like to be able to do something about it though, big things, not just sit idly by.

All too often in life I've been happy just coasting along, taking the easy road in front of me, pursuing good grades in earnest, working hard, and making a good living at interesting jobs. That brings me no closer to my goals in life though, that's not my dream. Some of us have dreams that can be achieved while working 9-5, that's great, but if you have a dream that's important to you, that requires you to quit, do give it some thought. You only have one life.

I think that pretty much sums it up. I Agree on the preference for "Why I did this" rather than "Why you should" but I'm guessing the author was trying to make the point that there seem to be an awful lot of people who fall into the "I'll pursue my dream sometime" category.

For them - and I assume they are the authors target audience - an article with a title which is a direct call to an action already in the back of their minds, is one they're likely to read. Perhaps a better title would have been "If this describes you, quit your job"...but that isn't quite as good as link bait!

it feels like you're doing a bit of the same by claiming that everybody who wants to change the world are doing so only because they're projecting.

You left out the words "overwhelming need". It speaks of desperation, which is very different from having goals.

All too often in life I've been happy just coasting along, taking the easy road in front of me, pursuing good grades in earnest, working hard, and making a good living at interesting jobs. That brings me no closer to my goals in life though, that's not my dream.

I have never coasted or taken the easy road. I have consistently chosen the hard road. And please note you are stating that your desire to change the world is a personal need, not really for the benefit of the world, but to satisfy a dream. There is nothng wrong with that. Nothing at all. But do keep in mind conflict of interest: If you really, really want to make the world a better place, it helps to take a skeptical eye towards your own motives. Setting aside my ego so I could do something of real note has been one of my biggest challenges in recent years. I would be happy to discuss it more with you, on hn or off, after I am on my own time and not my employers.

Peace.

But I think you're wrong in that everyone that tries to change the world only has personal issues to overcome, and if they do everything is alright. Believing that is pretty much solipsism. Sometimes the world really is wrong and can be fixed.

No, that isn't my point at all. My point is that berating other people and lecturing them in the way this piece does typically comes from insecurity, hurt and so on. I would like to change the world and fix some things that are wrong. But I am not desperate to do so, I do not have overwhelming need, I try very hard to avoid sounding like I am lecturing. I don't always get it right. I just know that berating people does not make for less bad in the world, it makes for more bad -- it hurts people's feelings, it tears down their self esteem and so on. I spend a lot of time pondering how to resolve real problems effectively. I know from long experience that this approach is really not it.

Peace.

I've seen plenty of people who have fixed their personal crap -- at that point they realized they were far more passionate about helping others than continuing to advance their careers.

Peace.

Just keep consuming what society feeds you. It's only for your best, trust me.

Very few people change the world in the sense the author means (Mark Zuckerberg, Larry/Sergey, loads of scientists, etc).

But if you can set out to change someones world, I think you'll find your work more interesting and rewarding.

I also want to make life better for my fiancee, and make sure that I'm in a secure position for raising children.

If my job was making me unhappy then I'd move to a different one. And I've quit jobs before when the management were doing things I disapproved of.

And I give money to charity, and (as I said) get involved in occasional political things (like the voting reform referendum earlier this year).

Although I can't help thinking that to be dead would probably be the ultimate relaxation. So if relaxing is your goal, why bother?

What's the problem?

But, I admit, this is the majority of most people. Of the minority of people that really feel compelled to "make a dent in the universe" (Steve Jobs) the majority of them are probably stuck in meaningless jobs. This article speaks to this group.

Have fun with that perspective ;-)