You bring up a very good and valid point. Work is not your life, and is not the only thing you should consider when you look at what you want to accomplish in life.

However, I'd like to address a couple things you mention here. First, I don't believe the article really does imply that work is what your life has to be devoted to. I believe it only implies that work, being a substantial component of your life, should be factored into how you devote your life (and focuses on that particular component, being an article and a book designed for a business audience).

Second, in "failing to screw up the courage", I think you are somewhat missing some components of the article, those including 1) Each person is different, and will have different responses to those questions based on their lives, and 2) you need to look at ALL aspects of your work, not just what you do, but what you get out of it as well... in your case, what you get out of it and what you do seem to balance pretty well... and 3) if you choose a career that you are passionate about, you will be considerably more productive, and effective, at your job (and therefore the workforce in general would be more productive).

The reasons I disagree that a job is simply a means to an end, is just take what you said as an example that you want to contribute to the happiness of your wife, family and friends. When you are working, that takes you away from them. When you come home, your mood from work can affect your family. If you stress a lot at work, that can affect your health, and your attitude, which in turn can affect your social life (I've been there). If those aren't factors, than I would challenge that you actually do enjoy what you do, and are pretty happy doing it.

I believe the question, and the challenge, is to find a healthy balance in your career, and in your life. This doesn't mean *THE* job you always wanted to do, but generally means a job you are happy with, and motivated towards, and not simply a job that makes you enough money to do what you want socially.

Two things I also want to comment about my own blog entry, is that 1) the part I comment about failing at, is something I've known for awhile, in that I know a change needs to be made in some of my work choices, not necessarily a substantial one, but one I've sometimes held back on because what I do now is secure, and 2) even if you are content where you are at, it's healthy to always challenge yourself to look at things from a different perspective every so often, and reassess that you are indeed happy with the path you are traveling.