[Porsche-O-Phile]

It seems a lot of people are confusing "intelligence" or "cognitive ability" with business acumen or moneymaking skills. Using myself as an example, I probably could've gone into finance and worked for Goldman Sachs if I wanted to but I simply have no interest in doing that - I wouldn't be satisfied and I'd always see it as selling myself short. I just never viewed moving pieces of paper around to make imaginary numbers on a balance sheet bigger as being a terribly inspiring pursuit. As I said earlier, "...with great power comes great responsibility". It saddens me to see so many of the "best and brightest" these days going into the financial services industry (which doesn't produce anything of value or create any lasting positive impact on the world - just consolidating wealth into a smaller class of wealthy oligarchs). I think the "brain drain" of bright people that could otherwise be doing scientific research, design, engineering or doing something entrepreneurial is one of the biggest wastes of resources imaginable and is a sad commentary on our societal values. Yes, economics matters but to a point. The brightest people should be allowed to use their skills to invent, create, imagine, dream and move us into preciously-chartered waters. I see the practice of law as very much the same way - a waste of a good intellect in too many cases, propping up a system built to preserve a status quo that benefits a select few only.

A lot of this is the direct result of capitalism and I accept it since all the known alternatives are a lot worse, but it's still somewhat disheartening. I wish it weren't so, but I understand why it is and why it needs to be. I'm just glad I get to do something I feel is (mostly) rewarding and will hopefully allow me to look back at the end of my days and feel like I accomplished something and am leaving the world a little bit better for my having been here. This is also why I really want to open my own practice and pursue the things I find exciting and am passionate about - not just keep cranking out more concrete and steel boxes (even nice ones!) simply because the wealthy developer I work for happens to make a lot of money off of it. Money is good but there are some things far more important - like a sense of real fulfillment and satisfaction that one has used their gifts for something that's at least a little bit noble and purposeful.