I take issue with the assumption that you're not a success unless you're a VP at a consulting firm. In particularly the assertion that the other engineers in the story -- who for all we know may have preferred to remain in their roles -- have suffered some terrible fate that we need to be warned against.
I walked both paths already. From a distance I realize that I was never so happy than with a 9-to-5 and having time to live in the present. Minor chances of being successful in the future with a 9-to-8(+) seem a terrible deal. I wish I could forget ambition.
DEVIL: "20 years in jail and then I will give you X millions!"
