[rickydroll]

I will argue that work should be just about a paycheck. The CEO/founder's vision is not your vision. It helps you be mindful of differences between your vision and your ethics versus the company's. You'll be able to see more clearly when the gap is too big and it's time to leave.

For me, when work became all about the paycheck, I took my ego out of my work. I remained engaged and performed the job as expected. Whenever I became "unsettled," I took that as a sign to work more on keeping my ego out of my work.

Another advantage of reducing your ego in your work is that you think more about what the customer needs, rather than what the company needs from the product. Doesn't mean you'll make it happen, but at least you know you tried.

To your point about people looking for community, when I reduced my ego at work, I found connection, satisfaction, etc. with communities outside of work.

Even if you're engaged in work, however, you should never lose sight of the fact that the company is making money off the backs of the exploited worker, and it should always remain part of the decision process of stay or go.

[humblebeekeeper]

I think you are part way down the thread. You are assuming there's a company, that there's a CEO. These things are not axiomatic.

If you work somewhere where you have control over the outputs of the your labor, you can both get a paycheck and not be exploited.

[arevno]

Yes, it's odd that Developer Hegemony has been out for eight years, and tech workers still act as if they are destined to be serfs.