[CodeMage]

You know, your comment made me think a lot. You're both right and wrong at the same time, but I couldn't find a good way to express why and how.

In the end, I believe Michael Ende described it the best in "The Neverending Story" (the book, not the movies). The essence of what I would recommend to anyone is expressed by the words on the back of AURYN: "Do what thou wilt". As Bastian is told, it's not about doing anything you want, it's about finding out what it is that you truly wish for, "and nothing is more difficult".

Maybe OP will spend years working on this project and end up realizing that it was "a waste of time" and that what he really wants is something else. But even then, it might end up being more valuable to him than doing things you recommended. Who knows?