This is a really individual thing. Some people (let's take bankers as an example), choose to define themselves by their financial worth. For them, real pain would come from having a smaller car or house, not from having less time with family or making something they like.
I'm not going to pass judgement on the materialistic, because it's one of the more harmless ways that people define themselves. People have used stranger yardsticks to measure their own worth (religious fundamentalism for instance).
That said, I definitely take more joy in making things than in shuffling paper. I would rather wipe my ass with sandpaper than work for the bank. I may not make [B]as much[B], but the thing is, I still make enough. There's a difference between being practical, and being greedy.
Also, the nature of Singapore's job market gives me two huge advantages:
(1) Financial specialists are abundant. The competition amongst them is stronger, and they are easier to replace. If they get fired, they're f***ed. Let's see which other bank wants to employ the reject. And banks have a high turnover rate.
I, on the other hand, am nice and secure. My skill set is so specialized that no one is lined up to take my job.
(2) I don't need to kiss anyone's ass. Because if I up and leave, the whole project is screwed, or at least seriously delayed. But if a banker ups and leaves...just replace her lah! There must be dozens willing to take over the account.
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