Comment by vorpalhex

In software architecture, we often see people rebuild systems from scratch, reproduce the exact same flaws, and end up with the same broken system they sought to replace.

The problem is always that they do not understand the problem. The problem was not the framework, the language, the compute model. It was the problem model.

Having spent a lot of time around that "high driven successful ceo" type, there's a lot of ego involved. There is ego in being needed in meetings. There is ego in working late. There is ego in being the only one who can deliver the thing.

Spoiler, most managers are aware of the ego trap and know how to press that button to get more work from you.

You can't solve the deathbed regret problem by just reading deathbed regrets and swearing to travel or spend time with family. You have to address the root cause of the problematic behavior - ego, dislike of your kids, not actually valuing travel, etc.

Then the ongoing work of prioritizing can happen.