But in the end, I don't think you can't let this stuff drive you. Gotta live your own life the way you think is right according to how you measure success. And success metrics bound to external factors tend to sap happiness in the end rather than drive it.
I do agree though, let your forebrain help pick your friends carefully. That way you can be the envy of interesting people who make interesting choices.
Or because they want to make a positive impact on the world. Changing the world is just an extreme version of that. Is that an actual reason, or just a rationalization? I don't know, I'm not in the change-the-world camp. (And don't try to continue this like a Socratic Questioning - why, why, why - that is soo passé.)
I know. Absolutes is a very tempting and convincing framework to work withing. Everything-is-X is a popular perspective, from human behaviourist bloggers to language designers.
> People who don't care about what their peers think of them are sociopaths.
And people who are never motivated to eat will soon die. The contention was with the "this is the only motivation, ever", not with the weak version of "sometimes/partly". Don't try to weaken your stance.