There are answers, they just take a level of experience to reach that most people aren’t cut out for. You gotta be several principal+ IC roles or Dir+ mgr roles in before the patterns congeal into a plan.

Challenge is operating at those levels for extended periods requires a super fucking insane level of competency and dedication. Most people hit that spot and coast till retirement cause you’re at $500k+ at FAANG. Few keep looking for new opportunities unless forced to or they’re those corporate robot sharks with the dead eyes.