I generally agree, but personally I don't think I have that much control over what is the source of my self worth.

I mean, it was enough for me to spend a few months in 2020 on a contract where I had easily 4x my previous rate to forever shift my self-percepction.

I've become a temporarily embarrassed high-rate contractor and I can't help it. Kinda shallow, but it's interesting that this feeling persists after three years.

It wasn't even a high rate by SV standards - just really high for my corner of the world.