Is there anything better than to spend your time doing things that matter to you rather than needing some sort of external utility validation?

Some don't like to sell themselves and compete.

Some have confidence issues.

Some have ADHD and an on-paper track record that looks terrible.

Some want nothing to do with corporate America.

My personal philosophy on this is that in the grand scheme of things, there is almost nothing that "really matters". So you might as well spend as much of your time as is reasonable doing something fun.