How One Question Can Transform Your Career and Life: Insights from The High-Impact Professional’s Playbook

From Midlife Crisis to Meaningful Career: Devon Fritz’s Journey

Devon Fritz spent his 20s writing tax software, ticking off every life milestone he had set: a house, children, financial security. But when he projected his future, he felt a pang of dissatisfaction. "I had this weird feeling that I’d totally missed the target," he recalled. "I looked around at my colleagues, who kind of felt stuck in this place. They had gotten to this cushy job where things were good, pay was good, benefits were good, but nobody seemed happy."

This sentiment resonates with many who’ve questioned their career paths. Fritz, however, took action. After volunteering with refugee-aid groups in Germany during the 2015 migrant crisis, he found the nonprofit world slow and ineffective. His search for meaning led him to a conference in Oxford, England, where he discovered effective altruism (EA).

Effective Altruism: The Philosophy Behind Impactful Careers

Effective altruism is built on the principle of using rigorous evidence and cost-benefit analysis to maximize positive impact. The movement emphasizes that not all charitable donations or career choices are equal—some save lives, while others yield minimal returns. EA challenges individuals to follow the math, prioritizing actions that create the most measurable good.

Fritz embraced this philosophy, rebuilding his career around a single question: How can you build a career that really matters? The result is his book, The High-Impact Professional’s Playbook, a guide he wished he’d had during his existential crisis. The book outlines actionable strategies for professionals to create outsized positive impact, regardless of their field.

Five Key Ideas from The High-Impact Professional’s Playbook

Fritz’s framework, rooted in effective altruism, offers lessons that extend beyond its hyper-rational origins. Here are five of the most valuable ideas from his book:

• Next best may be better than best: The concept of "counterfactuality"—a cornerstone of Fritz’s approach—challenges the pursuit of perfection. Instead, it encourages professionals to focus on actions that yield the highest impact relative to alternatives.
• Leverage your unique skills: Fritz argues that impact isn’t limited to traditional altruistic careers. Professionals in any field can maximize their influence by aligning their work with high-impact causes.
• Small changes, outsized impact: Even minor adjustments in career choices—such as switching industries or roles—can lead to significant positive outcomes over time.
• Evidence-based decision-making: Effective altruism emphasizes data-driven choices. Fritz advocates for evaluating career paths based on their potential to create measurable good.
• Collaboration over isolation: Fritz highlights the power of networking and collaboration in amplifying impact. Building relationships with like-minded professionals can open doors to high-impact opportunities.

The Core Lesson: Impact Over Perfection

"Being impactful — in its best form — doesn’t tell you what to do. It just says do stuff. Figure out what’s good, and do something that’s really good."

Fritz’s message is clear: impact isn’t about grand gestures or perfect choices. It’s about taking deliberate, meaningful action. His book serves as a practical guide for professionals seeking to align their careers with their values, proving that even small steps can lead to transformative change.

Career Fairs and the Search for Meaning

On December 10, 2025, Assemblymember Jordan Wright hosted a career fair in Harlem, New York City, offering job seekers opportunities to explore new paths. Events like these underscore the universal search for meaningful work, a theme central to Fritz’s journey and his book.