> They don't know it will help, but it might. So this hamster spends all their time on the wheel.

This is the salient part of the analogy. I like it a lot.

I don't know that all this hard work and reaching for career heights will matter in the end.. but I'm not more confident in a different strategy (else I would do that). So I justify my immediate misery for a chance to benefit the future.

I think my then problem way too much focus on the future.