You know, I can relate with the fact I get paid the same, or even less than my predecessors or others in a similar role, when I outperform and go above and beyond every day. However, I find value in the relationships I have built in my current and previous jobs. It's true some people could care less and they are just after your services, but at the end of the day, there are always a select few who can make your day.
I do have a goal to one day, in the very near future, to be my own boss, to set my own rules, but most important, to live life every day as it was my last, as there is so much to enjoy out there.
People are people at the end of the day. The important thing to keep in mind while chasing the end goal is to preserve who you are. Most people get lost into the rat race and forget why they got in to begin with.