With billions of humans on the planet, reproduction of the species is not a sufficient, or necessarily even worhty, goal for a modern human. Survival, the first requirement for reproduction, is also not a significant challenge [except for those in wars and other disasters]. Something new needs to be chosen as the metric for life.
Here is proposed a new metric: happiness. The goal of a modern, first-world, human is to maximize their happiness throughout their life. This sounds self-centered and anti-social. Self-centered? Yes. Anti-social? No. Humans are social creatures, and they derive happiness from helping others. I derive great pleasure from helping and seeing friends and family do well, and be happy.
Given a metric of happiness, the choices of life become clear. Money and fame, often considered goals, are only important so long as they contribute to happiness; it is difficult to be happy when very poor, but unlimited wealth does not guarantee happiness. Not all people are made happy by fame, and those should not be encouraged to seek it.
Note that the long term must always be kept in mind when making decisions. Temporary sorrow may lead to greater happiness in the future.
This seems simple, yet few seem to have managed to consciously build their life around this simple principle. Perhaps the complexities of consciously building a life are greater than many can handle; this argues for improved education, rather than a revision of the metric.
Note that happiness is not guaranteed, and there will be some who cannot achieve overall happiness whatever they try. These few are unfortunate, but they should not be considered failures so long as they try. Failure only occurs when one stops striving for happiness without achieving it.
The complexity of the world is such that even if happiness is achieved, it must be constantly tended, lest it be lost in the changes of the moment. The pursuit of happiness is therefore a task without end (save death), and one that will never become boring or tedious.