Quality Professionals Job Satisfaction?

I just read Robert Mitchell's blog:  Are Quality Professionals Happy on the Job?

Since I am fairly new to the Quality Management function, I took a few minutes to contemplate whether I am happy with this new career. Here are a few of my thoughts:

1. I do view the whole organization I work at in a much different way. Previously coming from mainly an engineering perspective, I didn't appreciate as much as I should have the needs and work processes of the entire organization. I now spend a good amount of time on the manufacturing floor and have a much better understanding of how the organization can better help the manufacturing area deliver a higher quality product. I also have a much closer relationship with our remote offices and field service function and again see many areas that we can improve our customer experience and satisfaction.
2. There is great satisfaction in helping solve issues that directly affects the companies bottom line. This satisfaction at times is immediate when we solve an issue with an existing customer, especially when we know that the solution solves issues from that point in time and into the future. Also knowing that we are impacting the future quality and customer satisfaction in new products is rewarding.
3. Since this is a fairly new area, joining the American Society of Quality (ASQ) and the local Milwaukee section has been very rewarding. I have met some old and new friends and look forward to the section meetings and learning experiences.
4. On a similar note, diving into a new set of techniques, tools, theory, acronym's, etc. has been very intellectually invigorating. I am currently reading "The Certified Quality Manager/Organizational Excellence Handbook", Russell T. Westcott editor. This is a very thorough and comprehensive text that is not just a "quality" book, but it is a well written business book.

I do have more job satisfaction then I had previously. I do feel that I am making a "bigger" difference to the organization. Is this just because everything is still new and challenging? Maybe? We will have to see what the job satisfaction "rating" is in another six months.