I think wording along the lines of "stop associating your life with your job" is more in line with what the author meant. You absolutely should want to contribute to progress and be a part of something greater than yourself.
However, the distinction is that whatever you are working on RIGHT NOW is not what's all important. You may and should love what you're doing right now, but attaching too much of your identity to your current product/role/company will cause you pain if the product/company fails, or prevent you from taking opportunities elsewhere where you can contribute to your overall goals more than where you currently are.
What you're saying makes sense, but I suspect is different than what the author means to say: "What you do for a living distinctly differs from who you are." There is work and there is job. I want to associate my work with my life, not the job where I currently do my work. I think the original article is telling me to not associate my life with my work.
He also says "learn languages, play music instrument, do sports", but these actually require work and overcoming yourself, and are synergistic with whatever you do 9-5.
However, the distinction is that whatever you are working on RIGHT NOW is not what's all important. You may and should love what you're doing right now, but attaching too much of your identity to your current product/role/company will cause you pain if the product/company fails, or prevent you from taking opportunities elsewhere where you can contribute to your overall goals more than where you currently are.