Work to increase your luck surface area. Network, meet new people, get involved in OSS, go to meetups, volunteer. When you are just starting out, get good at a

Work to increase your luck surface area. Network, meet new people, get involved in OSS, go to meetups, volunteer. When you are just starting out, get good at a tangible skill that people will pay you for, and which will let you play in the arena where you ultimately want to be. For me, it was IT development, even though I had a business background. If you are in technology, or work as a developer, work in a non-tech firm that leverages technology, rather than in a technology firm. It will be easier to stand out, and your contributions will be held in much higher regard. This point was actually made by Zed Shaw in one of his books, and although he took some flack for it, it's actually very good advice. I've seen it play out a number of times.