I suggest not wasting your time reading surveys of general philosophy or taking some sort of 'intro' course in comparative philosophy. That's an academic route,

I suggest not wasting your time reading surveys of general philosophy or taking some sort of 'intro' course in comparative philosophy. That's an academic route, and probably won't lead you anywhere. Unfortunately, it's likely the most common response you'll get here. I'd start by asking yourself a simple question: who do you admire most? Look at what values and 'philosophy' they have. Learn more about what's behind them. Dig deeper. There is no particular path here; you're asking an age-old question that doesn't have a clear answer. Your values are the root of any 'philosophy' you might have. Get clear about your values, then look around.