Didn't start seriously or professionally writing software until I was 26 after messing up my education as well, triple university dropout, failed founder and se

Didn't start seriously or professionally writing software until I was 26 after messing up my education as well, triple university dropout, failed founder and severely depressed back then. 13 years later, I'm CTO and cofounder of a mid-sized startup on escape trajectory. Your mileage not just _may_ but _will_ vary, but here's a selection of things that personally helped me most on my journey: Understanding what actually creates my value as a software developer and obsessively trying to focussing on that. Doing helpful things and be known for delivering results. Going far above what was expected, but also making sure it was noticed. Choosing stellar bosses who wanted to develop me, very selectively, and making them successful. Taking responsibility that nobody wanted whereever there was a vacuum. Being bold in daring solutions (but also learning how to seriously piss off superiors and avoiding that). Staying focused on solutions, not on problems. Regularly taking new opportunities that gave me the biggest stretch and largest learning opportunity. Aiming at the phrasing of your "messed up", I'm only now learning to deal with the level of impostor syndrome this journey brought me and how to switch off from the pressure I put myself into: one of my biggest challenges so far was actually how to learn to love myself and deal with the emotional fallout from my perceived failure in my mid twenties. Looking back, I would have started especially that part of the journey earlier. The only thing I never regretted was putting a single step back into school. Good luck. You'll do it. I believe in you.