You totally can. I've taken multiple right-turns over my 'career' (I'm now 51). I think it's a myth to believe that you're stuck in one path, and TBH I think

You totally can. I've taken multiple right-turns over my 'career' (I'm now 51). I think it's a myth to believe that you're stuck in one path, and TBH I think most people now won't have the same job for a long period (when I was at school, I knew plenty of people who thought they'd have a job for life in a particular trade or profession). However, I've been self-employed since 1/1/2000. There's NO WAY I would be employed by a company full time now unless they were well off the beaten track. So I don't have job security, but that has allowed me to be multiple different things over the last 20 years, and I'm enjoying the freedom and interest of what I do (and I'm better at programming (Python) and music production than I ever have been). I've bought and sold cars in the meantime, and also written a couple of books and taught guitar. I think the main thing is to play to your strengths, not the strengths you think you should do, or that other people will want. And there is no such thing as wasted experience. If the chaotic startup was as bad as you say, there will be plenty of stuff you'll have learned from it - even if it is "never do this, EVER!".