If you feel mediocre then you probably aren't being challenged enough in the role you are currently in. You aren't going to be writing code to send rockets into

If you feel mediocre then you probably aren't being challenged enough in the role you are currently in. You aren't going to be writing code to send rockets into space if you aren't working for a company like SpaceX. You can try working on stuff like this in your spare time (which you may have to do to land such a position,) but nothing will advance you in that area like doing it as your bread and butter will. If you want to be working on big problems, then you have to go where the big problems are. Always be looking for your next opportunity to level up. Also, history makes legends. People don't feel like legends at the time of their making. Some of the greatest stories in tech were created by people who were mediocre coders, had no idea what they were doing and probably wouldn't have been doing it if they knew any better. The reason these people turned into legends is because they nailed far more important elements than brilliant coding. They could sell, they could market, they could ship code and they were relentless. Grinders are ugly, but they are the engines that drive the world.