This is all somewhat cliche advice, but as usual there is truth to be found in any advice. Treat your life like an imperative programming language. Determine

This is all somewhat cliche advice, but as usual there is truth to be found in any advice. Treat your life like an imperative programming language. Determine your goal, and start breaking it down into the simplest steps to achieve that goal. Many time you can simply replicate the steps others have taken (this does not mean exactly). Nothing will change until you start making the changes. Find everything you dislike in your life and determine a way out of it. There are certain things you can't do (not everyone can be an NBA star), but there are a multitude of other options. Also, be shameless. It is ok to depend on other people, promote your work, ask for favors (just don't spam). 99 percent of the time you will be rejected but don't be disheartened. More than anything else, develop some skill towards perfection so that you are less likely to be rejected. Alternately (or at minimum, in addition), find out how to market the hell out of yourself and your work. This does not mean buying ads, it means capturing minds. Find people who are better than you and take genuine interest in their work, and strive to make your work as good as theirs (they will take interest, and others will by association). Be honest in everything you do, dishonesty can destroy your future chances at anything. Be genuine, don't try to sell something you are not interested in. Don't get caught up in your own made-up principles, do the things that are proven to work. There is no easy or guaranteed path to success, but every failure tempers you against future failures. Most successful people go for years before they produce anything successful (a common number seems to be around 8-10 years). People, like me, will say to do XYZ, but in the end even going against common advice can make you successful. Listen to everyone's advice, but weigh it against your own instinct. Much of the advice people gave me I ignored, and it worked out for the better. This does not mean to act like you are smarter than everyone else - listen to what everyone has to say, it may help you as well.