All the answers that the other guys provide is awesome, but let me give you an answer from the other side of the pond... There is just one skill you need: The

All the answers that the other guys provide is awesome, but let me give you an answer from the other side of the pond... There is just one skill you need: The ability to persevere and actually build something that other people can/will use. Once you're there (like really really there), you won't need some role where they paint a rosy picture but you end up doing WordPress hacks for a living (although to me personally, I'd never overlook any type of work that puts food on the table). Also, you'll become more confident in yourself and end up doing things like 12 startups in 12 months [1]. Truth be told, if I had to run a survey on HN right now and ask just one question: "How many of you are coming to HN everyday hoping to be inspired but haven't written one line of production-code for some idea you have?" I will get at least 40 "Yes" answers. Take that answer and multiply it for bigger communities, because while we're all reading about awesome Growth Hacks or that 1 guy who builds cool side-projects, the rest of us are doing jack. [1]: http://www.wired.com/2014/08/12-startups-in-12-months/ http://www.wired.com/2014/08/12-startups-in-12-months/