[codeprimate]

I think the only thing that saved my career was dropping out of college 2 years early in 2000. I immediately started working in a print shop doing data processing work and earning my chops and programming experience through self-directed automation and process improvements. My friends in retail earned more than me, but I learned far more in 4 years there than college would have made possible. Leveraging my Linux and general programming experience I moved on to web development work in 2004 at a tiny consulting company based in the upstairs living room of my boss. We did "lean" and "agile" right and survived through the bust by wearing all of the hats and working hard. We could provide high quality solutions for half the cost quoted by large competitors. The pay was simply ok (but my colleagues and employer were amazing). Later, with a baby on the way I had to move on for better pay. Leaving was hard, but finding a position wasn't with all the experience I earned at a cut rate.

In short: I grew, barely survived financially, and made excellent connections.