[big_question]

Thanks for the great ideas! A lot to think about :).

> Whatever you decide, remember that everyone has their unique strengths and challenges.

Right, this is something I've tried to focus more on lately. Improving on my strengths to make myself more valuable, which I hope will pay off in the future. I used to focus on trying to mask my weaknesses, but that takes a lot of effort for little benefit and doesn't seem sustainable.

I appreciate all the ideas. It helps a lot, I wouldn't have considered tech writing at all for example. Consulting has worked well in the past, but because of my lesser-than-average social skills it's not easy to find clients.

[averageValentin]

I totally understand the challenge of finding clients with consulting. Maybe partnering with someone who complements your skills could be a way forward, handling the client-facing parts while you dive deep into the technical side. Just a thought!

If tech writing piqued your interest, maybe start by contributing to open-source projects or writing technical blogs. It'll help you get a feel for it and build a portfolio.

Wishing you the very best in your journey. Your openness to exploring new directions is inspiring! :)