[josephschmoe]

Get a side-project with someone else who is working on that project full time. This will give you better skills/connections outside of corporate, even if it doesn't pay off immediately.

That's what I'm doing. The first two gave me big fat goose eggs (my first project I was alone at first), but #3 is looking like it could very do well for me and #4 is a guaranteed paycheck that will likely be double my hourly rate.

The problem with this: 1. 50-60 hour weeks every week. 2. You need to be in a very good position at work. No sudden rush of 60 hour weeks from work. 3. You will burn out after three months of this. You can do two of these a year max.

Try to find a side-project related to what you want to do in life. Focusing on what you don't want to do is a sure road to failure - but if you find things you do want to do, you could even use this as a way to transition into those things. Maybe you could work on those things 20 hours a week and spend the rest doing...whatever it is you do want out of life.

Just my 2 cents. Not everyone can handle 60 hour weeks over and over again. It is not a lifestyle I would recommend and I hate that it is a necessity in this world without taking on tremendous risk.

[perpetualBurnt]

We are of the same mind. I do have a side project, and it even earns me money.

Your comment: "It is not a lifestyle I would recommend and I hate that it is a necessity in this world without taking on tremendous risk" basically sums up my thoughts... My original question was asking if life has to be like this. I don't know anyone directly who grew up rich or went to an elite school (I did neither), and I just sort of wonder if that segment of society doesn't have to struggle as much.