Sort of a Success Story

In my previous Q&A I didn't go as in depth about my past as I am going to go this time. But I think the story will definitely help someone out because it shows that you can accomplish a lot even with massive hurdles to overcome.

Background:

To keep it short I was a bit of stoner / drunk by the age of 17 and pretty socially awkward growing up. I was smart but not motivated to accomplish anything in life. I thought you worked hard bought a house and had kids and I never wanted any of that. I found happiness in smoking and drinking.

I got into a top Canadian University but life only went downhill from here. My addiction was so bad by this time that I spent almost no time sober and was using harder drugs. I would continue this pattern for many years and there were some very serious consequences to my actions that were difficult to clear up.

During these years, I dropped out, was homeless for 3 months, and worked primarily in the restaurant business as a food runner, bus boy, waiter etc. I worked multiple jobs and lived in some neighborhoods most people would be too afraid to step foot. I went to at least 3 rehabs over this time but stopping my use never lasted.

Turning things around:

I eventually got a good job with the help of my parents. It started out as doing some very basic tech stuff which I was more than qualified to do. I even refused to program because I didn't see the point. I bring this up because I taught myself Perl in middle school but hadn't programmed much since and I had a knack for it.

I eventually started and was making great software for my employer. I got a real salary but nothing like what an MIT undergrad would get. It's not like the rest of the world was vying for my services. I eventually got hired by a tech startup (I thought this was super cool at the time) and small pay bump along with it. But I realized within a few months this wasn't the way to get rich. I got fired because I wasn't putting my all into it. My work was terrible I was just showing up to get the pay check. Which was great because I saved like 10k on a 60k salary in less than a year.

Getting Fired:

Getting fired was the best thing that happened to me. I realized I wanted a better salary. I wanted to make real money. I found out finance paid well and that my skills were in demand. I posted my resume and had so many companies and recruiters calling me I would just let the voicemails and emails pile up and I was going to pick the right place to work this time. Somewhere I saw a future.

Tech Contractor:

I got hired at an AM firm as a tech contractor making 20% more for 20% less work and my work was on point. I spent the next year focusing on becoming a full time employee at the firm. I also realized that finance is very interesting - more so than programming. Within a year of starting there I was a full time employee with a fancy title and very good compensation and benefits when you consider I am not in NYC/SV. I was top bucket for my partial year and my next year. I was one of the only people to get a larger bonus even as revenue declined at the firm. While this was great I wanted to work on the financial side but I wasn't quite there yet.

Front office?

But there was something else I could do. I decided to work on getting my cube moved to not only a much nicer cube, but a cube on a FO floor. Down the hall from the people I work with the most. I also got the FO manager to lay their cards on the table with respects to my future. They basically said if you work for it, it is yours. I also could have made them pull the trigger during the move but that would actually be worse in some respects.

Beyond that my project may be generating direct revenue in the not too distant future and hopefully enough to put me in a very strong position. I hope this motivates someone who isn't doing well in life.

During this time I got married, bought a house something I never thought I would do. I didn't think I would even live to 28.

Closing advice:

If you think you can't do something consider I started my job at the AM firm going cold turkey off methadone. I had quit going to the clinic so I could go to work earlier since I knew PMs are in the office well before market open. Not full withdrawal since I was already tapering but enough to feel the pain in your nerves and the anxiety crawling down my skin. I knew to just keep my head down and suck it up.

One of the resources that has helped me in my career is WSO's networking guide (//www.wallstreetoasis.com/guide/wso-networking-guide). As a really introverted and shy person it helped a lot.