My career has 3 weird, distinct phases:
Phase I
2003: Hired in pharma
2004: Fired
2004: Hired in pharma
2007: Fired
2007: Hired in med device
2009: Fired
Phase II
2009: Hired in Tech
2010: Promoted to manager
2011: Promoted to Director
2013: Promoted to work for CEO
2015: Hired as VP of Sales
2018; Become CRO
2019: Quit
Phase III
2019: Started a business
2019: $534k in revenue
2020: $413k in revenue
2021: $635k in revenue
2022: $1.73M in revenue
2023: $2.22M in revenue
2024: $3.88M in revenue (proj.)
Phase I was an utter failure.
Then, everything just flipped on a dime in Phase II.
It started when I found the right job, the right product, the right city, and the right people to work with.
Phase III started by using what I learned in Phase II.
So, if you're lost, consider focusing an inordinate amount of time on finding that perfect job.
It's often a springboard in your career and life.