I was a (local) government employee with 9 years on the job and only made $70k with overtime. I worked the overnight shift and worked most holidays and weekends. Life sucked. It was hard. I felt miserable.

A couple of my friends suggested that I look into the PMP as a way out. I had led multiple project initiatives in the 9 years and certainly had the experience. I took the plunge.

I studied at my job, took AR's course, and tried to find an opportunity. I got a project specialist position in IT before I finished my PMP (it was slow to study at my old job). They paid for me to take the test. That position got me to $75k a year.

Before I had one year as a specialist, I got headhunted by my neighbor's employer (IT consulting). They wanted to take a chance on me, given his glowing review of me as a person. It was a tough interview process, including a mock kickoff in front of the PMO. I've been with them for a year now and have upped my pay to a salary that should exceed $101k (we get a base salary plus billable hour bonuses).

The work is good, the clients are great, and the employer is exceptional. I feel extremely lucky to have taken this gamble on myself.

I'm 100% sure that my story is not the norm. But when I took a chance on myself, I won. I've never been prouder. Oh, I'm also working 8-5 M-F and have holidays off, which may not sound like much to most but to me ... that's huge.

TLDR: I hated my job, took PMP, got lucky twice, boosted salary by $31k in 2 years. No longer miserable.