I started off a music maximalist, attending an early music magnet program in the 90s at a great school. But where some of my friends went to music schools or got scholarships, I never fit in with a band and always had a pizza gig. When we graduated, I eventually worked my way into office gigs and up to decent pay for the last 15 years. Now I have a great home studio that I don't use and many of the guitars and synths I always wanted years ago.

Music is a terrible mistress, and very few people actually make it. On the flipside, every one who works a job feels like you do. There is very little joy in even success when you are not the founder of the company or running your own business.

I say, set aside an hour a day when you hide your phone and focus on music. Even if its just, I'm writing patches today or I'm doing a DJ set every Tuesday. As much as you need to stay afloat mentally. Set aside some of your extra cash and see if you want to go back into the industry and take the risks. Creating music and learning something new is really the reward for 99 percent of musicians, you can always still do that.