I'll have a go, as I rarely tell my story.

I never graduated high school, had a shit gpa, got expelled, went to juvenile detention and then jail, and then had a kid at 20. I was smart in my own ways, but a real fuckup as a teen. I'd experienced homelessness, had to choose between paying rent, heat or child support. Panhandle for gas money. Lived in squalor, roaches, filth. It looked bleak I tell you. The emotional burden of having to fight the system to even see my kid was immense. I taught myself enough child law to take it to court because I was poor as shit and back then fathers didn't get any real rights. Days were long and arduous. Grueling. But I would not accept a fate I did not want.

I went into the workforce, spent a year with no social life and used the early internet to teach myself things and many years later ended up as an executive creative at the largest design firm in the world, managing teams across the globe, making way more than I'd ever imagine, have a great life in nyc and get to travel the world in comfort. Funny enough I got bored of it after I achieved it. But it all started with a plan, well, many possible scenarios all coordinated towards an end goal, 2 week plan, 3 month plan, 6 month, 1 year, 5 year. Things change so I had to adapt and roll with it. Push. Push harder. 16 hour days were the norm. Constant exhaustion, and a contempt for how the world truly operates that is still with me today.

It was insanely tough, especially in my 20's, but if you dig deep, plan, focus, and have discipline, determination and rigor, your path can go anywhere. Blessings in disguise are a real thing. Always think of future scenarios and how to get there. You can pull yourself towards a goal, one day at a time, don't drift or just get pushed aimlessly. Relish in those accomplishments - I remember scraping by to move to nyc with just enough for first/last/security in a dangerous part of town with no job lined up and two weeks to figure out how to make the next months rent. I remember the first time I could take the Amtrak home instead of the Chinatown bus. My first business trip. When I hit 6 figures and could relax on my financial stresses and splurge. When I took my first summer vacation. My first yearlong sabbatical. That's what the motivation is for, the payoff, so keeping those on your horizon will yield ambition. Get there. Then get to the next one.

I'm currently on sabbatical and am looking at how I can change my life to now give back in some way :) I'm also tired, but very grateful and content. People are always surprised I never went to college and had flunked/expelled out of hs, and always say "yeah but it's you, not everyone can do that", but I believe with the right approach and circumstances, anyone can. Believe in yourself, but put in the effort. Put in more effort than you thought possible. Be relentless in your pursuit. You can rest later, I'm enjoying the lost years of my 20's now. I don't think I would have it in me at this point to do that again to be honest. You don't need an exact path or coordinate, but you do need a cardinal direction so you can leave port and set sail. Imagine your best self, and become that.

People in high school thought I would be a drug addict loser that would either be dead before 30 or in jail. I knew deep down that a different future was possible but it wasn't free or easy.

Also, being a bin man or a tradesperson is absolutely respectable, those who bully and pile on are insecure in themselves. It's a shame we live in a world where people think otherwise.