I loved this piece, not the least because it spoke both to where I've been and where I am (promise, I'm not about to say "post picture of your left nostril and make $27K in an afternoon!"). But I also have a whole bunch of experience - but not a lot to actually SHOW for it. And there were times long ago when I was literally busking on the sidewalk to make food money for my kids (often supplemented by donating plasma).

The neat part about the kids was that it was a challenge that time solved -- the more they grew, the more time I had to work on my own stuff. So if that thought helps any ("This too shall pass, enjoy them while they're cute") hang on to it.

As for the other, though, I cheered when I read about the "I missed the boat" idea. I have said to myself for years, "If I'm so smart, why ain't I rich?" Figuring out the bills is my least favorite thing ever, and my post-children life has been all about trying to figure out how to convince people to pay for what I do.

I'm still figuring it out too. All I can offer from being, what, about a decade ahead of you in that path? is that the one thing I wish I'd done less of is take jobs that I knew I wouldn't like because we needed the $$. The urgent really is the enemy of the important.

I look forward to reading more of your work - keep sharing your story and experience - and the tools you find help you get through them.