I can just say I look back on those times of my life with appreciation but also, damn does it hurt. thousands of hours, almost HALF the time they say it takes to master something, and then nothing comes of it. I dont think until you've spent upwards of a year on something at 10+ hours a day.
When I speak about some of my past experiences, and the pain they bring, I feel like people's eyes glaze over. It's definitely not a WISE badge of honor, but I feel it's an almost much-needed lesson for the type of developer, like myself, who just becomes hyper focused and consumed. The multi-year project that never sees usage is.
