I didn’t find this job, really. It found me. I never sought an IT job and I figured they were mostly shit.
Getting lucky this way is the culmination of 20 years of making myself open to seize opportunities as they arose and occasionally sacrificing things. I came from a broke family that didn’t financially support me at all. I worked those shitty jobs, I went to college, I joined the military to pay off college debt and get a transferrable skill, I stayed in a bit longer for more education benefits, I used these to get a better certification in my field, I worked night shift for years and became a lab supervisor, and eventually an opportunity for IT presented itself, so I changed careers.
It did take years of training, some college, and sacrificing quite a bit. Multiple times I uprooted all my shit and bounced. Leaving family behind, making entirely new friends, it’s not easy. But if my nerdy, socially anxious, autistic ass can do it, many others can too.
Yes, luck plays a huge factor. Those lucky chances aren’t going to present themselves without effort though. Sure you might work hard and never get lucky, but I’d take that chance.