The latest thing I've learned in software engineering is that people skills matter way more than anyone has told me. Most SWEs think they're working with code, but mostly they're working with people through code (esp APIs). SWEs tend to lack the skills to listen to their colleagues/customers and respond in an understandable way. Myself included. I've seriously considered part-time bar-tending jobs before.
In other words, I think there are parallels between serving food and serving data.
Started as a barback and worked long shifts overnight while still attending music college during the day. Made £5.05 per hour before taxes. Had to use my arm to sweep under the bars — the detritus mostly consisting of broken glass, lime wedges, and general dirt. The wounds on your arms would only be superficial, but the bits of vodka and citric acid made it sting.
Had to run up and down stairs carrying cases of beer and armchairs.
Slept very little. Consumed a load of sugar and caffeine to try to stay alert.
Switched to software. Wasn't very good at it. Still not very good at it, but I'm proud to have built a really great company full of lovely and talented people around the world. We're making some real waves now too[0].
Counterpoint here, i spent some years trying to get away from the bar and into tech, and eventually gave up as I both didn't enjoy it and still felt like a failure after 4-5 years of self teaching.
I can blame that partially to not having a mentor or much of a community as you say, but also to mostly just getting remote gigs via upwork where I was supposed to churn out a bunch of work without guidance (very anxiety inducing for a noob), and to my background in arts which put a constant nagging voice in my mind that asked me is this bullshit really what you want to do?
I went back to bartending where I've been quite happy ever since even if poor - it also gives an outlet to my artistic side, as you're partially a performer behind the bar.
After a while i started getting more and more into digital art tho and as i turned 40, i realise i need to make that my main thing and eventually leave the bar behind. It's a tougher jump as there's not nearly as much work as in tech, but I'll have to make it. Knowing how to code is a big advantage though (mostly doing VR and animation in Unreal Engine these days) and when it's just one part of the job i actually find it enjoyable :D
