Currently working in a job that's well within the realm of dream-like.
The industry is critical infrastructure (think energy grid) and it's deeply interesting to see how this stuff works. Health coverage is absurd because they are a not-for-profit and invest all of their money back into employees, etc. My schedule is basically whatever I want as long as I am meeting my deadlines.
The role is in security, the health benefits are the best I've ever had, they match up to 10% in 401k, I make 90,000/yr and I am allowed to challenge myself and pursue my interests as long as they can be related back to the job in some fashion (easy to do). They pay for training, I've flown out on their private jet and get to attend security conferences. Work/life balance is exactly what I wanted.
I originally started in a call-center doing firewall administration for PCI compliance for small mom and pop fast food franchises. Very small business with roughly <90 employees. I moved over to the medical device industry doing information security at a large globally spanning company with >17000 employees. I've been in this industry for 6 years in total, I have a A.A.S. in Networking and Support. I would say what sets me apart from my peers is I am constantly evolving my skill-set. In the 6 years I've been working I've acquired the A+, Network+, Security+, SSCP, CISSP, GCIH, and I'm currently working on my OSCP.
I'm not really much of a paper collector but it gives me something of a structured learning approach. I also maintain a homelab in my spare time for tinkering around with technologies I'm curious about.
As far as general tips, what helped me get this job was not being the smartest guy in the room, it was how well I meshed with the engineer and the analyst I am now working with. Soft skills are SO important. So is networking. Just talk to people, attend local events, chat up vendors, it all helps with the practice. Be humble, too many people in IT suffer from ego, acknowledge when you don't know the answer. In short: be fallible and human.