It's true. I am in a very technical field, and I am saying without hubris that I am one of the best in my region at what I do.

I simply have a knack for it, I worked much harder than everyone around me, and I spent my free time practicing and learning more about both the small details and the big picture aspects of what I do. I learned the entire process.

I was also bold in my actions, took risks, created important novel solutions that no one else stepped up to create, thus making a name for myself. Along the way I created many friends and several enemies.

I lucked out by getting a chance to prove myself in the first place, and the opportunity allowed me to climb from the bottom 10% to the top 2% (of individual median incomes).

I only have a GED, a work ethic and aptitude. If there had been additional roadblocks beyond what I can personally accomplish, both myself and my industry would be worse off.

I consider myself very lucky, and things could have easily gone a different way. From my experience, most people end up where they start, if they are lucky.