I have had what could have been 3 great careers, but ditched them all.
1. Chic fil A. I started as a normal grunt, ended up teaching store operators and managment how to work the machines and make the food. Traveled a little, and had a solid foundation to get a store or two later. Quit because the pay then was not great.
2. Residential Electrician. 10 years, started knowing nada, ended up a supervisor over 80+ people, and 17 crews. Quit because the owner was acting sketchy about me getting my license, and was not going to give me any more compensation.
3. Real estate. Got my license, and sold land/commercial ...$3.3 mil in 06... The market crashed and now I use my license to manage community associations, and hate every day of it, and the pay blows....just enough to not quit, but not enough to stay.
At 35, its hard to not look back w/ regrets.....thats the goal in the future, stick to the plans, try to avoid regrets.