There are stretches in an IT career where it feels like everything turns into a loop. You study for another certification, tweak your homelab again, apply for jobs, interview, wait, get rejected, then start over. It can feel endless and personal even when it is not. This is usually the point where people start doubting themselves instead of the process.
What almost no one talks about is that this phase is normal. This is the middle. It is where skills actually form, even though it does not look impressive from the outside. Progress here is quiet. There is no applause for rebuilding a lab at midnight or failing another practice exam and trying again the next day. But that work matters more than the flashy moments people post about later.
Push yourself to learn, but do it in a sustainable way. Keep leveling up your skills, one layer at a time. Build the homelab, break things, fix them, then break them again on purpose. That hands on struggle is where understanding locks in. Take notes along the way, even if they are messy. Write down what confused you, what finally clicked, and what you would do differently next time. Those notes turn into patterns, and those patterns turn into confidence.
At the same time, take breaks. Grinding nonstop does not make you stronger, it just burns you out. Step away when your brain is fried and come back clearer. Talk to people. Share what you are learning. Ask questions. Do not isolate yourself during the hardest parts of the journey. You can even reach out to me. I cannot promise instant replies, but I do try to make time when I can because this path should not feel lonely.
When you are able, teach someone else. Helping others reinforces what you know and reminds you how far you have already come. If this resonates, point people to this knowledge base and tell them Dave sent you. The goal is not to race each other, it is to thrive together.
Most success stories look boring in the middle. That does not mean you are failing. It means you are doing the work that actually lasts. Keep going, stay humble, keep learning, make mistakes, take notes, take breaks, and trust that your hard work deserves the chance to pay off.