I'm gonna jump in here with my .02.
Alex, sounds like you've been working hard. Better than that, you've been working SMART.
You've got an advantage most pilots don't- you've been following your own path and making your OWN career progression.
Those that will harp that you somehow, some way did not 'pay your dues' is so much 'Dumb Hooah'. We all get there through different routes. Enjoy the ride, suck the marrow from the bones of life, and don't let the whiners get you down.
.. and as far as being discouraged, I've been there. I spent nearly nine years riding sideways sitting behind hack helicopter pilots that couldn't fly their way out of a wet paper bag. I also spent a lot of that time sitting behind masterful aviators where I learned by the bucket load just listening to them talk to the crew on ICS. In the end, the things I learned and the contrast between those two sets of aviators turned out to be one of my biggest lessons in how I operate as an aviator.
It's all part of the learning cycle, bro. You've been on the positive trend of the ride or so long, maybe you were just overdue a bump in the road. Just throttle back a little, deviate around the worst of it, and press on.
I'd put money on your success long before I would for some of the whiners I hear in this thread.
You've been kicking ass. Suck it up and drive on, brother.
BTW- With your networking skills, I'm surprised the unemployed aren't sucking up like mad. I'd wager you could easily get them jobs. Of course- don't. Those who won't do for themselves won't do at all.
