Eh? I think it's best to do that the other way round!

I never had a plan when I was younger - left college with mediocre A levels, worked in a bike shop for a year and saw an IT helpdesk post advertised. As I was into my computers I went for it and got it. Spent four years busting a gut in that place, doing all the overtime avail and working shifts - then got offered a "gen to tech" training course and they trained me as a computer programmer. Completed that course in 6 weeks and a year later got promoted to a full programmer. Busted a gut at that then got offered a web design/xml/xsl course so I went for that. Completed that and got another promotion. Then got offered a live support role for Siebel systems with more training. I completed that three years ago and got another promotion and now I've reached a plateau (I'm 31) where I have enough money for the life I'm happy living - good house, couple of nice cars, a wife and two kids.

I can now relax at work a little and cruise a bit, knowing I can complete all the tasks I need to do in half the time they expect it to take. So I'm not stressed nor over busy and I have some serious skills under my belt. All that from taking a punt at a job that sounded interesting and then grabbing every opportunity by the balls and making the most of it (as I would of done if I had got the job with Stu at M Developments if he'd shortlisted me).

So yes, there is a little of "right place at the right time" but you need to make the most of everything that comes your way. So, get a job, any job - that job in the crisp packing factory might just be the foot in the door to something excellent - I always think, at the end of the day, somebody owns that factory/business - work your way up and take their job!