I have always worked at achieving my dreams, mine were always to be a musician, and proficient sound engineer, original artist, computer programmer, martial artist.
It is funny that Working on these things in "my own time" I have put more hours into these dreams than I have buried scrubbing toilets and cleaning peoples filth as a full time cleaner. many nights working... one more minute, one more replay one more recompile before waking up to my phone alarm face down, drooling on my computer keyboard, time to get ready for work.
Am I famous, no. am I a household name? no. rich? no. can I put a dream into action and achieve a result? hell yeah
I can play any piece of music I want to play, I can record it with professional proficiency. I am a good enough artist to express myself to my own satifaction. I improve every day at programming and I just got my black belt in karate. All while scrubbing toilets for a living. -till 3 months ago, more later
some dreams take longer than others, the programing one, will take a little longer yet to bear fruit but i work every night on some aspect of my programming.
My point is, By all means aim for all or broke while you are young. Life will generally forgive your leap of faith at a young age, I assume you have parents and friends who will let you sleep in their garage or basement while you piece your life back together if you should happen to fall. as you get older you assume more responsibilites and have far less lee way, fewer options to fall back on. That is where I imagine some of the pessimism from this thread is coming from.
but the chance never dies. I am 29. I worked for ten years as a hotel room cleaner(about the lowest end job you can get) I got home and lived the dream, just by doing it, doing it for myself, improving, striving. The funny thing is that I forgot about the whole submit it to agencies for eventual fame and profit thing. maybe one day I could stomach that idea.
that is just me. Thing is, I teach people music, I write it when I want, I program every day, I draw and 3d model when I need media, I train in martial arts daily, through my connections related to my interests I have a better job than cleaning, I will never scrub another toilet(besides my own) I earn enough to buy the equipment I need to better achieve my goals. My job isn't in any of these areas(I am a Lab tech, testing Quality of asphalt and roads earning enough to not even blink when i get a bill for anything)
again, rambling...
I aimed for my goals head first in the beginning, but even later I could still balance my reality and desire.
so its all good, there is plenty of time. just work on your goals.
Live scared die scared.
Live brave die knowing you did your best.
seems pretty obvious when condensed to two centences doesnt it?