At 17 I wasn't a good listener. I could listen to role models or people I deemed "above me" but not not else. If you become a good listener, who can understand people's problems, their fears, motivations, strengths, feelings, and emotions, you'll be years above and permanently above many of your peers. But it takes serious effort.

Do not undervalue skill sets outside of coding. We have hundreds of universities pumping out coders right now. Be someone else who can also code.