> My self esteem is terrible and I haven’t left for fear that I won’t be able to “make it” anywhere else, paralyzed by the fear of ending up unemployed.

> I’m angry that I have a 10 year career full of ambition that went absolutely nowhere, I want to leave, but it’s scary.

> Your story gave me a great boost of encouragement to start seriously planning my exit.

I worked for a shit software company in the midwest for a few years after graduating. I also felt scared I wouldn't be able to make it. I eventually landed a job in SF and learned my value as an engineer.

But I suspect a lot of people have similar stories to this.