What is most horrible about current industry is that whenever I've done an outstanding job on the tech (which was essentially every time), the company failed to succeed on the financial side... Except one time where the company made a ton of money but I did such a good job that the CTO felt threatened and I had to quit.

Nobody in my network has much money so there is no network value there.

The only very successful people I know who like me were acquired by a big company for millions but they're not allowed by their new HQ to hire me. They still send me emails asking for advice and tell me that they appreciate my work which is great but for some reason I can't get any opportunities.

It's almost like I've been labeled as a member of the untouchable class.