(2) Find out if there is a community maker-space in your area, and take a tour. You'll meet some of the most creative, entrepreneurial people there, and you'll see up-close, what's possible with product prototyping these days - 3D printed ceramics, robotics, CNC wood carving bots, metal carving, etc - and computer/code labs!
I ran a "Get your product on Shopify" workshop in a maker-space. It was tons of fun and high value - got people booted up with a custom domain name, photo of their product online, Buy it Now button, make a business card with a QR code. For software experts this kind of thing is easy (a couple of hours etc), but for most people - it can feel like an extremely complicated mission (managing DNS records, or adjusting a theme's CSS - super tricky!). Not that you need to go be a Shopify installer! But the point is that you can help turn someones dream into reality, and its satisfying for all involved.
Best of luck in the next chapter of your journey!
If I had waited 3 more years before I tried to go the startup route I'd have another 200-300k in the bank right now and I would have the financial independence to do whatever I want for however long I want right now.
Compound growth is amazing, take advantage of it while you are as young as possible.
So my recommendation for my future self is: Only start switching over once you can pay your bills with your startup. This does not mean that you need to have the same high salary as before. Ideally, you can also start reducing your day job partially. Anyways, the situation is different for everybody, but this is just my learning for myself.
Being contrarian, negative, saying it's impossible, telling you to stay in your lane is the default for most people, especially on the internet, especially if they feel smarter than average, as you might find on a forum such as this. My thesis: all negative advice has negative value and can be discarded with extreme prejudice. There is no exception to this rule.
Listen to those that have done, those you feel have something to teach, and put your personal spin to their advice when incorporating it in your own growth.
Good luck!
I too felt like you at a young age and am glad I stuck with the career. It let me do all the life things (get married, have kids, etc) in a stable environment. Now as I age, I also have (or rather, soon will have) the finances to freely choose to pursue something more independent.
It all depends on why you want entrepreneurship. I think if you just want to have money, then this it's a foolhardy path. But if you are excited by the idea of making something new, then there's really no rush. Just wait until the right time comes along, build up skills along the way, and bank your salary
(If not, by all means pursue your passion after you have comfortably retired. I, for instance, assume that I will never have a chance to comfortably retire.)