mostly my professional life too. Lesson learned : a ton of up front work doesn't lead to success. Replace "work" by "delegate, socialize, have lots of luck" and you'll go much further :-)
Also work. Don’t do a PhD if the work is a problem. Do a PhD only if the work is in your bones. And also socialize, and do other luck-maximizing activities. But work is indicated.
Another way it is like a PhD - a ton of up-front work for an uncertain payoff, largely dependent on the whim of others.