_delirium: I highly recommend you read this short biography of Scottish scientist James Croll, who developed the modern theory of Ice Ages -- with little formal education, he decided to become a scientist while working as a janitor at the age of 38: http://www.guildtownandwolfhill.org.uk/assets/files/pdf/Jame...
Edit: submitted the link as http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4370924 because Croll's story can be very inspirational for the many entrepreneurs on HN who're coping with the challenges of building a business from scratch.
Why is an exception like Croll, who is literally one out of thousands (how many scientists make their breakthrough in their late 30s/40s, while working at menial labor? now, how many cranks do that...) of any interest?
Edit: submitted the link as http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4370924 because Croll's story can be very inspirational for the many entrepreneurs on HN who're coping with the challenges of building a business from scratch.