no sponsor,
A lot of what I would do differently pertains to Oz because that's where I started from.
Firstly, I wouldn't have worked as a lab tech in biology. I would have got an apprenticeship or similar to get engineering (maintenance) experience/quals. This would have made me a lot more employable much earlier on. Not many out of work maintenance engineers. I would have gone to a different school, that error alone cost ~$15,000.
I wouldn't have stayed bush flying/VFR flying for as long as I did. I think that cost me dearly. After I got out of bush flying things went reasonably well.
Regarding this JAR thing? I got caught by a rule change and that cost me a few quid. In hind sight I probably should have stayed at home and done it distance learning. I and no one predicted the WTC Sept 11 disaster.
20/20 hindsight is a beautiful thing. If I was 38 and starting off, I would seriously reconsider that idea.