There are ways and means - the only common characteristics I've noticed in people succeeding in getting their gold "X" are a deep fascination with every technical aspect of aviation, sheer bloodyminded determination to get there. plus having had a degree of luck in being in the right place at the right time.
That said, notwithstanding the obvious desire most of us have for some degree of confidentiality, it might nonetheless be interesting for those of us who did make it to give a rough outline of how. Anybody like to kick off?
G