Gun Knutt,
I'm in the same boat as you, left a well paying management job in another industry to fufill QL requirements to be told you need to wait another 9-12 months (probably more now). I have just landed a job steering 19 seat turbines around, and deal with the company owner daily. Thanks QL for getting me off my arse and out of my comfort zone, I now have a great job without the associated politics.