A combination of luck & hard work starting as an unpaid work experience kid, through to lowly mech doing a C&G259 trade course during the evening. 6 years after starting, FAA licenced. 7 years after that EASA licenced. Do I still enjoy the work? Yes - I've shined some days and sunk rather deep into it on others... Over time, I also learnt to understand why some LAE's/AMT's choose another career path.
BAe