Ways

You become what you surround yourself with.
You are what you think of yourself.

Think about your circle of friends and how they influence you.
In my teenage years for example, i was always getting in trouble with my teachers and parents because i was very rebelous. I would never listen to anything they said because it was cool to be like that.
There is a reason why the bullies, nerds, sports guys, etc. always gather together in groups. Its a desicion you make subconscious in the early years. With whom you can indentify yourself with.
By developing the ability to reflect and analyse your own behaviour, you can learn to steer your mental development into the direction you really want to go to.

By the age of 15, i had friends who were much older than me, about 23. They were struggeling at life in many points.
They were shoplifting, starting fights with everyone, doing drugs and breaking all kinds of things like cars and windows just for fun. I have to admit that it was pretty amusing at that time because i felt safe with them. Luckily they weren't too dumb and never offered me any drugs so i never got into that. But one day you wake up and think to yourself, how far can you go with a life like this. I broke contact pretty soon after i had doubts about the consequences that might come by continuing.

I continued school and found new friends that i've chosen more carefully.
I was attracted to people who thought different and creative. People that weren't afraid to go new ways.
So sourrounded by them, i finished school, started to work, bought a car, and with the help of one of these great minds, i even invested in the early stages of crypto.

These people inspire me everyday and are one of the reasons why i keep working for my dreams.
And even now, about 10 years after school, we're still learning together and starting a business together. Everyone has his own way of thinking and approaching problems so we always find a solution.

I found it quite interesting, thinking about how i came to the point i am at now.
It's rarely a straight way to fulfill your dreams but its always about the decisions you make in life and how far your imagination reaches.