This question or some form of that question gets asked here almost daily. Since I am on the other side of this mountain, allow me to share some thoughts.

I, like so many here, started lessons as a young lad (or lass). Sometimes I was a diligent student, but many times I was pretty indifferent, in other words a pretty typical kid. I did pursue two performance degrees for my education but have earned very little of my lifetime's income from anything directly related to this education. (I have given a few concerts and have taught anywhere from 0 - 20 students, just 6 right now.) However, what I did do was continue to play consistently... OK, as consistently as one can do while working 60+ hours a week and raising a family. But I did keep at it, steadily building my repertoire and skills.

Over the last few years, after finally semi-retiring, I started to record my old rep and my new rep. To date I have nearly 100 classical works on YouTube along with over 3400 Christian hymns.

From someone who can see the finish line in the distance I can tell you this with complete certainty, IT HAS BEEN WORTH IT!