Earlier quoted context omitted.
I naively dropped out of grad school to cofound a startup where I was pushed out at the 11th hour before it was acquired. Took some personal time off to process the fallout and have been doing some consulting the past couple years. No network. No achievements. No notable educational or professional institutions on the CV. Just what feels like an ever-narrowing path to any sort of career success.
In what industry were you operating? What was your role? What hats did you wear as a consultant? You sound a little negative and self-defeatist about everything, whereas a lot of people would be able to spin even a startup failure as an amazing learning and growing experience.
I was sadly incapable of acquiring the mentorship, knowledge, and resources I needed on my own. I was naive and wholly ignorant. I ran around like a headless chicken for 5 years constantly putting out fires and looking over my shoulder.
And now have very little for it.