I assume you don't have skills if you don't dedicate your life to it. I assume you have blah blah blah family blah blah blah memories in which you chose some something else over harnessing your skills. Something you can only do when when you have a job in the first place. You more or less defined mediocrity
From my experience, the people who get hired are people who complain about corporate propaganda and don't work hard while what I considered hard working individuals are the ones who struggle to find work. Companies hire for mediocrity, not skill. If skill mattered, I would dedicate my life to a company. But it doesn't I so won't ever care.