I know where you are coming from, I've been there myself. When I was younger I tried all sorts of stuff that people told me wouldn't work. Usually they were correct but at least I learned it for myself. Sometimes they were wrong and I figured out something new. Either way was a good experience for me.

If you have the time and patience to learn stuff the hard way then that is good since those lessons will stick with you forever. If you don't have a lot of time but you have some money then you can hire an expert to jump you to the next stage. There are pluses and minuses for each approach. Use whichever works for you. The important thing is to have a plan and to keep it fun.