How can I escape the CRUD dead end?

Interesting. I'm currently building something in a new stack from scratch, which has been fun so far, but a book to help get some knowledge in a different area is a great idea! Thanks.

Oh awesome, thank you for breaking down my post like that! Really helpful insights, I appreciate it ✌️

As a quick rundown:

1. I quit school in 2014 after taking GCSEs (rather than doing A-Levels and Uni)
2. I took an apprenticeship in "IT & Computing" which was very general, mostly covered helpdesk and basic technician stuff but had one short module on web development. The whole curriculum was shit and the course was a bit of a mess, so I quit before completing it, but the work experience it gave me helped me get a foot in the door of IT as a career. (Very broadly)
3. Took a job as a technician full time. Started work in the warehouse helping set up their servers and network, and provide general tech support for the office staff as well as helping build hardware/carry out general warehouse work. This company was dodgy as fuck but work is work on the CV. Critical to mention, I think I got this job because of largely non-technical reasons; soft skills in interview against a shortlist of very introverted people, and I got on with the boss who was making the decision very easily, we bonded over quitting school and wanting to prove our ability to work instead of getting certificates. I also took this job at a very low wage. It was a tough year, but it was a full-time job that allowed me to move into my own place away from my parents.
4. Moved from the warehouse to the (for my eternal sins) marketing department. This moved my role from technician/desk support to web developer.
5. Quit, moved to a web agency as a web developer.

And then stayed as a web developer, changing employers around once every two years (in an effort to "quickly" inflate my salary). I've worked in-house, at agencies. I freelance, too. Have done on and off for years, as a writer, designer, or developer, depending on what I fancy doing or what I can get (or how desperate I am for cash).

Mostly worked with WordPress, but have had the opportunity to work with all kinds of systems. Designing too, SEO stuff, just things you pick up that makes your life, your project managers' lives, and your colleagues' lives easier.

I've been very lucky. I don't know how AI/economy will affect that career path I had. I've undoubtedly been fortunate with my opportunities!

But that's how I got to here, if you were genuinely curious ✌️

I am employed, but it's a small agency. I've tried to push for more design work, but my direct boss is a designer and pretty protective of his role so no chance there.

I'm working alongside work at the moment 😅 which reduces time and energy available for studying, but I always try to expand my role in my freelance so I think that's probably the way forward! Good suggestion, thank you ✌️