Absolutely true.

Most of the guys who I knew in the early days who got into flying simply because they wanted the lifestyle and the money of a major airline captain are long gone.

Those were the guys who didn't know the difference between a C-172 and 747 when they started flying they just thought they were going to make a lot of money as a big jet pilot. On the other hand the guys who got into it because they loved airplanes and flying generally are still in the business in one capacity or another and are generally satisfied.

If you get into this thinking that you are going to scream up the ranks and land at a major, with a time frame in mind there is most likely a big dose of bitter disillusionment waiting for you somewhere along the path.

I am one of those who never pictured myself at a major and I refused to work for any regional, ever. I never had illusions of a preordained self imposed career path on a time line. I did what I wanted, enjoyed what I was doing at the time, progressed when I had a chance and didn't worry about things I couldn't change.