"keep working on your own dream projects and people will come to you"

I'm afraid that sounds like wishful thinking to me.

Who pays the bills while you're dreaming?

How will these people know about your "dream projects"?
There are loads of people peddling their gizmos out there - it's going to take hard work and not a little luck to get your project noticed by the right person at the right time if it's going to be a winner.

This requires Marketing, which is something that many Engineers find difficult - we're just too honest! ;-)

Or, if they do hear about it, what's to stop them just copying you - so you don't get any benefit. :-(

Sorry to be negative there, but there seemed to be a need for a touch of realism.