I think I began one pattern of my success in college.
I will call it spread out and focus.

In the first two years of college, I took many courses in business, english, computer science. When I didn't make it into the school of business, I stuck with English and Computer Science.

In mid Junior year, I stepped back and realized that I could take the diverse things I had done and PRODUCE some things. With a little planning, I was able to finish a degree in English, a degree in Computer Science, and I finished one semester early. At the time, the CS degree was a BA (Bachelors of Arts). However, the school was beginning to outline a set of additional courses needed to turn the degree into a BS (Bachelors of Science). I thought that a Bachelors of Science would look better on a resume. Therefore, I took several semesters of Physics and a few additional courses to fulfill the requirements. I officially got a BA in CS because the BS program wasn't finalized before I graduated. However, I fulfilled the requirements for a BS.

As I got older, I learned to spread out and find areas of computer science I liked. Then, I learned to take my experiences and forge a path producing expertise in an area that 1) incorporates the things I like about Comp Sci 2) is economically sound as there are always several jobs in the area looking for someone with my skill sets 3) lets me fill rolls that are not commodity  tasks that can be filled with just anyone.

I embrace the idea of always learning new things in different areas. However, at the end of the day, you need to have something to show for it.

Had a thought about how the Karate Kid did all those different unrelated exercises but then the exercises worked together to make him an accomplished fighter. The idea is similar.