You can bust your butt learning from books and online, but the bottom line is if you don't have credentials (that piece of paper called a diploma), you aren't going to get very far unless you have connections in the industry. That's reality and I know from experience.

Poser 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Pro 2014, 11, 11 Pro