I know actually completing a game is a massive milestone, a complete polished, holistic experience. Something that I've not yet been able to commit to.

There are of course classes and degrees to earn in several fields that will help gain experience, but how would one judge their own progress and strive to progress further?

The yellow brick road to "Rock Star Game Programmer" is very cloudy. At this point I think it may be closer to an ocean, drifting along until you wake up one day at your destination.