There is so much to unpack here I wouldn't even know where to start. First off, you think you're having a mental health crisis so you're going to HN for advice? Now on to you're specific scenarios....
A. "Aggressively move into management" Why do you even think this is an option? Do you really think the only reason you haven't gone into management is because you haven't decided to claim the seat that they've got just sitting there waiting for you? Management is a hierarchy so by definition there are fewer and fewer seats the higher you go up. If you want one you're going to have to beat someone else out for it. "The cons might be too much politics. People skills don't expire though" So you already think the only problem with management is "politics"? You're already starting out with a contemptuous attitude towards management that comes out in later statements.
B. Again, so you're so good at what you do that you can just decide to become a thought leader. It seems like you're assuming you're brilliant and the only ting that has held you back from being a thought leader is that you haven't applied yourself to the task but once you do success is certain. This doesn't jibe with your statement that you think you're a failure.
C. "I could easily make 2x - 3x my salary [at a FAANG]" You're going to get a job at a FAANG that easily? and get a 2x-3x salary bump for doing it. If it was that easy why the hell aren't you doing that now? LeetCode is what's holding you back? You don't want to take time away from your family, perfectly reasonable choice, but then you can't easily get a new job at a FAANG.
D. Again, you can just walk in anywhere AND get a salary bump? Again why aren't you doing that already. It's kind of the no brainer solution which wouldn't preclude any of the other options and you're not even leaning towards this one.
E. This is just pure fantasy.
If your day job is soul-sucking then at the very least go with option D, take your 1.2x to 1.6x salary bump and reassess.
A. "Aggressively move into management" Why do you even think this is an option? Do you really think the only reason you haven't gone into management is because you haven't decided to claim the seat that they've got just sitting there waiting for you? Management is a hierarchy so by definition there are fewer and fewer seats the higher you go up. If you want one you're going to have to beat someone else out for it. "The cons might be too much politics. People skills don't expire though" So you already think the only problem with management is "politics"? You're already starting out with a contemptuous attitude towards management that comes out in later statements.
B. Again, so you're so good at what you do that you can just decide to become a thought leader. It seems like you're assuming you're brilliant and the only ting that has held you back from being a thought leader is that you haven't applied yourself to the task but once you do success is certain. This doesn't jibe with your statement that you think you're a failure.
C. "I could easily make 2x - 3x my salary [at a FAANG]" You're going to get a job at a FAANG that easily? and get a 2x-3x salary bump for doing it. If it was that easy why the hell aren't you doing that now? LeetCode is what's holding you back? You don't want to take time away from your family, perfectly reasonable choice, but then you can't easily get a new job at a FAANG.
D. Again, you can just walk in anywhere AND get a salary bump? Again why aren't you doing that already. It's kind of the no brainer solution which wouldn't preclude any of the other options and you're not even leaning towards this one.
E. This is just pure fantasy.
If your day job is soul-sucking then at the very least go with option D, take your 1.2x to 1.6x salary bump and reassess.