Something that doesn't get enough recognition is how software engineers are able to build solutions for fields and disciplines outside their own. Actors get a lot of praise for the effort it takes to get into character and properly assume a role. People however don't know how a software engineer is able to build accounting software and other solutions despite not having a degree in that field.
The explanation is rather straightforward, for a software engineer to be able to create solutions for other discipline they have to take a lot of time to study that field with the aim of understanding the concepts and eventually being able to teach the machine how to perform those same operations. The software engineer doesn't have the luxury of time to get a degree in the field in question as such the only way to catch up is to study harder than the experts.
What this means for new entrants into the field is that you need to get used to the idea of working with numbers and learning constantly, you will have to study more than your peers working other jobs in order to be able to deliver impeccable software solutions.