Comment by bonesinger
10 years ago
In that boat right now, but instead of 5 years in, 1.5 years in. I've been reading books on design patterns (we barely use them, you should get an idea of how bad it is here) and just in general trying to be better.
Good on you. I left a place a little while back that taught me all the things I now know to look out for when I eventually start my own business or interview at new places.
Read Refactoring by Fowler. You'll learn far more why and how from his prescriptions than the GoF's descriptions.