I've been mixing for a little over 5 years now. It mostly started out of curiousity, but the major influence was a long distance trip to Chicago where I got to see Fatboy and the Chem Bros live in the Aragon Ballroom. Ever since I've aspired to want to make a living someday of mixing and moving a crowd to the extent they did.
Don't have much more to say beyond that really, except that I have read and re-read this book and recommend it to anyone who wants to be... or is actively dj'ing.
"Last Night a DJ Saved My Life" - The History of the Disc Jockey, by Bill Brewster & Frank Broughton.