How did you get more efficient learning web devellopement?

I'm a beginner/intermediate web developper,few mounth ago i took a 9 mounth course program who has pretty much go around web dev programming languages, and now i'm pretty confident to say that at least i can handle the basics of web programing.

So far i'm really enjoying what i'm doing, and i'm very motivated to continue on this way, but now i really want to push my carrier to the next level, so what i'm doing is to browse on the internet and try to find some well-build website and try to copy the way they are made, which i think is very usefull to test your knowledge, and your ability to visualise the code/design.

Which in this way i have some questions for the people whom have years of experience and are having a real carrier in this field:

[1] Is that the right way to really start being confident about your skills and pushing yourself to be better and better day after day ? ( copying well-build websites ) or do i need to do some challenges.

[2] Between working for myself ( starting a company ) or to work for somebody else which is the fastest way to became an elite develloper.

Tell me how did you guys have made it, i would really enjoy to read everyone's answer.

Thanks alot :)