The single most important question to ask yourself if your weight training plan is on the right track:
"Am I getting any stronger over time?"
This is really what it all boils down to. If your gym performance is consistently increasing, then you know that your plan is working. Since muscle growth happens so slowly, I take pictures weekly in order to track my progress.
I've taken some pretty cringeworthy photos for sure. I'm certainly not where I want to be, so doing what I've already done won't get me there (i.e., back to the Alps). Improvements can take several forms, but for most beginning lifters like me, gradually adding more weight to your exercises is where the focus should be. It's a long struggle for a large-boned ectomorph like me, but I will keep fighting. It will take dedication, hard work, eating the right amount of macros, lifting smart, and getting enough sleep to improve the process. Fitness also depends on age and genetics, which, of course, I have no control over. However, having average genetics is not a death sentence. Don't worry too much about your genetics. Lifting weights to the best of your ability is an ongoing process, and that's the fun of it for me. I am competing against myself. And to all you fellas with great genetics or who started weight training at a younger age, good for you!