I agree with many premises and statements in your post, but not the conclusion you draw from it.

Following other people's strategies and emulating their tactics is too rigid of an approach. Life is dynamic and we all get unique stressors and feedback from life in any endeavor we pursue. Being locked in by other people's "laws for success" is just a symptom of a lack of belief in one's own judgement and lack of clarity as to where exactly one is going and why.

I sometimes wonder when rich and successful people explain why they succeded in life if they aren't completely oblivious as to the real reasons for their success.

I do not believe in luck. I find it frustrating to even try and penetrate the meaning of that word. Like destiny, I just don't know what it means.

What I believe in is vibration. I believe that people get the circumstances that they get for one simple reason: they attract them and draw them from life based on the vibrational soup of their being (I like tomato soup, and mushroom soup, but I digress...). When I read about someone like Bill Gates, I can't help but notice that life seemed to give him all he needed on his way to where he is now, especially in the beginning. Looking at it from a vibrational point of view, he is the perfect candidate to demonstrate the power of one's thoughts. He was allowed, by his upbringing and his environment, to think "higher" thoughts, and so he attracted "higher" things. But people can do it by changing their thoughts first, and attracting a new and better environment

I think that people should realize that life is custom made for each and every one of us. We are supposed to have unique experiences, so:

1. practice stoicism (or something like it) and see your thoughts and emotions "from a distance"

2. understand that clarity of thought will bring about clear solutions, so work on being clear

3. know you have an unique journey ahead of you and you will have to, if you desire to be as happy as you can be, listen to your inner voice and discern what is right for you

4. read Nassim Taleb to understand when experts suck and why:)

Peace, all!