hmm...the 50 year old metal head in me would disagree with a lot of this...and is glad that the 20 year old me was not worried about the mainstream definition of success. I have managed to make a "real job" out of music, and playing metal has been some of that. For the past 30 years, I have been getting payed to play the drums every day as a band director/percussion instructor. For a while, I was also playing in a working/touring band - which made for some long nights-into-days during the week, but it was also a blast. Play a gig in X City, drive back home, change in the car in the parking lot, and head to class for 8 hours....I loved those days. 24 hours of music in all forms etc...
I think what a lot of people need to do is not fall into the mainstream definition of "success"...which is very small, narrowly defined space. Success is what makes you genuinely happy, at least to me. Not what someone else is telling me to be...and it never did, or never ever will have to do with the amount of money I have.
I 100% agree with the credit card thing, and carry only one right now, with a $1000 limit.