Hmm. A lot to ruminate on here. I think you're right on the money as far as how one can succeed given the current system. But I think that the problem is the system itself.

It teaches us just enough to be able to earn, but almost nothing about money except that we need to spend gobs of it to be happy. For the average person raising a family in decent conditions means either living with their heads just above water or going into debt.

But cash flow is the first skill to master, however one master's it.