These are the sad people of the world who get their goodies now and are fatalistic. I read American Gods because a neighbor thrust it into my hands and thought I might be interested because, gosh, I'm a writer too, and it takes place in our home state in an area I love. Ahem--not enough to buy more, but for some reason readers like his work or--as you said--he wouldn't be where he is. So---what can we learn from his success? Must we lie and cheat? No--but there is a way of finding out how to be in the right place at the right time--again, as you say.