If you were born in the 40-50s in North America the success story was graduating grade 9 and working a basic blue collar job. House, car, retirement no problem.
60-70s the success story was having bought a house, saving up basically nothing, then selling your shitbox house for a cool couple mil and retiring.
80-90 the success story is having not killed yourself yet and become educated enough you can work from your shit apartment.
00-today success story is having one of the previous sucess babies as your parents.