Born in the wrong era? No. There is no wrong era.

study hard = good grades?
no.
tyco can do well can do bad. bell curve can push up can push down. anything can happen.

good grades = good job?
no.
stragiht a's doesn't mean get good job. fail doesn't mean cant find job. jobs not based solely on what we can offer, is see what ppl want and when.

good job = good money?
no.
graduates can get low paying jobs. coffee shop uncle can earn tonnes of cash. money can be obtained by various means.

good money = stable life?
no.
you could have a recalcitrant gambler in the house. you could meet a car accient. you family member could fall ill. money can disappear overnight.

stable life = happy life?
no.
stable life can end up achieving very little. can become boring. can become sucked into maintaining stable life, that there is no life being lived.

happy life = meaningful life?
no.
meaning is not defined by the created but by the creator. happy life may satisfy us, but that is not the issue. life is more than happiness.

therefore?

fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man.