It seems reasonable to me that diligent people with a positive attitude do better in the long run. And as far as I can tell, your positive attitude and diligence were self-generated.

The "scam" is ['researchers,' not you] claiming that what you've done for yourself, can be bottled, distilled, and taught in a classroom, or through millions of copies of a book, or huge speaking and consulting contracts, etc. That sounds good, but seems to not be true, or at least not be based in science.