Does everyone do this, or is it a particularly American conceit to look for simple solutions to complex problems?

'Recipe' is a misleading metaphor that invites trouble. Preparation and perseverance are great ingredients.

You can't make an instruction book for success. Heck, we have all succeeded in spite of ourselves at some point, so there isn't even a sure-fire instruction set for failure either.

You do things to improve your odds, or mitigate possible disasters, and you hope. But if you didn't even try, then what are you complaining about?