This is precisely the "American Dream" mindset that the article is calling out as a fallacy. Most people are not in a financial position to do what they want, much less achieve lifelong success (financial or otherwise) doing it.
You can live on so much less than minimal wage - it is because people go along with societal expectations do they consider it not enough. You pay the rent to live in an apartment, in a city, and work an official, recognised job. Why do you necessarily need to live in an apartment? Why in a city? And why do you need to work that menial job to pay off all of it barely having anything left at the end of the month?
Look up dirtbagging, a movement rock climbers came up with to dedicate their lives to climbing instead of the 9-5. You can get by fine with living in a tent and eating from expired cans and free McDonalds ketchup packets if that gives you the freedom to pursue what you find meaningful.