A Happiness Project

Met an interesting friend and he told me this.

"Everyone follows their own path
People will always expect things of you
But often, you expect more of yourself than what you think others expect of you.
Don't wish yourself into a dream -
take steps towards it
How would you know what dreaming was if you never lived first?
So live. Take a risk on something."

Does it contradict to the twenty something TEd talk?
Is money a foundation for happiness?

I have never met such an inspiring man.
Putting that frame of mind in my situation, how much would it work?

Life shouldn't be too harsh right