I think you are right. Content is king. You get bogged down sometimes when you are trying to make the lessons on monetization work. A lot depends upon your niche. If you try to do the lessons in order and get stopped when you try to add affiliate links and /or install AdSense, you have two options: stop there and stagnate, or skip over and do all the lessons you can and concentrate on content.
Unfortunately, it looks like you are not serious about working through all the lessons, because you do not get credit for a lesson until you complete every point.
Some of us are stuck at lesson 3 even though we've been here for two years, while others have made it through in 2 or 3 months.
The right niche and tons of content and patience seems to be the right formula. You need all three.

I think 3 months is a bit optimistic for most people.

Great tips. Thanks

Good challenge,The course is designed to give us all aspects of the process but I agree its easy to focus on the montization but without the content or traffic, that is always going to be the next stage.

However by doing all the training in order its helps you get ready for that moment. Content is king I totally agree followed by traffic and without that the next bit is not going to happen.

The simple rule for me is as a miniumum publish three great articles per week. Its amazing how quickly it builds and your authority in a niche starts to blossom. Keep going! Thanks for sharing a really good point, Phil

For bloggers, content is the engine room of so many outcomes.