Originally Posted by nico-t

Keep building your site, update regularly and build good links. That's it. Do this for years, not a month and quit, but all the time. You'll get crazy from it and you're gonna absolutely hate it, but you will eventually come out among the top serps.

All those outside influences are too many and once you concentrate on all of those things you cannot control yourself, you'll get very, very frustrated. Ignore it and keep building.

Edit: To keep your sanity DO NOT EVER listen to google. They want https? Fuck that, do your own thing. They say 'linkbuilding doesnt work'? Fuck them, they are bullshitting you. Disavow tool? Bullshit, just a way to put people to work for them and snitch on colleagues.
Everything they say is bullshit. Ignore them and keep your sanity.