I think of it like a lottery, you can go out and do your thing and do it well many many times and not get it done, making you question if you're even doing it right, if all that internet advice you got was worth even reading or looking at.
Then someone goes out and makes it look easy, then you really begin to question your skills. There's a reason hunting guides aren't calling in cougar for clients.
Fact is it just has to all come together, the right cat, the right time, right place, the right setup..
I'm convenced if those things are right, its not all that difficult to call one in.
As with the lottery, the more you play the higher your odds. Calling in a cougar dense area really increases your odds.
Moral of the story? Get out and call, even if it's a sick day!