I have a few posts about the best ways to get your WordPress blog up and running in the most efficient manner. I would check some of them out.
Monetizing WordPress:
Top WordPress Plugins | Monetize Your Blog With Ads | The Net Fool
Best Plugins:
Top Five Must-Have WordPress Plugins | Dominate The Blogosphere | The Net Fool
Just make sure that you have your set-up in order and some good content before you start worrying about getting the most plugins and stuff up. Number one concern is always content!
