Making Money Hurts People’s Feelings (but so what)

Why Most Businesses Fail as Investments

1. The Business Isn’t a Business:
   Many so-called “businesses” are just freelance gigs under a different name. Take the real estate example: the realtor was the business. Without him working, the business didn’t exist. That’s not a scalable or saleable enterprise.
2. Scalability is Key:
   A real business generates revenue whether or not the owner is present. Systems, employees, or automation need to be in place to ensure this. Otherwise, you’re just buying a job, not a business.

The Difference Between Freelancing and Business Ownership

• Freelancer: Works directly for clients, trading time for money. Income stops when work stops.
• Business Owner: Creates systems that allow the business to operate and generate revenue independently.

What Makes a Business Valuable?

1. Residual Income: Like a book that keeps selling or a song that earns royalties, residual income is the result of upfront work that continues to pay off.
2. Scalability: A business must be able to grow beyond the efforts of one individual.
3. Saleability: The business must be transferable to a new owner without falling apart.

The Myth of Struggle

• Struggle Isn’t Proof of Success:
  If everything feels like an uphill battle, you might be on the wrong path. Success should align with your talents and flow naturally.
  Example: Instead of trying to make money immediately, focus on building something valuable. That’s why my first year of blogging wasn’t about income—it was about building an audience.
• Struggle Isn’t the Heroic Journey:
  Struggle is often glorified by people who want to justify their lack of success. In reality, the path of least resistance often leads to the best results when aligned with your natural skills and passions.

Becoming an Online Entrepreneur

How to Make Money Work for You

1. Create Residual Income:
   • Do the work once; get paid repeatedly. This applies to writing a book, creating a product, or building a system that operates without constant input.
2. Develop Systems:
   • Businesses that run on repeatable processes are valuable. Freelancing, by contrast, is dependent on individual effort and time.
3. Accept Responsibility:
   • If you’re struggling financially, the fault lies with you. Accepting this is the first step toward fixing it.

The Truth About Money

• It’s Easy for Those Who Prioritize It:
  Making money isn’t hard if you’re willing to prioritize it, work for it, and focus on opportunities.
  Example: People who hustle to build side businesses, invest in themselves, or create assets can generate income much more easily than those who sit and complain.
• Losers Seek to Be Given Money:
  There’s a growing belief that money should be handed out simply because someone exists. This mindset guarantees perpetual poverty. Winners seek to create value and get paid for it.

How to Build a Real Business

1. Start with the End in Mind:
   • If your goal is to sell your business one day, build it to run without you. Think of systems, automation, and a team.
2. Focus on Residual Opportunities:
   • Products, services, or investments that continue to generate income after the initial work are key.
3. Stop Waiting for Permission:
   • Nobody is coming to save you or give you the green light to start. Act decisively.

The Psychology of Success

• The World Doesn’t Care About Your Struggles:
  People admire results, not excuses. If you’re struggling, it’s your responsibility to figure out how to stop.
• Money Exposes Mindsets:
  Average people despise those who succeed because it reflects their own failure to take action. Successful people, however, seek out opportunities to grow and connect with other winners.

Action Steps for Entrepreneurs

1. Evaluate Potential Businesses:
   • Is it scalable?
   • Is it saleable?
   • Can it generate income without your daily involvement?
2. Focus on Building Assets:
   • Write that book, create that product, or build that team. Assets are what generate true freedom.
3. Avoid the Wrong Path:
   • If it feels like you’re swimming upstream every day, reconsider your approach.
4. Own Your Success:
   • Success isn’t about luck; it’s about effort and alignment. Make money a priority, and it will come.

Final Thought: Permission is Irrelevant

You don’t need anyone’s approval to take action. The world rewards those who act decisively, take risks, and learn from failure. Waiting for validation ensures one thing—you’ll remain stuck.