“Was it easy and lucrative?”

This was a response to a friend’s Facebook post about liquidating an estate with roughly 3500 motorcycles plus additional parts a few years back. When I saw this post I have to admit my head exploded just a little. I had to take a step back and understand that this person seeking “easy and lucrative” has never owned a business before. On the other hand, my friend who posted the memory has been in a variety of related businesses (antiques, liquidation, estate sales, etc.) for many years, building them all from the ground up. Here’s the full exchange:

Don’t worry, all identities have been protected and actual images have been replaced. I’m not going to put someone on full blast for asking a question. I’ve most certainly researched “easy and lucrative” businesses, and have even tried a few. Guess what? They are not easy and lucrative. Of course, if you have unlimited funds to front a business venture it’s going to be far easier for you than the person starting from scratch. Money opens up opportunities and solutions for a certain price. However, you are probably not in the position of needing income from that business. I would consider you an investor of businesses. The majority of us are bootstrapping it.

I don’t fault anyone for wanting an easy and lucrative business. That’s the dream, right? Reality is a little different, my friend.

Somebody Help Me!

Most people have the intention to do great things and the potential to make it happen, but something goes awry . . . 

They underestimate the effort involved and they encounter blocks.

• No time. ⏰

• No money. 💵

• No confidence they’ll  be successful. 😞

• No follow through. (No hurry) 🐌

This is why the self-help industry was worth around $13.4 BILLION today (per Marketdata LLC).

Who of us hasn’t bought a motivational self-help book or been pumped up by a weekend conference? This personal development industry revs up our dopamine (the brain’s “happy” chemical) through powerful speeches, persuasive self-improvement books, enticing training programs, engaging apps, energizing conferences, just-for-today discounted courses, and all the merch to help you need to meet your goals (Who doesn’t need a Make Today Amazing! coffee mug and a journal with inspiring quotes?).

These are the Tony Robbins, Mel Robbins (no, they aren’t related, but I would totally milk that connection), Marie Forleos, and Jay Shettys of the world.

They may wrap it in different words and marketing, but the messaging is largely the same: You’re an amazing human. You can do anything you set your mind to (whatever that may be). 

There will never be a shortage of people seeking “easy and lucrative” opportunities, knowing that they will become confident and intentional with a never-ending supply of time once they find those opportunities.  

It’s called the self-help industry for a reason. You take the lessons and help yourself. The answer is always within. The effort must always come from you. The energy expended must be your own. 

But we want “THE ANSWER.” The magic bullet, the secret sauce, the straight path, the easy (and lucrative) way. We want to reach the destination without the journey.

This is why CONNECT collective exists. Getting what you want in life is not rocket science, it is process. It’s consistency. It’s mindset. It’s accountability. And it’s all within you.

Tips & Tricks

1. Avoid an “If I build it, they will come” mindset. (We will be exploring how to build your customer/client base in future newsletters.)

2. Have a plan. A well-thought business plan can provide you the structure you will need to keep your business and all its processes on track. (Start out with the CONNECT Exploratory Roadmap on the CONNECT collective FB page under the “Files” tab as a starter.)

3. Stuck? Network with people who have successful businesses. Don’t reinvent the wheel. Learn from people who have been where you are and have successfully navigated the growing pains of starting a business. (see future articles on Intentional Networking to avoid common pitfalls that make networking ineffective.)

4. Appreciate the Journey. Building a viable business is a process, not an end goal. Get fascinated by all the pieces that create it. Explore with the wonderment of a kid. Be curious.

Q: Did Michèle make this shiz up?

A: Data Sources:

How Motivation Works in the Brain and the Science Behind It (betterup.com)

20 Incredible Online Business Statistics [2023] - Zippia

30 Key Ecommerce Statistics for 2023: Insights and Trends (cloudways.com)