On false hope, fair deals, and a few people worth your time.
I am never going to be against anyone earning a living by selling something they've created. That's just business. They create something that you want; you buy it. That's a transaction, and you always have a choice.
You look at the product and then decide if the cost of it will return an equal or greater amount of value. I buy a tub of margarine for x amount because it makes my morning crumpets more enjoyable. There are too many examples to name. Either way, we are still in the world of supply and demand.
One of the reasons for creating jonnysuccess.com was to shine a light on things that don't do what they promised. One thing's for sure, I will never run out of content opportunities.
The need to create a second income is high. The cost of living is going up and the value of money is going down; being able to supplement our income has never been more sought after. The demand for something, anything, that can take us to our desired destination is increasing. For many, that objective is financial security.
With that desire comes an increased hope. This is why we look for opportunities that will enable us to pay off our mortgage early, or, at the other end of the scale, to put down a deposit on a home.
Again, there are infinite reasons why people need more income, and many look online for a solution, only to have their hopes crushed by something that promised it all and delivered nothing.
Now, not everything, or everyone online, is out to take advantage of a person's sometimes desperate situation. Many 'creators' add value to our lives with the content they put out; many don't.
Look, everyone wants to make a living, and I'm not against that. For us on the outside looking in, once again, it is transactional. We have to decide if the equation is worth being part of, whether that's with our time or money.
The promise of an outcome that is genuine will often come with a price tag, and we have to decide if that price tag is worth it. Buying something for $10 that promises you a return of $5k a month recurring, well, that might be too good to be true, and that's not a bad caveat to live by.
Those types of deals normally have small print that offers no guarantees because the results they show you aren't typical, and they don't know your work ethic or whether you'll actually do the work. You know the drill.
This post is potentially endless if all we look at are more examples like the last one. With that in mind, let's end this post by mentioning a handful of creators I like for the opposite reason. Also, a platform that is well worth your time. Forewarned is forearmed; even the best platforms will have 'false-hopers' loping around insidiously.
To the good stuff, and I hope that you continue this theme and advocate for your shining knights in the comments.
In no particular order. First on the list are Alex and Leila Hormozi. These two have put out an almost limitless amount of content, and it's worth adding that this is premium-quality content. If you consumed even ten percent and then took action, well, you've just given yourself a way better than average chance of success. You'll find them, for the most part, on YouTube, but they also have a huge, free library at Acquisition.com. The main theme, in my opinion, would be showing you how best to become an entrepreneur, but not in a tacky way.
Next up, Nick Saraev. I don't know exactly how Nick would describe his occupation, but I do know that he is consistently putting out very valuable content and resources, and I mean stacks. The main theme would be showing you how to put AI to work and possibly building a business around that knowledge. If you prefer, you can just use that information for yourself or to bump your CV up a notch if you fancy working within an environment that needs those skills. Find him on YouTube, and if you want to learn more about the man, nicksaraev.com.
Last but certainly not least, we have Sabrina Ramonov. She is a brilliant 'no frills' software creator. I came upon one of her videos by accident and then spent the next week working my way through her back catalogue on YouTube. Loads of content to peruse, mainly AI-oriented, but her videos are detailed, with many being designed for the beginner, which made me happy. As far as I'm aware, YouTube is the best place to dive in, although you can get her regular newsletter, which is rammed with the latest useful info, at sabrina.dev.
All three have other destinations you can head to, which segues nicely into the platform that is well worth your time. Skool.com. The platform itself is primarily based around communities. Some charge and some are free. All three of the above shining stars have communities on the platform, and any one of them is well worth your time.
Just before you ask, I am not affiliated with any of the three or the Skool platform itself; I just wanted to share the love. I also know that everyone is different and they might not appeal. Years ago I found Personal Power by Tony Robbins; I devoured that stuff, and it was just what I needed at the time. Not long after, I lent the programme to a friend, and they hated it. They said it was too cheesy. Luckily, we're not all the same, and that makes for a far more interesting life. Anyway, hopefully you'll get as much out of the intrepid trio as I do.