Of course. Here is an article on that topic.
The Real Reason Most People Fail at Making Money Online (And How You Can Succeed)
The internet is littered with the digital skeletons of abandoned blogs, half-finished e-commerce stores, and YouTube channels with only three videos from 2017. The dream is universal: the “laptop lifestyle,” financial freedom, and the allure of earning a living from your passion, on your own terms.
Yet, for every success story, there are thousands of people who try and fail.
They blame the algorithm, market saturation, or a lack of startup capital. They lament that they “got in too late” or “chose the wrong niche.” While these can be contributing factors, they are merely symptoms of a much deeper, more fundamental issue.
The real reason most people fail at making money online is a critical mindset mismatch.
They approach an entrepreneurial venture with an employee or consumer mindset, and that is a recipe for disaster.
The Anatomy of Failure: The “Get Money” Mindset
When most people decide to make money online, their first question is, “How can I get money?”
This question immediately frames the entire endeavor as an act of extraction. It leads them down a predictable and frustrating path defined by a few key behaviors:
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Shiny Object Syndrome: Their focus is on the tactic, not the strategy. They jump from dropshipping this week to AI-powered affiliate marketing the next, then to crypto trading, always searching for the “magic bullet” that will finally unlock the cash flow. They never stay in one place long enough to build anything of substance.
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The “Magic Course” Fallacy: They buy online courses expecting a turnkey business in a box. They treat the course like a piece of IKEA furniture—follow the instructions, and a profitable business will appear. When it requires genuine effort, critical thinking, and adaptation, they feel cheated and look for the next course that promises an easier way.
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Impatience and Inconsistency: The “get money” mindset craves instant gratification, like a slot machine. When they publish a few blog posts or list a product and don’t see immediate sales, they assume it’s not working. They view the effort as a direct transaction: “I put in 10 hours, where is my $200?” This leads to giving up just before the compound effect of their efforts would have kicked in.
This mindset is fundamentally flawed because it skips the most important step in any business transaction, online or off: creating value.
The Path to Success: The “Give Value” Mindset
Successful online entrepreneurs, creators, and freelancers operate from a completely different starting point. Their first question isn’t about getting money. It’s:
“What value can I give?”
They understand a simple but profound truth: Money is a byproduct of the value you provide to a specific group of people. It is an exchange, not an extraction.
Shifting from a “get money” to a “give value” mindset transforms your entire approach. It’s the difference between building a business on bedrock versus quicksand. Here’s how you can make that shift and build a sustainable online income.
Step 1: Solve a Problem, Don’t Chase a Payout
Instead of asking, “What’s a hot niche to make money in?” ask, “What problem am I uniquely equipped or passionate enough to solve?”
- Bad Approach: “I hear AI tools are popular. How can I make money with AI?”
- Good Approach: “Small business owners are overwhelmed by social media. How can I use AI tools to help them create content faster and save 10 hours a week?”
The first approach is about you. The second is about them. When you focus on solving a real problem for a real person (your future customer), the “how to monetize” question becomes infinitely easier to answer later.
Step 2: Build an Audience, Not Just a Product
Your most valuable online asset is not your product, your website, or your social media profile. It’s your audience—a group of people who know, like, and trust you.
How do you build that? By giving value away for free.
- A writer gives away invaluable writing tips on Twitter and in a newsletter.
- A fitness coach provides free workout routines and nutrition advice on Instagram.
- A financial advisor breaks down complex investing topics in a weekly YouTube video.
This isn’t charity; it’s trust-building at scale. You are proving your expertise and demonstrating that you care about your audience’s success. By the time you have something to sell, you’re not a stranger asking for money; you’re a trusted guide offering the next logical step.
Step 3: Monetize the Trust, Not the Traffic
Once you have an audience that trusts you because you’ve consistently solved their smaller problems for free, monetization becomes a natural extension of your relationship.
You’re no longer just “selling a product.” You’re offering a premium solution to the very people you’ve been helping all along.
This can take many forms:
- Affiliate Marketing: Recommending a tool you genuinely use and love.
- Digital Products: A comprehensive course that organizes all your best advice into a step-by-step system.
- Services: Coaching, consulting, or freelance work for those who want direct help.
- Physical Products: A well-designed item that solves a tangible need for your community.
The method of monetization is the last piece of the puzzle, not the first.
The Takeaway: It’s a Garden, Not a Slot Machine
Stop treating making money online like a slot machine, where you put in a little effort and hope for a jackpot.
Start treating it like a garden.
You must first choose the right seeds (the problem you’ll solve). You have to prepare the soil (build your platform). You need to water it consistently with valuable content (build your audience). For a long time, it will look like nothing is happening.
But if you are patient, consistent, and focused on nurturing your garden, you will eventually have a harvest so abundant that you’ll wonder why you ever tried any other way.
Forget about “getting money.” Go out there and start giving value. The money will follow.
