Too many small businesses fail. That’s not pessimism—it’s just the reality. Starting and running a small business is no walk in the park. It’s often mentally exhausting, backbreaking, and emotionally draining. Burnout is real, and many people quit long before they get close to traction.
And in a down market like this? It gets worse. Much worse.
Right now, the landscape is flooded with “opportunity seekers.” You know the type—always on the hunt for the next big thing. The latest biz op. The hot new hustle. The silver bullet that will finally set them free. They want to “jump in” and run with it, but more often than not, they’re running in circles.
Part of the problem is the myth. The one that whispers (or shouts) that starting a business is easy. Scroll through social media and you’ll see it everywhere: shiny reels, pushy posts, seductive DMs. “Start your own business today!” “No experience needed!” “Just sign up and start earning!”
Spoiler alert: most of these “opportunities” are cleverly disguised sales funnels. They’re not trying to help you build a business—they want to sell you something. A coaching program. A digital course. A starter pack. A dream that you fund with your own money.
The media’s not helping either. Business opportunity articles are as common as marijuana sellers on the main road in Kalk Bay. (If you’ve ever been asked, “Would you like something green?” you know what I mean.) For weed lovers, it’s a kind of paradise. For business-op junkies, the internet is their dealer.
But here’s the hard truth: constantly chasing the next opportunity is a kind of addiction. It feels like progress, but it’s really just motion without momentum. A hamster wheel disguised as a launchpad.
Let’s be clear—I’m not anti-business opportunity. Far from it. But I am anti-hopium. The stuff that keeps people dreaming instead of doing.
Real businesspeople live in the real world. They talk to actual customers. They do the math. They research. They plan. They understand that behind every product or service is a customer who has to want it—and more importantly, pay for it.
Here’s a better approach:
Once you’ve found an opportunity—however it came to you—give it your full attention. Make a solid go of it. If it shows promise, keep going. If it flops, call it. Learn your lessons. Then, and only then, look for the next one.
Don’t chase shiny things. Build something real.
