Made Up Excuses that Keep You From Getting Paid for What You Already Know
None of these are real. Here's what to do about it.
Hey, wise adventurer,
Every day, ordinary people over 50 start profitable businesses or side hustles.
You don’t need a business degree, a massive following, or some special talent nobody else has.
If you’re not getting paid for what you know yet — it’s mostly because you’re telling yourself made-up BS that’s stopping you from moving forward.
When I message or speak to folks over 50, I hear all sorts of excuses disguised as obstacles. While they’re completely made up — they feel real.
I know because I used to believe some of them too.
Let’s debunk them — so you stop wasting energy on things that don’t matter and focus on what actually moves the needle.
I need more research and courses
You convince yourself you need to know everything before you begin.
Just one more course, one more expert, one more "proven system."
You will never feel 100 percent ready to start.
You just need to start.
I never regretted spending money on any of the courses, books, mentors, or coaches. But what really moved me forward was action.
I have learned more from doing things and creating 7 differnt income streams online than watching videos or reading about it.
The devil is in the details, and what works for bigger creators won’t work for you. Especially if you just start.
Copy what smaller accounts do and works for them and add your personal touch to it.
I can’t decide what business to start
There are many business models, and they all work.
But only if you focus on one.
Instead of trying to find a “perfect niche,” focus on solving the problem for a specific person.
And if you have many ideas - that’s cool, too. You can test them and find out what works. The market will decide.
Your first idea or offer is not necessarily the last one.
I started with something completely differnt and pivoted.
Don’t be afraid to experiment and follow your guts.
Someone is waiting for what you have to offer.
So just start.
Business is risky, and I need stability
Risky is spending life in a job you hate with people you don’t like and being mediocre, miserable, and unhealthy.
You were brainwashed believing that you need a stable job and work hard to sustain yourself and your family. Actually, in the current economy, this strategy is risky. The number of layoffs, especially for people over 50, tells a differnt story.
If you still have a job, that’s cool. That’s how I started. It will give you some financial security while you build your own thing and create income streams.
Don’t quit a job before you build something. It may take you much longer than you think. And it will. Especially to an earnings level after 30 years of the corporate job.
Be bold but reasonable.
I have started a few different businesses, and I lost interest.
You will always lose interest if you don’t make enough money.
So many people start multiple businesses and spread themselves across them, without solely focusing on one.
Business model doesn’t matter that much. Finding teh right problem and a specific type of person willing to pay for it is far more important.
That’s why validation before building and offering is essential.
Any of your previous businesses could work if you would just do that.
Not finishing comes from similar fears as not starting.
Just don’t get distracted and keep going.
I can’t afford to fail.
No - you can’t afford to stay stuck in a life that you have no control over.
Your body and mind will eventually give up. No matter how many zeros on your bank account, savings, and properties you have. I’ve seen it too many times.
The only failure is not starting and giving up before anything happens.
Give yourself at least 3 months of focused work and see teh results. Anything less than that is not enough time and data to even assess it.
Create an offer and talk about it.
That’s how everyone starts.
I am not good at marketing
You don’t have to.
If you have a product or service people want, marketing is easy.
You can always upgrade your skills and make the most of the platforms you use. But the most important part is your offer and enough traffic (eyeballs) to it.
The average conversion rate is about 2 %. So, depending on what you sell, you can do the reverse engineering and figure out how many people need to see what you have to offer.
It’s as simple as that.
I am too old.
You are too old to be told how to live.
Being in charge of your own time and finances should be a normal part of adulthood. But we were brainwashed to prioritize whatever so-called “leaders” or bosses tell us to do.
That’s utter nonsense, as none of these people care about you or your family.
So do yourself a favor and build something on your own to finally be in charge of your time, finances, and the people you spend time with.
It’s entirely up to you.
And it doesn’t matter how old you are.
As long as you breathe, you can change it.
I am not technical enough.
It’s funny because you are the original native to the Internet.
I was born in the 60s and started to use a computer on a daily basis when I was 26. But I remember how the Internet was evolving at all stages. And actually participated in all of them.
Just because you didn’t grow up with technology doesn’t mean that you are behind.
The truth is that ideas, offers, and other skills are more important than technology. I know some young “technology nerds”, but they wouldn’t sell a thing and lack the social skills you have.
Make the most of it.
I don’t have enough time
Just because you see some people everywhere doesn’t mean you have to work around the clock.
You can build systems that work for you 24/7.
I often wake up to sales or upgrade notifications without me being there. The Internet gives you global leverage, and if you don’t use it to your advantage, you leave money on the table.
If you don’t do it, someone else will and create a life that you have always dreamed of.
Start with any amount of time you have, even just 30 minutes. Validate the idea first, and then you can scale everything.
You can’t scale zero, so just start firts.
What you can do today.
Western culture teaches us to dwell on the past or in the future.
As a result, you don’t live in the moment. And what truly matters is NOW.
Think about what you can do now that your future self will thank you for later. It can be as simple as posting a Substack Note and messaging people who engage with it. They can be your future clients. Don’t ignore them.
Most people never succeed because they worry too much about things that don’t matter (like a website or a logo), try to figure it out before they even start, or have completely wrong and unrealistic expectations.
Any business is simple but not easy. I am always transparent about it.
I wanted to give up a few times.
What you think is important doesn’t even matter that much. I am talking about the follower count and likes. None of these pay bills.
Clients do.
There are obviously more details in any business, and you will figure it out depending on your experience and skill set.
All I know is that you should get paid for what you already know.
You can figure it out alone. It may take you 2, 4, or more years. That’s your choice.
But if you want to save yourself months, years, and a lot of frustration — you don’t have to do it alone.
P.S.
Every excuse in this newsletter has one thing in common — it feels completely real until you move past it. The people who get paid for what they know aren't braver than you.
They just stopped believing the excuses before you did.
Which one are you letting go of today?
Rock the world, not the chair.
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