The Internet’s Full of Hustle Porn, and I’m Over It
Look, I’m a 25-year-old writer trying to make it in this wild, algorithm-driven world, and I’ve had it with the so-called “mentors” on X or TikTok promising six-figure side hustles with their $997 courses. You know the type: slick landing pages, testimonials that feel a little too polished, and course titles like “Million-Dollar Resell Blueprint” or “Hack Your Way to Passive Income.” It’s all noise. Most of these folks aren’t selling success—they’re selling hope, raking in cash from digital products while you’re left with a PDF and a dream.
I’ve fallen for it before. Spent $200 on a course that promised to teach me how to “dominate” the e-book market, only to realize it was just recycled advice I could’ve Googled for free.
The truth? Being a solopreneur isn’t about chasing someone else’s playbook. It’s about figuring out what makes you tick, what you’re good at, and how you can turn that into something people actually care about. It’s messy, it’s hard, but it’s doable.
Here’s what I’ve learned after a couple of years of trial and error, distilled into three things that’ll shape your one-person business:
- Your unique vibe
- A fresh goal
- A new way to get there
The secret sauce? It all starts with owning who you are and building a personal brand that’s so you it’s impossible to copy.
Stop Picking a Niche. Be the Niche.
I used to think I had to pick one thing and stick to it—like, “I’m a freelance writer, so I can only write about writing.” That’s what all the old-school advice says: niche down, be the go-to person for one hyper-specific thing. But that just made me feel boxed in, like I was trying to be a knockoff version of someone else on Substack.
Then I started looking at people like Joe Rogan. Yeah, I know, he’s polarizing, but hear me out. The guy’s not just a comedian or a podcaster. He’s this weird mix of UFC nerd, hunting enthusiast, psychedelic explorer, and martial arts geek. Nobody can replicate that. He didn’t pick a niche—he created a category and became the king of it.
That’s the move. Don’t limit yourself to one thing. Lean into the random combo of stuff that makes you, well, you. For me, it’s writing, obsessing over personal finance (thanks, Reddit), and geeking out about UX design. I’m also that person who’ll spend hours debating the best coffee shops in Austin. When I started blending those passions—writing about money, tech, and the vibe of a good workspace—people started paying attention. They didn’t follow me because I was the “best” writer. They followed because I was me.
So, what’s your mix? Maybe you’re into fitness, gaming, and true crime podcasts. Or you love coding, craft beer, and vintage thrift hauls. Whatever it is, stop trying to fit into someone else’s box. Build a brand that’s a mash-up of your quirks, and you’ll stand out in a sea of sameness.
Build a Business That Actually Makes Money
Here’s where I messed up early on: I thought being a solopreneur meant I had to build some groundbreaking app or go viral on X. I spent months trying to learn JavaScript, thinking I’d create the next big productivity tool. Spoiler: I didn’t. I just ended up with a half-baked prototype and a headache.
The problem? I was trying to be a “code monkey,” focusing on tech for tech’s sake without understanding what people actually wanted. Most developers fall into this trap—they pour years into building something perfect, only to realize they don’t know how to sell it.
If that’s you, stop. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. You just need to solve a real problem for real people.
My lightbulb moment came when I started thinking about partnerships. Instead of building something from scratch, why not team up with creators who already have an audience? For example:
- Travel YouTubers: Build them an app with curated city guides, hidden gems, and budget breakdowns. Think Kayak meets Lonely Planet, but hyper-local.
- Twitch streamers: Create a community site for their fans with exclusive tutorials, strategy guides, or even a leaderboard for their favorite games.
The beauty here is you’re not starting from zero. These creators already have fans who trust them. Your job is to make something their audience will eat up. You can either:
- Get paid upfront—treat it like a freelance gig and cash out.
- Take a revenue share—get a cut of the profits if you’re in it for the long haul.
I went with option one when I built a simple landing page for a YouTuber’s merch drop. It wasn’t glamorous, but it paid my rent. Now I’m experimenting with revenue shares, and let me tell you, there’s nothing sweeter than passive income hitting your Venmo while you’re binge-watching The Bear.
Turn Your Words Into a Digital CPR Machine
Okay, I’m a writer, so I’m biased, but hear me out: words are your superpower. In a world where everyone’s scrolling X or doomswiping on Threads, good writing—stuff that grabs people and makes them feel something—is like digital CPR. It brings brands, ideas, and businesses back to life.
I used to think writing was just a side hustle, something I’d do on Upwork for $20 an hour. But then I realized the real money isn’t in churning out cheap blog posts. It’s in using words strategically—think copywriting that converts, email sequences that sell, or content that builds a loyal audience. I call it “Digital CPR”: Content, Promotion, and Revenue, all working together to make a business thrive.
Here’s how to level up:
- Master copywriting: Learn how to write emails or landing pages that make people click “buy.” (Check out Copyhackers for free resources.)
- Build sales funnels: Guide people from “who are you?” to “take my money!” with smart email campaigns.
- Create email-based courses: Package your expertise into a 5-day email course and sell it for $50 a pop.
But don’t stop at writing. If you really want to stand out, learn to speak. Public speaking is like the espresso shot to your writing’s cold brew. A killer blog post can get shares, but a great talk? That’s what gets people to DM you for collabs. I was terrified of speaking at first—legit got shaky hands at my first Toastmasters meeting—but now I’m pitching to speak at local startup events. It’s a game-changer.
Start Small, Start Unscalable
I used to obsess over “scale.” Like, “Is this idea big enough to blow up?” But that mindset kept me stuck, daydreaming about unicorn startups instead of actually making money. Here’s the truth: the best way to start is by doing something so small it can’t scale.
Think one-on-one coaching or consulting. Got a skill? Teach it. I started offering 1:1 writing coaching for $50 an hour, helping new freelancers polish their portfolios. Was it scalable? Nope. Did it pay my bills and teach me what people actually needed? Hell yeah.
Here’s the playbook:
- Validate your offer: Find one person who’ll pay for your help. That’s proof you’re onto something.
- Make money: Use that cash to fund your next step.
- Level up: Once you’ve got traction, move to group coaching, cohort-based courses, or a full-on online course.
I’m working on a cohort-based writing workshop now, and it’s only possible because I spent six months doing 1:1 calls, learning what my clients struggled with. Start small, get paid, then grow.
Build a Community, Be a Leader
In 2025, with AI spitting out answers faster than you can type, information isn’t the problem. Context is. People don’t just want facts—they want to connect with others who get it. That’s why communities are the new goldmine.
I joined a paid community for indie writers last year ($150, ouch), and it was worth every penny. Not because the info was groundbreaking, but because I got to Zoom with people who were living the life I wanted—freelancers, novelists, Substack stars. It wasn’t just knowledge; it was vibes.
You can build that too. Got a passion? There’s an audience for it. Love bullet journaling? Start a Discord for stationery nerds. Obsessed with personal finance? Launch a weekly Zoom for FIRE enthusiasts. Charge $20/month for access to you, your expertise, and a group of like-minded folks.
The best part? A community isn’t just a business—it’s a support system. You’re not just selling; you’re leading, connecting, and growing with people who believe in what you’re about.
Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need a Mentor
Being a solopreneur is hard. You’ll doubt yourself, lose sleep, and probably cry in your coffee at least once (guilty). But you don’t need a $2,000 course or a viral X post to make it. You need to lean into what makes you unique, solve real problems, and build something people care about—one small, unscalable step at a time.
So, what’s your next move? Drop a comment or DM me on X—I’d love to hear what you’re building. Let’s ditch the hustle porn and make something real.
