Let’s be real. Everyone and their dog seems to be trying to make money online these days. TikToks are filled with dropshipping wins, faceless Youtube channels promise €10k in 30 days, and Reddit threads claim affiliate marketing is the holy grail. Yet somehow… most people fail.
0 sales, 0 traffic, 0 motivation left after two weeks.
So what’s going on here? Why do so many people crash and burn, and more importantly: how can you avoid becoming one of them?
Let’s break it down.
The Harsh Reality: Most People Quit Too Soon
One of the biggest reasons people fail is simply because they give up way too early.
They start a YouTube channel, post 3 videos, get 25 views and quit.
They build an Etsy store, don’t get sales in the first month, and abandon it.
The problem? They expect fast results from a long game.
Quick reality check:
- Most creators took 6–12 months before seeing consistent income.
- SEO blogs take 3–6 months to rank.
- Even viral TikTok pages usually post daily for months before hitting traction.
The difference? Winners stick around.
If you want to make money online, treat it like a business, not a lottery ticket.
Mistake #2: Chasing Every Trend (Shiny Object Syndrome)
One week it’s dropshipping, next week it’s Amazon KDP, then suddenly you’re researching crypto bots.
Sound familiar?
This constant switching kills your progress. Every new hustle has a learning curve, and restarting every time means you never go deep enough to win.
What to do instead:
- Pick one online income stream you like working on (very important!).
- Commit for 3 to 6 months.
- Ignore every new “next big thing” during that period.
At 100kPathway, we tested al lot off side hustles. The ones that worked? We gave them consistent focus. No multitasking, no Plan B.
Mistake #3: Consuming More Than Doing
Another trap: watching 10 YouTube tutorials, reading 7 blogs, joining 3 Discords, without ever actually starting.
Learning is good. But action is better.
Here’s the truth: most things you need to know, you’ll learn by doing.
Set up that Shopify store. Launch the Fiverr gig. Build the Notion template.
Fail fast → learn fast → grow.
Mistake #4: No Real Problem Solved
Many people try to make money online without offering any real value.
They throw up a website or a product and hope people show up.
But online income = value x visibility. If you’re not solving a real problem, you’re invisible.
Example:
Instead of creating a “productivity ebook” (everyone does that), help a niche group fix a niche problem.
Like: “A Notion dashboard for ADHD students who struggle with study structure.”
That’s specific. That’s valuable. That’s something people will pay for. The more niche the better. Be creative.
So… How Do You Do It Differently?
Here’s what actually works:
1. Pick One Lane
Choose one way to make money online: freelancing, blogging, digital products, and go all in.
2. Build in Public
Share your progress. Start a Twitter thread, TikTok series, or a blog. Not only does it build trust, it also builds traffic.
3. Track Inputs, Not Just Results
Set weekly goals around actions (e.g., 3 blog posts, 5 product uploads), not outcomes (e.g., €500 in sales).
Control what you can control.
4. Learn From Real Cases
Follow people who are transparent about what works and what flops. No “guru” vibes. That’s exactly why we started 100kPathway.com.
Summary
Most people fail to make money online because:
- They quit after a few weeks.
- They chase every shiny new side hustle.
- They never actually launch anything.
- They don’t solve real problems.
But you don’t have to fail.
Pick one path, commit, create actual value, and track your actions. If you do that, you’re already in the top 5%.
Want to see what’s working right now?
Check out our latest Side Hustle Insights – we break down the real numbers, time spent, and profits (or losses) every month.
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