I’d just like to add to what you said, Gabrielle, that one of the things to avoid in starting a business is thinking that a business idea that worked for somebody else will automatically work for you. Very few people ever get somebody else’s business idea to work profitably for them.

And when you start a business based on an idea or a subject area that you know little about, you double your learning curve — and your chance of business failure.

Not only do you need to learn the basics of running a business and make the crucial adjustment in mindset from employee to entrepreneur, but you also need to learn the ins and outs of a subject area and target market that you may know little about.

I always encourage new business owners to build their business around something they know and enjoy. It cuts their learning curve in half and gives them a business that they’re far more likely to enjoy running.

Unfortunately, many new business owners don’t see where their experience and interests can translate into profitable businesses. So they turn to the scammers with their promises of no-effort success.

There are a number of exercises a prospective business owner can do to identify the profitable business ideas lurking in their own background. But I’d better cut this comment off before it ends up being longer than the original article. LOL

The point is, look for ways to build a business around knowledge, experience, and passion that you already have, and you will have far less temptation to fall for the false promises of the scammers.