Hustlers, Scams & Good Times: How to Protect Your Wallet & Your Fun

Today’s Topics

• Hustlers Will Take Your Hard-Earned Money 🤑

• Trouble Having Fun? 😒

  7 Mins Read Time

Hustlers Will Take Your Hard-Earned Money 🤑

By Jo

The internet has become a double-edged sword. On one hand, it offers endless opportunities for growth, education, and self-improvement. On the other hand, it’s become a breeding ground for what I like to call “Success Porn”—a never-ending cycle of flashy lifestyles, luxurious possessions, and empty promises of overnight success.

You’ve seen it. You know the drill. A person posts an Instagram story in front of their mansion or luxury car with a caption that reads, "I made $10,000 in one day and you can too!" They’ve got the big house, the high-end cars, the designer clothes, and it all seems so irresistible. They tell you that you can have it all too if you just buy their book, course, or follow their "proven" steps to financial freedom. The image is alluring, the success looks attainable, but what they don’t tell you is that it’s all a bs.

The Hustle Behind the Hustle

Let’s talk about what’s really happening here. These so-called "success gurus" are hustling you out of your hard-earned money. They promise you access to the "secrets" that led them to their wealth, but what they are really selling is basic, recycled information that’s been floating around for years. They know how to market it to you in the most seductive way, using catchy phrases and quick-fix solutions to make you think you’re missing out on something big.

And let’s be real, these programs often aren’t worth the price. The advice is typically surface-level and doesn't take into account the time, effort, and sometimes years of trial and error it takes to build something truly worthwhile. Yet, we continue to buy into the myth because we want to believe that we’re just one step away from living the "good life."

The Illusion of Overnight Success

The problem with “success porn” is that it distorts reality. It teaches us that success comes quickly, easily, and effortlessly. You see the highlights—the private jets, the big homes, the yachts—but what you don’t see are the years of struggle, failure, sacrifice, and patience behind those achievements. What you don’t see is the grind.

The truth is, success is rarely a straight path. The majority of people who achieve financial freedom, personal success, or whatever it is they define as “making it,” have put in a serious amount of work, made sacrifices, learned from countless failures, and stayed committed even when it didn’t seem like things were going anywhere. They didn’t buy some course to get there. They didn’t click a link that promised a shortcut. They earned it the old-fashioned way—by working hard, learning, adapting, and never giving up.

The Problem with Chasing the Wrong Goals

The allure of “success porn” doesn’t just affect our wallets—it messes with our mindset. We start chasing the wrong things: the cars, the house, the Instagram followers, the perception of success rather than the substance of it. These external things are fleeting. They don’t bring true fulfillment or happiness; they bring validation. Validation that others are seeing you in a certain light. But validation isn’t the same as success. Success is internal, personal, and unique to each individual.

When we get caught up in the cycle of chasing flashy things or listening to people who promise us "get rich quick" schemes, we miss out on the opportunity to build something lasting. We miss out on building the kind of success that comes from solving real problems, creating value, and contributing to the world in a meaningful way. True success isn’t defined by how much money you make—it’s defined by the impact you have, the lives you change, and the person you become in the process.

The Real Hustle

So how do we break free from this success porn epidemic? First, we need to stop buying into the illusion. We need to stop believing that the glitz and glamour we see online are the ultimate measure of success. We need to redefine success for ourselves. What does success really look like for you? What do you value? What kind of legacy do you want to leave?

The real hustle is about focus. It’s about mastering your craft, doing the work, and consistently improving. It’s about finding your passion and building your life around it—brick by brick, day by day. It’s not about chasing someone else’s dream or trying to live up to a standard that doesn’t resonate with you. It’s about carving out your own path and trusting the process.

We need to realize that no one is going to hand us success. It’s not wrapped up in a course or a book that promises to make you rich. It’s in the sweat, the failures, the long nights, and the constant pursuit of something meaningful. If you want to make it, you need to stop chasing the shortcut and start building your own journey. Because in the end, the only person who can truly make you successful is you.

Trouble Having Fun?

By Marcus

“If it was easy, everyone would do it.”

As popular (and maybe cliché) as this phrase has become, it’s true. When you decide to do what most aren’t willing to do, you often find yourself in the lowest of lows while working diligently in pursuit of all-time highs.

What you may have discovered about this process is that it’s not fun. You might find yourself in a place where it’s hard to enjoy time with family, friends, or even your hobbies because you’re aggressively pursuing your version of success. This feeling — of not being able to find enjoyment — is hard for many to understand, and it may land you on the “no fun list.” That’s when people stop reaching out because they know you're no longer available like you once were.

Easier Said Than Done

You didn’t think it would be this hard. If you had known, it would be this difficult — there’s a possibility you would’ve never tried at all.

Sometimes, what we set our sights on is more challenging than we thought. There won’t always be a shortcut or a secret hack. No words of comfort to make the storm easier to navigate.

If you find yourself in a position where you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel — well, keep digging.

If you’re not having fun but making incremental steps toward the future you — you’re on the right track.

We focus so much on praising the people who are on top, in the endgame, enjoying the spoils. But no one was rooting for them when they were a “nobody”.

What’s most important is coming to terms with the fact that what you're doing is meaningful work — maybe your best work — and it would be a shame not to see it through to the end.

There’s really no sugar coating this one. You’re not losing your mind. This is what hard work and sacrifice look like. It’s not fun — and maybe for you, it’s necessary.

“Make yourself uncomfortable now so you can be comfortable later.”
— Larry Jones