Do You Want Quick Wins or Long-Term Wealth? This Strategy Decides It All
Let me ask you something. When it comes to building your business, are you in the trenches digging for gold, or are you selling the tools that others need to get the job done? Both can lead to success—but the paths are different, and the results can be, too.
The Two Paths to Success
Here's the deal: You've got two main strategies when it comes to business. The first one is being the guy in the field, doing the hard work, hustling, and trying to find that big payout. That's the gold digger. The second? It's the person who's not in the field but is selling the picks, shovels, and supplies to every other gold digger out there. That’s the tool provider. Both approaches can work, but one offers way more scalability.
Think about it like this: You could be the one striking it big after months or even years of hard work. Or, you could be the person supplying the tools to thousands of people, making steady cash every time someone needs a shovel to dig up their dreams. The difference comes down to how you think about your business model.
Why I’m All About Scale
Now, don’t get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with being in the trenches—I've been there. In the early days, I was flipping properties like crazy, grinding it out every day. It paid off, but it was tough. And let’s be real, that’s not scalable long-term. You can only flip so many deals before you burn out or hit a ceiling.
The shift came when I realized I could help other people with what I knew. Instead of just flipping houses, I started looking for ways to serve more people at once. I moved from doing deals to teaching others how to do them, providing the tools they needed to succeed. That's when things started to really take off.
When you sell the picks and shovels, you’re not just helping one person hit their goal—you’re helping hundreds, maybe thousands. That’s how you build something that lasts and scales.
The Power of Selling the Tools
Let’s break it down: If you’re selling the tools, you’re creating a repeatable system. Instead of relying on hitting that one big score, you’re setting up multiple streams of income that keep flowing whether or not you’re in the field. It's about building a business that works for you—not a business you’re always working for.
Plus, you’re positioning yourself as a critical piece of the puzzle. Gold diggers will always need shovels, and entrepreneurs will always need guidance, software, services—whatever it is that helps them succeed. And once people see the value in what you’re offering, you’re in the game for the long haul.
How to Choose Your Path
So, how do you decide which path to take? Ask yourself these questions:
What's Your Skill Set? – Are you great at the hands-on work, or do you see yourself as more of a leader, someone who can offer guidance, resources, or tools?
What Do You Want Long-Term? – Do you want to keep grinding out every deal, or are you looking to create something that grows even when you’re not working directly on it?
How Much Impact Do You Want to Make? – Are you happy helping a few people achieve their goals, or do you want to reach hundreds or thousands with something that scales?
Don’t Be Afraid to Pivot
Here’s the kicker—if you’re already deep in the trenches digging for gold, don’t think it’s too late to pivot. I’m not saying you have to stop what you’re doing, but consider how you can add more layers to your business that can scale. Start thinking bigger. Maybe you’re great at your craft—can you teach others? Maybe you’ve found success with your process—can you create a system that others can buy into?
That’s how you move from the daily grind to scaling your business in a way that doesn’t just rely on you being in the field every day.
Wrapping It Up
At the end of the day, the decision is yours. You can dig for gold and find success, or you can sell the picks and shovels and help everyone else while building a scalable business. Personally? I’m all about the scalability, helping people rise, and creating something that doesn’t have to rely on me digging every single day.
But hey, it’s your call—just make sure you choose the path that gets you where you want to go in the long run.
Start thinking bigger, serving more people, and building a business that scales beyond just you.
Mark Evans DM