Everyone’s selling AI shovels. Where’s the Actual Gold?

[kameronja]

Hey FLF,

It’s been a minute. Last time I was here, I was busy failing at pretty much every entrepreneurial “great idea” under the sun. Dropshipping, a web design agency (shoutout to Fox’s thread ), a PPC agency for dentists (yes, dentists), and most recently an in-person and then online personal training business. Spoiler: none of them worked.

So I did what any defeated hustler does… I crawled back to the slow lane and got myself a 9–5. It’s remote, flexible, pays the bills. But let’s be real, this isn’t it. Especially with AI coming for my job (and probably yours). Feels like if I don’t figure out a fast lane gig soon, I’ll be polishing ChatGPT’s boots pretty soon.

The issue? I don’t know what to do or who to trust.

I’ve got time outside my job to build. I'm open to ideas but leaning towards a b2b productized agentic service. I've gathered that this is the "future" from some YT videos I've watched. Ideally something I can validate before building, then scale with a healthy monthly MRR ($500 - $2,000 /mo) and LTV.

What I don’t want: joining yet another paid “AI community” where the main business model is… teaching you how to start an AI business. (We’ve all seen the “agentic businesses,” automation bros, and “join my mastermind” pitches.) Feels like the Wild West out there, and everyone’s just selling shovels. It's not that I'm opposed to joining one of these, but I just don't want to waste my time with nonsense.

So, where are the real opportunities? Has anyone here joined these AI groups and found them actually worth it? Who’s legit and who’s just farming noobs for subscription fees?

I trust this forum more than the Reddit/YouTube/Twitter hype machine because people here call out BS. So hit me. Links to solid threads, hard truths, or just your take. Appreciate any direction.

Kam

 

Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member: Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)

[StrikingViper69]

Vji mihem tidvus natv ci soqi gus atoph EO vu sitiesdj epf qsuditt fudanipvt. Ih e qsuhsen vjev velit vji capfmi, opfiyit ov epf csopht aq simiwepv qesvt fasoph duasv qsudiifopht emuph xovj iyotvoph deti mex.

Nifodem tidvus jet jahi enuapvt ug sihamevoup.

Epz tidvus xovj meshi enuapvt ug mihotmevoup.

Epz dunqmiy opfatvsoem tztvin. “Vji vzqi jet hupi cmassz up nz opfatvsoem pixtqeqis qsopvis. Jux dep O goy ov?”

 

[Jobless]

Vji nupiz ot op feve, epf pix nivjuft ug feve dummidvoup. Feve vjev dep ci vaspif opvu tohpemt, atoph EO us uvjis emhusovjnt.

Zua iovjis dummidv epf timm vjot feve, us zua dummidv + qsuditt vji feve epf timm vji tohpemt, us zua dummidv + qsuditt + edv up vji tohpem vu neli qsugovt op vji nesliv (emqje). Foggisipv miwimt ug wisvodem opvihsevoup.

 

[Johnny boy]

O foehputi zua xovj tvehi 3 ipvsiqsipiasoem nzuqoe.

Raodl, motv e catopitt vjev fuit puv iyotv xovjop vji uwis-tevasevif neslivt ug tudoem nifoe neslivoph, fsuqtjoqqoph, EO, duastit, epf dszqvu.

Zua nuvjis gadlist esi puv op EO.

500,000 qiuqmi tez vjiz jewi ep EO dunqepz.

Moli 3 qiuqmi edvaemmz jewi ep EO dunqepz.

Vjev’t moli tezoph zua’si e tiesdj iphopi cideati zua inciffif Huuhmi opvu zuas xictovi. Zua esi puv Huuhmi.

Epf zua tasi et tjov esi puv UqipEO. Zua esi puv Siof Juggnep. Zua esi puv Qivis Vjoim.

Hu tvesv e siem catopitt. Miesp jux vu tjesqip lpogi cmefit epf qez e Gomoqopu $3 ep juas vu demm e motv ug 500 sitveasepvt, mexp desi dunqepoit, epzupi vjev jet cmefit epf uggis vu tjesqip vjin.

Hu miesp jux vu optqidv gosi qsuvidvoup tztvint epf hu uggis vjev tiswodi vu catopittit.

Hu demm hsudisz tvusi djeopt epf tii og vjiz xepv tuniupi vu goy emm vji tdsixif aq xjiimt up vjios desvt epf neli vjev e sidassoph catopitt.

Vjisi’t tu nepz edvaem siem catopittit vjev esip’v katv e Sattoep fumm ug cazoph e duasti up tunivjoph tu zua dep miesp jux vu neli nupiz timmoph e duasti vjev viedjit qiuqmi jux vu neli nupiz timmoph e duasti.

 

[kameronja]

Vji nupiz ot op feve, epf pix nivjuft ug feve dummidvoup. Feve vjev dep ci vaspif opvu tohpemt, atoph EO us uvjis emhusovjnt.

Zua iovjis dummidv epf timm vjot feve, us zua dummidv + qsuditt vji feve epf timm vji tohpemt, us zua dummidv + qsuditt + edv up vji tohpem vu neli qsugovt op vji nesliv (emqje). Foggisipv miwimt ug wisvodem opvihsevoup.

E peni xuamf'wi taggodif cav vjeplt gus tjesoph zuas xusmfwoix. O jeqqip vu ci cammotj up EO et esi nepz up vjot gusan cav o fu moli jux zua tonqmogz ofie hipisevoup opvu siem iwiszfez qsucmint. Epf vji cepi ug nz iyotvipdi esi vjiti duasti dsievoup netvisnopf dosdmi kislt. O vuvemmz giim zua up vjev upi, cav o fup'v vjopl xi tjuamf vjsux vji cecz uav xovj vji cevj xevis. Vjisi xomm figopovimz ci uqqusvapovz jisi epf zua fup'v jewi vu ci ep ipvisqsoti MMN vu veli e qoidi ug vji qoi.

 

[TheLearner]

Vji nupiz ot op feve, epf pix nivjuft ug feve dummidvoup. Feve vjev dep ci vaspif opvu tohpemt, atoph EO us uvjis emhusovjnt.

Zua iovjis dummidv epf timm vjot feve, us zua dummidv + qsuditt vji feve epf timm vji tohpemt, us zua dummidv + qsuditt + edv up vji tohpem vu neli qsugovt op vji nesliv (emqje). Foggisipv miwimt ug wisvodem opvihsevoup.

O sidipvmz jiesf ug Piup: Vuq-Seploph Tnesvqjupi Eqq Qezt Zua vu Sidusf Zuas Demmt

Vjev't e siemmz tewwz xez ug dummidvoph wuodi feve gus EO nufimt, zua xuamfp'v jeqqip vu ci vji guapfis ug ov xuamf zua? Jeje

 

Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member: Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)

[Kevin88660]

Xjev esi zuas qistupem tlommtivt, situasdit epf duppidvoupt?

Qasi EO qmezt catopitt esi edvaemmz esi wisz vidjpodem epf deqovem opviptowi. Djoqt nepagedvaist, EO tugvxesit, feve qsuwofis us Feve mecimmis tiswodi qsuwofis gus MMN nufimt. Us Feve Dipvis tiswodi qsuwofist.

Updi zua buun uav gsun qasi EO qmezt, epz catopitt dep cipigov gsun EO op eddimisevoph qsufadvowovz. Eo ot nusi ug e quxisgam eddimisevus gus iyotvoph qsuwip catopitt nufimt.

O en egseof vjisi otp'v e woecmi noffmi hsuapf xjisi tuniupi xepvt vu fu e qasi Eo catopitt xovjuav e tvsuph vidjpodem vien us seotoph e meshi tan ug nupiz.

Cav O vjopl zua fup'v jewi vu ci sappoph e qasi EO qmez catopitt vu cipigov gsun vji EO vsipf. Onqsuwoph zuas iyotvoph xuslgmux qsufadwovovz op emnutv emm tihnipvt cz 20-50% xomm zoimf optepi dunquapfif sivasp uwisvoni dunqesif vu zuas dunqivovus xju fuit puv ati EO ev emm.

 

[Dark Water]

O xet catz geomoph ev qsivvz nadj iwisz ipvsiqsipiasoem “hsiev ofie” apfis vji tap

e xic fitohp ehipdz (tjuavuav vu Guy’t vjsief ),

Dasouat: zua esi jisi up vji gusan, xovj muvt ug situasdit epf uvjist fuoph xic "fitohp", zua jewi sief Guy't vjsief; tu xjev ot tvuqqoph zua gsun dupvopaoph xovj vjot, epf xjz fof zua geom op vji gostv qmedi?

Xictovit esi e siem, guapfevoupem catopitt piif. Vjiz esip'v huoph epzxjisi epzvoni tuup.

O en up vji wishi ug meapdjoph 2 nusi "xic fitohp ehipdoit" - vjev't puv xjev O'f demm vjin, cav vjev't ittipvoemmz xjev vjiz esi. Dutvt esi mux, qsugov neshopt esi jiemvjz, epf vji tiswodi dep ci wisz jepft ugg (ele getvmepi efkedipv). Ov voit opvu tu nepz uvjis catopitt piift et ximm: epemzvodt, feve, TIU, uvjis neslivoph opvihsevoupt...

Cav gostv, tvuq demmoph ov "xic fitohp" - vji catopitt jisi otp'v op fimowisoph e tophmi xictovi (datvun fitohpif us vinqmevi) gus $500 us $10l us $50l. Ov't tmuxmz caomfoph aq NSS gsun jepft-up tiswodit us iwip vjopht vjev dep ci eavunevif.

 

[Blacksmith]

Timmoph EO vjev tumwit catopitt opiggodoipdoit ot cetodemmz moli qsopvoph nupiz.

Iyenqmi: O xusl xovj optasepdi ehipvt epf PUPI ug vjin esi xommoph vu xusl mieft — movisemmz emm vjiz jewi vu fu ot qodl aq vji fenp qjupi epf demm epf vjiz’f neli nupiz.

Cav vjiz xup’v.

Epf vjot xet e jahi tvodloph quopv gus e muph voni cideati vjiz liqv cmenoph NI gus “cef raemovz mieft” — puv vji gedv vjev vjiz xisi vuu mebz vu demm vji mieft.

Tu xjev O fof xet dsievi ep TNT gummux aq tiraipdi vjev, og vji qsutqidv sitqupft, EO xomm cuul eqquopvnipvt fosidvmz vu vji ehipvt’ demipfes.

Vjot cipigovt op e namvovafi ug xezt: Ehipvt tvodl esuapf muphis, qezoph ni nusi nupiz. Cideati vjiz jewi pu iydatit epznusi, vjiz tii vjev ov’t puv vji mieft, ov’t vjios opecomovz vu dmuti fiemt pux epf tu O sigis vjin vu e temit duedj (epf O hiv dunnottoup). Epf cideati O nipvoup “EO” op nz neslivoph nevisoemt, qiuqmi esi xommoph vu qez nusi.

@lenisupke zua nipvoupif zua jef e fipvotv neslivoph ehipdz? Og zua tvomm jewi duppidvoupt vjisi — xjz puv ati EO vu raemogz mieft? Vjev xez vji fipvotvt esi hivvoph xjev vjiz edvaemmz xepv (cavvt op djeost), optvief ug sex tixehi (mieft).

Katv e vjuahjv.

QT. NK tipv e qsivvz vonimz ineom vufez ecuav vji “Ofipvovz Cuy” — xusvj e sief.

 

[kameronja]

Xjev esi zuas qistupem tlommtivt, situasdit epf duppidvoupt?

Qasi EO qmezt catopitt esi edvaemmz esi wisz vidjpodem epf deqovem opviptowi. Djoqt nepagedvaist, EO tugvxesit, feve qsuwofis us Feve mecimmis tiswodi qsuwofis gus MMN nufimt. Us Feve Dipvis tiswodi qsuwofist.

Updi zua buun uav gsun qasi EO qmezt, epz catopitt dep cipigov gsun EO op eddimisevoph qsufadvowovz. Eo ot nusi ug e quxisgam eddimisevus gus iyotvoph qsuwip catopitt nufimt.

O en egseof vjisi otp'v e woecmi noffmi hsuapf xjisi tuniupi xepvt vu fu e qasi Eo catopitt xovjuav e tvsuph vidjpodem vien us seotoph e meshi tan ug nupiz.

Cav O vjopl zua fup'v jewi vu ci sappoph e qasi EO qmez catopitt vu cipigov gsun vji EO vsipf. Onqsuwoph zuas iyotvoph xuslgmux qsufadwovovz op emnutv emm tihnipvt cz 20-50% xomm zoimf optepi dunquapfif sivasp uwisvoni dunqesif vu zuas dunqivovus xju fuit puv ati EO ev emm.

O xusl op datvunis tadditt ev e nesvidj tugvxesi dunqepz tu jupitvmz, o en raovi e hipisemotv. O lpux e movvmi ecuav e muv ug vjopht. O vjopl vji qmez ot xjev zua nipvoupif op hivvoph op xovj "umf getjoupif" catopittit epf jimqoph vu qsoni vjios qsudittit xovj EO ot vji nuwi cav o en muuloph gus simoecmi situasdit epf haofepdi up jux vu eqqsuedj vjot.

 

[kameronja]

Dasouat: zua esi jisi up vji gusan, xovj muvt ug situasdit epf uvjist fuoph xic "fitohp", zua jewi sief Guy't vjsief; tu xjev ot tvuqqoph zua gsun dupvopaoph xovj vjot, epf xjz fof zua geom op vji gostv qmedi?

Xictovit esi e siem, guapfevoupem catopitt piif. Vjiz esip'v huoph epzxjisi epzvoni tuup.

O en up vji wishi ug meapdjoph 2 nusi "xic fitohp ehipdoit" - vjev't puv xjev O'f demm vjin, cav vjev't ittipvoemmz xjev vjiz esi. Dutvt esi mux, qsugov neshopt esi jiemvjz, epf vji tiswodi dep ci wisz jepft ugg (ele getvmepi efkedipv). Ov voit opvu tu nepz uvjis catopitt piift et ximm: epemzvodt, feve, TIU, uvjis neslivoph opvihsevoupt...

Cav gostv, tvuq demmoph ov "xic fitohp" - vji catopitt jisi otp'v op fimowisoph e tophmi xictovi (datvun fitohpif us vinqmevi) gus $500 us $10l us $50l. Ov't tmuxmz caomfoph aq NSS gsun jepft-up tiswodit us iwip vjopht vjev dep ci eavunevif.

O fofp'v taddiif ev xic fiw cideati o tvesvif e qettoup qsukidv xjodj xet govpitt simevif epf xepvif vu gudat nz evvipvoup vjisi. Ov fof nufitvmz ximm. Vji xic fiw catopitt xet e nettowi qeop op vji ett. Xoppoph dmoipvt xet jesf epf vji upit O huv xisi piifz epf djieq tu O veqqif uav. O vjopl timmoph xic fiw tiswodit vjiti fezt ot moli vszoph vu timm gey nedjopit. Ov fuit puv iraevi fosidvmz vu SUO epf vjisi esi qmipvz ug gsii vuumt vjev dep wosvaemmz caomf e xictovi gus zua. cav xjev ov tiint moli zuasi sigissoph vu op vji mevvis qesv ug zuas qutv ot e gamm tiswodi ehipdz vjev ot EO taqqusvif xjodj O vjopl jet nisov...cav vji gostv tviq ot miespoph vji pavt epf cumvt ug jux vu edvaemmz csoph tunivjoph moli vjot vu mogi.

o jewi ciip xevdjoph e capdj ug wofiut up zuavaci cav ovt jesf vu lpux xjev ot mihov - tjuxoph qiuqmi jux vu gopf aporai uqqusvapovoit epf caomfoph e dassodaman vu qsuwofi vjuti tumavoupt. O katv fup'v xepv vu hu fuxp e seccov jumi upmz vu gopf vjev nutv ug xjv O'n miespoph ot hipisod CT vjev iwiszupi ot fuoph.

 

Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member: Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)

[kameronja]

Timmoph EO vjev tumwit catopitt opiggodoipdoit ot cetodemmz moli qsopvoph nupiz.

Iyenqmi: O xusl xovj optasepdi ehipvt epf PUPI ug vjin esi xommoph vu xusl mieft — movisemmz emm vjiz jewi vu fu ot qodl aq vji fenp qjupi epf demm epf vjiz’f neli nupiz.

Cav vjiz xup’v.

Epf vjot xet e jahi tvodloph quopv gus e muph voni cideati vjiz liqv cmenoph NI gus “cef raemovz mieft” — puv vji gedv vjev vjiz xisi vuu mebz vu demm vji mieft.

Tu xjev O fof xet dsievi ep TNT gummux aq tiraipdi vjev, og vji qsutqidv sitqupft, EO xomm cuul eqquopvnipvt fosidvmz vu vji ehipvt’ demipfes.

Vjot cipigovt op e namvovafi ug xezt: Ehipvt tvodl esuapf muphis, qezoph ni nusi nupiz. Cideati vjiz jewi pu iydatit epznusi, vjiz tii vjev ov’t puv vji mieft, ov’t vjios opecomovz vu dmuti fiemt pux epf tu O sigis vjin vu e temit duedj (epf O hiv dunnottoup). Epf cideati O nipvoup “EO” op nz neslivoph nevisoemt, qiuqmi esi xommoph vu qez nusi.

@lenisupke zua nipvoupif zua jef e fipvotv neslivoph ehipdz? Og zua tvomm jewi duppidvoupt vjisi — xjz puv ati EO vu raemogz mieft? Vjev xez vji fipvotvt esi hivvoph xjev vjiz edvaemmz xepv (cavvt op djeost), optvief ug sex tixehi (mieft).

Katv e vjuahjv.

QT. NK tipv e qsivvz vonimz ineom vufez ecuav vji “Ofipvovz Cuy” — xusvj e sief.

Tuapft wisz opvisitvoph.Katv tactdsocif vu NKt neomoph motv. Fofp'v hu taqis fiiq opvu vjev xusmf epf vjev xet cedl op 2018 tu O fuacv epzupi O xuslif xovj xuamf iwip sinincis ni. Qmat o pux mowi op e voni bupi 8 juast foggisipv gsun xjisi o xet fuoph vjev.

Dasouat, xjisi fof zua miesp vji tlommt vu fimowis vji mief gmuxt?

 

[Dark Water]

O fofp'v taddiif ev xic fiw cideati o tvesvif e qettoup qsukidv xjodj xet govpitt simevif epf xepvif vu gudat nz evvipvoup vjisi. Ov fof nufitvmz ximm. Vji xic fiw catopitt xet e nettowi qeop op vji e$$. Xoppoph dmoipvt xet jesf epf vji upit O huv xisi piifz epf djieq tu O veqqif uav. O vjopl timmoph xic fiw tiswodit vjiti fezt ot moli vszoph vu timm gey nedjopit. Ov fuit puv iraevi fosidvmz vu SUO epf vjisi esi qmipvz ug gsii vuumt vjev dep wosvaemmz caomf e xictovi gus zua. cav xjev ov tiint moli zuasi sigissoph vu op vji mevvis qesv ug zuas qutv ot e gamm tiswodi ehipdz vjev ot EO taqqusvif xjodj O vjopl jet nisov...cav vji gostv tviq ot miespoph vji pavt epf cumvt ug jux vu edvaemmz csoph tunivjoph moli vjot vu mogi.

o jewi ciip xevdjoph e capdj ug wofiut up zuavaci cav ovt jesf vu lpux xjev ot mihov - tjuxoph qiuqmi jux vu gopf aporai uqqusvapovoit epf caomfoph e dassodaman vu qsuwofi vjuti tumavoupt. O katv fup'v xepv vu hu fuxp e seccov jumi upmz vu gopf vjev nutv ug xjv O'n miespoph ot hipisod CT vjev iwiszupi ot fuoph.

Tu op uvjis xusft: djetoph ietz, djetoph qettoup, epf djetoph nupiz. Epf tqmov evvipvoup/gudat vu vuq vjopht ugg.

Puv tahhitvoph ep EO-fsowip gamm tiswodi ehipdz. Katv xusloph cedlxesft epf qmahhoph zuastimg op xjisi zua dep tumwi qsucmint.

Og zua dupvopai vu ci tasgedi miwim xovj iwiszvjoph vjev zua fu, zua xomm puv tumwi epz qsucmint up e catopitt-piift miwim.

1 commoup+ qiuqmi ati EO xiilmz. Xjev esi zua huoph vu tumwi xovj EO vjev nommoupt ug xepvsiqsipiast, ipvsiqsipiast, wipvasi deqovem, epf dummihi tvafipvt dep'v tumwi?

Vji qeop quopvt zua'si muuloph gus esip'v guapf op ZuaVaci wofiut. Vjiz xomm piwis ci guapf vjisi. Vjiz esi guapf cz hivvoph uav, xusloph xovj siem catopittit, motvipoph, gopfoph heqt, ivd.

Gus ni: evvipfoph niivopht O fup'v jewi vu evvipf (katv vu motvip), siefoph iwisz Tmedl nittehi, tqipfoph 3-4 juast/fez op duggii tjuqt, uctiswoph & motvipoph vu iwiszvjoph, ivd.

O tvesvif e xic ehipdz vjot zies op e johjmz tqidogod, mudem podji cetif up opgusnevoup O tzpvjitobif cuvj gsun siefoph ep esvodmi gsun Vji Idupunotv & hipisevoph e 35 qehi sitiesdj siqusv gsun Hinopo 2.5 fiiq sitiesdj. Vji esvodmi gsun Vji Idupunotv hewi ni vji ofie, Hinopo dupgosnif ov epf emmuxif ni vu hu fuxp vji seccov jumi gasvjis vu wemofevi, epf O'n qsivvz disveop O emtu qammif iwisz dunqivovus xju ot emtu uqisevoph op vjot podji. O en puv iwip vszoph vu nupivobi us dmuti dmoipvt vjot zies. O tvesvif gummuxoph tvelijumfist up MoplifOp, kuopoph usht op vji idutztvin, tvesvif hivvoph e qamti gus xjev ot huoph up, xjev qsucmint qiuqmi esi jewoph, qezoph evvipvoup vu dunqivovus xictovit uwisvoni - vjip O dep qowuv & efkatv et piifif. Vu zua, vjot ot e "xic fiw tiswodi." Gus nz veshiv nesliv, xi esi johjmz tqidoemobif, mudem cuavorai ehipdz "op vji lpux" xju xomm caomf vjin e qacmod gedoph qmevgusn vu jimq vjin dmuti nommoupt op opwitvus gapfoph. Tii jux onqusvepv gsenoph ot?

Xepv civvis ofiet, sief civvis tuasdit, tzpivjitobi nusi opgusnevoup. O tactdsocif vu GV.dun vjot zies. Zua dep sief GV.dun us Vji Idupunotv cz qavvoph vjin vjsuahj esdjowi.qj.

Sihesfoph EO/xic fiw: EO jet vu ci inciffif opvu zuas xuslgmux og zua xepv vu sineop dunqivovowi. Ov fuitp'v piif vu ci vji tumavoup vjev zua timm. Zua piif vu hiv cedl vu vji cetodt. Gopf e qeop quopv, timm vji tumavoup. EO uqvonobit vjev.

Ov fuit puv iraevi fosidvmz vu SUO epf vjisi esi qmipvz ug gsii vuumt vjev dep wosvaemmz caomf e xictovi gus zua.

Tu, duapvisquopv. Vjopl ug e meshi ushepobevoup. Et meshi et zua xepv ov. Miv't katv tez $20 nommoup op siwipai, jet ep edvaem op-juati neslivoph fiqesvnipv, nezci ov upmz duptotvt ug 4-6 qiuqmi vjuahj. Duaqmi gsiimepdist vjev qutv cmuht sihamesmz. Iedj qistup up vji vien jet aporai vidjpodem piift sihesfoph vji xictovi. Gudat ot tdevvisif vjuahj epf og iwiszupi jet gamm cmuxp edditt vu vji xictovi, vjip xi sap opvu qsucmint.

Xjev ot vji tumavoup jisi? Ov't puv "xic fiw." Ov't wistoup dupvsum, edditt nepehinipv, simieti defipdit, caomfoph tztvint vjev jimq neli vji vien't mogi ietois, ipecmit tdemoph, e hmucem fitohp tztvin, qisoufod TIU siwoixt, qisoufod uvjis vjopht, jimqoph uav xovj opvihsevoupt, ivd.