“I’m taking a day off work Tuesday so I can go scan books at the local thrift store.”
His eyes gleamed with determination as he shared his excitement about launching his Amazon FBA business. It wasn’t just about scanning books or making money—it was about freedom. The kind of freedom that comes from building something with your own hands and finally stepping off the hamster wheel of a job you despise.
For Andrew, this wasn’t a hobby. It was his ticket out. His way to escape the grind of a 9-to-5 job with limited vacation days and no control over his time.
The Myth
There’s a pervasive myth that selling on Amazon is easy. This misconception is fueled by:
- Hype Culture: TikToks, Facebook ads, and YouTube gurus flaunting Lamborghinis and claiming their wealth came from “passive income” through Amazon FBA. These ads split the audience into two groups—those who think Amazon FBA is a scam and those naive enough to believe they’ll make six figures in three months.
- The Truth About Amazon FBA: Selling on Amazon, at any level, requires hard work. Andrew understood this. He wasn’t deluding himself into thinking the journey would be easy. He knew that success only comes after accepting the reality of hard work and committing to it.
- False Expectations: Many new sellers are lured in by the idea that a business should only take five hours a week but somehow generate $10,000 per month in profit. This delusion comes from a society that glorifies shortcuts and sells a fake American dream—success without effort.
Hard work is the backbone of any business. Remove the grind, and all you’re left with is a mirage.
The Hustle Required to Win
Andrew epitomized the hustle needed to succeed on Amazon.
He wasn’t afraid to work harder than everyone else. He took days off his regular job to grind for his dream. For an Amazon FBA bookseller, books aren’t just books—they’re dollar bills. And every other seller out there is competing for those dollar bills.
Andrew shared how he:
- Hit up thrift stores, library sales, and even “the bins” early, while other sellers showed up an hour late.
- Built relationships with bookstore managers to stay ahead of big sales.
- Seized every opportunity that others dismissed as “too competitive.”
Other sellers in his city might complain about a lack of opportunity or too much competition, but Andrew recognized that opportunity was always there—it was up to him to claim it.
The Dream
Every entrepreneur shares the same ultimate goal: financial freedom. We dream of building something so successful that we can step away, proud of what we’ve accomplished, and never have to work again.
Can selling books on Amazon make that dream a reality? For some, yes. A few of my friends plan to retire on their book money, but they’ve worked tirelessly to reach that point.
The Reality Check:
- Financial freedom doesn’t fall into your lap. It demands discipline, diligence, and sacrifices you never imagined.
- A 40-hour-a-month side hustle won’t outperform the results of a 160-hour-per-month job unless you treat it like a full-time commitment.
Amazon FBA is an incredible opportunity, but people approach it with unrealistic expectations. Society accepts that becoming a doctor or climbing the corporate ladder requires immense effort. Yet, when it comes to starting an Amazon business, many believe it should be easy and even more lucrative.
Final Thoughts
We’ve been fed a lie by internet marketers and scammers: that you can build a passive income empire on Amazon in a matter of months with minimal effort. Half the world sees Amazon FBA as a scam, while the other half starts their journey with false hopes and shallow expectations.
Here’s the truth:
Success on Amazon—or any business—requires work. Period. If you’re ready to hustle, commit, and build something real, the potential is limitless.
End rant. Go work hard. If you have questions, message me on social media.
Peace,
Avery
