“The two legged creature will believe anything and the more preposterous the better”
Time for another throwback movie reference. This time it is the Critically Acclaimed 1970 revisionist western “Little Big Man”.
In the 1800s, it was snake oil—hawked by slick-talking charlatans who promised miracle cures from the back of horse-drawn wagons. Today, the snake oil isn’t in a bottle—it’s in a course. And the wagon? It’s Instagram.
I work with real business owners who’ve built tangible, cash-flowing enterprises—laundromats, HVAC companies, medical practices, you name it. They’ve got tax returns, payroll, inventory. They wake up at 6 a.m. and solve real problems. So when I see a 23-year-old “guru” in a rented Lambo preaching financial freedom by selling you a $997 course on how to launch a passive income empire… I get angry.
We sit at a moment in time where there is a build up of capital and wealth that by the sheer force of time must transfer in some way shape or form…”The Silver Tsunami” the wall it and entire professions have popped up around it. Exit planning, Schools, Brokerages all needed but the new one…well the new one reminded me of the age old great salesmen of old…The SNAKE OIL SALESMAN.
The New Hustle: Digital Courses on Instagram
These modern-day pitchmen / snake oil salesmen are everywhere. They’re young, flashy, and often completely unqualified. Their “business model” is selling the idea of business. They haven’t built anything of substance, but they know how to use filters, flaunt luxury, and manipulate desperation. Here’s how the game works:
- Create a façade – They post photos in Airbnbs pretending to own mansions. They lease sports cars by the hour. It’s all for the ‘Gram.
- Manufacture urgency – “Spots are limited!” “Price goes up tomorrow!” “This secret made me $10K in a weekend!”
- Target the vulnerable – Aspiring entrepreneurs, recent grads, people stuck in jobs they hate. They sell hope—and shame you if you don’t “invest in yourself.”
- Deliver fluff – The course is usually a reheated stew of recycled content: vague advice, no actionable steps, no accountability. And the worst of all models that do not work in the real world.
- Upsell– Once you’re in, the real pitch starts. You need the “advanced” course. The mastermind group. The one-on-one coaching.
This isn’t business. It’s performance art, propped up by algorithms and emotional manipulation.
How to Protect Yourself
If you’re serious about building a business, protect your time, your wallet, and your future by taking these steps:
1. Verify the credentials. If someone claims to be making seven figures, ask for proof. Not screenshots—real tax documents, business listings, verified testimonials.
2. Research their history. Google them. Check court records. Look for a LinkedIn trail that predates their “success story.” If their only business is selling courses, that’s a red flag.
3. Ask: What are they actually selling? If their income depends on selling the course—not doing the thing the course teaches—you’re dealing with a professional marketer, not a practitioner.
4. Get real-world advice. Talk to business brokers, CPAs, or actual small business owners. They won’t sell you a dream—they’ll give you the numbers, the risks, and the truth.
5. Trust slow growth. Real businesses take time. They involve risk, sweat, and setbacks. Anyone telling you it’s all passive income and palm trees is lying or lucky—or both.
The Real Path to Ownership
Want to own a business? There are legit paths: SBA loans. Franchises with proven models. Existing businesses for sale that already generate revenue and have customers. Your not going to get zero money down, your not going to get the owner to train you for 1 year for free, your not going to not personally guarantee the loan…that is unless the seller is equally as ignorant of reality as you are.
I’ll tell you the truth. I somewhat admire the con for its art and creative juices. The ability to lie so adroitly and reconcile the lie with ones higher power is amazing to behold. I also marvel at the one who falls for the dance and wonder how they fail to see the con for what it is. But that my friends is a topic for another day.
Michael Shea represents the Central Florida Transworld office. In business since 2005, he has established a reputation as a trusted business broker across Florida’s key markets- from Tampa to Orlando, Melbourne, and more. Over the past two decades, Michael and his team have closed over $1 Billion in sold business volume and presided over more than 400 transactions. His credentials include the IBBA Certified Business Intermediary®, and most recently, the prestigious Certified Exit Planning Advisor® (CEPA) credential.