Here in Texas we call it stick-to-it-iveness, and it might be the single most important quality you need as a part-time internet entrepreneur. But persistence alone is not enough — you also need to fail fast. These two ideas might sound contradictory, but together they form the recipe for building a successful side business.
Why Persistence Matters
There are dozens of legitimate ways to make money online. I have always said you need to pick one and stick with it. Every successful internet business I have seen — and I have been podcasting about this since 2009 — took real time to develop.
All those “overnight successes” you hear about? They were usually grinding away for years before anyone noticed. There is no easy money. You cannot get something for nothing. As a part-time entrepreneur, you need to accept that building your business will take longer than it would for someone working on it full-time. Embrace that reality instead of fighting it.
Building an internet business is like eating an elephant. You do it one bite at a time. There is no shortcut through the middle.
Why Failing Fast Matters
Here is where it gets interesting. Persistence does not mean stubbornly doing the same thing that is not working. It means staying committed to your goal while being willing to change your approach quickly when something fails.
Fail as fast as you can. You miss every shot you do not take. There is no way to succeed if you do not try, and every failure gives you information about what to do differently next time.
The formula is straightforward:
- Try something specific.
- Measure whether it worked.
- If it failed, figure out why and fix it.
- Move on to the next experiment.
The faster you cycle through this loop, the faster you find what works.
How This Applies in 2026
The internet business landscape moves faster than ever. Platforms change algorithms. New tools emerge. Consumer behavior shifts. The entrepreneurs who win are the ones who persist in their overall mission while rapidly adapting their tactics.
Maybe your first content format does not resonate — try a different one. Maybe your first niche is too competitive — pivot to a sub-niche. Maybe your first product launch flops — analyze why and launch again with adjustments. The goal stays the same. The methods evolve.
Stay persistent in your commitment to building something real. Fail fast when specific approaches do not work. Those two habits together will take you further than any tool, course, or strategy ever could.
Mark,
Great article. Very encouraging. Everything you said is absolutely true about being patient with the process of making money online. You got it also right when you say that it requires stick-to-it-ive-ness, and we need plenty of this in order to succeed online and offline. So with great people and teachers like you, who deal the real, on the internet it will make the whole process all the more easier.