Why Everyone Wants to Sell You a Shovel in the Digital Gold Rush

Have you noticed how everyone online is trying to sell you something? A course, a shortcut, a guaranteed way to make money? The internet isn’t just an innovation hub and more like a never-ending infomercial. And every pitch follows the same recycled formula: Top X Ways to Make Money Online The Only X Skills You Need to Do Y X Strategies That Will Make You Rich Overnight Instead of digging for gold, these people are selling shovels and watching you dig. And the worst part? Most of these so-called “shovels” are just repackaged advice you could find for free. The Illusion of the Shortcut These shovel sellers focus more on selling knowledge than building real things. This endless wave of “shovel content” preys on the fear of missing out. It convinces you that this is the secret formula, the missing piece to your success. Maybe this time, it’s different. Maybe this is the shovel that will change everything. But after buying in, you realize you’re still in the same place. The content is generic, the advice is surface-level, and you start to believe you could be the next big success story. They didn’t rely on a shovel — they built something from the ground up. Knowledge Isn’t Scarce. Action Is. The truth is, learning has never been easier. The internet is the world’s biggest library, and most of what you need is already available for free. But instead of encouraging action, these “shovel sellers” convince you that you need one more course, one more guide, one more secret. This noise makes it hard to focus on what actually matters: building something real. The Difference Between Selling and Creating Not all content creators are bad. Some genuinely teach valuable skills through structured learning. The key difference? The best creators build real projects themselves and teach you how to do the same. They’re not just selling shovels — they’re digging too. Project-based learning is the best way to grow. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel — just find a problem and solve it. Start small, iterate, and improve over time. Walk the Talk I am also subjected to my own criticism by posting on Medium. As a developer, my job is to create real things, not just talk about them. Writing on Medium is one of my projects — it’s how I’m improving my communication and storytelling skills. Each article is a step forward, a real attempt at growth, not just another shovel to sell. At the end of the day, the real value isn’t in selling dreams — it’s in creating something real. So ask yourself: Are you going to keep buying shovels, or are you finally going to start digging?

Apr 21, 2025 - 17:18

Why Everyone Wants to Sell You a Shovel in the Digital Gold Rush

Have you noticed how everyone online is trying to sell you something? A course, a shortcut, a guaranteed way to make money? The internet isn’t just an innovation hub and more like a never-ending infomercial. And every pitch follows the same recycled formula:

Top X Ways to Make Money Online
The Only X Skills You Need to Do Y
X Strategies That Will Make You Rich Overnight

Instead of digging for gold, these people are selling shovels and watching you dig. And the worst part? Most of these so-called “shovels” are just repackaged advice you could find for free.

The Illusion of the Shortcut

These shovel sellers focus more on selling knowledge than building real things. This endless wave of “shovel content” preys on the fear of missing out. It convinces you that this is the secret formula, the missing piece to your success. Maybe this time, it’s different. Maybe this is the shovel that will change everything.

But after buying in, you realize you’re still in the same place. The content is generic, the advice is surface-level, and you start to believe you could be the next big success story. They didn’t rely on a shovel — they built something from the ground up.

Knowledge Isn’t Scarce. Action Is.

The truth is, learning has never been easier. The internet is the world’s biggest library, and most of what you need is already available for free. But instead of encouraging action, these “shovel sellers” convince you that you need one more course, one more guide, one more secret.

This noise makes it hard to focus on what actually matters: building something real.

The Difference Between Selling and Creating

Not all content creators are bad. Some genuinely teach valuable skills through structured learning. The key difference? The best creators build real projects themselves and teach you how to do the same. They’re not just selling shovels — they’re digging too.

Project-based learning is the best way to grow. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel — just find a problem and solve it. Start small, iterate, and improve over time.

Walk the Talk

I am also subjected to my own criticism by posting on Medium. As a developer, my job is to create real things, not just talk about them. Writing on Medium is one of my projects — it’s how I’m improving my communication and storytelling skills. Each article is a step forward, a real attempt at growth, not just another shovel to sell.

At the end of the day, the real value isn’t in selling dreams — it’s in creating something real.

So ask yourself: Are you going to keep buying shovels, or are you finally going to start digging?