19:45
The Only 25 Ways to Make Money in 2026
Dan Martell
Overview
This video outlines four distinct categories for making money online in 2026, emphasizing the impact of AI. It categorizes opportunities into 'Trash' (to avoid), 'Easy' (quick, lower income), 'Medium' (skill-based, moderate income), and 'Hard' (long-term, high income). The presenter, with experience in building AI ventures, debunks common online money-making myths and provides actionable advice for each category, focusing on skill development, outcome-based offers, and long-term commitment to avoid 'shiny object syndrome'.
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Chapters
- Many online money-making methods are outdated or scams, especially with the rise of AI.
- Real online income opportunities are categorized into four buckets: Trash, Easy, Medium, and Hard.
- Each bucket has distinct income potential, difficulty, time to earn, and suitability for different individuals.
- The goal is to identify viable paths and avoid common pitfalls.
Understanding these categories helps learners quickly identify legitimate opportunities and avoid time-wasting or financially detrimental ventures.
The presenter introduces four buckets: Trash (zero income, negative difficulty), Easy (5-10K/month, low difficulty), Medium (10-50K/month, medium difficulty), and Hard (millions, high difficulty).
- This category includes ventures with zero or negative income potential and significant time waste.
- Examples like NFT flipping, crypto trading (without expertise), and multi-level marketing are often unsustainable or scams.
- Low-skill tasks like basic captioning and data entry are now obsolete due to AI.
- Crowded markets like print-on-demand and high-risk activities like day trading are also in this bucket.
- A 'trash filter' (AI replacement, shrinking industry, easier to lose money) helps identify these.
Recognizing and actively avoiding these 'trash' opportunities saves learners from financial loss and wasted effort, allowing them to focus on profitable paths.
NFT flipping is highlighted as a 'trash' opportunity because the hype has died down, and most participants have lost money rather than made it.
- This bucket offers low-difficulty, quick-turnaround opportunities for beginners aiming for $5-10K/month.
- Skills required are basic, and income can be achieved within 30-60 days.
- Examples include short-form video editing, social media copywriting, and setting up AI chatbots or AI receptionists for small businesses.
- UGC (User Generated Content) creation and virtual/executive assistant roles are also viable.
- Focus is on building confidence, learning client interaction, and getting the first dollar online.
These 'easy' opportunities provide a low-barrier entry point for individuals to gain initial income, build confidence, and develop foundational skills for online work.
A friend named Mark, with no prior experience, started by helping companies repurpose long-form AI content into short-form clips, eventually earning $30,000/month with seven clients.
- This category focuses on developing multi-skill capabilities to solve business problems, targeting $10-50K/month.
- It requires 3-12 months to see significant income but offers more stability and scale.
- Opportunities involve higher-level tasks like running automation agencies, managing LinkedIn growth with AI, or developing micro-SaaS products.
- AI content agencies and high-quality motion graphic design are also included.
- Success hinges on delivering measurable outcomes and securing outcome-based monthly retainers, not just selling time.
The 'Medium' bucket represents a crucial step towards sustainable income by developing valuable, in-demand skills that directly contribute to business growth and revenue.
Sam, from the presenter's media team, received a Porsche GT4 not for completing tasks, but for taking ownership and delivering desired business outcomes, illustrating the value of outcome-based work.
- This bucket is for building significant wealth (millions) through long-term plays requiring systems, leadership, and capital.
- Timeframes can range from 2-10+ years, suitable for those wanting to build an empire or sellable asset.
- Examples include investing in AI-first founders, building AI software products, acquiring and automating small businesses, and developing personal brands for deal flow.
- Subscription communities powered by AI curation and licensing AI playbooks are also high-potential areas.
- Requires commitment, reinvestment, and building systems rather than just executing tasks.
These 'hard' opportunities are for ambitious individuals aiming to create substantial, lasting wealth and build businesses with significant equity and market value.
The presenter shares his own journey of building AI companies, highlighting how software products can generate recurring revenue and be valued at 10-50x topline revenue, leading to multi-million dollar success.
- The biggest threat to success is 'shiny object syndrome' – constantly switching between opportunities.
- True success requires long-term focus and commitment, often measured in 'a thousand days' of consistent effort.
- Documenting and sharing your journey publicly (building in public) creates accountability.
- Winners often lose more because they take more calculated risks and persist through failures.
- The key is to pick one path and execute relentlessly until successful.
Overcoming the tendency to chase new, unproven ideas is critical for achieving significant results; sustained focus on a chosen path is the differentiator for success.
The presenter contrasts his success with a friend of the same age who constantly jumps between ideas, never gaining traction because he keeps resetting his efforts every few years.
Key takeaways
- AI is fundamentally changing the landscape of online income, making many traditional methods obsolete.
- Legitimate online income streams can be categorized by difficulty and potential, guiding learners to appropriate paths.
- Beginners can achieve initial success and build confidence through 'Easy' bucket opportunities like content editing and AI setup.
- Sustainable, higher income requires developing specialized skills and focusing on delivering measurable business outcomes, not just tasks.
- Building long-term wealth involves creating scalable assets, often through AI-driven businesses or strategic investments.
- Consistency and long-term commitment are more crucial for success than finding the 'perfect' or 'easiest' method.
- Actively avoiding 'Trash' bucket activities like NFT flipping and MLM is essential to prevent financial and time loss.
Key terms
AI Venture StudioTrash BucketEasy BucketMedium BucketHard BucketTrash FilterOutcome-Based OfferUser Generated Content (UGC)Micro-SaaSAutomation AgenciesAI PlaybooksShiny Object Syndrome
Test your understanding
- How does the rise of AI impact the viability of traditional online money-making methods like basic data entry or captioning?
- What are the key characteristics of opportunities within the 'Easy' bucket, and why are they suitable for beginners?
- How does the 'Medium' bucket differ from the 'Easy' bucket in terms of skill requirements, income potential, and client engagement?
- What strategies can individuals employ to avoid 'shiny object syndrome' and maintain focus on their chosen income-generating path?
- Why is building an 'outcome-based offer' considered more effective than selling one's time, particularly in the 'Medium' and 'Hard' buckets?