I came across a list of 32 things that make good subjects for Web Empires, because there are lots of people willing to pay to get these things. Seems an impressive list until you realize that there are really only FIVE things listed:

  • 1 Make more money
  • 2 Have more and better sex
  • 2 Have a closer relationship with loved ones
  • 2 Have more and better friends
  • 3 Live longer
  • 3 Feel healthier
  • 3 Be better looking
  • 3 Be thinner
  • 3 Be more muscular
  • 4 Travel more
  • 2 Spend more time with family
  • 1 Be debt free
  • 4 See the world
  • 4 Live in a tropical paradise
  • 1 Be more secure
  • 1 Have a nicer house
  • 1 Have a nicer car
  • 1 Have more cars and houses
  • 1 Have a boat
  • 1 Have a plane
  • 1 Have more boats and planes
  • 5 Be famous
  • 5 Be more influential
  • 5 Change the world
  • 5 Have a super power (like telepathy or becoming invisible)
  • 4 Have more time for recreation
  • 4 Have more fun
  • 1 Own a business
  • 1 Work at home
  • 1 Retire
  • 1 Freedom
  • 5 Rule the world (or some part of it)

I’ve added numbers to indicate the five things this list boils down to:

  1. Money
  2. Relationships/Sex
  3. Health
  4. Live Better
  5. Power

The germ of truth in all this is that you can never make money selling people things that are good for them, without first convincing them that what you are selling will somehow make them happy. If they ever discover that happiness is really a choice to be made, and not the result of external ‘things’ you won’t be able to sell them anything, so be sure to never tell them that profound truth.