<prompt> Human: Hey guys and gals! LMK if this is the wrong sub for this question. Im a 29yo engineer, living in the SF bay area, 100k saved and invested not counting retirement, with the goal to put it to a house in 5 years not definite. I want to start a side business that I can transition into full time once it can support me and my future wife.My problem is that every idea I begin to research, I find that it doesnt make any money. Restaurant? Terrible. Delivery service? Razor thin margins. Training seminars? Huge risk. Every business plan I come up with, the people I speak to who are knowledgable in the field shoot it down. The only idea that finds any support is real estate.I get that it is difficult to start a business, and most businesses fail, but how do I get off the ground if everyone pokes holes in every idea I have? Blind optimism? Finding ways to start small? Should I invest in small businesses in my area and provide them with business support? Edit: my question is not about finding business ideas, the examples I gave were just simple examples. Im more interested in how people mathematically quantify potential risk from the feedback they receive.Assistant: Because you keep focusing on business ideas that large numbers of people can do. Thats why UberLyftetc. pay so little: there are way too many people who can do the job.The key is finding something that _you_ can do better than anyone else. I dont know what that is, but unless youre really really good at one of your hobbies, its likely to be a variant on the stuff you actually have expertise in. For a software engineer if thats the kind you are, that means either doing something solo like making apps, consulting, or starting your own company.Human: The key is finding something that you can do better than anyone else.And that something being so valuable that customers are willing not only to pay for it, but to pay well above what it costs you to do.Assistant: As I said in another comment below, my skills only really apply in large scale manufacturing. I could become a consultant, but thats not passive, just another job.  <response>: not every path to success includes passive income. if you make a bunch of money you can invest it, which will provide passive income anyway. try making a lot of money and not spending it 