Can We Stop Pretending Everything’s Fine?
The Harm of Wealth-Obsessed, Tone-Deaf Business Advice in a World on Fire
I might be labeled an "angry Asian lady" for this rant, but honestly? I need to get this off my chest.
Because if there's one thing I’ve learned about calling out BS in the online industry, it’s that someone has to say the things no one wants to say. Otherwise, we just stay in our filter bubbles, perpetuating the same status quo that got us here.
❌ And I refuse to do that.
The world is literally on fire right now:
People are losing jobs in massive layoffs
Rights are being stripped away
Communities are living under active threat
Wars are destroying lives
The economy is crushing families, forcing them to choose between rent and food
And yet, scrolling through my feed, I watch the coaching industry and online business world carry on like none of this exists. Like we’re all just supposed to chase millions and manifest our way out of global crises.
This privileged ignorance and wealth obsession isn’t just tone-deaf—it’s ACTIVELY HARMFUL.
Why This Is So Damaging
When we allow privileged ignorance to dominate, we dismiss the realities of people’s lived experiences. We ignore systemic barriers, cultural differences, and historical inequalities. But that’s not all.
💔 It creates a culture of shame around struggling.
When everyone only shares their wins and no one talks about challenges, people feel isolated. They think they’re the only ones not "crushing it" when, in reality, most people are struggling.
💔 It glorifies burnout and trauma.
Too many people push themselves past their limits chasing someone else’s definition of success—at the cost of their mental and physical health.
💔 It makes marginalized communities feel invisible.
“Just hustle harder” means something very different to someone working three jobs to survive than to someone with generational wealth and connections.
💔 It perpetuates a narrow, oppressive definition of success.
More money, more followers, more status—while dismissing other valuable forms of success like community impact, personal growth, or simply surviving a system designed to break you.
Recent Examples That Prove My Point
Last week, I was in a Facebook group where someone asked how to find clients who respect boundaries. Someone responded:
"This is why I ONLY work with wealthy clients."
On the surface, it might seem like practical advice. But dig deeper, and you see the toxic assumption that only wealthy people deserve quality service. That money = worthiness.
And then there’s a certain super-muscled male podcast host (you know the one) who claimed the best way to “recession-proof” your business is to work exclusively with wealthy people.
But it got worse. He also said:
Wealthy people want things "quick and easy."
They don’t want to deal with "someone who doesn’t speak English on the phone."
Rich people are "worried about their stuff being stolen."
Let that sink in. This so-called "business expert" is pushing racist, xenophobic nonsense:
That non-English speakers aren’t trustworthy.
That only English-speaking, wealthy people deserve good service.
That privilege is the ultimate business model.
The Alternate Reality of the Online Business World
Too many business owners are nodding along to this garbage because we’ve created an online space where acknowledging actual human suffering is seen as “negative” or “bad for business.” Where we’re expected to:
Ignore global crises
Pretend everyone has equal opportunity
Measure success solely by income
Chase wealth at all costs
Preach toxic positivity while the world burns
Just last week, someone on a call told me, "I don’t follow politics because that energy doesn’t help me manifest my goals."
If that’s not privilege, I don’t know what is. The ability to ignore reality because it doesn’t impact you directly? That’s a luxury many don’t have.
What If We Did Business Differently?
What if, instead of pretending everything’s fine, we created space for the whole human experience? What if we recognized that:
Not everyone starts from the same place
Wealth isn’t the only measure of someone’s worth
Systemic barriers are real and impact success
True inclusion means acknowledging struggle, not just celebrating wins
This isn’t about abandoning ambition. It’s about grounding our businesses in reality. It’s about creating spaces where people can bring their whole selves—their grief, their fear, their anger, AND their joy, their ambition, their hope. ❤️
Because ignoring reality doesn’t make it go away. It just makes your business irrelevant to people going through hard times.
If your business model only works for people who aren’t struggling… if your “ideal client” is exclusively wealthy and privileged… if you can only connect with people who pretend everything’s fine…
💁🏻♀️ Then you’re part of the problem.
I want to build something different. A business that acknowledges the whole human experience. That doesn’t expect people to leave their humanity at the door.
What about you? Are you tired of toxic positivity and wealth obsession in the online space? Let’s talk—drop a comment and let me know your unfiltered thoughts.
❤️ Thank you for letting me be real.
Gloria