Is success really just marketing over ability?
I struggle so much with getting any sort of meaningful business from any of my ventures. There is a long list of things I can do but it seems like any amount of hustling gets me nowhere. My business ranges from web design/SEO to photography to engineering to music. I have 3D printers, CNC machine and zero dollars of profit to show from it. In the last 2 years i've made a total of $1200 on web design from 2 clients. Tons of free work to gain Google Business Stars and only got 1 review. The most money i've made from anything is about $3500 trading futures. My social media stuff gets zero traction. Contacting local business to legitimately save them time and money gets zero responses.
Then I see other businesses with too much business and not enough time and can't figure out what to do. A local business shut down because it was their side gig and their main job required more hours from them.
I'll admit i'm not great with marketing because I don't like to be on camera. My goals aren't extraordinarily high like making half a million a year. I'd love to do $50k this year in anything other than my current job.
Has anyone else been in this situation where they were able to break through or was it all just up to luck and people you know?