If I had to start from scratch today and wanted to make $1M in 5 years, here’s what I’d actually do. Not theory. Not trends. Just realistic paths. Most people I know are not talking about starting or scaling businesses because it is trendy. They are doing it because layoffs, inflation, and uncertainty have changed what security looks like. This is me thinking out loud about what works right now and why. 1️⃣ AI Services: Selling Time Back ⏱️ AI is not the product. Time is. People want less chaos, not more tools. Examples• Inbox and calendar management• Automated follow-ups for service businesses• Faster customer support• Personal assistants for execs and founders Cost to start$500 to $3,000 Why this worksMonthly retainers + specialization. Revenue range$40k to $100k solo$150k to $300k with focus$500k+ scaled 2️⃣ Hybrid Wellness + Community 🧘🏽‍♀️🤝 Generic wellness is crowded. Specific wellness is not. Examples• PCOS or postpartum communities• Surgery recovery programs• Menopause and hormone health groups Cost to start$1,000 to $5,000 Why this worksMemberships + trust + community. Revenue range$30k to $75k early$150k to $300k established$500k+ with events and premium programs 3️⃣ Home Services: Boring but Profitable 🏠🔧 Homes always need maintenance. You build the system, not the labor. Examples• Cleaning• Pest control• Plumbing• Roofing• Home health Cost to start$2,000 to $10,000 Why this worksRepeat customers and service plans. Revenue range$75k to $150k owner-led$250k to $500k small team$1M+ multi-city 4️⃣ Niche Social Media Strategy Shops 📱🎯 Not an agency. One niche. One platform. Examples• TikTok for real estate• Instagram for med spas• LinkedIn for consultants Cost to start$500 to $2,000 Why this worksRetainers and focused delivery. Revenue range$50k to $120k solo$200k to $400k small shop$500k+ productized 5️⃣ Pet Care: Built for Recurring Revenue 🐾 Pet spending is steady, even in tight times. Examples• Pet wellness subscriptions• Monitoring and check-ins• Mobile grooming coordination

To kick things off, we are giving back to the entrepreneurs who inspire us. We want to hear from you. Your feedback helps us design programs, tools, and support that truly match what small businesses need to start and grow. Take a few minutes to complete the survey below and enter to win a $50 Visa gift card or your choice of business accelerator service, including a website audit, branding kit, or a 1-hour business clarity session - over $300 in business support services. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfyPfSY_wnpHAQVp8uu6ZHuK5FbR7qm7JpWoLX3aWUNiLWjMQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=102107190152826752798 This is only the beginning. We have more announcements, giveaways, and resources leading up to the website launch and opening of our new Huntsville office. Stay tuned and keep building.

Today we celebrate the dreamers, builders, and side hustlers who keep our communities strong. And today is extra special for us because it is the official launch of the Community Business Accelerator (CBX)- Empowering Entrepreneurs for the Future of Work. Please share your links, even if it's your social media page, so we can show support during the holidays.

CBX is here to help small businesses turn ideas into income. This past year, we traveled across Alabama teaching AI and met so many entrepreneurs trying to make something real happen for themselves and their families. We heard the same struggles again and again. Starting a business today is hard. Money is tight, the market is shaky, and most people are building with whatever time they have left after work, kids, and life. At the same time, AI is changing everything. Big companies are using it to move faster, cut costs, and reach more customers, and small businesses are trying to keep up. Many people told us they feel behind or unsure how to use AI in their business without getting overwhelmed or spending money on tools they do not fully understand. Entrepreneurs told us things like, “I know what I want to do… I just don’t know where to start.” Others said, “I am doing everything myself, but it is not growing.” Many shared how hard it is to get customers or nobody knows your business exists. CBX was created to help with that. We want to give entrepreneurs clear steps to grow, real tools that save time, and support that fits your life, not someone else’s. We also want to show you how AI can be a tool for you rather than something to fear or ignore. Our goal is the same as yours. We want to help you turn your idea into income and build steady, real revenue. And we want to make it doable for anyone who is willing to put in the work. So it is our pleasure to re-introduce the Community Business Accelerator (CBX) - Empowering Entrepreneurs for the Future of Work

We're crafting the new cohort experience for this coming January. The interest is there to keep this program going to support upskilling and implementing AI for businesses throughout Alabama. If you know of anyone interested, please share our community with them. January will have a combination of in-person events and virtual trainings, so stay tuned. Share this link to invite to our community! https://www.skool.com/joy-at-work-3210/about?ref=b93d5ac035964202b38346fbb0293e69