Last Tuesday I got cocky and built a taco like I was starring in a food montage: double protein, extra salsa, the whole “treat yourself” situation. The tortilla split right down the middle and I spent the next minute doing that panicked plate-hovering shuffle, trying to save dinner. And yeah… I’ve done the same thing with online business. New tool. New tactic. New “proven way” to make money online. Everything stacked at once—until the whole thing slid off the plate. So I started rebuilding my online income system using taco logic: one sturdy base, one main filling, one sauce, and only then the fancy stuff.

The Taco Collapse Moment (and Why It’s Familiar)

Let me tell you about the taco that changed how I think about trying to make money online. It was a Tuesday (of course), and I’d loaded my tortilla with everything: double protein, three salsas, beans, lettuce, guac—because why not? I went in for a bite, and the whole thing exploded onto my plate. Total mess. That’s when it hit me: this is exactly what my early attempts at building an online income system looked like.

I wasn’t lazy. I was actually doing too much—signing up for every new tool, chasing every passive income idea, and buying yet another software trial because “this one will automate everything.” But the real problem wasn’t effort. It was stacking order. I was piling on tactics and tech before I had a solid foundation. Just like my taco, my business plans collapsed under their own weight.

If you’ve ever tried to build an audience for ad revenue, launch digital products, or juggle freelance services all at once, you know the feeling. Hustle culture tells us more is better, but that’s how you end up with a soggy, broken taco and a scattered business.

Here’s a quick “ingredient audit” that changed everything for me:

• List every platform you’re on (Instagram, YouTube, email, etc.)

• Write down your offers (services, freebies, digital products)

• Note all the tools and automations you’re using

Now, look for what’s missing. Nine times out of ten, it’s the base: a clear system that ties everything together. Without that, your online income system is just a pile of disconnected parts.

Seth Godin said, “Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don’t need to escape from.”

That’s the promise of taco logic. We’re not hustling for hustle’s sake—we’re building something that actually holds, one layer at a time.

Step 1: Pick One Protein (Your Real Monetization Method)

Every taco starts with one protein. Every online income stream should, too. When I first tried building my business, I wanted it all: affiliate marketing, digital products, online courses, freelance work—the whole “combo platter.” But here’s the truth: more protein doesn’t make a better taco. It just makes a mess.

My rule? If you can’t explain your offer in one breath, it’s probably three offers wearing a trench coat. So, let’s keep it simple. Choose one monetization method to start:

• Affiliate marketing: Pick one niche, one product category, and one clear angle. For example, review the best email marketing tools for solopreneurs. You’ll earn commissions by sharing referral links—no product creation needed.

• Sell digital products: Create a single ebook, template, or online course that solves one annoying problem. Research shows digital products can generate passive income with minimal ongoing effort once built. Think: “One Notion template for busy freelancers.”

• Services: Offer one clear outcome, like writing email sequences, building landing pages, or doing design audits. This is classic freelance work—direct, focused, and easy to explain.

It’s tempting to stack on more—maybe try dropshipping or print on demand. But those are different proteins. Don’t pile them on yet. Each income method has its own flavor and structure. Mixing them too soon is like putting steak, chicken, and fish in one taco. Trust me, nobody wants that bite.

Pat Flynn said it best: “Don’t try to be everywhere. You don’t have to. Just be where it matters.”

So, before you worry about traffic or fancy tools, pick your protein. Affiliate marketing, sell digital products, or services. One. Not all three. That’s how you build a taco—and an online income stream—that actually holds together.

Step 2: Build the Tortilla: Funnel + Email (Unsexy, Necessary)

Every taco needs a tortilla. Every online income system needs a base layer that actually holds. That means sales funnel basics and a simple email marketing setup. Not glamorous, but absolutely necessary if you want to make money online—otherwise, your business is like taco toppings sliding off a napkin.

What’s the “Tortilla” of Your Online Business?

Here’s what I mean by a base system:

• Simple funnel: One page, one promise, one next step. Imagine you’re explaining it to a friend: “Go here, grab this, and I’ll send you what you need.” No confusion, no rabbit holes.

• Email capture: Don’t just rent your audience on Instagram or TikTok. Own your list. If your social account vanished tomorrow, could people still find you and buy? That’s my “tortilla test.”

• One clear CTA: Don’t make people choose between seven buttons. Give them one action—download a checklist, grab a sample, book a call. Make it obvious.

Lead Magnet: Match Your Protein

Your lead magnet should fit your “protein.” For affiliate marketing, offer a buyer’s checklist. For digital products, a sample or mini-guide. For services, maybe a quick audit checklist. This is what gets people onto your list and into your funnel.

Personal Slip-Up: Renting Attention

I’ll admit, I once drove a ton of traffic to a blog post with no email capture. People came, read, and left. I basically rented attention for free—and had nothing to show for it. Lesson learned: without a tortilla, everything hits the floor.

Ann Handley said it best: “Make the customer the hero of your story.”

Build your base. Keep it simple. Sales funnel and email marketing setup aren’t flashy, but they’re what let you actually make money online—no matter what happens to your social channels.

Step 3: Sauce = Traffic (Pick One and Actually Learn It)

Ever bite into a taco with no sauce? Dry. Forgettable. That’s what your online business feels like without social media traffic. As Gary Vaynerchuk says:

“If you’re not putting out relevant content in relevant places, you don’t exist.”

Here’s the taco logic: Pick ONE traffic source—Facebook, YouTube, or short-form video (think TikTok, YouTube Shorts, or Reels). Master it before you even think about adding ‘guac’ (automation, fancy tools, or extra platforms).

What Mastery Looks Like (My Version)

• Consistent posting cadence: Show up on your chosen platform every week—no ghosting.

• One repeatable content format: Don’t reinvent the wheel. Use a proven recipe, tweak, and repeat.

Two Content Recipes That Work

• YouTube Channel: problem → story → solution → CTA
  Example: “Struggling to get email subscribers? Here’s how I fixed that with one simple funnel…”

• Short-form/Faceless Content: hook → proof → next step (email list)
  Example: “I made $500 with no followers—here’s the screenshot. Want the template? Link in bio.”

Faceless Content: The Wild Card

Faceless content creation on TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Reels lets you build a following—and income—without ever showing your face. This is a game-changer for introverts or anyone camera-shy. Social media traffic from these platforms supports monetization through ads, sponsorships, or digital product sales.

Imagine This:

What if you could only use one platform for 90 days? Would you go all-in on a YouTube channel, Facebook group, or faceless content on TikTok? Your answer shapes your entire content creation plan. Pick one, learn it inside out, and let the sauce do its magic. No traffic? Dead business. Simple as that.

Step 4: Earn the Guac: Automation, AI Powered Income, and ‘Shopify Magic’ (Later)

Let’s talk guac. In tacos and in business, it’s the extra—delicious, but only if you’ve built a solid base first. I learned this the hard way. Early on, I bought a fancy automation tool, thinking it would save me from posting content. Spoiler: it just automated my avoidance. The posting was the job. If you’re not getting clicks or emails yet, business automation just automates disappointment. That’s my ‘guac rule’—don’t add it until you’ve earned it.

Automation and AI are multipliers, not life support. They amplify what’s already working. If your online income system is bringing in leads and sales, then it’s time to sprinkle on some guac. Otherwise, you’re just wasting money and energy. As Tim Ferriss says,

“Focus on being productive instead of busy.”

• Where AI Actually Helps: Once you’re stable, AI tools can draft emails, outline blog posts, write product descriptions, and repurpose content for different platforms. The core system—your protein, base, and sauce—stays the same. AI just makes it faster and smoother.

• Shopify Magic: For e-commerce, Shopify Magic is a great example. It uses AI to generate product descriptions, automate marketing emails, and even suggest content ideas. But it only works if you already have products and traffic. Guac on top, not as the tortilla.

Remember: guac is optional. Automation and AI powered income tools are there to multiply your results, not to rescue a system that isn’t working. If you’re still building, keep it simple. When you’re ready, layer on business automation to save time and scale up—never to skip the real work.

Guac too early just wastes money. Earn guac. Don’t force it.

Final Bite: A Tiny Checklist to Keep Your Taco Standing

If you’ve ever tried to make money online, you know the feeling: juggling too many “ingredients” until your whole taco—er, business—collapses mid-bite. That’s why I keep coming back to taco logic: stack things in the right order, and you’ll enjoy a business that actually holds together. Here’s my one-line recipe: protein → tortilla → sauce → guac. Simple, right?

Every week, I do a quick 10-minute reset to keep my taco upright. I check one metric for each layer. Is my offer (the protein) clear and compelling? Is my funnel (the tortilla) catching leads and guiding them to a single, obvious action? Is my traffic (the sauce) steady and focused—whether that’s Facebook, YouTube, or short-form video? And finally, is my automation (the guac) actually making things easier, or just adding mess?

It’s tempting to chase every new passive income idea, pile on affiliate marketing links, or try to sell digital products before you’ve even got a base. But as James Clear says,

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”

Hustle culture wants you to believe more ingredients are the answer. Taco logic says it’s all about better order. And honestly, it’s weirdly calming to know I don’t have to do everything at once—I just have to stack things right, and check in regularly.

So next time you’re hovering over your plate, hoping your taco doesn’t fall apart, remember: the secret isn’t more toppings—it’s the right sequence. If you want to see how I’m building a done-for-you system that follows this taco logic (and actually makes money online), I’m documenting every step in real time. Follow along, and let’s keep our tacos—and our businesses—standing tall, one bite at a time.

TL;DR: Build your online income system like a taco: choose one monetization method (affiliate marketing, sell digital products, or services), set up a simple funnel with email capture and one CTA, master one traffic source, then add automation/AI only after it’s working.