After reading The 4-Hour Workweek, I decided to test whether I, as someone who has worked in the online world, could create a muse.  I’m sure that I have more knowledge about the steps that were laid out on create a muse than 95% of the people who have read the book.  If I can’t do it, I’m not sure how someone else can who has never spent any time in the online business world. 

So what did I discover?  I think it’s very unlikely that most people can go in and create a muse that would provide a full-time income to support them.  The problem people face is the one that most entrepreneurs face when starting a business.  If there is money to be made in the market that you’re moving in to, there probably is a competitor there who has taken the easy profit. 

My First Muse Started Off Great

The very first day I started 1 of my 2 muses, I got a $1000 order.  Great!  This is pretty easy.  But after that, I got just two more orders in the next 2 months, and they came within the first couple of weeks.  Nothing more came in the next few weeks.  So I shut down my failing muse.

As far as testing it, I knew that I had picked a successful niche because I had some information on other competitors that did quite well in the industry, selling very similar products.  Now that might have been part of the reason that it wasn’t very successful - someone else was firmly entrenched, but that just leads credence to my theory that if there is any profit to be made, someone else has already made money in that market.

My Second Muse Isn’t Making Any Money

I created a second muse while I was working on the first one.  This market is a bit more competitive and less "niche".  It’s moving along but it’s not making any money.  I’m still trying to work on the Adwords campaigns to be profitable and I think it’s going to be tough.  As it gets more organic search results, it will do better, but that’s still a long way off and that’s outside of the steps recommended to create a muse

What Should Someone Do Who Wants to Create a Muse?

1. Don’t think that if you come up with a muse, it will be successful once you follow a few steps - I hate to say it but the instructions laid out in The 4-Hour Workweek just won’t work.  The framework is good but if you follow them step by step, you probably won’t have a successful muse
2. Understand the market that you’re operating in - You’re going to have to become an expert in the market you’re working in and in the medium that you’re selling your product.  If you’re going to be an online retailer, immerse yourself in online marketing and figure out all tricks to grow into a successful business.

You can be successful in creating a "muse" or small business - but it won’t come quickly or easily.  You are probably going to fail initially (whether it’s in the first stages of building your business or just your first business in general).  You just need to get better and learn from your failed experiences.  Get better at what you’re doing and eventually you will have a shot at creating a successful muse.