My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Young People Rediscovering Blue Collar Trades
Timeframe: 5-10 years for full trend development
What's Changing
Young people increasingly choosing trade careers over college due to debt burden, social media glamorization, and attractive earning potential
Driving Forces
College costs and debt burden making ROI questionable
Social media showing attractive lifestyle and earnings of tradespeople
AI threat to white collar but not blue collar jobs
Shortage creating premium wages in skilled trades
Winners
- Trade schools and apprenticeship programs
- Existing trade businesses with succession planning
- Tool and equipment manufacturers
- Platforms connecting skilled trades with customers
Losers
- Traditional colleges seeing enrollment declines
- White collar service businesses competing with remote work
- Old trade business owners without succession plans
How to Position Yourself
Acquire aging trade businesses before trend fully manifests
Create content/platforms serving this demographic
Develop tools and software for trade businesses
Offer financing and support for young people entering trades
Early Signals to Watch
Example Implementation
“TikTok creator showing daily life as electrician earning $150k attracts millions of views and comments from college students reconsidering their path”