Chris Malta's EBiz Insider Podcast

One of the most dangerous traps in ecommerce is how easy it is to feel productive while going nowhere. You can spend hours every day "working on your business." You tweak settings, watch videos, test tools, read advice, make lists, reorganize dashboards, and still reach the end of the year wondering why nothing actually improved.

Every December, the same comforting lie makes the rounds. People tell themselves that once the calendar flips, things will finally click. January shows up, confusion packs its bags, and ecommerce suddenly behaves itself. That's adorable. It's also completely wrong.

Momentum is one of the most misunderstood parts of ecommerce. People think momentum is that exciting moment when everything suddenly starts working. They picture dashboards lighting up, traffic flowing in, sales popping, and angels singing in the background. They think momentum feels big and loud and obvious.

People treat ecommerce plans like sacred documents. They sketch out their big ideas, color code everything, and convince themselves they've finally created a flawless roadmap to success. Then reality shows up, kicks the door open, and laughs.

Quitting early is one of the most predictable outcomes in ecommerce. People don't quit because the business is impossible. They quit because they spent weeks expecting magic and then got annoyed when the universe didn't applaud their effort. The holiday season makes this even more entertaining. December rolls around and suddenly folks expect the business to behave like a Hallmark movie where...

Overthinking is the quiet killer in ecommerce. People think the big danger is bad suppliers or bad niches, but honestly, most businesses crash long before that because the owner is sitting there treating every decision like brain surgery. They stare at the screen, poke at their ideas, second guess everything, and by the time they finally act, the moment is gone and so is the momentum.

Assumptions are comforting. They let people feel like they're moving without actually moving. But assumptions also break more online businesses than bad products, weak niches, or terrible traffic strategies combined.

People love the idea of quick wins in ecommerce. They cling to it like a kid hanging onto the last cookie in the jar. And every December, the fantasy gets stronger. Folks are tired, overloaded, and hoping the universe will toss them an easy break so they can stroll into the new year with a miracle business that somehow built itself.

There's a funny thing about beginners in ecommerce. They all think they're supposed to start from scratch every time they want to make progress. They sit down on a Monday with a cup of coffee, crack their knuckles like they're about to create a masterpiece, and then realize they have absolutely no idea where to begin.

People love to wait. They think waiting is productive. They think waiting creates better timing, better conditions, better insight, better everything. They imagine that if they just hold off a little longer, they'll suddenly wake up smarter, calmer, more prepared, and somehow magically ready to build an ecommerce business. Waiting feels responsible. It feels adult. It feels thoughtful. And it...