Using my personal life for an actual point of view. I started a custom painting and refinishing business. Praised and recommended for my work. And my recipient was always right. The legal operating costs were well beyond any fair price for my labor. Then add up front materials, equipment and payroll for 2. It is almost impossible to build an empire from working class stock with morals today.
Definitely agree it's a lot harder today. Back in the era of easy money for white males, in the 50's or whatever, all you had to do was graduate college and you could start a business in whatever that field was and have pretty good odds of succeeding. The more traditional methods of higher levels of success are harder to come by, but there's always room for those who know how to tap into brainless iPhone'esque hysteria.