I Don’t Enjoy MRR-Centric Stories. Here is Why

Duygu Dülger
3 min readDec 10, 2023

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The Unrealistic Attraction of MRR-Based Articles: A Misguided Journey

As I navigate the digital landscape, a certain trend in content marketing has increasingly caught my attention — and not in a good way. MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue) based articles are everywhere, painting a picture of financial success and entrepreneurial triumph. On the surface, they seem inspiring, almost magical, but I’ve come to realize that they’re more akin to short-term dopamine hits than true beacons of guidance.

The Mirage of Instant Success

The primary issue with MRR-based articles is their focus on the end result — the impressive revenue figures. It’s akin to admiring a mountaintop without acknowledging the treacherous climb to get there. These articles often gloss over the grueling journey, the setbacks, and the strategic pivots that are integral to any success story. Instead, they offer a polished, finished product for us to marvel at.

A group of people are happy with MRR success | Dall-E Generated

A Skewed Perception of Entrepreneurship

By showcasing only the success, these articles inadvertently set unrealistic expectations. They make entrepreneurship seem like a smooth sail towards financial prosperity. But ask any seasoned entrepreneur, and they’ll tell you that the reality is far from it. The journey is riddled with challenges, learning curves, and, most importantly, failures that shape the eventual success.

The Missing Context: Background and Hard Work

Another critical aspect often missing from these articles is the context. Where did the author start? What resources did they have access to? How many hours of hard work, research, and networking went into achieving that impressive MRR? Without this context, the story is incomplete, misleading, and, frankly, unrelatable.

Overworked and tired startup founder | Dall-E Generated

Financial Figures Don’t Tell the Whole Story

Focusing solely on MRR also ignores other crucial aspects of a business. What about the costs, the sacrifices, both personal and professional? Understanding the net profit, the team dynamics, the customer satisfaction level, and the long-term sustainability of the business model is crucial. Revenue is just one piece of the puzzle.

In the pursuit of genuine inspiration and guidance, it’s important to look beyond these dopamine-inducing success stories.

Startup team is trying to solve problems | Dall-E Generated

Seek out content that delves into the realities of entrepreneurship — the good, the bad, and the ugly. Learn from those who are transparent about their journey, who share not just their successes but also their failures and learnings.

It’s time we shift our focus from the glorified end results to the actual journey. Real inspiration lies in understanding the entire process — the initial idea, the hard work, the strategic decisions, and yes, the revenue, but within the context of the bigger picture. Let’s advocate for more comprehensive, realistic portrayals of business success. After all, true inspiration comes from stories we can relate to, learn from, and apply to our own entrepreneurial journeys.

Young founders listen to the story of experienced entrepreneur | Dall-E Generated

It is human to envy financial success, but it does nothing for us in the long run.

Often we fail to learn anything from MRR. We cannot adapt it to our lives and our own enterprise. Therefore, we must keep in mind the need to consider the entrepreneurial adventure with all its difficulties and infrastructure, and be careful about these instant dopamine contents.

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