The Three Core Desires: The Secret to Making Money Online That Actually Works

Every successful online business, whether they realize it or not, taps into one of three core human desires: Wealth, Relationships, or Health. These aren't just marketing categories-they're the fundamental drivers behind every purchase decision humans make.

When someone buys anything-from a $5 productivity app to a $5,000 coaching program-they're subconsciously expecting an outcome in one of these three areas. Understanding this is the difference between struggling to make sales and having customers eagerly buy from you.

Here's the key insight: Your knowledge or skill doesn't matter if you can't connect it to one of these three outcomes. A productivity system isn't just about organization-it's about wealth (more efficiency = more money) or health (less stress = better wellbeing).

Let's look at real TikTok creators who have mastered this approach. Notice how each one clearly targets a specific core desire:

💰 Wealth Example: Self-Improvement for Success

This creator focuses on self-improvement content that directly targets wealth outcomes-better habits, productivity, and mindset for financial success. 55.5K followers who want to "join the journey" to success.

💪❤️💰 All Three Desires: Discipline Meets AI

This creator brilliantly combines all three desires: "Discipline meets AI" targets wealth (AI/tech success), health (discipline/fitness), and relationships (community building). 31.8K followers ready to "level up."

❤️ Relationships Example: Love and Connection

This creator focuses purely on relationships and emotional connection. "Only original content" about love, intimacy, and relationships. 65.4K followers seeking better romantic connections.

Social media amplifies these core desires because they're inherently:

• Highly relatable: Everyone wants more money, better relationships, or improved health
• Emotionally charged: These topics trigger strong emotional responses that drive engagement
• Aspirational: People love seeing transformations and success stories in these areas
• Shareable: Content about wealth, relationships, and health gets shared because it helps others
• Evergreen: These desires never go out of style-they're timeless human needs

Whatever your expertise, you can connect it to one or more of these core desires. Here's how:

The key is to be explicit about the outcome. Don't just teach Excel-teach "Excel skills that can earn you $500+ per month freelancing." Don't just share recipes-share "5-minute meals that save busy parents $200/month."

Now that you understand the psychology, here's your step-by-step plan to test and scale your idea:

Step 1: Test Your Strategy on Social Media

Start by creating content that clearly targets one of the three core desires. Don't try to be everything to everyone-pick one desire and own it.

• Choose your core desire: Which of the three aligns best with your knowledge?
• Create outcome-focused content: Every post should promise a specific result in your chosen area
• Use desire-specific language: Wealth (earn, save, invest), Relationships (connect, attract, improve), Health (lose, gain, feel)
• Track engagement patterns: Which posts get the most saves, shares, and comments?
• Build an audience: Aim for 1,000+ engaged followers before moving to step 2

Step 2: Test an Offer with a Digital Product

Once you have an engaged audience, create a simple digital product to test demand. Start with a PDF guide on Gumroad-it's low-risk and quick to create.

• Create a simple PDF guide: 10-20 pages solving a specific problem in your core desire area
• Price it low to start: $5-$25 to reduce purchase friction and gather feedback
• Use outcome-focused titles: "The $1000/Month Freelance Blueprint" or "30-Day Relationship Reset Guide"
• Promote authentically: Share the creation process, behind-the-scenes content
• Collect feedback: Use customer testimonials and suggestions for your next product

Step 3: Scale to Recurring Revenue with an App

If your social media content and digital products are successful, consider building an app for recurring revenue. Apps work especially well for the three core desires because they can provide ongoing value.

The app advantage: While digital products are one-time purchases, apps can generate recurring monthly revenue. A successful app targeting one of the three core desires can scale to significant monthly recurring revenue.

When you market directly to one of the three core desires, everything becomes easier:

• Content creation: You always know what to post-anything that helps people get wealthier, more connected, or healthier
• Audience building: People actively seek content in these areas, so they find you
• Product development: You know exactly what people want-solutions to their wealth, relationship, or health problems
• Sales conversations: You're selling outcomes people desperately want, not features they might need
• Customer retention: When you deliver real results in these areas, customers become loyal advocates

Ready to turn your knowledge into a business that taps into fundamental human desires? Here's your step-by-step action plan:

1. 1Identify your core desire: Which of the three (wealth, relationships, health) aligns best with your knowledge and passion?
2. 2Reframe your expertise: How does your knowledge help people achieve outcomes in your chosen desire area?
3. 3Create outcome-focused content: Start posting daily content that promises specific results in your core desire area
4. 4Build an engaged audience: Focus on attracting people who desperately want the outcomes you can provide
5. 5Test with a digital product: Create a simple PDF guide that solves a specific problem in your area
6. 6Scale based on results: If it works, create more products, courses, or even an app for recurring revenue

The secret to making money online isn't having the most unique idea or the best technical skills. It's understanding human psychology and giving people what they fundamentally want: to be wealthier, more connected, or healthier.

You already have valuable knowledge. The question isn't whether you can help people-it's whether you can clearly connect your help to one of these three core desires.

Stop trying to be clever or unique. Start being clear about the outcome you provide. When you do, you'll find that making money online becomes not just possible, but inevitable.