The gold-rush theory

Case 1: Education

In the Arab world in general, and in Jordan in particular. There was a huge rush to study Medicine, Civil engineering back in the 70's and 80's. The rush to these majors was devastating to everyone. Less people worked as plumbers, car mechanics and painters that in no time any one with no degree, and good handy skills could bank more at the end of the month than most engineers and doctors.

Case 2: Business

In the late 90's with the boom of the cell phone businesses in the middle east. Small shops that specialize in selling cell phone accessories and services mushroomed in Jordan. With most barely making enough cash to keep their business going. The rush started as few companies decided to open up shops and they were making very good money. The result, a million and one (and counting) shops that barely make ends meet.

Case 3: Immigration

Who didn't want to live the American dream? Rivers of gold, bushes of green $100 bills ripe for the taking. And the women? So loose and looking for that middle eastern guy with a thick moustache and heavy accent to deliver her from the evil family she has and whisk her away to his castle. Truth is, it might have been like that for a few, but for the majority. It was hard labor, working more than anyone else, and at the end. Barely reaching what their friends and buddies reached back home.

Case 4: Food business

So many people heard of empires that were made by people who made little restaurants and it made it so big, that they don't know what to do with the money anymore. All of that might be true and great, but truth is, most of the restaurants after they pay all their expenses barely make enough money to keep them afloat. Only very few are able to maintain their success and cash flow and possibly make their owners financially secure. But the majority, will never make it!

To sum it all up

Be very careful from any gold-rush signs. They're all there, all around you. Don't get fixated on a dream that you lose your touch with reality. If everyone has the same dream, it might be the best time for you to do what everyone else is leaving behind.

If you're so focused on doing what everyone else is doing, know this, you have to REALLY be distinguished to be able to chip a piece of the pie, and I mean REALLY distinguished. You have to do things like no one else, and you have to be smarter than everyone else.

But chances that, if you are smarter than everyone else, you would learn from other people's mistakes!