opinion

The Will to Succeed

At the time of this writing, I am sitting in a hotel room down in the city, awaiting the return of an old pal that has been away for a few years now. In a short couple of hours, his long mission will be over, and his friends and family will meet him at the airport to welcome him home.

He had taken on a task that took him far from loved ones and thrust him into unfamiliar territory, surrounded by strangers and separated by barriers of culture, language, religion and more. Despite this, however, he persevered — overcoming these obstacles and successfully accomplishing his goals through commitment, dedication and the overriding will to succeed.

By all reports, it was a job well done and reflected a work ethic that leads to prosperity in any field.

On the adult entertainment front, experienced, successful operators will know all too well this cost of commitment and the necessity to push forward when it seems that everything is crashing around you. This includes the physical and mental exhaustion that saps creativity and the emotional isolation caused by endless hours spent on the job, in front of the computer, rather than living a healthier lifestyle.

The payoff can be substantial, however — with freedom, fun and financial rewards to those who can remain hungry and continue to focus on building erotic empires in the process.

Building vast empires is not for everyone, however.

While some folks thrive on being king, others are content to be rich, and may decide that it is time to scale back their personal involvement in their company’s day-to-day operations; preferring to cash out rather than to carry on. There is also no shortage of other players wanting to be involved or to get bigger than they already are by gulping down the competition, providing the cash for your retirement.

Whether it is a management metamorphosis or a round of mergers and acquisitions, companies within the adult space are striving to secure their future — and in some cases, making moves intended to obfuscate the company’s true ownership or country of origin. This last measure is an attempt to protect their assets on a legally challenging playing field, while fueling the next stages of their growth.

Growth, or the positive expansion of profits, can take many forms, however.

Some companies are streamlining their operations rather than expanding them; running a tighter, more nimble ship, as opposed to a larger, slower vessel. This trend is in evidence in website closures and subsequent re-launches; combo and discounted membership offers; and domain name portfolio sell-offs by even the largest of companies — along with a wave of new and innovative products and services that are designed to take advantage of today’s changing marketplace realities and generously funded by the realignments of outdated business units.

For these perceptive operators, going sideways may be the best way to move forward. All it takes is a clear understanding of the diverse needs of your company, in context of its fast-changing operations, and prevailing market factors  — and the will to succeed at all costs.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

How to Stay Legally Protected When Policies Get Outdated

The adult industry has long operated in a complex legal environment subject to rapid change. Now, a confluence of age verification laws, lawsuits, credit card processing and data privacy rules has created an urgent need for all industry participants — from major platforms to independent creators — to review and potentially overhaul their legal and operational policies.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

The Basics of Total Cost of Ownership in Retail

Almost every retailer has experienced that “oh no” moment. It’s when support tickets pile up, staff can’t get answers fast enough, store openings get delayed because Wi-Fi isn’t ready, or the POS proves to be outdated. Suddenly you’re too busy fixing problems to focus on driving sales.

Sean Quinn ·
opinion

How to Market a Product You Can't Name or Show Online

You’re trying to sell legal, helpful products to consenting adults — yet the internet treats those products like a problem. The viral success every brand dreams of can seem maddeningly elusive when search engines block or restrict common keywords, social feeds shadow-ban PG posts, review bots misread images and policies shift overnight with no notice.

Hail Groo ·
opinion

From Compliance Chaos to Crypto Clarity: Making the Case for Digital Payments in Adult

These are uncertain times for adult merchants. With compliance tightening and age verification mandates rising, the barrier to entry keeps getting higher.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

How Managing Inventory With AI Helps Retailers Stock Smarter

If you’ve ever stood in a stockroom looking at a wall of unsold merchandise, then you know this basic truth: Your inventory is an asset — until it starts gathering dust. But how do we predict what customers want? That’s the eternal retail dilemma.

Zondre Watson ·
opinion

A Retail Guide for Boosting Sales in the Often-Overlooked Nipple Play Category

When it comes to sex toys, one area of the body that often gets overlooked by both consumers and salespeople is the nipples. Even though human nipples are packed with nerve endings and are sensitive and responsive across genders, they frequently get ignored as a focus for pleasure products — usually simply because nipple toys are small and come in tiny packaging.

Sara Gaffoor ·
profile

FSC's Valentine Leads Charge for Sex Worker Rights and Financial Access

Before ever stepping into a courtroom, Valentine already understood the power of presence. After all, they’ve shimmied on stages as a burlesque performer, consulted behind the scenes for creative businesses and moved through the adult industry not just as an advocate, but as a participant.

Jackie Backman ·
profile

Peppermint on Finding Beauty Beyond Breast Cancer

I never thought it would happen to me. After all, I had done all the “right things” to stay healthy, so in the summer of 2020 when I felt a lump in my left breast, I was convinced it was nothing more than a cyst. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself. Yet a quiet voice inside still whispered, “But what if…?”

Peppermint ·
opinion

What Sexual Wellness Brands Can Learn From Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift is an undeniable cultural force, but her superpower isn’t just music. From surprise album drops on podcasts to billion-dollar tours, the Swiftie empire has turned into a global movement in large part thanks to effective marketing.

Naima Karp ·
Show More