Not calling it LISP would help. And though you get used to it and even kind of appreciate it sometimes, the default behavior of most Common Lisp implementations to SHOUT its symbols at you is rather unfortunate.
Go back to 2005 and look at how 'easy' Python, Perl, PHP, Ruby, JavaScript, C++, and Java were. Look at them today. Why has their popularity hierarchy not remained the same? How about vs. Lisp then and now (or even Clojure later)? You'll find answers that explain Lisp's current popularity (which isn't all that bad) better than anything to do with initial or eventual easiness.
Go back to 2005 and look at how 'easy' Python, Perl, PHP, Ruby, JavaScript, C++, and Java were. Look at them today. Why has their popularity hierarchy not remained the same? How about vs. Lisp then and now (or even Clojure later)? You'll find answers that explain Lisp's current popularity (which isn't all that bad) better than anything to do with initial or eventual easiness.