STP 58 - What makes the best foundation for a successful online course?
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[00:00:00] James Marland: Hello, this is James Marlon from course creation studio. This is the podcast scaling therapy practice. This is the show where we empower mission-driven helpers to launch life-changing online courses. I'm glad you're here with me today. Today. We're going to talk about. Uh, the foundation of an online course, and I want to let you know that you should not make sales as a foundation. For your online course.
[00:00:39] James Marland: And you're, you might be saying James. I and I making a course to make money. And that might be the outcome of a good course, but it should not be your foundation. So I'm going to unpack that a little bit. Uh, we're going to be talking about. You know, what, what should you build your online course on? Over the next several episodes of season three, we're going to be tight.
[00:01:04] James Marland: Taking a systematic approach. Of planning and building an online course. And we're going to talk about all the stages of your course, and I've identified those as the planning stage, the producing stage. The promoting stage, the profiting stage and the power polishing stage. So five stages building your online car chorus.
[00:01:26] James Marland: They all start with P for easy reference. We're going to talk about questions. You should be asking yourself. As you start to develop your, uh, online course that can help you lead to a passive income and helping more people. And living the lifestyle that you want to live. Uh, because as we identified. In the last episode, there is only, only so many. Only so many hours of the day, only so many people you can help if you're doing one-to-one. Service. There's only so much you can do.
[00:02:00] James Marland: You can't, you, you will run out of time. You will run out of that finite resource. So we're going to
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[00:02:06] James Marland: about that and I want to help you. Uh, launch a course that is going to change somebody's life and it might even change your life. So, if you want access to the 50 questions, I'm going to be refining it as we go over the next year.
[00:02:21] James Marland: But, uh, that will be in the newsletter. And if you subscribe to the newsletter or go to the web page, it's on a course creation studio and then hit podcast. Uh, you'll find episode 58. And you'll be able to get this resource 50 questions to ask. As you build your online course. well, why shouldn't you start with sales? You know, you, you want to build a course.
[00:02:42] James Marland: You want to build something that is going to help you in your life, and you don't want to waste your time. So why shouldn't you, why, why just start with sales. Well, the promise starting with. Making something that sells. Is it makes. What sells the most important thing, if that is your goal, if that is your foundation. You are going
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[00:03:05] James Marland: be driven by not your core values, not what you, um, not your mission, not the people you want to serve, not the life you want to live.
[00:03:16] James Marland: You're going to be driven by. What people want the sales. And that is a shaky foundation for being in control of your life. What, what. Becomes the, uh, the controlling factor of your life is just what everybody else wants, not what you want. But other people's values, other people's mission, other people's, um, goals, not your goals. And so to have a. A course or course business. That aligns with yourself.
[00:03:51] James Marland: You have to start with you. You have to start with. Uh, what you, your mission, your vision, your values, your strengths. Rather than trying to fit that into a product that other people want. And we'll, we'll get into. You know why that's important, but.
[00:04:13] James Marland: The the, how, how I've been interpreting. This is Dan Sullivan's.
[00:04:18] James Marland: Uh, Unique ability. Everybody has a unique ability, something that is, uh, he defined it this way. Uh, Dan Sullivan, unique ability is the essence of what you love to do and do best. And just think about that. If you could work in that zone. On something you love to do. And you do it best.
[00:04:39] James Marland: Uh, what, what would that do for your life if you could give away?
[00:04:44] James Marland: Um, they, uh, in the book. Uh, 10 X is easier than two X. Dan Solven and his coauthor talk about. Um, 80% of what you do day to day. Does not give you the benefit of the 20%. And so focus on the 20%. That you do best. That will, uh, make your life easier. That will help you contribute more. And so do those things in the 20% and continually raise your standards. To drop out things from the 80%.
[00:05:21] James Marland: Work within your unique ability.
[00:05:24] James Marland: And I just imagine.
[00:05:28] James Marland: Um, there, there are things that I love to do in my job. And as I help people and I say, do the consulting work and there are things they don't like to do. I am able to do a lot of things because I love technology and I dig into. Uh, how to do things, but there are certain things I don't love to do. One of the things that I do that I am okay at.
[00:05:51] James Marland: Um, and that is social media. I can make posts, I can make videos. I can make things. But it doesn't, it doesn't. Phil my soul. Like if I had to do that day in and day out, I would, but I would be drained. Um, Drained by the end of the day and not really energetic and exciting. But what I do love to do is when people ask me for questions and I can coach people on creating courses and helping them discover and use their unique ability, that makes me excited.
[00:06:23] James Marland: So. What is that for you? You know what. What is your unique ability? That is the essence of what you do you love to do, and you do it best. It aligns with your values that aligns with your mission. Aligns. With your. Um, your passions. What is that something that you would do day in and day out? No matter, you know, if you got paid for or not. Those types of things.
[00:06:49] James Marland: I love technology and I would probably look up. Computer
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[00:06:53] James Marland: and you know how to make lighting and microphones and all that stuff. I would probably do that. Well, I do it. I do it now. And people aren't paying me to do those types of things. My, my nephew calls me up and he's like, what's the best computer for this?
[00:07:06] James Marland: And how can I do that? I'm like, oh, let me research those things. I love to research and find the best answer for people. Well, you know, what lights you up? What are those things that we, where you get into the flow state, where time disappears and you. You just do it and you, you might miss a meal or you forget to take breaks because you're just in that flow state.
[00:07:27] James Marland: What is that for you? That's your unique ability? And that's where you're your most authentic self? Which is going to help you sell in the future. And I'll talk about that in a little bit, but how do you identify? So how do you identify your unique, unique ability? There are many. Um, Many ways to do this.
[00:07:46] James Marland: Uh, there, there are other people who. Um, there are some exercises that you can do. One of the first exercises sizes I did. Back many years ago. Was, uh, To identify my passions and my visions was do the exercise, the thought exercise where you think. It's it's easy. Either your easier, your attack. Excuse me, your retirement party. Or your funeral. Uh, and somebody reads the things, your accomplishments, and you think about your work accomplishments, and you think about your family.
[00:08:22] James Marland: It contemplates. Placements and your friends, what you did for society, your, your faith, your religion. Um, those types of things. What, and who, who reads these things? Who remembers you? You think about that from the end? And that aligns you, that starts to align you with what you like to do. And what you want people to your true inner self, what really matters to you? Because what I think. Um, what really matters to you is isn't that you, you never took a day off, right?
[00:08:55] James Marland: Like you're never going to right there. Oh, your work is like, oh, he was the best. Uh, employee and we could always count on him. Yes, those are things, but you're actually what you're valuing is your, your work ethic and your honesty. Not that you, you, um, Gave up everything for work. People don't often put on their deathbed, or I wish I could work one more day. You know, I wish I could just have finished that project. Um, That's that some people are like that I'm sure.
[00:09:24] James Marland: But most of us were like, I wish my, my, my spouse or my wife or. Those, um, those closest to me knew I loved them and that I cared for them. That, that is what we often. Uh, I would say. And. So that's, that's one thing, another, another way to identify your unique ability. Is just. Reflect on what you enjoy, reflect on what. Um, what charges you up now?
[00:09:56] James Marland: If you don't know how to identify those things, you're like, oh, I have plenty of interests and plenty of strengths. One of the things I learned from a book called go put your strengths to work. It's Marcus Buckingham. And at the back, he had an exercise where you had red and green cards. And every time you did something in your, your job that you had an emotional response to. You noticed what that response was and if it was a good response, something that charged you up in something that energized you, something that made you feel strong. You put it on the green card and if you were at. You felt weak about something or it drained you or you dreaded it.
[00:10:36] James Marland: You didn't want to answer those calls, you know? Oh, I don't want to pick up this phone call. Those were the people and things and the tasks that you put on the red card, then you would categorize those things. You know, what made you feel the strongest strong and what made you feel the weakest week?
[00:10:49] James Marland: And you'd have them on a. You know, lay them out in front of you and then you'd be able to list the things and categorize the things that made you feel strong and weak. And then those. What you will find clues for your unique ability. What are the things that make you feel strong? What are the things that drain you? See how they line up. Another more, maybe scary thing is ask your family and friends, you know, what do they think you're strong and what do they appreciate you for?
[00:11:15] James Marland: What do you get recognized for? Find those things. Like what, when, when you're doing your job and you're, you've helped somebody, what do they, what do they say? You help them with? What were the things you did? That.
[00:11:31] James Marland: Um, that help them. Get to where they wanted to go.
[00:11:37] James Marland: So take those things and find your unique ability. And there is also a workbook, the insolvent strategic coach. He puts out a unique ability workbook. So you can go through that workbook and to answer it asks some of these questions and, uh, It asks some of these questions for you, so you can identify them in a systematic way with charts and writing things down. It's a nice, it's a good experience. So, how does this help?
[00:12:04] James Marland: Why is this a good. Why, why is finding your authentic self. A better than. A better foundation than sales. Simply put. Uh, Building an online course building online course business is, is hard work. And. What is going to more you, what is going to keep you grounded? What is going to be your strength? Is your authentic self, what you do, your alignment with what you are doing.
[00:12:36] James Marland: If you put your alignment on what cells that can break you away from who you truly are and what you truly want to do and who you truly want to be. I don't know if this is a good example or not. Uh, but if you, if you wanted to throw parties for people and invite them over to your house, And. Um, get to know people in your neighborhood, but you. You were, um,
[00:13:04] James Marland: A vegan or vegetarian. And people would only come to your house. If you serve barbecue and steak. And your main goal was not your, you know, your values. It was. What people want and what people sell. You might end up finding yourself cooking steak when you don't want to. 'cause you you're beholden to what other people's values are. In the same way.
[00:13:34] James Marland: That might be an extreme example. Um, But in the same way. If you are beholden to what the crowd wants and it's against your values, your you are going to feel. Anxiety and angst and, and dispassionate about what you're doing and what is going to keep, what, what people want is your authenticity. That there are probably if, if your courses. Uh, a decent idea that people are looking for problems to solve.
[00:14:06] James Marland: Like they have a problem and your course or idea solves their problem. There's probably a book out already about it. There's probably a course out there for it. There's probably a YouTube channel. A, uh, Instagram channel. There's something out there already for it. What is going to bring people to you? Is your authenticity people who. People are attracted to what you bring. And so your, your. Uh, one of the strongest strengths that you have for selling your online course is your authenticity be who you are. So the, the, the challenge then is for us to leverage our unique story. And authenticity to differentiate ourselves from other people.
[00:14:57] James Marland: It's the passion of the author that sells the course, not necessarily the course or idea itself because. There are other people out there. You need something that. Distinguishes you from the other people. And guess what that distinguishing factor is your story. Your experience, your process. How you get to get to get people to their destination, how you solve their problem.
[00:15:24] James Marland: It's you. And you can't do that. By not being authentic. So. Um, Just a little, sorry, here. Aye. I, uh, I am not necessarily a, a call. Uh, if you, if you're watching the video here, I'm not necessarily a button up collar shirt and tie type of person. Um, I am more of a jeans and t-shirt type of person. And so when I come to the video, when I think about the video and like, oh, people aren't going to look at me. You know, There's a, there's a, um,
[00:16:04] James Marland: There's a pressure to look a certain way.
[00:16:07] James Marland: That is not me. And. That would be, you know, buy some nice shirts and ties and try to. Tell people that I am the super professional buttoned up person.
[00:16:20] James Marland: I am professional, but I'm not super buttoned up. I like, uh, I like freedom. I like flexibility. I like, uh, Joking around with people. I like business and I like numbers. I have a business degree. But I I'm more into the relationship. Uh, with people then. All, all of, um, you know, looking a certain way or acting a certain way.
[00:16:48] James Marland: So I decided. You know, after. Almost a year of doing podcasts that I'm just going to, when I'm recording, I'm going to wear the t-shirts that I would normally wear for work. When I'm not recording, I'm going to be authentic. In the recordings and not in the recordings, and guess what, that's going to rub some people the wrong way.
[00:17:07] James Marland: That's going to be like, oh, he should be, you know, You know, suit and tie professionalism.
[00:17:14] James Marland: But that's not who I am. If I attract people with the suit and tie, they're going to find out very quickly. I am not a buttoned up suit and tie type of person. I may, I'm wearing a Marvel t-shirt right now. I'm a comic book.
[00:17:27] James Marland: Action hero. Uh, Godzilla versus king Kong type of person. That's going to attract some people to me. In fact, that's going to attract the right people to me. People who appreciate the authenticity. Authenticity, authentic, whatever. Um, The, the, some people will appreciate the auth authenticity. And some people will be repelled by my authenticity, but guess what?
[00:17:55] James Marland: It's attracting and repairing the right people. Because the people who are attracted to me, I can help the best, the quickest they're going to jive with me and I'm going to jive with them. They will the peop they will be the type of people that I would want to go on a bus trip with, or go on a vacation with and spend a week with hanging out and chatting and. And really connecting with them. As we're doing some work. That is the people that I want to attract that is authentic me.
[00:18:23] James Marland: So if my Marvel t-shirt offends, you. You might want to find. Another content creator who is buttoned up and more professional in that sort of way. I'm also not super slick and salesy. I am more value-driven. I like to give people value. And if they.
[00:18:43] James Marland: Um,
[00:18:45] James Marland: that, that energizes me when people go further, faster with what I do. I am not trying to promise the world because doing online coursework is a lot of work. But I do know that the end result is worth it. And I want to help you reach more people. In fact, my, my main goal. Um, is I want you to live. I want people to be helped as you earn. Uh, living from your expert knowledge, like. Helping people is a big part of online courses.
[00:19:17] James Marland: And I want you to be able to help the people that you can help the easiest and quickest and best by being your authentic self.
[00:19:27] James Marland: Um,
[00:19:30] James Marland: So, how do you, how do you start validating your authentic self? One of one of those things. You can do is just go on message boards. Where people have questions you can answer and answer some of their questions if they say thank you. Oh, that was a great idea. Or I never thought about it that way before.
[00:19:49] James Marland: That's a form of a validation. So go search for your problem on message boards, search for your problem on. Google. Uh, or, uh, Facebook groups or wherever, you know, Reddit or those types of things. Answer a couple of questions and see what sort of validation you get back. Share another ideas to share some of your content on social media.
[00:20:11] James Marland: If you have a guide for something, or if you're helping people in a certain area, share one part of that and see what response you get.
[00:20:19] James Marland: Another more brave thing to do. His host a live Q and a session. If you have people, if you have social media or if you have an access to a platform. See if people respond to your Q and a. If you, if they do, then that's an indicator that people look to you for. Support in that area.
[00:20:41] James Marland: So in conclusion,
[00:20:42] James Marland: Building on less cells is an unstable foundation. Focus on your unique ability for a more genuine and sustainable approach. People will be attracted to your true south. You, if you're good at what you do, if you have experienced at what you do and you have passion for it that will shine through. People often by the personality, as much as they buy the solution to the problem.
[00:21:06] James Marland: So align yourself with those passions and your mission and your values, and the journey will be much easier for you and the people who follow you. It will be more fulfilling. It'll be stronger. It will, you will be sustained as you go. Uh, you won't be discouraged. When hard times come be authentic to yourself.
[00:21:29] James Marland: Be true to yourself. Make your unique ability, what you build your course on, and you will have much greater and longer success than if you just went on. Whatever sells. You'll be happier with yourself and happier with what you create. Which sustains you. And we'll give you more profit. So this is James Marland.
[00:21:51] James Marland: I'm empowering. Mission-driven helpers to launch life changing. Online courses. I hope you visit our web page. Of course, creation studio.com. Look at the resources there. Uh, we just did an, uh, 12 episodes on marketing for your online or for your therapy office. So take a look at those, make sure you grab the resource on the 50 questions to ask as you make your online course. Um, and if you want to add a question, send me a email at James.
[00:22:21] James Marland: At course creation studio.com. That's James. At course creation, studio.com. I'd be happy
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[00:22:27] James Marland: add those questions or incorporate them as we go along. Keep keep listening to season three. As you're going to learn more re uh, get more resources and tips on creating an online course that changes lives. We will see you next time.
[00:22:42] Microphone (Yeti Classic)-1: Thanks again for listening to the scaling therapy practice. Please note that the information provided in this podcast is not intended to be your legal or tax advice. If you require professional legal or accounting services, please speak to a licensed professional in that area.
[00:23:03] Microphone (Yeti Classic)-1: Scaling therapy practice is a proud part of the psych craft network.
