The Tragic Rise and Fall of the ‘Course-Creator’ Empire
Photo by Ghislain Bukura
The way to attain financial independence used to be straightforward — acquire an audience, establish a course, and sail into the sunset
The unwavering business plan of Twitter and LinkedIn caused a surge in activity as individuals began to promote themselves as thought leaders. ’
The future of the course-creator empire is in jeopardy due to the saturation of platforms and the emergence of A I. W hat does it mean for you and why is it considered good?
I. T he Survivorship Bias
A statistician from Hungary, Abraham Wald, was tasked with investigating the destruction of planes that returned from World War II
His education in mathematics and economics equipped him for critical thinking, which aimed to avoid the biases and heuristics that distort our mental processes
The initial action he and his companion took was to inspect the planes upon their return and determine where the bullet holes had penetrated. A straightforward yet dependable method. At least, they thought
On one day, Abraham was swayed by an inquisitive yet unsettling notion
What about the planes that didn’t make it back?
He had neglected a simple but essential mistake in his research. The only information they had was the planes that were still intact and not shot down. The primary data was sourced from the planes that were present in reality
According to Abraham, the survivorship bias had a negative impact on the statistician’s understanding of the data that was available. He and his team solely focused on the survivors and neglected the ones who didn’t make it
A cognitive bias in psychology, known as the survivorship bias, has gained widespread recognition. Nevertheless, this impressive revelation is not limited to planes and battles
For a brief time, this prejudice inundated the internet and creators. Many were tricked into thinking that only an audience and a course could keep them financially free
An unwise but easily disregarded blunder
Despite the success of online stories, thousands of people are not as well-funded as they appear to be. Many individuals have dedicated their lives to their creative pursuits, but they never saw the financial potential in return
It was successful for everyone, but thousands did not
To avoid this discrimination, a basic edit could be condensed into eight words::
If you are the compass, not the outlier
I I. C ompensation and accountability
I, like you, wish there was a correlation between sheer output and attainment, but I’m not sure there is
The most leveraged individuals are not the recipients of the markets ‘riches; they are the ones who work hard to achieve them
People work long hours in unappealing jobs, dedicating weeks to creative pursuits, only to find those who are more intelligent tend to take a break
I finally came to understand the reason after much deliberation
A direct association exists that is not related to anything Compensation Effort carried out with compensation Accountability
To put it simply, you are paid for your hard work, equipment, and skin quality in the game
The course-creator model’s perceived lack of danger makes it appealing to us. The entry barrier is comparatively low
All you need is an internet connection, a laptop, and the determination to spam comment sections and content for hours on end until the algorithm finds someone worthy of visibility
The thing is, William829Example?
Linked In and X are among the likes who value engagement, regardless of its effectiveness
I don’t hold anyone accountable. The idea of constructing something online is appealing to many, including myself, because we lack the necessary funds to invest in it
Our man-hour capacity for engagement and outreach sets us apart from those with capital. How wrong we are
Many risk time is the only option available to them, which is a sad reality
Only in reflection do they acknowledge it’s our most potent asset. Many individuals are wasting time by devoting their time on social media to portray themselves as someone they are not
Is it possible that working in real life would be a more advantageous use of time?
Heading online is only possible after you have skin in the game and your stories
Those we like, did not write their stories in the shadows of a dark office chair with your MacBook. Their stories were crafted in the flesh
Life’s lessons, pitfalls, triumphs and tragedies. Long days, long exposures to risk and investments are common. Constructing tangible things that hold authentic value
Despite this, there is no assurance of a profit out there. When the sun goes down, you’ll have the opportunity to share some authentic stories
I am aware that there are numerous exceptional courses with superior course designers. Nevertheless, this is not a financially viable business plan for all
Another short-lived path to liberation became a dream for most people
Warren Buffet says Keep your feet away from the river’s surface. ’ When it is no longer necessary, you have the opportunity to explore your curiosity without shattereding all the bridges in your life
The creator course empire collapsed when all individuals selling their own courses joined the program. The last setback was caused by AI
II I. I n short
Find out what you’re thinking. Strive for originality while maintaining a grounded approach
Be cautious not to listen just to the winners. The ones who have lost are left with much to say
If you’re after a certain amount, seek first to hold yourself accountable
Thank you for reading
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