Now, hands up, I’ve got a very good selection of online courses in my collection of which a fair few (OK, pretty much all of them) haven’t been totally completed. Sometimes I buy them when they’re on special as I’ll ‘need them later’ (which is sometimes true), or I buy them as it’s something I think I ‘should be doing’ (and often actually I don’t do...). That is not to say I never log in to online courses and follow the content–as I do. And sometimes I’m even a really good student–watching every class, asking questions and getting the most from the content. But the point is always that the courses themselves don’t fix anything on their own–you have to do the work.
I actually think online courses are a brilliant format and way to learn, as you can fit them in when it works for you and you can get access to super smart people’s ‘brains’ without typically paying the big bucks ‘in person’ price. Often you can also connect with other people in the same ‘place’ as you (if they offer a FB group or online community element to the course too).
And what about the ‘non-completers’ of online courses (me included)? Often it means they are ‘too busy’ (in which case you have a good prospect there for an in-person training or a done-for-you service!). Or it means they aren’t ready–this isn’t the right time for them to be tackling this topic, in which case you might have (or know someone who does have) something that ‘comes before’ this course so it becomes doable.
I know that not everyone who buys my online course will watch every class and do every exercise. But what I know is they said "Yes" to ‘fixing the problem’ of what my course offers. Now, it’s down to me to make sure they know there are other options to fix the problem–to offer extra help, to surround them with examples of how to get started, and what the results can be. But ultimately I can’t ‘make’ anyone do anything if they don’t want to. And I know that because I’m the same!
I’ve actually been known to buy more than one course on the same topic (yes I know–I am that person). This tells me I am clearly interested in getting this thing or part of my business working better, but it also tells me it’s not a priority for me, or something that I don’t love (because if I loved it I’d have done it already!). I am sure it won’t take long for one of these course creators to cotton to the fact that I might just want one of them to ‘take care of it’ (and I’ll keep you posted on that!).
So if you have any online courses in your virtual cupboard, do a stock take and work out which ones you bought because you need them now (and do them!) or see if they are a ‘sign’ you need to find someone to do that thing for you...
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