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Lilah Valentine's Honest Experience Product Masterclass review

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Lilah Valentine

This is the story of how I learned to be visible. There are probably not very many mind-blowing plot peaks in this story. I didn’t reach mission accomplished, but I achieved something so much more valuable. You have to be truly invisible to really understand what I’ve accomplished.

The beginning …

This program came at a very inconvenient time in my life. Every part of logic screamed for me not to invest. The course dates meant that I would miss the first 2 weeks of the program; I had absolutely no savings left (from spending too much money on other courses); I had at least 3 other courses that I hadn't even started, let alone completed; I had promised my partner that I wouldn't spend any more money on courses. I changed my mind about enrolling over 20 times throughout the launch. I kept convincing myself that I already knew pretty much everything that would be covered in the program, then I’d be drawn back to those beautiful launch videos and start craving the program all over again. In the end, the doors were closing and I literally had to make a decision. I got that ‘knowing’ look from my partner as she handed over her credit card. There’s only so supportive you can expect someone to be and I had pushed beyond the realms of ‘one more chance’ and into ‘I love you but this has to stop.’
I enrolled.

The middle …

I’ll start by saying that I didn’t show up live to a single lesson. I was too afraid that I’d accidentally hit ‘un-mute’ and be mortally humiliated. It wasn't until the celebration that I joined live and realised that I could have seen Marisa’s face and been even more drawn into the work if I’d only been brave enough.

Despite not attending the live lessons, the videos were still so much more interactive than any other course I’ve taken. Marisa’s enthusiasm was infectious, even in the recordings. Every single lesson had a purpose. Every single lesson contained everything we needed to know. No more. No less. Gently, kindly, Marisa led us down a path to success. Not by overwhelming us with information. Not by showing off how much she knew and how much we didn’t. But by systematically breaking every challenge into digestible actions. She managed to take us, a group of people more diverse in both lifestyle and business stage and niche than I’ve ever been a part of, and perfectly explain things in a way that felt as though she was teaching directly for me.

The group coaching call were also an incredible opportunity to learn from Marisa. Her ability to work with words is inspirational. This gift clearly comes so naturally to her - we were all blown away by the way she could take a confused and overly long statement or heading and transform it into the succinct and compelling message - right there, live, in front of all of us.

In addition to group coaching, we were given office hours with an individual coach. As far as I could, I reverse engineered getting Rono as my coach. I looked at the photo of the coaches before completing the questionnaire at the start and I saw him and thought, “You’re not gonna take any bulls**t from me.” Because I knew that things need to change. I needed to change. Things weren't working in my business - it wasn't even a business - more of an expensive hobby. I had a website, and ESP, all the gadgets. But I had no clients and in truth, I was trying not to get any. I was hiding out behind my computer doing ‘busy work’ that made me feel like I was achieving something.

Anyway, back to the coaches. If I’d been playing by my normal rulebook, I’d have tried really hard to get Christine to be my coach. She just looked so kind and so friendly (not that the rest of the coaches didn’t!!) and I was pretty sure I’d be totally in my comfort zone. It turns out I was wrong anyway - Rono was not as scary as I thought. His calls were full of personalised attention and information. And he’s kind and funny too. Although I ‘hid’ with my video turned off, I was still there, lurking! And the one-on-one sessions - priceless. (More about that later!)

The Facebook group for this program was unlike any other I’ve experienced. I felt safe. I started commenting and even sharing. I asked for feedback when normally I would have struggled alone. The support and interaction in this group has been so incredibly valuable to me. And it was fantastic to have so many team members give their feedback - so many different strengths in one incredibly effective team. Watching their feedback as like have a ‘fly on the wall’ view to answers to so many scenarios, worries and confusions, many of which I shared with the people asking the questions. As well as the general posts, I totally loved Christine’s wonderful, and always timely, videos. Like a warm hug, they popped up in my newsfeed and reassured me that I was going to be ok. That I could do this. That we all could. Sometimes it’s the little things that help the most.

The end …

A game-changing part of the course for me was the one-on-one call with my coach. Although it very nearly didn’t happen at all. You’ve probably guessed by now that I’ve been more than a little bit shy and lacking in confidence recently. To be honest, this program occurred right in the middle of one of most anxious times of my life. When I signed up for the program, I questioned whether I’d be able to ‘make myself’ have a one-to-one call with my coach. By the end of Week 7, the answer was glaringly clear. I had no intention of booking my coaching call by this point. I’d let myself down but I was safe.

I don't know what changed. I think I simply realised the value of what I was passing up. By the end of Week 7, I was becoming more confident and willing to be more visible. I booked the call while I was waiting to be served in a cafe. It literally took 30 seconds, and for about 45 minutes I was very pleased with myself. But then the panic sank in. I put 6 reminders in my phone in case I missed the appointment. I made lists of what to ask. I checked the meeting link numerous times. I drove my partner crazy with my frantic ramblings. I worried about it from that moment onwards. By half an hour before the call, I’d sent my partner out of the house so she couldn't hear what I was saying and banned my teenage daughter from exiting her room while I was on the call. I counted down the seconds until exactly 5.30pm. Then I left it 10 seconds - in case my clock was wrong. I was so panicked by the time we connected that I forgot to put my headphones on. So there was Rono, waving through my computer screen and I couldn't hear a thing …

The meeting was fantastic. I learned loads right there and then and Rono also gave me so much advice for how to move forward. But here’s the thing. I got more from that coaching call than the information. I got to listen to someone who had knowledge and experience in the business and who believed in me - he believed that my idea was good. He believed I could make money. He did some quick math and we talked about figures. And I suddenly realised that this thing could actually be real. I might just actually succeed.

Everything changed for me after that call. I had a plan that I trusted. I had motivation and confidence to go for it. I felt like I was, it’s hard to explain, I felt … real. My business felt real. Validated. Worth fighting for.

Epilogue …

This program has been so much more than the sum of its parts. I truly believe that I could not have gotten these results, this confidence and this clarity from anyone else. I needed to hear Marisa’s message, from her. I’ve never connected with a mentor who is so far advanced from where I am but still able to hold that space to show the clear path ahead.

I’ve taken so many courses. I’ve ridden the emotional rollercoaster of the thrill of the promise followed by the desperation of my failures. But this program was different. I was never alone. And I never failed. I achieved more in this 8 weeks that in years of business before. I did not reach mission accomplished during the time frame because I chose not to. I reached for something far more valuable. I reached for the opportunity to grow myself, and to lay the foundations for a successful, sustainable business.
I fully intend to reach mission accomplished. In fact, I’ll be launching early next year. I have booked a ticket to Message to Money Live and will use the income from my launch to pay off my credit card. Even while I write this, I cannot believe these words are mine. This is the first time I have ever dared to expect to earn an income. I always hoped. I always dreamt. But now, my business future is non-negotiable. Not only do I expect it of myself. I demand it.

Of all the things Marisa and her team taught me, this was by far the most valuable lesson: “I am capable of this, right now.” Their most valuable message: “We believe in you.”

In 8 weeks, I am transformed. I grew out of myself and started growing into the person I want to be. I have gone from business-dreamer to committed. From lost to excited. From wimpy to brave. From invisible to visible. From alone to supported and championed.

I am alive. My business is alive. And my future is alive.