Your GRADUATION Story
In late 2023, I (67F) was no closer to having my own business than I was 20 years ago. I had a problem finishing any course I signed up for. I got bored, usually by the second week. (I own at least a couple dozen courses.) By chance I found and did the 5-day mini-course "Crack Your Course Idea Challenge." It's a pre-cursor of the Experience Products Masterclass (EPM). By second chance, I won the grand prize of the entire EPM: all the courses plus bonuses. My mind made up, I was going to make the owners of the course glad they gave me this chance. I was going to finish it. No matter what it took to do it. Did I want to quit? Yes. Did I quit? NOPE! I took the chances given to me - and finished the EPM course with a saleable course of my own.
Your MISSION ACCOMPLISHED Story
I was afraid I wouldn't finish the Experience Product Masterclass (EPM) course. I've a couple dozen courses I've yet to finish. I got bored with them. While working on EPM, I learned that I wasn't bored. No no no, nothing so simple. I discovered I was TERRIFIED OF SUCCEEDING. In spite of that, I worked through the masterclass. I faltered at the winter break. BUT, I finished it! I finished the point of EPM: I had a product, a bare-bones but bona fide course. Mission accomplished. Yet, something happened I didn't expect. I also ended the course with two personal bonuses. Personal Bonus 1: I found my own post-retirement path as a life purpose coach. (Translation: I'm still useful.) Personal Bonus 2 was the most important to me. I learned I could still do what I set out to do in spite of my overwhelming fear.
Your FIRST SALE Story
Chatterboxing. Interesting word. I have over 30 years in retail experience. I learned to listen to what people wanted and also heard they didn't say. So, why did I fear chatterboxing? Because it was me looking for clients, not the clients coming to me. I mentioned this to my long-time (eight or nine years) email pen-pal. I also told her of the potential-but-not-a-sale-yet to an office manager I knew. She was excited for me. Encouraged me to keep going. On a whim, I asked her if she wanted to be a beta tester for me. She jumped at the chance on the next email. Paid the beta price ($297), no questions asked. Between the office manager and my email pen-pal, I have the courage now to keep chatterboxing.
The biggest change is that I HAVE a business to offer. Before that, I had nothing. Finishing EPM and creating a course did two things for me: helped me get over the crippling fear of success, and gave me a new post-retirement purpose. That has led me to being able to truly embrace living. My biggest takeaway is learning that I CAN and I WILL and I AM have always been friends within my reach. They aren't the desperate acts of rebellion I always took them for. They're declarations of freedom: no more self-sabotage, no more internalizing all-or-nothing. They're the desire to do, the will to take the actions, and the abilities needed to take a dream and make it real. What's possible for me is knowing that I can create a saleable product when I want to change from the current one. That, while not perfect starting out, I can do it over and over, and cover the subjects I want to teach - including breakthroughs that I've had.