Save your money, figure it out yourself.
A few weeks ago I wrote a post about using a drone to shoot awesome real estate footage.
I guess it was a pretty compelling argument, because I went and bought a drone for myself. It’s been a really fun toy and has allowed me to shoot some really cool photos and videos.
Since I bought the drone, my Instagram and Facebook ads have been bombarded with courses, workshops, and seminars about how I can use my drone to make me money.
Stuff like this drives me crazy, and brings me to my argument for today’s article.
Buying courses is a waste of time. If it was so profitable, why aren’t they just doing the service already?
When I was beginning my career I spent a lot of time trying to learn the skills I needed to become a successful entrepreneur.
I was bombarded with videos and ads in my social media feeds showing me how I could make tons of money through Amazon FBA, Affiliate Marketing, and tons of other strategies.
I guarantee you saw this video at some point too.
These guys are all the same thing. Just gurus trying to make money off hard working people like us.
If you see it in an Instagram ad, Facebook sponsored post, or TikTok sponsored content, do not click on it, give them your email, or sign up for a mastermind.
You are nothing to these people. They have built their business by spending an absurd amount of money on marketing and promotions.
When is it a good idea to buy a course?
There shouldn’t be a blanket ban on all courses. Some of them have great information and provide great learnings.
A lot of entrepreneurs say college is useless. I disagree. If you have a clear picture of what you want to learn and the certifications you need, college can be an efficient way to learn what you need. Especially state and community colleges.
Building skills is important. Sometimes you have to pay to play. You’ll be hard pressed to get an HVAC license without ever paying for a course of some kind.
Some entrepreneurs who have dedicated their lives to giving away free knowledge through blog posts, podcasts, and videos have very valuable courses.
For example:
Sam Parr has spent the last three years building a podcast called My First Million. I’ve spent hundreds of hours listening to his ideas and opinions all FOR FREE. I know he’s smart, and I agree with a lot of what he says. He came out with a course called Copy That. This is a course I would buy because he has spent the time building that trust with me and thousands of others without asking me for a dime.
If The Steel Road ever develops a course I expect you to ask yourself. Do I trust this publisher enough to give them my money? Have I spent the time getting to know what they deliver for this to be worth it to me?
TL;DR
Beware the social media gurus. Build trust by reading and listening to people’s ideas. Don’t buy a course unless you are trying to build a specific skill. Do not pay for “secrets to success” or “insider strategies”.
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