I don’t want to be told to be flexible for the one-millionth time…
Good advice is not hard to come by anymore. People are bombarded with it on a daily basis. On TikTok, YouTube, Twitter (maybe not this one so much), etc. We constantly see echos of the same general advice:
Always put yourself first.
Be open to learning new things.
Put yourself out there.
You’ve heard them a thousand times in a thousand different ways, and I believe it has led to an oversaturation of the “advice market.” Many people, including myself, are tired of seeing the same platitudes over and over again. And like any person who tires of one thing, we search for something else. As a result, there has been an influx of paid online influencer courses.
Think about it. It’s likely that you know of at least one influencer or person on social media who is selling an ‘“exclusive” course. From simply how to be an influencer to how to make millions in a couple of months (or, more accurately, How to get scammed and scam others). The individuals who make these courses see that people are looking for more than just your run-of-the-mill advice. We are naturally drawn to exclusivity, even if it’s something that shouldn’t be.
And more often than not, these courses are selling you the same advice, just with a paywall. But it’s the paywall that makes it different, and that’s what keeps people coming back for more.
However, there are many ways to avoid losing your money to opportunists such as the ones mentioned.
Always Google the free options first
It’s likely that if someone is trying to sell you advice, someone else has already said it for free, and it has to be somewhere on the internet.
Look for specificity
If the title is something like “This step-by-step course will teach you how to run a successful business,” skip it. Look for numbers (not just dollar amounts, i.e., ‘This course will help you make X amount of money). Specific programs, routines, and concepts. If it sounds like it could be the title of a college course, you’re going in the right direction.
Be wary of credentials
If the person says they have a successful business doing whatever, but that business happens to revolve around selling courses, skip it. It’s probably a pyramid scheme, and you’ll only learn how to be complicit in one.
There are credible places to get better information on the things you wish to pursue. You just have to search a little harder.
And sometimes, sticking to that old advice can really do the trick.