The Biggest Mistake I Made When Purchasing Online Courses

I love learning new things whether Maker techniques, AI, or business strategies.

Ever since middle school, I've loved to read and even now (after a break after collage for some reason) usually have 4-5 books I'm actively reading. Over the years, I've purchased dozens of courses, had previous memberships to sites like Skillshare, and have active memberships to writing and business communities. My love for learning has even made its way into my second brain so I can keep track of what I'm reading, what course I've taken, and things I thought during.

But with courses and non-fiction books, I finally realized that I was missing the point.

Education without implementation is just entertainment.

Fiction books, movies, and streaming shows are supposed to be entertaining, but non-fiction is supposed to teach you something.

Most effective courses have homework or action steps at the end of the lessons (and popular books do too at the end of the chapters). However, many people make the same mistake I did and skip past those parts to do when time permits. Waiting for the right time means that it will never happen, no matter how good the intentions are.

Even worse, sometimes I'd learn something new, not implement it, then wonder why nothing changed.

The best course students immediately apply what they are learning.

Most of us purchase a course so we can overcome some current hurdle and get to the next level.

Purchasing the course feels like action, but it's really a precursor to the action that is required after. One of the best course I've taken so far, Ship 30 for 30, has daily actions (publising an atomic essay every day). Unknowingly, I was implementing what I was learning as I learned it and it made rewatches help me catch additional insights I missed the first time.

Whether you're starting a new course or going back through an older course, it's critical to immediately implement at least 1 change in your life after every lesson.