I Wasted $20,000 (Here’s the Lesson I Still Use Today)

Your Fear Of Wasting Time And Money In Course Creation Is Costing You (+ A Hack To Fix It Fast) If you’ve been sitting on a course idea for months (even years), telling yourself you’ll do it “someday,” chances are fear is in the driver’s seat. Maybe you’re worried it will take too much time, cost too much money, or flop without the perfect polish. I know those fears all too well, because I’ve made expensive mistakes myself… including one that cost me $20,000. But looking back, those so-called mistakes became the lessons that built my confidence and gave me the stories, strategies, and success I have today. In this episode, I walk you through the mindset shift that changed everything for me when I felt frozen by fear. You’ll hear a powerful tool I learned from my friend Jill Stanton called “Capture, Cancel, Correct,” which stops negative thoughts before they derail you. I also share why keeping your first course simple is actually your secret weapon to keeping costs down, and how to tap into what you already know instead of starting from scratch. Plus, you’ll hear inspiring stories from my students who launched without all the bells and whistles, validated their ideas, and built profitable businesses step by step. By the end of this episode, you’ll see that the only real waste of time and money is doing nothing, pushing your launch, and delaying compounding revenue. HERE ARE THE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: 1️⃣ A proven way to stop fear in its tracks – The “Capture, Cancel, Correct” method gives you a practical tool to recognize limiting thoughts, shut them down, and choose a more empowering belief that keeps you moving forward. 2️⃣ Why simple beats perfect every time – Your first course doesn’t need to be polished to succeed. A streamlined, minimal viable course gets you into action faster, helps you earn revenue sooner, and gives you real student feedback to improve with each launch. 3️⃣ You already have everything you need to get started – You’re not starting with a blank page. The steps, strategies, and advice you’ve been sharing with clients, friends, or your community can be packaged into a clear, repeatable framework that becomes a long-term business asset. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Join my FREE Masterclass: The New & Better Way To Create And Sell A Profitable Digital Course In 2025 → amyporterfield.com/masterclass MORE FROM ME Follow me on Instagram @amyporterfield SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more entrepreneurs who need these insights. 🎙 Thanks for tuning in to The Amy Porterfield Show! See you next week!