Course Creator Lessons

with Abe Crystal, Co-Founder & CEO, Ruzuku

Most course creators fail because they skip the discovery and engagement phases. Abe Crystal introduces the Customer Learning Journey framework — five phases that position courses within your business, not as standalone products.

with Ali Shapiro, Holistic Nutritionist & Course Creator

Ali Shapiro achieves a 90% completion rate by distinguishing technical from adaptive challenges, planning for setbacks upfront, and creating psychological safety in community.

with Dorie Clark, Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author & Keynote Speaker

Dorie Clark built a recognized expert course community generating close to $2 million from iPhone-filmed videos and Zoom recordings. Lessons on lifetime membership, hybrid delivery, and third-party platform strategy.

with Elizabeth St. Hilaire, Mixed-Media Visual Artist & Instructor, Paper Paintings

Mixed-media artist Elizabeth St. Hilaire built a multi-stream creative business spanning Ruzuku courses, international workshops, Patreon, and a bestselling book. Lessons on diversifying income without diluting the art.

with Gina Bianchini, CEO & Founder, Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks founder Gina Bianchini argues that courses and community are converging into a single integrated experience. In the debrief, Abe pushes back on whether community building is truly easy.

with Jeff Cobb, Managing Director, Tagoras; Founder, Learning Revolution

Jeff Cobb, a 20-year online education veteran, explains why the course market is now as crowded as book publishing — and how to stand out through better learning design, meaningful credentials, and B2B sales.

with Joachim Lépine, Founder, Lion Translation Academy

Joachim Lépine built a cohort-based translation academy where community and strategic coaching check-ins matter more than content. Key lessons on facilitation, discussion channels, and micro-actions.

with Meghan Telpner, Founder, Academy of Culinary Nutrition

Meghan Telpner built a 14-week culinary nutrition certification that enrolls hundreds of students annually from around the world. Key lessons on layered accountability, content restraint, and turning graduates into affiliates.

with Michael Bungay Stanier, Founder, MBS Works & Box of Crayons

Michael Bungay Stanier, author of "The Coaching Habit," explains why course creators should teach the least amount possible, use six-minute content bursts, and build self-facilitating communities instead of guru-dependent memberships.

with Michael Port, Co-Founder & CEO, Heroic Public Speaking

Michael Port built a $26K hybrid speaking program that converts at 67% from free two-day events. His key insight: position yourself as a visionary, not just an expert, and use live masterclass demonstrations to let prospective students witness transformation in real time.

with Steve Kamb, Founder, Nerd Fitness

Steve Kamb built Nerd Fitness into a community with 50K+ course customers by creating shame-free "respawning" culture and evolving from eBooks to membership + coaching.

with Stever Robbins, Serial Entrepreneur & Host, Get-It-Done Guy

Stever Robbins — Harvard MBA, MIT CS grad, and host of the 36-million-download Get-It-Done Guy podcast — explains why knowing and doing are different things, and how to use misdirection, triggers, and peer feedback to close the knowing-doing gap.

with Susan O'Connor, Video Game Writer & Course Creator, The Narrative Department

Video game writer Susan O'Connor built an online course where community became the curriculum. Her buddy system, TA strategy, and industry flywheel helped students land their first game writing jobs.