“Why buy that course when you could find it online for free?”

I used to be a skeptic, too. But then I started investing in myself and some really crazy things started to happen.

For some reason everyone feels entitled to everything- especially knowledge. With Google delivering an answer (albeit not necessarily the right one) within mere seconds of a search, I suppose it’s only natural that we all begin to demand information be widely available, free, and instantly accessible.

The harsh fact is that it is not. In fact, as I’ve leveled up in certain areas of life I’ve discovered that often what you find on the front page of Google is just a ton of clickbait bullshit.

“SEO experts” are people that do a great job of ranking their web pages high up on Google.

It often isn’t the most accurate, relevant, or useful information that you find for a Google search but instead the Google search which is most SEO-optimized.

For example, I found it quite difficult to research what different laptop specs were because every blog post is filled with thousands of useless fluff just so that they rank higher for the search terms from Google bots and keep me on the website longer (which Google also counts as being more relevant).

When I type something basic in such as “HDD vs SSD” you don’t find the short, relevant answer that SSD is faster than HDD and thus significantly better to go with.

Instead you get thousands of words of bullshit comparing every little thing and breaking it down into completely unnecessary parts such so that it becomes confusing.

This is true with everything.

One thing I notice this particularly in is Facebook Ads- I’ve committed to excellence in it, and everyone is so adamant that they can find information about it via Google or practice.

No, you can’t.

The last course I bought was $1,500 (normally $2k) and contains the best information I have found in my life. The 10 hours worth of video content was more than worth it- how many hours it would have taken me to discover the same amount of information via Google? If at all?

Another problem is that you don’t have a good filtration mechanism if you aren’t already quite successful in the field. I often took VERY bad advice for things like Facebook Ads from the free blog posts… I wasn’t wise enough then to consider that maybe these people had no idea what they were talking about!

The fact is despite so much widely available free information the best is still behind a paywall, and rightfully so- it often takes the curators of such content years of their life to discover what works well.

I’ve noticed a couple other interesting things when it comes to purchasing advice or courses instead of discovering the information for free:

  • You value it more, and thus are more likely to apply it. When you get something for free it doesn’t mean much. I’ve been given strategies that would’ve 10x’d my business if I had applied them starting last year, but I didn’t pay for it and thus never took action. The stuff I purchased now I’m applying because I feel I have to get my money’s worth.
  • You save a TON of time. You don’t waste time on bad advice. You don’t waste hours, days, weeks, or months trying to figure out what works. You get an expert to give you the stuff, NOW.
  • I seriously can’t overstate just how important time is.

We live in such a one-dimensional world, as if it is your wealth that is the most important thing.

What about time? And energy? It is a combination of these things that make life truly abundant.

I’m starting to value my time more and more, and in doing so I’m considering purchasing courses but most people are so quick to tell me “no, don’t do that!”

Everyone has good intentions but I don’t think most people know what they’re talking about. For a very long time I haven’t. I still don’t- I’ll openly admit that.

What I do know is that the quicker you learn something, the more likely you are to excel at it.

For example, to learn sales it could take you years. How many rejections and failures can you handle until you give up?

If you invest this time to ultimate success reduces, and thus your overall chance of success. You also can spend more of your life succeeding instead of bulldozing through failure until success.

Cutting the learning curve in life is one of the most undervalued things in society yet one of the most important things.

With the widespread availability of free information, we have forgotten to value just how transformational coaching, masterminds, courses, trainers, and bootcamps are.

In my life I have been quite stubborn, rejecting financial assistance, medical assistance, and refusing to purchase courses when I otherwise could’ve- but the spend would’ve totally been worth it.

Life is meant to be enjoyed anyways. Sure it’s a process, but the process is more enjoyable when it brings you results.

Here are some thoughts on how to cut the learning curve and succeed in all facets of life faster:

  • Buy courses, and stop accepting free advice. The best stuff is usually behind the paywall. You’ll be more likely to apply it. You’re also giving value, and thus intimately understanding the buyer’s perspective (thus making it easier to sell yourself).
  • Get a mentor to fast-track you to success
  • Get a mastermind group or friends where you can “be real” with each other in advice-giving.
  • Get a fitness coach, dating coach, or life coach to help guide you on the various paths of life
  • Get a psychologist to help with mental health if you are struggling
  • Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Of course not all of these are financially permissible at any given moment. So pick and choose based on priorities, but know that the help you receive (if from the right course/instructor/whatever) will come back to you significantly greater than if you were to fight alone.

-Michael