Just what I needed, Jerry, a proverbial kick in the butt!
I have a VAULT of recordings of paid masterclasses, plus 6-week, 8-week, and 12-week done-with-you mastery series, all done LIVE.
And, yes, I grabbed Designer when it was first released, have the pro plan for Canva, and so much more.
Until recently I've been stuck. My annual word has been SIMPLIFY for over a decade until FINISH and COMPLETE were added.
What!?! Just one annual word 😂🤣
I went from three digits in my business bank account to five figures in two business in a few months all from an $11 masterclass MindShifting Deep Dive.
When I casually mentioned that in a mastermind in srtill involved in, the swarm of interest came:
All in the vein of "How do you create a masterclass?" and "Show me how!"
You know what I mean. But geez. It's easy!!
I sighed and the masterclass "Course Creation Simplified" surfaced.
So I have three paths and the underlying is always about shifting mindsets -- hence my moniker evelver to MindShift Mechanic.
Okay, I'll stop riffing and go get some coffee.
I loved your post Jerry, and I think I can share this with you DM
Wow—what an incredible story. You’ve got all the pieces already: the vault of content, the tools, and that $11 masterclass result (which speaks for itself!). I relate hard—I’ve stockpiled courses, too, but as you said, action always wins.
“Course Creation Simplified” feels like a natural next step, especially with your focus on mindset shifts. Three annual words? Honestly, that’s smart—you’re tackling both simplicity and momentum.
Coffee first, then that digital product. I’d love to hear how it goes!
As you can tell, Jerry, when I find a post that resonates--as yours does--I thoughtfully comment.
In fact, when I go on and on, I grab a copy and drop it in a Google doc. That gives me a sense of satisfaction and often some darn good copy.
Course Creation Simplified has a life of its own. I keep being pulled back into the process of creating another targeted course.
I'm so excited about the Substack community and when I mentioned that in a long-time membership I'm in, I kept getting the three magic words: Tell me more!
So next Wednesday, May 28, I'm doing a Substack for Beginners course and was thrilled getting a 100 score on a subject line that might be the title.
What do you think?
⏰ Start Today On Substack Before It's Too Late
Or
⏰ How to Start Today On Substack Before It's Too Late
I just checked the score of the how to on SubjectLine dot com, and got a other 💯
I love your energy and ideas, Donna. That builds momentum and brings results.
I prefer the first version of the subject line: "Start Today On Substack Before It's Too Late." Whatever you call it, I am sure it's gonna be fantastic!
Marylee, no coffee before I pecked away on my phone. ☎️. Uh oh. Not that phone LOL
From a MindShifting standpoint, I'm embracing the massive number of started-but-unfinished projects differently.
They are a vault of valuable assets that I can pull out one-at-a-time and flesh out.
Rather than balls splatting when they fall, I see yours lined up on a sports shelf, each cradled on its own stand, awarded to the MVP, the most valuable player.
Jerry - when I became a paid subscriber and you gave me some fabulous tips to grow Life’s Threads, you suggested,
“Offer in-depth Life’s Threads articles (e.g., actionable guides on personal growth) behind a soft paywall. Provide free teasers with a CTA to unlock full access for paid subscribers.”
Hi Marylee! The "free teasers" are short previews of your full Life’s Threads articles (no extra work required!).
Here’s how it works:
Free Teaser before the Paywall:
Share a snippet of your paid article. For example:
"How Daily Journaling Can Unlock Personal Growth [Free Preview]
*Stuck reflecting? Try these 3 science-backed prompts I use with clients… [Share 1-2 prompts here].
CTA:
End with: *“Paid subscribers get the full guide—including the 10-step framework and printable templates—[here].*
You’re simply highlighting a small piece of your paid content to show its value. Adjust the teaser length (share one tip vs. a headline) based on what feels right for your audience.
This isn’t about creating mini-posts—it’s about showcasing your paid content’s depth to entice free readers.
Great post Jerry, this is exactly what I needed to read too. Really clear tips on the topic I’ve struggled with for some time, simply knowing what kind of options I have with the materials and knowledge available to me. Thanks for sharing
Thanks, Richard! I always appreciate your insights here. So many of us (myself included!) overlook the value of the content we’ve already created. The real shift happened when I stopped planning how to use it and just started actually using it. There is no magic, just action.
You tell 'em, Jerry! Don't forget to remind them of how "facts tell, stories sell". Get them to include at least one personally revealing story in each digital product. One that feels a little uncomfortable to tell. Even better if the story can be eoven into the hook and lead. That'll help them sell more of their content.
Just what I needed, Jerry, a proverbial kick in the butt!
I have a VAULT of recordings of paid masterclasses, plus 6-week, 8-week, and 12-week done-with-you mastery series, all done LIVE.
And, yes, I grabbed Designer when it was first released, have the pro plan for Canva, and so much more.
Until recently I've been stuck. My annual word has been SIMPLIFY for over a decade until FINISH and COMPLETE were added.
What!?! Just one annual word 😂🤣
I went from three digits in my business bank account to five figures in two business in a few months all from an $11 masterclass MindShifting Deep Dive.
When I casually mentioned that in a mastermind in srtill involved in, the swarm of interest came:
All in the vein of "How do you create a masterclass?" and "Show me how!"
You know what I mean. But geez. It's easy!!
I sighed and the masterclass "Course Creation Simplified" surfaced.
So I have three paths and the underlying is always about shifting mindsets -- hence my moniker evelver to MindShift Mechanic.
Okay, I'll stop riffing and go get some coffee.
I loved your post Jerry, and I think I can share this with you DM
If I miss that, DM me.
Wow—what an incredible story. You’ve got all the pieces already: the vault of content, the tools, and that $11 masterclass result (which speaks for itself!). I relate hard—I’ve stockpiled courses, too, but as you said, action always wins.
“Course Creation Simplified” feels like a natural next step, especially with your focus on mindset shifts. Three annual words? Honestly, that’s smart—you’re tackling both simplicity and momentum.
Coffee first, then that digital product. I’d love to hear how it goes!
As you can tell, Jerry, when I find a post that resonates--as yours does--I thoughtfully comment.
In fact, when I go on and on, I grab a copy and drop it in a Google doc. That gives me a sense of satisfaction and often some darn good copy.
Course Creation Simplified has a life of its own. I keep being pulled back into the process of creating another targeted course.
I'm so excited about the Substack community and when I mentioned that in a long-time membership I'm in, I kept getting the three magic words: Tell me more!
So next Wednesday, May 28, I'm doing a Substack for Beginners course and was thrilled getting a 100 score on a subject line that might be the title.
What do you think?
⏰ Start Today On Substack Before It's Too Late
Or
⏰ How to Start Today On Substack Before It's Too Late
I just checked the score of the how to on SubjectLine dot com, and got a other 💯
I love your energy and ideas, Donna. That builds momentum and brings results.
I prefer the first version of the subject line: "Start Today On Substack Before It's Too Late." Whatever you call it, I am sure it's gonna be fantastic!
Thanks a bunch, Jerry! Having extra eyeballs on an idea is comforting.
Besides, "How to" has become boring.
It's my pleasure, Donna! I ask others as well. "How to" may also work, depending on the context. In this case, I prefer the first version.
Are you sure you haven’t already had the coffee, Dr. B?!
Way to go and to add to Jerry’s post with this story! It all make sense.
My problem is too many unfinished balls in the air at once. Does that mean I need to inflate one at a time?
Ha! I get that. Now I’m envisioning the others fall splat on the ground.
Actually, with @Jerry’s help, I have a plan.
But each takes some time because I am going to go play golf ⛳️
Marylee, no coffee before I pecked away on my phone. ☎️. Uh oh. Not that phone LOL
From a MindShifting standpoint, I'm embracing the massive number of started-but-unfinished projects differently.
They are a vault of valuable assets that I can pull out one-at-a-time and flesh out.
Rather than balls splatting when they fall, I see yours lined up on a sports shelf, each cradled on its own stand, awarded to the MVP, the most valuable player.
That's you!
Well!! That’s an image I can grab hold of!! Thank you!
And so it is!!
Jerry - when I became a paid subscriber and you gave me some fabulous tips to grow Life’s Threads, you suggested,
“Offer in-depth Life’s Threads articles (e.g., actionable guides on personal growth) behind a soft paywall. Provide free teasers with a CTA to unlock full access for paid subscribers.”
Are the free teasers mini posts with the CTA?
I’m not sure of the how of that recommendation.
Hi Marylee! The "free teasers" are short previews of your full Life’s Threads articles (no extra work required!).
Here’s how it works:
Free Teaser before the Paywall:
Share a snippet of your paid article. For example:
"How Daily Journaling Can Unlock Personal Growth [Free Preview]
*Stuck reflecting? Try these 3 science-backed prompts I use with clients… [Share 1-2 prompts here].
CTA:
End with: *“Paid subscribers get the full guide—including the 10-step framework and printable templates—[here].*
You’re simply highlighting a small piece of your paid content to show its value. Adjust the teaser length (share one tip vs. a headline) based on what feels right for your audience.
This isn’t about creating mini-posts—it’s about showcasing your paid content’s depth to entice free readers.
I hope that helps.
Ok! That’s different than I was thinking. Thanks Jerry!!
You can do it differently as well. Try both ways and see what works.
To be honest, I said to myself, I’m all into “doin’ it my way.” So it will try both methods and see what happens! Thanks.
Today I’m practicing patience.
Trust your intuition and curiosity. I love testing different things because you never know the outcome until you try.
Thank you, Jerry, this is helpful. I look forward to more, and I'm getting to work following the steps you provided.
I am glad to hear that, Lawson. Let me know how it goes.
I am creating these now. Thank you!
Great job! 👏 Let me know how it goes.
Great post Jerry, this is exactly what I needed to read too. Really clear tips on the topic I’ve struggled with for some time, simply knowing what kind of options I have with the materials and knowledge available to me. Thanks for sharing
Thanks, Richard! I always appreciate your insights here. So many of us (myself included!) overlook the value of the content we’ve already created. The real shift happened when I stopped planning how to use it and just started actually using it. There is no magic, just action.
You tell 'em, Jerry! Don't forget to remind them of how "facts tell, stories sell". Get them to include at least one personally revealing story in each digital product. One that feels a little uncomfortable to tell. Even better if the story can be eoven into the hook and lead. That'll help them sell more of their content.