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Desire to make courses but not an expert in anything

GaiaGoddess

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After years of figuring out what I want to do, I have finally narrowed it down. I believe it is my life purpose to create online courses. All of these skills have came naturally to me my whole life; reading, editing, writing, researching, collecting information, organizing information, sharing information, etc.

But the problem is, I am not an expert in anything. I have about 20 interests and hobbies and have taken a few online courses myself, read hundreds of books, etc. I have dozens of notebooks just filled with the information I have learned over the years. But I feel like this doesn't make me an expert. I don't have enough of any one subject to create a whole course on it. And since I have so many interests, I have proven that I can't just stick to one subject. I have had a few blogs and websites about various subjects and they haven't worked out and I think the reason why is because what I love to do isn't about the actual subject, it's about the act of researching, learning, collecting information, organizing information and sharing information. So I think the only thing I can do that involves all these (and my skills with grammar) is to create online courses. It is my passion to help people learn, but I want to do it online so I can put out a course and move on to the next one. I don't want to be a school teacher, I want to be the person to take the information that is already out there and format it in an organized way and give it to them so they can learn it in their own time.

I think I could have multiple courses for all the subjects I love, that would give me the variety I need. But I still have the problem of not being an expert in any of these fields. I have never gone to college or gotten any degrees or certificates in any of these fields. I can't feasibly take college courses in all of these subjects just to call myself an expert. I am in my late 40's and want to earn money now, not go into debt with years of education first. What are my options here? Is it good enough to create a course with just the information I have gathered from other experts? Are there any other ways to make this a successful career?
 
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superb

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The best questions to be asking yourself are:

Is there a need for the courses that I offer?

Could I offer courses that teach the subject matter better and/or are more accessible than the existing courses?


Being an expert is not necessarily required, you only need to to know more than those you are teaching. But if you want to offer the best courses, I think you would need to eventually become an "expert" in the field you are teaching, or enlist the expertise of experts as you create courses.

Also there is a big difference between having researched/learned/experienced something and the ability to teach it well to others. If you haven't already, I would try to find people locally to teach some of these things to before attempting to create an online course. There is no way to fully anticipate the sort of questions course participants might have or things that you might leave out of a course because the info might have seemed redundant to you. After doing this, your course material will be more refined and have fewer holes in the content. It will have greater value than if it were created in a vacuum and then placed on the a website.
 

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RazorCut

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I think I could have multiple courses for all the subjects I love, that would give me the variety I need. But I still have the problem of not being an expert in any of these fields. I have never gone to college or gotten any degrees or certificates in any of these fields.


What is an expert? It is someone who has expertise.

What is expertise?

The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as: Expert skill or knowledge in a particular field.

So would you consider someone who knows more on a particular subject than, say, 98% of the population to be an expert? I would say that the expert would need a well rounded knowledge of their subject. Do they know and understand all the underlying principles associated with their chosen field? If 100 people each asked them a question would they confidently be able to answer 98% of them? Could they stand up in front of a group of people and teach them your subject? Could you?

If the answer to these questions is yes then why do you need formal pieces of paper? The short answer is you don't.

However your answer will be no. There is a saying "Jack of all trades, master of none." It implies that, while competent in a variety of things, you are not highly skilled in one particular field.
 
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RazorCut

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But the problem is, I am not an expert in anything. I have about 20 interests and hobbies and have taken a few online courses myself, read hundreds of books, etc. I have dozens of notebooks just filled with the information I have learned over the years

If YOU want to build and sell a course you need to stop with the shiny metal object syndrome and pick ONE subject you have some passion for then master it.

That can take less time than you think.

I read a book on stock market tactics some time ago from an expert in the field. In it the author said that 'you can be an expert on pretty much any subject in 6 months' if you put the work in. He was not saying you would get a Masters Degree. But then all a degree does is show a prospective employer that you are relatively competent and teachable. It certainly doesn't make you an expert.

What he was proposing was that you can master that subject if you dedicated 6 months solid to it (say 60 hours a week). Now that wouldn't make you a brain surgeon but if you studied everything you could on that subject you would have a phenomenal insight compared to 99.9% of the population.

Or as @GoGetter24 and @Andy Black have indicated find experts in various the fields and build courses via collaboration. But I think your passion stems from wanting to be an expert rather than joining forces with one.
 
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Andy Black

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srodrigo

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But the problem is, I am not an expert in anything. I have about 20 interests and hobbies and have taken a few online courses myself, read hundreds of books, etc.

Not sure this will be helpful, but if you are a generalist, that may have its own market as well. Maybe not in the online courses business, but possibly somewhere else?
 

The-J

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They exist!

Ain't that the truth. Lol.

Seriously, OP, don't create online courses in things that you can't add serious value to. There are people who CAN add serious value, and you want to reach out to them specifically to help them create a course.

Find one of these people. Offer your partnership. Clearly outline how it'll be beneficial for them. Ideally, this person should have a good reputation in their community, so this way you have a captive market.
 
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Jeff Noel

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You could do joint ventures with people who are experts but don't have the time/inclination/ability/interest to make courses themselves.

I know a guy that has been successful doing just that. Tai Lopez. Probably the most sucessful on the web just teaming up with other people and letting them make courses on his website. And I'm not bashing here, he's really doing great !
 

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A few things I like to add to what everyone else has said:

A course is just a delivery mechanism to add value or to help solve a problem. It's a tool, like a hammer. Whether or not it's a useful tool completely depends on the problem you want to solve. Not everything needs a course. Not everyone wants a course.

Also, doing the research to create a valuable course takes years. You're probably already familiar with the Dunning-Kruger effect. If you want to become an expert in anything you will go from "I think I know everything", to "I still need to learn more", to "There's too much I still don't know.". So if you think you know everything, you're most definitely not an expert.

This research entails doing customer research to find their actual problems and needs ("Domain Experience") and research into how these problems are best solved. To add value, your course will have to offer more than just regurgitation of useless advice found online, which is why the research phase is so critical.

One last point I want to mention is that there are many other ways to add value to people's lives and thus to make money. If making money is the primary driver for creating course(s) you're probably better off taking an alternative route that is faster, because if there's anything courses are not it's a fast income stream.
 

GaiaGoddess

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You could do joint ventures with people who are experts but don't have the time/inclination/ability/interest to make courses themselves.

I think this could work! Where would be a good place to find these people? Like would I be an independent contractor putting ads on freelance sites?
 
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GaiaGoddess

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So would you consider someone who knows more on a particular subject than, say, 98% of the population to be an expert? I would say that the expert would need a well rounded knowledge of their subject. Do they know and understand all the underlying principles associated with their chosen field? If 100 people each asked them a question would they confidently be able to answer 98% of them? Could they stand up in front of a group of people and teach them your subject? Could you?

If the answer to these questions is yes then why do you need formal pieces of paper? The short answer is you don't.

However your answer will be no. There is a saying "Jack of all trades, master of none." It implies that, while competent in a variety of things, you are not highly skilled in one particular field.

I do know more than most laypeople about these subjects, I just know that ALL the other teachers in these subjects know more than me. But it isn't exactly teaching that I want to do anyway, I just want to be the person to lead people to these teachers, or help the teacher arrange their courses (since my strong point is organizing). I admit I am a jack of all trades when it comes to the subjects I love, but I am a master at researching, organizing, and sharing information. So I guess I either have to work with a teacher as a collaboration, or just do something where I am helping people discover their information.
 

GaiaGoddess

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If YOU want to build and sell a course you need to stop with the shiny metal object syndrome and pick ONE subject you have some passion for then master it.

That can take less time than you think.

I read a book on stock market tactics some time ago from an expert in the field. In it the author said that 'you can be an expert on pretty much any subject in 6 months' if you put the work in. He was not saying you would get a Masters Degree. But then all a degree does is show a prospective employer that you are relatively competent and teachable. It certainly doesn't make you an expert.

What he was proposing was that you can master that subject if you dedicated 6 months solid to it (say 60 hours a week). Now that wouldn't make you a brain surgeon but if you studied everything you could on that subject you would have a phenomenal insight compared to 99.9% of the population.

I have done that, I have taken classes on many of my favorite subjects, started blogs and websites about them, etc. but have always lost interest because there are too many other things I love that I can't do if i only do one thing.

Or as @GoGetter24 and @Andy Black have indicated find experts in various the fields and build courses via collaboration. But I think your passion stems from wanting to be an expert rather than joining forces with one.

No I don't need to be an expert, I get my joy out of discovering new subjects that I am interested in and collecting the best information about them and then I naturally move on to the next subject. My passion lies in the act of discovering, researching, finding the best information, sharing it, and then after that I have no desire to continue learning about that subject. I don't completely lose interest in them forever, I just feel like I've done what I needed to do.
 

GaiaGoddess

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GaiaGoddess

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Not sure this will be helpful, but if you are a generalist, that may have its own market as well. Maybe not in the online courses business, but possibly somewhere else?

Well I have pretty much been trying to figure this out for about 10 years now, and nothing has really jumped out at me as being an obvious choice that feels right, until I recently realized what I love to do isn't about the subject itself, it's about the process of organizing and sharing the information. And i know how lucrative online courses are, and it is my goal to make enough money doing this so that I have a passive income coming in and I don't need a normal job. This is the only thing I have found that fits those criteria, with the skills I have.
 

Lex DeVille

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Well I have pretty much been trying to figure this out for about 10 years now, and nothing has really jumped out at me as being an obvious choice that feels right, until I recently realized what I love to do isn't about the subject itself, it's about the process of organizing and sharing the information. And i know how lucrative online courses are, and it is my goal to make enough money doing this so that I have a passive income coming in and I don't need a normal job. This is the only thing I have found that fits those criteria, with the skills I have.

Sounds like what a virtual assistant does to me.
 

Andy Black

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Like @Lex DeVille says, it sounds like you could provide a service to the subject matter experts to help them get their courses out there, marketed, and supported? There's plenty of people with knowledge and no clue how to turn that into a course and get it in front of people who'll pay for it.
 
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Bhanu

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Hi ...Here are few ideas which can help I think:

1. As you said you like researching,editing,formatting information . You can do freelancing for correcting grammatical errors.(You can tap into market in Asia,South Asia (like helping people with Resume, basic English,essays etc)
2. Can you make subject revision for people easy? (in his book M J says the biggest market in the world is market of easification, I think he said it is a trillion dollar market ) . For example I am preparing for my Sociology exam and have read 500 Page book . But at the last moment or just before the exam I need something concise to revise (I cant read 500 page book at the last moment) . So if you can create online content which can help people revise at the last moment then it is a huge market .
3. Make a YouTube channel and help people with English Grammar .There are plenty of people who really want to improve grammar/basic English speaking skills (specially in India,China,South east asia etc)
4. Learn copyrighting and help big corporate/new businesses with their marketing pitch .Please refer to Lex's thread on learning copy writing .(this is a saturated market though IMO)
 

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I think virtual assistant work is a good way to position yourself if you're a freelancer. It's better than copywriting in many instances and can create full-time income or even high-ticket income depending on who you work for.

If you link up with high-ticket coaches, they'll pay $3k or more per month for a good virtual assistant who can keep them organized, manage their calendars, set up courses in wordpress or whatever software they use etc.

Later you could create your own courses on how to be a virtual assistant. That would be a cool way to get experience in a lot of different areas while creating value and doing what you want to do.
 
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GaiaGoddess

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Ain't that the truth. Lol.

Seriously, OP, don't create online courses in things that you can't add serious value to. There are people who CAN add serious value, and you want to reach out to them specifically to help them create a course.

Find one of these people. Offer your partnership. Clearly outline how it'll be beneficial for them. Ideally, this person should have a good reputation in their community, so this way you have a captive market.

Well now I have some people saying you don't have to be an expert and some people saying to let the experts make the courses, lol I do like the idea of helping them though, I just have to find someone with the information who doesn't want to actually do the technical details online. I suppose I know enough to put out short ebooks but not charge a few hundred dollars for a major course. I feel like I'm getting somewhere with these ideas. :)
 

GaiaGoddess

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I know a guy that has been successful doing just that. Tai Lopez. Probably the most sucessful on the web just teaming up with other people and letting them make courses on his website. And I'm not bashing here, he's really doing great !

I will have to check him out! Now I have hope this will be a good idea! :)
 

Jeff Noel

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your course will have to offer more than just regurgitation of useless advice found online

That's not mandatory... but if he wants to make a
I will have to check him out! Now I have hope this will be a good idea! :)

Just be careful when checking him out. He quickly goes on to try to sell you a $495 course on pretty much anything, where you magically save $4000 with all the bonuses. There's so much free content from him though that there's definitely time to learn how he sells his stuff.

This man is a great marketer/salesman.
 
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GaiaGoddess

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A course is just a delivery mechanism to add value or to help solve a problem. It's a tool, like a hammer. Whether or not it's a useful tool completely depends on the problem you want to solve. Not everything needs a course. Not everyone wants a course.

True, but the subjects I am interested in are in the list of most profitable niches. I could easily make a course for every subject I am interested in as well as smaller sub-niche courses. I have done a lot of research about online courses so I feel pretty confident I could make enough money with them. I only need $2000 a month, and most of the people with successful courses are making 5 figures a month. I don't even need nearly that much. I also planned on having a few other income streams as well, building FB pages for businesses, and affiliate marketing through Anik Singal's program. At least that is what my plan is, to start all these and see which one(s) are sustainable and successful for me.

Also, doing the research to create a valuable course takes years. You're probably already familiar with the Dunning-Kruger effect. If you want to become an expert in anything you will go from "I think I know everything", to "I still need to learn more", to "There's too much I still don't know.". So if you think you know everything, you're most definitely not an expert.

That is why I would probably work with someone who IS an expert, or just do mini courses on just the information I have from classes I have taken and books I have read.

This research entails doing customer research to find their actual problems and needs ("Domain Experience") and research into how these problems are best solved. To add value, your course will have to offer more than just regurgitation of useless advice found online, which is why the research phase is so critical.

I used to think that too, that you can't just repeat what everyone else is already doing. But then I learned that's all EVERYONE is doing. It also matters how much you market your product or service. There isn't a whole lot of new information out there, just different twists on the same information. I don't think any entrepreneur has failed just because they are one of many doing the same thing.

One last point I want to mention is that there are many other ways to add value to people's lives and thus to make money. If making money is the primary driver for creating course(s) you're probably better off taking an alternative route that is faster, because if there's anything courses are not it's a fast income stream.

Well money is the reason why we all work, really. I don't feel guilty admitting that. But at least what I want to do is something that could provide value to the world and it's something I would feel good about doing. I know I won't become rich overnight but no one ever is with anything they do.
 

GaiaGoddess

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Like @Lex DeVille says, it sounds like you could provide a service to the subject matter experts to help them get their courses out there, marketed, and supported? There's plenty of people with knowledge and no clue how to turn that into a course and get it in front of people who'll pay for it.

Yes! This feels right to me the more I think about it! :)
 
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GaiaGoddess

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Hi ...Here are few ideas which can help I think:

1. As you said you like researching,editing,formatting information . You can do freelancing for correcting grammatical errors.(You can tap into market in Asia,South Asia (like helping people with Resume, basic English,essays etc)

I thought of this a few years ago, and put an ad up on Fiverr for proofreading and editing but never got a single response. I think it is because I have no experience or college degree. I was shocked to learn that even to do a basic editor's job you need at least a degree in English or Journalism. It has really been a struggle for someone to whom grammar comes naturally.

2. Can you make subject revision for people easy? (in his book M J says the biggest market in the world is market of easification, I think he said it is a trillion dollar market ) . For example I am preparing for my Sociology exam and have read 500 Page book . But at the last moment or just before the exam I need something concise to revise (I cant read 500 page book at the last moment) . So if you can create online content which can help people revise at the last moment then it is a huge market .

Am I understanding this correctly, basically creating a short summary of a book? I could do that, I read a lot of books and always feel compelled to get to the important parts, so I can spot them easily.

3. Make a YouTube channel and help people with English Grammar .There are plenty of people who really want to improve grammar/basic English speaking skills (specially in India,China,South east asia etc)

I'm not one for being on camera so making videos has never been something I have considered. And I see jobs all the time for English tutors but that isn't the kind of work I want to do, that is too much like teaching, I dont want to actually teach, I just want to work with the information as opposed to the people.

4. Learn copyrighting and help big corporate/new businesses with their marketing pitch .Please refer to Lex's thread on learning copy writing .(this is a saturated market though IMO)

I briefly learned about copyrighting but what turned me off about it was the pushy persuasive salesman-like aspect of it. I don't want to convince people to buy something, I want to help deliver the information they already paid for.
 

Bhanu

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I thought of this a few years ago, and put an ad up on Fiverr for proofreading and editing but never got a single response. I think it is because I have no experience or college degree. I was shocked to learn that even to do a basic editor's job you need at least a degree in English or Journalism. It has really been a struggle for someone to whom grammar comes naturally.

>>> Can you help people without using Fiverr? If so I think you can take that path.

Am I understanding this correctly, basically creating a short summary of a book? I could do that, I read a lot of books and always feel compelled to get to the important parts, so I can spot them easily.

>>> Yes .



I'm not one for being on camera so making videos has never been something I have considered. And I see jobs all the time for English tutors but that isn't the kind of work I want to do, that is too much like teaching, I dont want to actually teach, I just want to work with the information as opposed to the people.

>> No problem :)

I briefly learned about copyrighting but what turned me off about it was the pushy persuasive salesman-like aspect of it. I don't want to convince people to buy something, I want to help deliver the information they already paid for.
>> Please go through Lex's thread about Copyrighting once .
 

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