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

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Sep 16, 2025

Fear of wasting time and money can paralyze course creators, but it doesn't have to! Learn how to transform costly mistakes into valuable lessons that build confidence. Discover the 'Capture, Cancel, Correct' technique to silence negativity and propel you forward. Embrace simplicity by focusing on what you know, proving that you don’t need to start from scratch. Real success stories from students highlight the power of validation and iteration over perfection. Remember, doing nothing is the only true waste!

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ANECDOTE

$20K Contractor Loss That Shaped Her

Amy Porterfield paid $20,000 to a contractor who promised audience research and delivered nothing.
She calls the loss a painful lesson that later shaped her teaching and credibility.

ADVICE

Capture, Cancel, Correct Practice

Use the Capture, Cancel, Correct method to stop negative thoughts from derailing action.
Capture the thought, cancel believing it, then choose a more empowering next thought.

ADVICE

Launch With A Simple Roadmap

Stop believing you need months or a huge budget to launch a course.
Follow a proven step-by-step framework and use simple tools to avoid spinning your wheels.

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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

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