The Problem with Online Courses

Table of Contents

• Issues with Online Courses
• Be Cautious and Do Your Research
• The Free Resources You Should Tap Into
• Watch Out for Red Flags
• My Two Cents
• More Useful Resources to Read

Back in 2020, when the pandemic hit, I decided to launch my own startup. Sounds exciting, right? Except, I had zero experience in running a business. Sure, I had invested in startups before, but honestly, that wasn’t very successful either. I also finished my Computer Science degree, but guess what? That didn’t help much when it came to actually starting a business from scratch.

Like so many first-time founders who don’t know what they’re doing, I turned to online courses to fill the gaps. My first course was in Product Management at Product School. It was good, practical even. But here’s the thing—it helps people go from 1 to 10, but didn't provide much guidance on how to start from scratch. Overall, it was a good experience, though a bit overpriced in hindsight. During the pandemic, I kept going down the rabbit hole of online courses 🕳️. I took one called 'How to Grow on Twitter.' Complete waste of time. Then, I tried a Power Writing course by Shaan Puri. That one was expensive, but amazing and very hands-on. Check out his blog if you’re curious.

Throughout 2021 and 2022, I stumbled across more and more of these “Buy my course and Join my Discord” pitches from so-called Tech Gurus. It felt like I was dealing with self-help gurus but for tech 🧘‍♂️. Many of the courses and online communities I joined were filled with theoretical stuff, not real practical advice. They were selling dopamine highs rather than giving practical, real-life tips. And those Discord communities? They usually fizzled out after a while. The tweet below pretty much summarises the problem.

Issues with Online Courses

I'm not saying all online courses are useless, but a lot of them come off as very salesy and too good to be true. You see these flashy ads promising to teach you everything you need to know to become the next tech billionaire. And sometimes, out of desperation or curiosity, you enter your credit card details, hit 'buy,' and cross your fingers. But here's the reality check—many of these courses provide generic advice that you could find for free online. They appeal to your FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and make you think you're getting some secret sauce. In reality, you’re often getting recycled content, theories with no practical backup, and communities where everyone is just as clueless as you are.

Be Cautious and Do Your Research

Look, I'm not against paying for good education. I’ve had a few good experiences, like the Power Writing course I mentioned earlier. But, a word of caution—be more cautious when paying for online courses. Do a bit more research before entering your credit card details. Read reviews, ask for recommendations, and see if you can find any free resources on the topic first. You'd be surprised at how much free content is available these days. Blogs, YouTube channels, podcast episodes—there’s a ton of valuable information out there that won’t cost you a penny. And sometimes, these free resources are even better than the overpriced courses being peddled online.

The Free Resources You Should Tap Into

Twitter/X threads, Medium articles, and LinkedIn posts are goldmines of information. Many experienced founders and entrepreneurs share their insights and experiences for free. They do it because they want to build their personal brand, not because they're trying to squeeze money out of you.

Subreddits like r/startups and r/entrepreneur are full of real people sharing real challenges and real solutions. You get to absorb wisdom from people who’ve been in the trenches, not just theory from someone who’s never started a business themselves.

Watch Out for Red Flags

When considering an online course, watch out for these red flags 🚩:

• Over-the-top promises: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Lack of reviews: No reviews or only glowing, perfect reviews can be a sign of a problem.
• High-pressure tactics: Limited-time offers and “only a few spots left!” are designed to rush your decision.
• No clear curriculum: If they can’t tell you exactly what you’ll learn, be wary.

My Two Cents

In the end, I'm not saying to never buy an online course again. Some are genuinely useful and worth the investment. But take everything with a grain of salt and be smart about where you put your money. There are so many free resources available that you often don’t need to buy another course.

Do your research, look for free alternatives first, and keep an eye out for those red flags. And remember, the best learning often comes from doing. Get out there, start your business, make mistakes, and learn from them. That’s the real education.

More Useful Resources to Read

You might want to check out another useful blog post: "Bragging in Public is now Bragging in Public". It's a great follow-up to the ideas discussed here.