The Best Business Investment I've Made to Date & How to Decide if a Program is Worth Investing In

What’s been one of the most groundbreaking courses or programs you’ve enrolled in since starting your business?

Since 2015 I’ve enrolled in more courses than I can count and have spent excess of $60,000 learning how to grow, market, and run my business. (Not something I had planned on when I initially started my business and thought I already knew what I was doing 🤷🏼‍♀️)

I’ve invested in expensive business coaches and year-long programs.

And to be completely transparent, many of them weren’t as helpful as I had hoped.

(I’d say about 20% of the investments I’ve made over the years have been downright horrible and not worth the price) - typically programs based on bro-marketing and bro-psychology 🙄

The other 80% got me the results I wanted (if I did the work required), introduced me to fellow business owners that I still talk to on the regular, and helped me validate how I want to run things in my own business.

But very few have stood out and maintained the test of time. Very few have helped me create sustainable momentum and literally changed my life and business.

Today I’m going to tell you all about the program that I can’t speak highly enough of and the community that I still interact with weekly.

I’ll also be sharing what I’ve learned about investing in courses and online programs and some important questions you need to ask yourself to make sure you’re making the best decision for you and your business.

In this blog post I’ll be sharing:

• What I now look for in an online course or program before making an investment & 4 important questions to ask yourself

• Red flags 🚩that keep me from buying

• The component I’ve found most helpful in online programs that not every course or program includes (these can be things you also consider as you create & market your own courses 😉)

• The business program that I totally love and recommend x1000 unicorn rainbow cupcakes 🦄🌈🧁 because it’s hands down been the best investment I’ve made in my business! (this is a link for super-curious people who want to know already)

• What I was able to learn and focus on that has helped me generate growth (and income) in my business.

• A walkthrough video showing you behind-the-scenes and what’s included.

🎧 Rather listen to this as a podcast? Click here!

Heads up: This post contains affiliate links to the program I’ll be talking about in detail. This means that if you decide to enroll in the program, I’ll receive a small kickback at no additional cost to you. I also have a special bonus I’m including should you decide to enroll with my link! Thanks for reading!

When you’re new to business (or still trying to navigate the online waters of running your own biz - which let’s be honest, never truly ends), it can be mega overwhelming and downright intimidating.

And when you feel overwhelmed, it can be nerve-wracking trying to decide on what to invest in and which online business owners are the real deal and not just trying to funnel you away into their indefinite upsell vortex with lost promises and disappointment trains.

(I’m not hating on online business owners, I promise! I’m one myself, but there have been too many times we’ve all been burned and it can leave you feeling a little extra guarded. ::puts on detective glasses::)

Plus let’s get real, you should be doing some critical thinking about your business investments and where you put your time and energy.

Which leads me to our first topic of discussion…

1)What I now look for in an online course or program before making an investment & 4 important questions to ask yourself

Some of the first online courses I invested in were flashy, had super pretty branding (like omg how did they even do that with their sales page) level pretty, and they made HUGE promises that sounded way too good to be true.

While all of those things CAN help business owners make sales, it doesn’t always mean you’re going to get what you’re after.

So while I still love a good aesthetic and a stellar sales page, there are now…

3 key things TO look for in an online course BEFORE TAKING OUT YOUR credit card:

1) A clear outcome or objective

If a course is heavy on promoting how much “stuff” it has but doesn’t really tell you what you’ll be able to do, it’s probably not going to get you solid results.

2) An organized course structure and learning environment

Gone are the days when courses can “get away” with sending you a GoogleDoc every week and random links to videos spread out across the internet.

It’s hard to both learn and take action when you’re searching through emails and trying to roundup links.

Make sure the course you’re investing in has a solid learning platform where content is organized into cohesive learning modules so you can track your progress, easily find resources, and navigate through your action steps smoothly.

3) Smart sales copy that speaks to you like a human and showcases the details of what’s included

Consumers are way smarter than some business owners give us credit for. People don’t buy because we are “tricked” into opening our wallets.

We buy because we feel heard, understood, validated, and we can relate to the person (or people) selling a given product.

When it comes to online courses and programs, you’re not just buying a t-shirt, you’re buying a learning experience that will require vulnerability, growth, and steps outside of your comfort zone.

For this reason, it’s important to evaluate HOW they are speaking to you through their sales copy. Are you a human or just another sale?

It’s also important that within that sales page, they make it super clear what you’re getting, what’s included, what’s not included, and they set the tone for learning expectations and outcomes.

These are 3 main things you absolutely want to consider before enrolling in an online course or program but there are also 4 additional questions you can ask yourself to get clear on whether or not something is right for you right now in your business…

4 questions to ask yourself before investing in an online course

Depending on how and when you find a program you might be interested in, there may be deadlines, time limits, or expiring bonuses. All fair game in the online course world, but make sure you’re really clear on your decision by asking yourself these 4 questions…

1) What could the outcome of going through this course/program be for me and how might it help me see an ROI toward my bigger goals?

Let’s make one thing clear: business and life ROIs (return on investment) aren’t just monetary. There have been instances where programs have completely changed my mindset, validated a deep core belief I didn’t know I had about running my business, or have introduced me to some of my favorite humans.

Your reason for investing in a program CAN be more than “will I make my money back from this?” and it should be!

I’ve also enrolled in courses that were flat-out FUN and helped me feel more positive.

The truth is that all of these “non-monetary” ROIs usually lead to making more money anyway.

Just like getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, and moving your body usually lead to you being a better version of yourself.

2) Is this something that I can commit to (both learning and taking action) in the next 30 days?

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve bought expiring courses because prices were increasing and I wanted to make sure I had them in my business arsenal for the long haul. But chances are, what you’re interested in will open its doors again in the future.

If you don’t have the time to go through materials in the foreseeable future AND take action to see the results you’d want, it might not be the best time to make the investment.

It can feel good to “do the work” of making the purchase but you already know that that isn’t where the magic (or results) happen.

3) Is this an investment I really want to make or is FOMO getting to me?

Sometimes we just want to do things other people are doing, or we want to get the satisfaction of a good deal (or a nice tax write-off) more than we actually want to do the work required of a new course or program.

If you’re having trouble with this decision, ask yourself “if there weren’t any deadlines or limitations to this offer, would I invest in it right now?”

It’s totally OKAY to let bonuses and deadlines help you make a decision but don’t let them be the ONLY reason 😉

4) What do I know about the person (or people) behind this program? Do they share the same values as I do? Do I feel like I can trust them?

There’s a big difference between people sharing helpful content and people running a business that they can really stand behind.

Not everyone makes purchases the same way and you have to trust yourself and tap into if this feels like a good fit or not. (Hint: you most likely have the right answer here).

I like to look for a business values page, a blurb about where they stand on social justice or information about their business mission. (Something I love that these super cool biz owners do on their page here).

2) Three Red Flags 🚩 to Watch out for before enrolling in a course

This post isn’t about bashing all sales and launch strategies. I believe there are many ways to use “standard sales practices” in an ethical and honest way.

I still buy courses with countdown timers or expiring bonuses and I don’t hate on business owners who use them.

I also continue to buy and use all those crazy coupons at Michael’s. I know everything is majorly overpriced but I also enjoy getting a 50% OFF coupon in my email, taking my bulldog Bella with me to the store, and getting myself a nice new paint-by-number kit. 🥰

Point is, if it feels good buying something a certain way, you already know you want it, and you don’t feel resentful or duped, no biggie.

That being said, there can be some super big red flags (like dino-sized 🦖 big no-nos) that you might want to look out for.

1) Over-Promised Results 🚩

If they say you can make $10k thirty seconds after sending them thousands of dollars, it’s probably too good to be true.

2) High-Pressure Sales that make you feel bad if you don’t buy 🚩

If they have to “trick” you into buying, chances are they are also going to need to “trick” you into believing you got results from their program. Barf sandwich 🤮

3) They don’t exist anywhere else on the internet or have any other content….anywhere

If the sales page you’re looking at is the ONLY place they exist online and you have no other frame of reference, it can be hard to feel a level of trust. I’m all for spending less time on social media, but who’s the person behind the offer?

So apart from all these things to watch out for, what are some GOOD things to scope out?

3) The component that I’ve found most helpful in online programs that not every course or program includes

1) FAQ Sections, Communities, or Ticket Systems

If you’re enrolling in a course or program and you have questions, what happens?

Some courses really are straight forward and there’s no need for anything else but the content alone. What about the ones where you might have tech questions or need to validate an idea?

I love it when a program goes above and beyond and provides one (or more) of the following:

• Course Community to ask questions and get feedback

• FAQ Database or searchable help section

• Ticket System or a place to submit questions

Support can take various forms and it’s a good sign when bigger programs provide at least one of these to help ensure you can still see results even if you get stuck.

4) The business program I love that’s been the best investment in my business to date!

Jason & Caroline Zook’s WAIM Unlimited Program is a comprehensive business program that has changed the game for me, here’s how…

(My busines coaches! ⬇️)

WAIM Unlimited is an un-boring business program that shows you how to go from idea, to creation, to marketing, and beyond all while scaling and growing your online business in super fun ways! (I mean this last part, I am constantly laughing my ass off while learning from them - it’s been so refreshing to learn AND laugh at the same time)

While many programs make remarks about how they can take you on a bigger business journey, Jason & Caroline actually deliver!

Their trainings and workshops are incredibly in-depth, give you step-by-step workbooks you can put into action, and make the experience fun and validating.

Since starting my business in 2015, I’ve never found another program that TRULY embodies helping you do things YOUR way and never makes me feel like I’m less than because I want to be different the way WAIM Unlimited has!

One of the biggest values they share is the idea of defining your enough number and what it means to be enough in life and business. When I read their article on enoughness here it completely changed my mindset around how I want to show up in my business and live my life.

What I’ve been able to learn & improve by being a part of WAIM Unlimited with Jason & Caroline Zook

1) I’ve been able to focus my business and give myself permission to make my niche my own

For YEARS I kept hearing that unless I chose one thing and sold my creative soul, I would never “make it” - Jason and Caroline have helped me understand how I can combine my creative ideas and focus my business while also helping my students in other areas I’m passionate about.

2) I’ve completely changed my mindset about what it means to be successful as an online business owner

I finally feel like I’m in a space with other creatives who aren’t solely focused on “six figs” and instead want to both make money AND feel fulfilled (and have a life OUTSIDE of online business tasks).

3) My income and business have steadily increased since joining their program

I’m not going to tell you that 30 days after joining this program my income increased by 10x. But what did happen was that because I felt heard, seen, validated, and was able to really go through their content because it was so fun, funny, and engaging, I started to show up and trust myself more. Which then led to more sales, a growing platform, and dream students inside my own community.

4) I have made some amazing business friends inside their Slack community that I now talk to on the regular

I feel at home in their Slack community. There are spaces to talk business, ask questions and get additional support, but there are also spaces for random overshares and humanness, and it’s made all the difference. It’s also pretty amazing how active Jason & Caroline are in their community. I never feel like I’m some peasant begging for attention from the people I paid, I feel like we’re all humans who get to share in the experience of running and growing a business.

What’s included inside of Wandering Aimfully’s WAIM Unlimited Program with Jason and Caroline Zook

WAIM Unlimited is a comprehensive coaching program that helps online business owners learn everything they need to know to create a business that meets their goals—without burning out in the process.

WAIM Unlimited will includes:

• 📐 (*NEW*) Page Layout Library: Jason & Caroline are creating a library of 10 different website page layouts with copy prompts, including sales pages, home pages, about pages and marketing bridge landing pages, in order to make spinning up new website pages a breeze.

• 🗺 The Un-Boring Business Roadmap: their in-depth roadmap that pulls all of our experience, coaching sessions, and knowledge into ONE sequential program that an online business owner can jump into. This comes with:

• 🗂 A step-by-step system based on our 5-step business checklist (Foundation, Product, Marketing, Content, and Website)

• 📺 48+ two-hour pre-recorded coaching sessions that leave no stone left unturned for every aspect on online business creation

• 📓 Interactive workbooks to put each part of the roadmap into specific action

• 🌎 Access to the private Slack community

• 👩🏻‍🦰👨🏻‍🦲 1-on-1 help from J&C through Slack, email and monthly live session Q&As

• 🏆Momentum Mondays accountability with Jason through Slack

• 📋 Notion Starter Pack: They’ve created a handful of Notion Templates that help with project management, budgeting, business organization, content creation, and more!

• 🤖 WAIM.ai Personal Coaching Robot: This microsite hosts 200 audio coaching clips sorted by topic to help business owners overcome the mental, emotional, and practical hurdles we all face on our journeys.

• ⚙️ Lifetime Teachery Account: Their online course software that helps someone build and sell courses easily and without any technical knowledge.

• 🔑 WAIM Vault and WAIM Custom Dashboard: Over 40+ courses, workshops, walk-throughs, and behind the scenes videos, complete with a powerful search by keyword and accessible from a personalized dashboard

• 🔮 Anything they make in the future: At no additional cost!

Okay. I could keep writing but why don’t I actually SHOW you what’s inside this program.

Enrollment for WAIM Unlimited opens twice a year. Next enrollment begins in October!

Click play below and I’ll show you around inside WAIM Unlimited! I also have a complete breakdown of their entire program on this page here.

Get THREE major bonuses from me when you use my affiliate link to join WAIM Unlimited

Enroll in WAIM Unlimited with my affiliate link here and I’ll give you THREE BONUSES ⬇️

This means if you decide to enroll in WAIM with my affiliate link you'll get access to:

• This means if you decide to enroll in WAIM with my affiliate link you'll get access to:

  • Pretty Simple Podcast where you’ll learn how to create, produce, & publish Your podcast, create binge-worthy content, and turn your listeners into buyers!

  AND get TWO SPECIAL COUPONS good for a $300 credit toward Organize Your Overwhelm AND a $1000 Credit toward Publish with Purpose to use through January 2025:

  • Publish with Purpose where you’ll learn how to create, format, and self-publish your own journal or planner on Amazon in 60 days or less! ($1497 Regular Price)

  • Organize Your Overwhelm where you’ll Learn how to set up your Google Calendar, Create an Effective Time Blocking Schedule, and Implement Focus Projects to streamline & organize your Business! ($397 Regular Price)

  *Please note: Bonuses are not transferable. I do not offer retroactive discounts for past purchases. If you are interested in enrolling in WAIM and already own these programs, reach out to me at hello@sarahsteckler.com.

What’s the investment?

WAIM Unlimited offers two payment options:

• $140/month x 20 months ($2,800 total) OR

• $400/month x 7 months ($2,800 total)
  
  

Enrollment happens twice a year in Spring and Fall but if you use my special link below you can enroll anytime and still get my amazing bonuses!

Questions about WAIM Unlimited? Ask me below!

I’d love to see you inside the community and work through all of these amazing materials together!

xoxo

Sarah