Jan 6 (edited) • Stuck
Learn - Practice - Create.
The Antidote to Abandonment in a World of Flux.
Learn (a small concept) → Practice (to embody it) → Create (to own it).
In an online business, seeing students or clients abandon a course they paid for is more than a lost transaction; it's a lost transformation.
The common culprits are overwhelm, isolation, and the sheer inertia of daily life. In a state of constant flux, where attention is fragmented and priorities shift daily; traditional linear curricula often fail.
I have many unfinished modules with passwords scribbled on wall calendars in case I return to rediscover solutions for my life.
The solution isn't just better content; it's a better structure for engagement. So how do I do it?
The Learn, Practice, Create framework is that structure.
It reduces cognitive load, builds momentum, and aligns with how humans genuinely integrate new skills, especially when feeling unsteady.
1. Learn: The Foundation of Focus
"Learn" is not about information dumping. In flux, the brain seeks anchors, not more noise.
· How it Helps in Flux: Instead of presenting 50 videos in a row, "Learn" modules are micro-doses of essential theory. A single concept, a core principle, a 10-minute video or a concise text.
This makes starting less daunting on a chaotic day.
It frames learning as achievable, saying, "You can grasp this one thing right now."
· For Your Business: Structure every module to answer: "What is the ONE key insight here?" This transforms your course from an overwhelming library into a guided path of clear, digestible milestones. Students get the quick wins of completion, which fuels continued engagement.
2. Practice: The Bridge to Embodiment
Knowledge alone is inert.
"Practice" is the deliberate, often guided, application of what was just learned. This is where knowledge becomes personal experience.
· How it Helps in Flux: Flux creates a gap between intention and action.
"Practice" closes that gap immediately.
A downloadable worksheet, a 5-minute reflection prompt, a quick rehearsal task, or a guided simulation. It makes the lesson tangible.
This step builds confidence and creates a "proof of progress" that is visceral, not just intellectual. In uncertain times, this proof is the fuel for perseverance.
· For Your Business: Design practices that are low-lift and high-reward.
They should feel like a safe space to experiment, not a test. Incorporate templates, swipe files, or audio walkthroughs.
This step is your secret weapon against passive consumption; the number one precursor to abandonment.
3. Create: The Engine of Ownership and Momentum
This is the critical, often missing, piece.
“Create" is the act of producing something new and meaningful for the student's own context using what they learned and practiced.
· How it Helps in Flux: "Create" moves students from being consumers to being creators. It generates tangible value for them. This could be drafting their first email sequence, outlining their own project plan, recording a 60-second video, or building the first slide of their presentation.
This outcome, this asset; becomes their anchor. It’s no longer just your course; it’s now their project, their portfolio piece, their solved problem.
In flux, this sense of ownership and tangible result is the strongest possible motivator to continue.
· For Your Business: Frame every major section with a "Creation" milestone.
Celebrate these submissions in community posts or with automated feedback. This transforms your course from a series of lessons into a project-building journey. The student's success is now visibly tied to their own created outcome, not just course completion.
Why This Structure Can Win in Flux.
The magic is in the flux cycle: Learn (a small concept) → Practice (to embody it) → Create (to own it).
This rhythm mirrors how we naturally adapt to change: by integrating small pieces, testing them, and getting a usable result.
It breaks the paralyzing "big picture" into a series of actionable, confidence-building loops.
Each completed loop is a step forward that feels earned and real, providing stability and progress even when life outside is in constant motion.
For your online business, implementing this structure isn't just about content design; it's about experience design.
You're not just teaching information; you're creating a clear, rewarding path to transformation, one confident loop at a time.
This is how you turn abandoners into achievers, no matter how turbulent their world may be.
Now I know a new way, will I return to the past to mine for resources? Stay tuned.
For you…
What courses do you have that remain unfinished?
Will you look at your Classroom and make changes to help your people achieve and grow?
——
Note: This letter was inspired by a Ref: I read a line from Dan Koe - Jan 2026 newsletter. ‘Learn. Practice. Create’. https://substack.com/home/post/p-183356537
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Learn - Practice - Create.
