Would it be possible to get more info on the tools you used for the course creation? (Outline, slides, recording, etc.) and for the landing page creation and promotion? I’ve started working on a course as well, but I’m struggling to choose between so many options, and they all come with pros and cons. I can’t imagine going as fast as you did.

That’s a great question. I’ll get into that in this article.

But first, I want to say: You definitely can go as fast as me. Why not?! 

It just requires you to think differently. Think in possibilities!

Let’s start.

Step 1: Defining the Course Idea

When I built ‘Ai basics’, I wanted to move fast without sacrificing quality. Normally, the process of creating a course from start to finish takes 3 to 6 months, but with AI, I finished everything in just 2 weeks.

Before starting, I asked myself: Why should this course exist? 

The idea came while I was in Spain, using AI every day and realizing how much time it saved me. I knew I could save others years of trial and error by teaching them what I had learned.

Tool Used: ChatGPT (to refine my idea and define the target audience)
Time Spent: 1 day
Process:

• I identified the main benefit: helping people use AI without overwhelm.
• I validated the idea by talking to my audience and seeing if there was demand.
• I structured the course to focus on real-world applications rather than AI theory.

Step 2: Outlining the Course

Instead of spending weeks planning the structure, I used ChatGPT’s voice feature to talk through my course ideas. This helped me quickly organize my thoughts into a 12-lesson format.

Tool Used: ChatGPT (voice feature)
Time Spent: 1 afternoon
Process:

• I spoke through the core ideas of the course.
• AI helped refine and structure them into a logical sequence.
• I reviewed the outline and made quick adjustments.

Step 3: Writing Scripts and Creating Slides

Once the outline was ready, I used AI to generate rough drafts for each lesson. This saved a huge amount of time compared to writing from scratch.

Tools Used: ChatGPT (for lesson scripts), PowerPoint + Office 365 Designer (for slides)
Time Spent: 3 days
Process:

• AI drafted the lesson content based on my outline.
• I refined and adjusted where needed.
• I used PowerPoint’s Designer tool to create professional-looking slides in seconds.

Step 4: Recording the Course

I didn’t need a fancy studio setup. I recorded everything using just my laptop, iPhone 14 Pro, and a Samson Q2U USB mic.

Tools Used: Macbook Pro, QuickTime (for screen recording), iPhone (for video), Samson Q2U mic
Time Spent: 2 days
Process:

• I recorded all lessons in batches over two days.
• Used my iPhone for video and QuickTime for screen recordings.
• Kept the process light and efficient instead of aiming for perfection.

Step 5: Editing & Finalizing the Course

I’ve done the video editing process manually. There are AI tools for this, but in my experience, they are not useful yet for multi-cam editing. 

But that’s okay; I enjoy editing my videos because it gives me a chance to watch everything and make sure the content is good. I can always go back and re-record things.

Tools Used: Final Cut Pro (for video editing)
Time Spent: 1 day
Process:

• I edited the videos with Final Cut Pro in one day.
• I did this manually because I wanted full control over the editing process. There are services like veed.io that offer automated editing, but manual editing is more precise, especially for multi-cam recordings.

One of the biggest time-savers was Final Cut Pro’s multi-cam editing feature. Since I recorded with both my iPhone and screen capture, I used multi-cam mode to sync the footage and easily switch between views:

• I imported all video sources and created a multi-cam clip in Final Cut Pro.
• I selected multi-cam view, which allowed me to see all angles at once.
• While watching the footage, I clicked to switch between my face cam and screen recording in real-time.
• I fine-tuned the timing to emphasize key points, ensuring smooth transitions between angles.

This made the editing process fast and intuitive. Instead of manually cutting between clips, I could just click to decide when to show what. Multi-cam editing helped the final product feel polished and seamless without adding extra editing time.

Step 6: Building the Landing Page & Writing Sales Emails

The goal was to create a clear, simple, and compelling landing page without overcomplicating things. 

I didn’t want to create a landing page from scratch. I used a Kajabi template that I created for my other course, Simple Investing. 

Tools Used: Kajabi (for course hosting & landing page), ChatGPT (for copywriting), Canva (for visuals)
Time Spent: 2 days
Process:

• I took a screenshot of my previous course landing page and asked ChatGPT to rewrite the copy for ‘Ai basics’.
• AI provided new headlines, descriptions, and structure based on the old format.
• I used Canva to create visuals like the logo and supporting images.

Step 7: Promoting the Course

Marketing doesn’t have to be complicated. I kept it as simple as possible and focused only on Kajabi and sending emails to my newsletter subscribers— that was it.

Tools Used: Kajabi (for hosting and email marketing)
Time Spent: 1 day
Process:

• I wrote one email to my audience explaining the course and its benefits.
• I used Kajabi’s built-in email system to send it out.
• There was no social media promotion, no paid ads, and no complicated marketing strategy—just a single high-quality email.

Final Thoughts

By using AI for outlining, writing, editing, and promotion, I reduced months of work to two weeks. 

But the biggest surprise? AI made me more creative. Instead of slowing me down, it accelerated everything.

Ideas created more ideas. The energy kept building. One thought would spark another, and before I knew it, I got more ideas about new books and articles.

If you’re struggling to choose between tools, just keep it simple.

As you can see, you don’t need a lot to build digital products.

Execution matters more than perfection.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!

-Darius

Check out the ‘Ai basics’ course

If you want to learn the skill of working with AI, consider joining my class.

It comes with a 30-day guarantee. If you don’t find it useful, you get a 100% refund.

The post How I Created an Online Course With AI in 2 Weeks (Step by Step) appeared first on Darius Foroux.

Their advice is usually the same: Start blogging, get freelance writing clients, and use ChatGPT to write articles while you make money in your sleep. We get it. And none of that stuff works.

Look, many people who try to monetize their writing struggle.

This applies not just to “professional writers,” but to everyone who uses the written word to make a living: Marketers who write effective pitch emails to score a sale or VIP interview, designers who need to communicate their ideas effectively, entrepreneurs who are trying to make better sense of their business model.

The first step to making money with your words is to get the right mindset.

Here are five mindset shifts that will help you to monetize your writing.

1. Treat writing like a business

You must view your career as a business. You are a writer and an entrepreneur. Sure, you’re an artist too. But never forget that your career is also a business.

The late singer and billionaire Jimmy Buffett said it best:

“If you’re an artist, if you want to have control of your life . . . then you gotta be a businessman, like it or not. So the businessman evolved out of being an artist.”

Many writers don’t like this idea. They want to focus on the craft and let the work speak for itself.

Now, you definitely need to develop the craft of writing to ensure you’re communicating yourself well. Even with all the marketing in the world, bad writing won’t make you rich.

But you also can’t just focus on craft. You also need to market and promote your work.

If you don’t sell your work, you can’t continue creating work.

The other day, a reader emailed me about the pop-up on my website. It was more of a complaint. “Can you remove it?” Well, I can. But if I stop marketing, I need to quit writing because it’s just not sustainable to write for fun.

The internet today is full of noise. So you need to stand out as a writer, no matter what you write.

There are three steps to execute this:

1. Think about your audience: Who are you writing for? What problems are you solving for them? Why are you the best person your audience should listen to?
2. Consider how you can package your writing: Would you create an e-book, a course, or a series of blog posts on a specific topic?
3. Don’t be afraid to pitch your work to publications, clients, or businesses. If you’re just starting out, it’s important to create multiple opportunities. So put yourself out there as much as you can.

2. Stick to a writing routine the same way you’d stick to a job

Think about your current job. Whether or not you feel like it, you go for it and do it anyway, right?

If you’re serious about writing, then you need to exhibit the same dedication and consistency.

A lot of people don’t successfully monetize their writing because they lack the discipline. Too many folks fall into the trap of waiting for inspiration. They tell themselves they’ll start writing when they get into “the zone.”

They need to have the perfect setup. Or better yet, they need to move to a warm place and have a view of the ocean—otherwise, they can’t write!

Of course. If a nice view made you creative, every single person who lives on the beach would be a millionaire.

The truth is, if you want to earn from your writing, you need to treat it like a job. That means showing up every day, whether you feel inspired or not.

You know what? I work best in a small room without a view, just looking at a concrete wall. That forces me to focus on the task at hand, which is to do great writing.

Consistency builds trust with your audience. It shows them you’re serious about your craft, and it keeps your work at the top of their minds. Plus, the more consistently you write, the better you get and the more opportunities you create for yourself.

Create a writing routine and stick to it. Whether it’s 500 words a day or two hours every morning, find what works for you and make it a non-negotiable part of your day.

3. Focus on value, not perfection

Writers often get caught up in the pursuit of perfection. They spend hours refining every sentence, trying to make their work flawless. This obsession with perfection is also the reason why many writers get stuck.

While attention to detail is important, it’s not what’s going to make you money.

What matters is the value you provide.

All of the stuff I’m talking about in this article will NOT work if you don’t have something valuable to offer to your reader. And that doesn’t mean you need to give your readers mind-bending insights.

No, if you can entertain your reader, it’s also valuable.

Or, can you help your readers solve a problem? Can you teach them something new? People don’t pay for perfection; they pay for value.

Instead of obsessing over every word, ask yourself:

• What does my audience need right now?
• How can I serve them better than anyone else?

Once you shift your focus to delivering value, you’ll be able to create content more efficiently and with greater impact.

4. Work towards multiple income streams

Many beginner writers think they’ll make all their money from one source—like publishing a bestselling book or landing a big freelance client.

Relying on a single income stream is risky. If that source dries up, you’ll be left empty-handed.

This is what happens when writers go all in on a single platform, whether that’s Substack, Medium, WordPress, freelancing, ghostwriting, or Amazon KDP.

You should always have multiple income streams. The internet moves in cycles. No single income source is stable.

The most successful writers diversify their income streams. They don’t just rely on one book, blog, or client. Instead, they:

• Offer freelance writing services
• Self-publish e-books
• Create online courses or workshops
• Create a paid newsletter or monetize their blog

Multiple income streams give you more stability and flexibility. Plus, it opens up new opportunities you might not have considered before.

5. Think long-term

Finally, you need to adopt a long-term mindset. Monetizing your writing takes time. You won’t see significant income overnight, and there will be setbacks along the way.

You must keep your eye on the prize, which is long-term financial success.

The writing teacher, William Zinsser, said it best:

“Writing is hard work. A clear sentence is no accident. Very few sentences come out right the first time, or even the third time. Remember this in moments of despair. If you find that writing is hard, it’s because it is hard.”

Just like working out, any activity that improves your mind and body is difficult.

Many writers give up too soon because they expect instant results. But writing is a marathon, not a sprint. If you’re consistent, provide value, and build multiple income streams, you’ll eventually see the payoff.

If you’re looking for ways to make money as a writer, watch my video:

Think about where you want to be a year from now or five years from now. What steps can you take today to move closer to that goal? Focus on the process, not the immediate results.

The post 5 Mindset Shifts That Help You to Monetize Your Writing appeared first on Darius Foroux.

Think about it: How often have you seen someone (or even yourself) claim to be good or bad at one thing, only to find that their result shows otherwise?

For example, you may think you’re a terrible public speaker, but when you actually give a presentation, people compliment you on your confidence and delivery. Or maybe you believe you’re an amazing cook, but your friends think it’s not that great.

Our personal benchmark is often different from how others perceive us. And this can have both positive and negative effects on our lives.

On the one hand, it’s important to set high standards for ourselves and continuously push ourselves to improve. On the other hand, we can also be too hard on ourselves and limit our own potential because our benchmark is based on inaccurate perceptions.

Creating your true personal benchmark

Knowing what you’re good at is important in succeeding at anything. As the management expert, Peter Drucker, said:

“One cannot build performance on weaknesses, let alone on something one cannot do at all.”

I highly recommend reading Drucker’s Managing Oneself. It’s a very short book you can finish in one sitting. I’ve made a habit of reading it every year to remind myself about my own strengths and weaknesses.

The science backs this up, too. Research in psychology points out a phenomenon known as the Dunning-Kruger effect when people with low ability at a task overestimate their ability. On the flip side, those with high ability underestimate themselves. ¹

So, how do you know if you’re truly good or bad at something? How do you set your personal benchmark? Try asking yourself this:

“What have I done in the past that’s most similar to the goal I want to achieve now? And what were my results?”

For example, imagine joining a race with multiple distances. You don’t want to run a 50-kilometer race if the longest distance you’ve ever run is just 10K. Doing that will likely get you injured or worse.

But with a 10K baseline, you can realistically challenge yourself by joining a half-marathon or 21K race. Going for, say, 5K won’t challenge you and help you grow.

Your personal benchmark shows you how far you’ve gone. And how high you should aim.

Over time, as you overcome your own records, your personal benchmark will increase. Then, you can keep growing yourself.

4 steps to knowing yourself better

To accurately analyze your abilities, focus on these four steps:

1. Look inward. Detach your emotions and ego from the equation. Be brutally honest with yourself about what you did and didn’t achieve in the past.

2. Use Quantifiable Metrics. Use hard data to measure your abilities instead of relying on abstract feelings or vague impressions. Going back to the running example: What’s your longest distance run? The maximum challenge you can give yourself is to double that distance.

3. Compare Against Your Own Benchmark. Avoid comparing yourself to others. Everyone’s journey is different. Focus on whether you’re doing better than you were previously – that’s the comparison that matters.

4. Regular Review and Update. Self-assessment is an ongoing process. It’s important to regularly revisit and revise your personal benchmarks based on recent achievements or setbacks.

Life is all about steady improvement – raising the bar bit by bit while ensuring that each new goal is achievable based on past performance.

The post You’re Only as Good as Your Benchmark appeared first on Darius Foroux.

“C’mon! Really! Can you drive any slower?”

It’s a way to entertain myself. My family and girlfriend are used to it and laugh. But I’m also serious.

When we plan to leave the house, I’m the type who says, “Let’s go” every second until we actually go.

My impatience has helped me in my career, though. When something needs to be done, I do it immediately. I can’t wait. My aim is to always do it today, not tomorrow.

But that approach is not helpful when it comes to finances. You need patience to build proper wealth.

Here’s how I learned the art of patience when it comes to building wealth.

1. Understanding how investing and compounding works

You can read about investing and compounding as much as you want. But unless you actually compound your own money, you can never understand the magic.

And it doesn’t matter how much money you invest. This is the power of delayed gratification.

You must put up some money and wait for at least a year. If you’re unlucky, you invested at the top of a bull market, and you’re in a bear market. But in most cases, you will be either up within a year or roughly around the same level.

But that’s okay. Because you will see that your money is doing its work. Especially in the stock market. The S&P 500 goes up and down. Up and down. But it doesn’t die. In the past 30 years, despite wars and pandemics, the S&P 500 still averages a 10.7% annual return.¹

As the market moves, your money does the work. You need to see this for yourself.

You will start to understand investing. With understanding comes more patience.

2. Adding to your investments regularly

When you see that investing in stocks actually works, you start feeling good. You might want to pour all your savings into the market.

I’m not a fan of that strategy. It will make you nervous. And nervous people become impatient.

You need to set yourself up in a way that enhances patience.

So you add smaller amounts every month. You set up automatic investments. You transfer the money to your brokerage app, and your broker does the buying for you.

It’s really simple, and it helps you let go of your investments. Just let the market do what it does.

And it happens that the market keeps going up in the long run.

3. Detach yourself from your money

This is the delayed gratification part. People often talk about it, but they never really share how you can become someone who delays gratification.

In my experience, the best way to do it is by detaching yourself from your money.

When you invest, say goodbye to your money for now. And don’t set a date for when you reunite.

Just say, “I’m going to send you away. Do your work. And maybe we’ll see each other in a few decades.”

Decades???

Yes. That’s the best mindset for building proper wealth.

Patience is a mindset. It’s one you must cultivate through your actions and self-talk.

They go hand in hand.

Don’t expect you to become a patient investor overnight. You need to regularly invest and then simple wait.

And the good thing is that those are the two things that are 100% within your control.

The post The Art of Patience: How Delayed Gratification Builds Wealth appeared first on Darius Foroux.

Chouinard began selling climbing equipment as a way to make ends meet. He did that for almost 10 years. It wasn’t until 1965 that he began gaining enough traction to start an actual company and hire employees.

By 2022, Chouinard’s company, Patagonia, became Inc.’s Company of the Year.¹

If you have a hobby or interest that you are truly passionate about, then turning it into your full-time job is not just a dream. It’s all a matter of having the right system to start making money from your passion.

I know because that’s what I also did in 2015 when I quit my full-time job in London to start writing.

Based on my own experience as an entrepreneur/writer and based on the experience of many others who have turned their “passion” into a successful career, here are five steps I’ve learned along the way.

1. Accept the truth about passion and freedom

Whatever you want to do, you have to approach it from a business perspective. That’s the reality for any person who wants to make money from their passion while retaining their freedom. The late singer and billionaire Jimmy Buffett said it well:²

“If you’re an artist, if you want to have control of your life . . . then you gotta be a businessman, like it or not. So the businessman evolved out of being an artist.”

Aside from the money he made from his hit songs, Jimmy Buffett built an empire of resorts, restaurants, and merchandise chains. Interestingly, Jimmy is not related to the investor Warren Buffett. But they were friends and sometimes referred to each other as “Uncle Warren” and “Cousin Jimmy.”³

Recognizing the value you bring to the table is paramount. Money should not be a taboo topic. Think of it as a means to continue doing what you love. Monetize your skills, knowledge, and expertise.

If you’re a skilled artist, you can offer commissioned artwork or sell prints of your work. If you have knowledge in a specific field, consider teaching an online course or creating digital products such as e-books or guides.

The possibilities are endless. Just make sure you’re providing value to others and charging appropriately for it. The key here is to think outside the box and be creative.

2. Focus on providing REAL value

Essentially, making money from your passion is all about solving a problem or need. And getting paid for it. Whether it’s through a product or service, your focus should always be on providing value to your customers.

In Patagonia’s case, Chouinard saw a need for high-quality outdoor gear that was environmentally friendly and decided to fill that gap. By focusing on providing value, he was able to build a loyal customer base and become recognized as an industry leader.

In my case, I started writing and publishing free articles on self-improvement that people found to be useful. Eventually, they subscribed to my newsletter. Some folks bought my books and courses, which is how I earn a living.

On this journey of making money, stay authentic. Your passion is what sets you apart from others in your field. Don’t try to imitate someone else or follow the latest trends just to make money.

You must create real value. Something that makes the lives of others better. People are drawn to authenticity, which will help you create a unique brand.

3. Validate your idea

Hope isn’t a strategy, and dreams alone don’t pay the bills.

Before you dive headfirst into monetizing your passion, validate your ideas first. A good rule of thumb: Ask yourself if this service/product is currently being sold. Because if it is, then it means people are truly willing to spend money on it. It means there’s an existing market and demand.

But if nobody else is executing your idea, then there are two possibilities:

• You’re the next Mark Zuckerberg, and you’re inventing the new Facebook.
• Or you’re creating something that people don’t want or need. There’s no market demand. And your product/service is doomed to fail.

So, what’s your next move? Create a landing page. And try selling it to your target audience. If you don’t get any interest — then it’s a sign that the idea probably isn’t good. And you have to move on to the next.

4. Build a brand, not just a business

People don’t just buy products; they buy stories. They buy something because they believe in it and it makes them feel good.

Steve Jobs wasn’t selling computers; he was selling an experience, a lifestyle. Your passion must translate into a brand that resonates. As Jeff Bezos puts it:

“Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.”

Be consistent, be memorable, and be personal. People want to connect with a brand that feels authentic and relatable.

5. Create a system that assures sustainable growth

Growth is essential for any business, but it must be managed sustainably. This includes having a system in place to track and analyze your growth metrics regularly.

How will you keep getting repeat customers? Here’s what you can do:

• Ensure your product/service is of the best quality. Again, ensure you’re providing the value that you promised.
• Reward customer/client loyalty. Another way to keep customers returning is by offering them incentives for their continued business. For example, students who enrolled in my previous courses have the incentive to take advantage of any future updates I make on the course.
• Ask for feedback and act on it. Your customers can give you crucial insights on how you can improve your products or services.

Remember, making money from your passion isn’t a fairytale—it’s a battle. With the right strategy and consistent execution, you’ll find that sweet spot where your passion pays off.

Each step is a stepping stone to not just making money, but making a meaningful impact with your career.

The post 5 Steps To Making Money From Your Passion appeared first on Darius Foroux.