Have you ever caught yourself saying "I need to create a course on that.."? But finding that it quickly turns into "… someday."

I remember years ago sitting in a coffee shop dreaming about an idea I had for an online course but, as I finished my coffee, realizing it was probably never going to happen.

Fast forward and I've spent more than 10 years coaching and mentoring 1000's of people online and am now helping others create their own online course or programs. In that process, what I've realised is that it's not the lack of time, resource or even information on the core subject that holds us back.

It's actually in our heads. The greatest barrier to launching any new venture is most often between your ears.

The Wake-Up Call

Mindset. I was blocked for years from moving forward towards my goal and feeling trapped in a 9-5 income and in the impact that I could make in people's lives. But then I heard this phrase that changed everything: "Don't say I can't. Say, how can I?"

That single moment was my wake-up call. I realized I wasn't actually trapped by external circumstances - I was trapped by my own thinking patterns. Here are the three mindset shifts that finally got me moving from dreaming to doing:

1. From "I Can't" to "How Can I?"

The first and most powerful shift was moving from "I can't" to "How can I?" This simple change in questioning opened up possibilities I hadn't seen before:

- Instead of "I can't find the time," I asked "Ok I have a few hours a week spare. How can I do this in just 30 mins a day?" - Instead of "I can't compete in a saturated market," I asked "How can I bring my unique perspective where there's clearly huge demand?" - Instead of "The tech is so complex and is a nightmare to maintain," I asked "How can I find a platform that's simple and saves me time?"

Action Step: Next time you catch yourself saying "I can't," stop and rephrase it as "How can I?" Write down three possibilities.

2. "You Can Scale a Coaching Business in Your Spare Time - With the Right Plan"

The second shift was realizing that part-time progress beats full-time dreams.

I had to let go of the myth that I needed:

- 40 hours a week to build a course and run a business - Perfect conditions to start - Every detail figured out in advance

Instead, I embraced:

- Small, consistent actions - Strategic planning around my limited time - Focus on progress over perfection

Action Step: Map out 3 hours in your weekly schedule - or 30 minutes a day - that you can consistently dedicate to your course creation. Even small pockets of time add up when used strategically.

3. "People Want Transformation, Not Just Information"

The final mindset shift was understanding that my course wasn't about dumping information - it was about creating transformation. This changed everything about how I approached course creation:

- Instead of trying to teach everything, I focused on teaching what creates results - Rather than aiming for volume of material, I aimed for impact - Instead of comparing my content to others, I focused on my students' transformation

I regularly hear "I couldn't have done this without you" from my clients. That's because great courses aren't about transmitting information - they're about genuine transformation. You're not setting yourself up as an expert - you're offering yourself as a guide.

Action Step: Write down the specific transformation your course will provide. What will your students be able to do after completing your course that they couldn't do before?

Moving Forward

These mindset shifts didn't just help me create my course - they transformed how I approach every aspect of my business and actually other parts of my life. Today, I help other people create their own courses, and I see these same mindset blocks come up again and again.

Remember: The difference between where you are and where you want to be often starts with how you think about what's possible.

Are you ready to make these shifts? Which of these mindset changes resonates most with where you're stuck right now?