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161. We Made $2M When Everyone Said Online Courses Were Dead — And It's Because We Did the Opposite of What Everyone Else Did
Description
Are online courses actually dead?
Or are most people simply building them in ways that no longer work?
In this solo episode, Kate pulls back the curtain on the behind-the-scenes numbers, strategy, emotional reality, and nervous system dynamics of her latest Relaxed Money launch—which crossed the $2 million mark at a time when many online business owners are panicking about the future of digital education.
But this episode is about far more than launch metrics.
Kate shares the real emotional experience of navigating fear, pressure, uncertainty, and expansion while leading a multi-seven-figure launch in a rapidly changing online landscape. She opens up about the nervous system spiral she experienced when early registration numbers came in lower than expected, and how using the exact tools taught inside Relaxed Money helped her regulate, recalibrate, and ultimately make clearer strategic decisions.
She also walks through the specific shifts that dramatically improved their results, including simplifying messaging, prioritizing human connection over automation, strengthening affiliate partnerships, improving retention, and creating higher-quality experiences for students instead of chasing bigger audience numbers.
Along the way, Kate explores why recurring customers matter more than vanity metrics, why over-delivering free content can actually hurt conversions, and why building a freedom-based business requires structure, boundaries, and enough spaciousness to sustain creativity and service long term.
This episode is part launch debrief, part business masterclass, and part emotional transparency around what it actually takes to build sustainable success online today.
If you’re an entrepreneur, coach, course creator, or anyone trying to create meaningful work in an increasingly automated world, this conversation will completely change the way you think about growth, connection, and freedom.
“The more structure you have in your business, the more freedom you will have in your life.” — Kate Northrup
🎤 Let’s Dive into the Good Stuff on Plenty 🎤
00:00 Online Courses Are Dead? Kate Says They’re Wrong
00:58 The $2M Relaxed Money Launch Breakdown
02:57 Fear, Nervous System Spirals & Launch Anxiety
07:41 Using Relaxed Money Tools in Real Time
13:52 The Landing Page Shift That Increased Conversions
19:35 Why Human Connection Beat Automation
28:44 Retention, Re-Enrollments & Repeat Customers
40:12 The Power of Affiliate Relationships
49:03 The AI Tool That Made People Cry
1:05:02 The Future of Online Business & Sustainable Growth
Links and Resources:
Kate's Instagram
The Business Breakthrough Experience
The Digital CEO Dashboard
✨ What If the Breakthrough in Your Business Isn’t More Hustle?
Created by my friend and 7-figure launch mentor, James Wedmore, The Business Breakthrough Experience is a free 3-part live training designed to help entrepreneurs identify the gaps, bottlenecks, and blind spots keeping their business stuck.
Because most people don’t need more information.
They need clarity on what actually moves the needle.
Inside the experience, you’ll explore:
🔹 What’s slowing your business growth
🔹 The mindset + strategy shifts that create momentum
🔹 How to build a more scalable digital business
🔹 What’s actually working right now in online business
This isn’t about doing more.
It’s about finally seeing what needs to change.