Ask Annie: Should I Create My Own Program Or Teach Something Well Known?

Rebel Therapist

I got this question recently from someone getting ready to expand their business to beyond private practice. They want to start offering a non-therapy program within their own business.

“Should I create my own program from scratch, or should I just deliver an established method from a well-known person?”

For example, although it’s not the example this person gave: Brene Brown’s Dare To Lead method.

Here’s my answer without knowing any of the particulars.

First of all…nothing is new under the sun. Whatever program you offer will be influenced by your learning lineages and your mentors…

So the REAL question is: will you create something new by bringing together many influences, giving them all credit, and blending them in a unique way?

OR

Will you primarily use one established method from a mentor and jump through the hoops of getting that license or certification or purchasing that curriculum, so that you can use it in its entirety and put their name on it?

To figure this out, ask yourself: What is the truest, most high quality and aligned offering you can make right now?

Which choice will be of the highest service to your participants?

A good reason to use someone else’s method is that you feel clear that it is the most aligned choice.

A misguided reason to use someone else’s method is that you think it will be easier to create and sell it.

Since you’re creating this program within your business, you will likely be working just as hard with either choice.

Whether you sell someone else’s method or create your own, you will…

• Identify who it’s for (your niche)
• Create or adapt the program
• Do messaging and marketing work to bring in participants

In the business I’m running now, I’ve created my own method while giving a ton of credit to the people I’ve learn from.

You can’t get through my program without hearing about Tara McMullin, the business strategist who has had the biggest influence on me. And you hear about many other folks whose influences are woven into my programs.

At this point I’m so hooked on creating my own processes and weaving together many influences, I can’t imagine I’ll ever teach someone else’s entire method ever again.

But once I did! In this week’s episode, I share a story about running a couples workshop using someone else’s method with permission. Listen to learn from my experience so you can skip my mistakes.

Show notes at https://rebeltherapist.me/podcast/210