One of the most common questions I get from digital entrepreneurs is this:

Should I launch a membership or a course first?

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of my founding member launch for IGNITE and explain why it worked… and why I do not believe memberships should be your first move in most cases.

When I launched my membership, I did not open it to my full list. I invited 150 past clients and customers, people who had already experienced my cohort-style courses and live coaching. By the end of the month, 47 joined as founding members.

But the success was not about the sales page.

It was about three years of relationship building.

If you are a course creator, coach, or digital entrepreneur trying to decide between launching a cohort-style course or building a membership, this episode will help you think strategically about your next best step.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why my founding member launch converted at 31 percent
• The power of relational equity before launching a membership
• Why cohort-style courses are often easier to sell
• The math behind $997 programs versus $47 per month memberships
• What churn and retention really mean for recurring revenue
• The foundational questions to ask before choosing your model

This conversation is especially for:

• Course creators launching their first or second offer
• Coaches considering adding a membership
• Digital entrepreneurs who want sustainable, predictable revenue
• Anyone feeling pressure to “start a membership” too soon

If your income feels inconsistent, or you are trying to decide which model makes sense for your stage of business, this episode will bring clarity.

Key Takeaway

Memberships are powerful when they are built on a strong foundation of trust and live connection.

But for many entrepreneurs, launching a cohort-style course first creates:

• Higher revenue faster
• Stronger testimonials
• Clearer messaging
• Deeper relationships

Relationships first. Membership second.

Submit your question for our From Purpose to Impact podcast series and be entered into a special listener giveaway.

Share what's holding you back from launching your business, offer, or next idea. Selected questions will be answered on the podcast, and all submissions are entered for a chance to receive access to programs designed to support your journey.

Submit your question at youronlinebusinessmentor.com

Access resources and programs at https://launchwithlydia.com

Looking for a platform to run your online business? Get a 30-Day Free Trial + training & support at https://launchwithlydia.com/kajabi

Connect with me:

https://instagram.com/lydiamartinbiz

https://youtube.com/@lydiamartinbiz

https://launchwithlydia.substack.com

In this episode, I’m sharing a pivotal shift in my online business. For the first three years, I built momentum through live launches. They worked. They helped me build a six-figure business. They helped me grow my audience and refine my message.

But they also created a revenue roller coaster.

After retiring my husband from his 30-year IT career, my business became our sole source of income. That changed the stakes. I no longer wanted unpredictable revenue spikes followed by quiet months. I wanted stability. I wanted predictable income that supported our life and family.

In this episode, I walk you through:

• Why big launches built my foundation
• The emotional reality of inconsistent revenue
• Why live connection matters more than recorded content
• The truth about membership models and recurring revenue
• Why I waited to launch a membership
• How IGNITE was born with 47 founding members

If you are a digital entrepreneur, course creator, or coach wondering whether you should build a membership or keep relying on launches, this episode will help you think more strategically about your business model.

Sometimes the answer is not a better launch.

Sometimes it is a better structure.

What You’ll Learn

• How live launches can grow an online business quickly
• The hidden stress of starting every month at zero
• Why recurring revenue creates emotional stability, not just financial stability
• The difference between selling content and providing real-time support
• What most people misunderstand about memberships
• Why timing and support matter when launching a membership

Who This Is For

This episode is for digital entrepreneurs who:

• Feel exhausted by launch cycles
• Want more predictable revenue
• Are considering creating a membership
• Care about building a sustainable online business
• Want income that supports their life and family

In the next episode, I’ll share exactly how I launched my membership with founding members and what changed once predictable revenue entered the picture.

Remember… clarity and impact come from action.

Submit your question for our From Purpose to Impact podcast series and be entered into a special listener giveaway.

Share what's holding you back from launching your business, offer, or next idea. Selected questions will be answered on the podcast, and all submissions are entered for a chance to receive access to programs designed to support your journey.

Submit your question at youronlinebusinessmentor.com

Access resources and programs at https://launchwithlydia.com

Looking for a platform to run your online business? Get a 30-Day Free Trial + training & support at https://launchwithlydia.com/kajabi

Connect with me:

https://instagram.com/lydiamartinbiz

https://youtube.com/@lydiamartinbiz

https://launchwithlydia.substack.com

If you feel like you’re doing the same thing over and over in your online business, you might be closer to your next breakthrough than you realize.

In this episode, Lydia shares how launching the same program six times in two years built authority, clarity, and entirely new revenue streams. What started as one digital course evolved into live workshops, affiliate income, and a $68K signature program launch, all because of repetition.

This conversation will help you see how refining and repeating your offer can reveal hidden opportunities inside your own systems.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why repeating the same launch builds authority and confidence
• How documenting what you’re doing creates teachable systems
• The power of a Founder’s launch before building a program
• How Lydia generated over $23K before officially launching Challenge Launch Roadmap
• Why repetition led to a $68K launch and a new revenue stream
• How to identify hidden offers inside your existing processes

The Big Takeaway

Repetition creates refinement.
Refinement builds authority.
Authority opens doors to new opportunities.

If you are consistently getting results from something you’re doing in your business, there may be an offer hiding in plain sight.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

Learn more about creating a challenge that turns cold leads into customers:
https://launchwithlydia.com/launch

Continue the Series

This episode is part of the 21-day series, From Purpose to Impact, where Lydia shares the real journey of building a sustainable online business through action, refinement, and intentional growth.

Be sure to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode, where Lydia shares why she eventually shifted from high-ticket launch cycles to a membership model for predictable revenue.

And remember… clarity and impact come from action.

Submit your question for our From Purpose to Impact podcast series and be entered into a special listener giveaway.

Share what's holding you back from launching your business, offer, or next idea. Selected questions will be answered on the podcast, and all submissions are entered for a chance to receive access to programs designed to support your journey.

Submit your question at youronlinebusinessmentor.com

Access resources and programs at https://launchwithlydia.com

Looking for a platform to run your online business? Get a 30-Day Free Trial + training & support at https://launchwithlydia.com/kajabi

Connect with me:

https://instagram.com/lydiamartinbiz

https://youtube.com/@lydiamartinbiz

https://launchwithlydia.substack.com

In this episode, Lydia debunks one of the most common myths in the online business world... that you need a certain number of subscribers before you can launch successfully.

She shares how her very first launch helped her grow from zero to 400 subscribers and enroll 95 paying students at the same time, without a library of lead magnets, a complicated funnel, or a large audience.

You’ll hear how live challenge launches functioned as her list-building strategy, why personal relationships mattered more than algorithms, and how launching can build both your email list and revenue simultaneously.

This episode is part of the 21-day From Purpose to Impact series and is a reminder that momentum comes from action, not waiting.

That’s how purpose turns into impact.

In this episode, Lydia covers:

• The myth that you need 250, 500, or 1,000 subscribers before launching
• Why waiting to “build a list first” can stall your online business
• How she grew from zero to 400 subscribers in her first launch
• How 95 students enrolled without a traditional lead magnet
• Why live challenges can serve as powerful lead magnets
• The importance of real-life relationships and personal connections
• The scrappy, boots-on-the-ground strategies she used to grow
• The simple growth model: Increase Reach, Increase Relationships, Increase Revenue

Reflection

• Are you waiting to launch because you believe your email list is too small?
• What relationships do you already have that could help you spread the word?
• What real pain point could you solve live instead of packaging into a PDF?

Free Resource

If you want to see the exact steps Lydia followed to go from zero subscribers to her first 400 email subscribers and 95 paying students, download her Online Revenue Roadmap.

This guide outlines the practical, step-by-step actions she took to move from idea to launch to revenue.

Download it here:
https://launchwithlydia.com/juststart

Follow the Podcast

This is Day 8 of a 21-day series. Follow or subscribe to Your Online Business Mentor so you don’t miss what’s coming next.

Submit your question for our From Purpose to Impact podcast series and be entered into a special listener giveaway.

Share what's holding you back from launching your business, offer, or next idea. Selected questions will be answered on the podcast, and all submissions are entered for a chance to receive access to programs designed to support your journey.

Submit your question at youronlinebusinessmentor.com

Access resources and programs at https://launchwithlydia.com

Looking for a platform to run your online business? Get a 30-Day Free Trial + training & support at https://launchwithlydia.com/kajabi

Connect with me:

https://instagram.com/lydiamartinbiz

https://youtube.com/@lydiamartinbiz

https://launchwithlydia.substack.com

What happens when life completely interrupts your business momentum?

In this episode, Lydia shares what it felt like to lose two months of work due to illness after three successful launches in her first year of business. She opens up about the fear of starting again, the pressure of needing revenue, and the emotional weight of wondering if she had what it takes to rebuild.

She walks through how she relaunched the same program again, tested a webinar-style launch, refined her invitation strategy, and ultimately grew her business to $200,000 in revenue with a 63% profit margin in her second full year.

This episode is part of the 21-day From Purpose to Impact series and is a reminder that you are never starting over. You are starting wiser. 

That’s how purpose turns into impact.

In this episode, Lydia covers:

• What it felt like to lose momentum after building early success
• Why setbacks do not mean you are back at zero
• How she relaunched the same digital course again in 2021
• The results of testing a webinar-style launch
• Real revenue, ad spend, and profit numbers
• How refining invitation strategy increased launch results
• Why continuing to launch the same offer builds compounding momentum

Reflection

• Have you experienced a season where life interrupted your business momentum?
• Are you truly starting over… or are you restarting with experience?
• What would it look like to relaunch wiser, instead of rebuilding from scratch?

Support and Next Steps

If you want to learn how to structure, refine, and relaunch your offers in a way that builds sustainable revenue, this is exactly what we do inside IGNITE.

IGNITE is designed to help digital entrepreneurs move from scattered effort to clear action, with practical launch strategy, offer refinement, and consistent support.

You can learn more at launchwithlydia.com/ignite

Follow the Podcast

This is Day 7 of a 21-day series. Follow or subscribe to Your Online Business Mentor so you don’t miss what’s coming next.

Submit your question for our From Purpose to Impact podcast series and be entered into a special listener giveaway.

Share what's holding you back from launching your business, offer, or next idea. Selected questions will be answered on the podcast, and all submissions are entered for a chance to receive access to programs designed to support your journey.

Submit your question at youronlinebusinessmentor.com

Access resources and programs at https://launchwithlydia.com

Looking for a platform to run your online business? Get a 30-Day Free Trial + training & support at https://launchwithlydia.com/kajabi

Connect with me:

https://instagram.com/lydiamartinbiz

https://youtube.com/@lydiamartinbiz

https://launchwithlydia.substack.com

After your first launch… then what?

In this episode, Lydia shares what actually happened after her first $10K launch in 2020, including real revenue numbers, expenses, profit margin, and the lessons she learned from relaunching the same program multiple times.

She walks through how launching the same digital course three times in one year built momentum, strengthened relationships, created coaching opportunities, and led to new paid workshops based on real student needs.

This episode is part of the 21-day From Purpose to Impact series and is designed to show you what building an online business actually looks like in real time.

That’s how purpose turns into impact.

In this episode, Lydia covers:

• What happened financially after her first $10K launch
• Why relaunching the same program quickly builds momentum
• How raising the price still produced strong revenue
• The power of cohort-style programs for building trust
• How one-on-one coaching and paid workshops emerged naturally
• Real revenue, expenses, and profit margin from her first year
• Why launching is a learning system, not a one-time event

Reflection

• What would happen if you relaunched the same offer instead of creating something brand new?
• Where might momentum already exist in your business that you haven’t leveraged yet?

Follow the podcast

This is Day 6 of a 21-day series. Follow or subscribe to Your Online Business Mentor so you don’t miss what’s coming next.

Submit your question for our From Purpose to Impact podcast series and be entered into a special listener giveaway.

Share what's holding you back from launching your business, offer, or next idea. Selected questions will be answered on the podcast, and all submissions are entered for a chance to receive access to programs designed to support your journey.

Submit your question at youronlinebusinessmentor.com

Access resources and programs at https://launchwithlydia.com

Looking for a platform to run your online business? Get a 30-Day Free Trial + training & support at https://launchwithlydia.com/kajabi

Connect with me:

https://instagram.com/lydiamartinbiz

https://youtube.com/@lydiamartinbiz

https://launchwithlydia.substack.com

If you’re building an online business and waiting for your first offer to be completely finished before launching, this episode will challenge that belief.

In this episode, Lydia shares the story of her very first launch, including how she sold her course before it was fully built, created a five-day challenge with zero email subscribers, grew her list from scratch, and welcomed 95 students into her first cohort.

She explains why launching live shortened her learning curve, how real-time feedback strengthened her offer, and why cohort-style experiences are so powerful for digital entrepreneurs today.

This conversation is part of the 21-day From Purpose to Impact series and is designed to help you move from perfectionism to progress as you build your digital offers.

That’s how purpose turns into impact.

In this episode, Lydia covers:

• Why your first digital offer is not supposed to be perfect
• How launching before something is fully built creates clarity
• How a free five-day challenge helped grow her email list from zero
• What she learned from welcoming 95 students into her first cohort
• Why cohort-style programs create powerful feedback and transformation
• How launching to learn builds sustainable momentum in your online business

Reflection

• If you stopped waiting for perfection, what could you launch in the next 30 days?
• What would you learn if you allowed real people to walk through it with you?

Follow the podcast

This is Day 5 of a 21-day series. Follow or subscribe to Your Online Business Mentor so you don’t miss the conversations ahead.

Submit your question for our From Purpose to Impact podcast series and be entered into a special listener giveaway.

Share what's holding you back from launching your business, offer, or next idea. Selected questions will be answered on the podcast, and all submissions are entered for a chance to receive access to programs designed to support your journey.

Submit your question at youronlinebusinessmentor.com

Access resources and programs at https://launchwithlydia.com

Looking for a platform to run your online business? Get a 30-Day Free Trial + training & support at https://launchwithlydia.com/kajabi

Connect with me:

https://instagram.com/lydiamartinbiz

https://youtube.com/@lydiamartinbiz

https://launchwithlydia.substack.com

If you’ve been waiting to feel clear before moving forward in your business, this episode speaks directly to that hesitation.

In this episode, Lydia answers a listener question about long-term planning and explains why creating "a perfect plan" isn’t what actually creates momentum. She breaks down the assumption that clarity comes from having everything mapped out, and shares how real progress is made by choosing one clear priority and taking action.

Drawing from her own business journey and a recent conversation in her local entrepreneur community, Lydia introduces a simple but powerful way to think about prioritization, identifying which responsibilities truly matter right now and which ones can wait.

This conversation is part of the 21-day From Purpose to Impact series and is designed to help digital entrepreneurs stop waiting for certainty and start taking the next right step.

That’s how purpose turns into impact.

In this episode, Lydia covers:

• Why a "perfect plan" doesn’t create clarity or momentum
• The assumption that planning equals progress
• How real clarity is created through action
• A practical way to prioritize what matters most right now
• Why focus, not certainty, is what actually moves your business forward

Reflection

• What is the one priority in your business that truly needs your attention right now?
• What can wait without causing real harm?

Follow the podcast

This is Day 4 of a 21-day series. Follow or subscribe to Your Online Business Mentor so you don’t miss the conversations ahead.

Submit your question for our From Purpose to Impact podcast series and be entered into a special listener giveaway.

Share what's holding you back from launching your business, offer, or next idea. Selected questions will be answered on the podcast, and all submissions are entered for a chance to receive access to programs designed to support your journey.

Submit your question at youronlinebusinessmentor.com

Access resources and programs at https://launchwithlydia.com

Looking for a platform to run your online business? Get a 30-Day Free Trial + training & support at https://launchwithlydia.com/kajabi

Connect with me:

https://instagram.com/lydiamartinbiz

https://youtube.com/@lydiamartinbiz

https://launchwithlydia.substack.com

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed in your business, this episode offers a powerful reframe.

In this episode, Lydia shares why overwhelm is one of the most common challenges entrepreneurs face and why it usually has nothing to do with time management. Drawing from her own six-year journey, she explains how trying to do too many things, be in too many places, and pursue too many goals at once leads to feeling scattered and stuck.

Lydia introduces a simple framework using the metaphor of fire, explaining the three elements every business needs to create momentum: fuel, oxygen, and heat. She breaks down how your offer, lead generation, and marketing strategy work together, and why focusing on one priority at a time is often the fastest way forward.

This conversation is part of the 21-day From Purpose to Impact series and is designed to help digital entrepreneurs move out of overwhelm and into intentional, focused action.

That’s how purpose turns into impact.

In this episode, Lydia covers:

• Why overwhelm is usually a focus problem, not a time problem
• How trying to do everything at once keeps entrepreneurs stuck
• The three elements every business needs to create momentum
• Why you can’t focus on your offer, leads, and marketing all at the same time
• How choosing one priority creates clarity and forward movement

Reflection

• What is the one area of your business that needs your focus right now?
• What would need to pause in order for that one thing to move forward?

Follow the podcast

This is Day 3 of a 21-day series. Follow or subscribe to Your Online Business Mentor so you don’t miss the conversations ahead.

Submit your question for our From Purpose to Impact podcast series and be entered into a special listener giveaway.

Share what's holding you back from launching your business, offer, or next idea. Selected questions will be answered on the podcast, and all submissions are entered for a chance to receive access to programs designed to support your journey.

Submit your question at youronlinebusinessmentor.com

Access resources and programs at https://launchwithlydia.com

Looking for a platform to run your online business? Get a 30-Day Free Trial + training & support at https://launchwithlydia.com/kajabi

Connect with me:

https://instagram.com/lydiamartinbiz

https://youtube.com/@lydiamartinbiz

https://launchwithlydia.substack.com

If you’ve been procrastinating on your business and telling yourself it’s a motivation or discipline issue, this episode offers a different perspective.

In this episode, Lydia explores why procrastination is rarely about laziness or lack of follow-through, and is more often rooted in fear. Specifically, fear of failure and FOWOT, Fear Of What Others Think.

Drawing from her own experience and listener-submitted questions, Lydia breaks down how these fears show up in everyday business decisions, how they quietly delay launches and visibility, and what it actually takes to move forward anyway.

This conversation is part of the 21-day From Purpose to Impact series and is designed to help digital entrepreneurs stop hesitating and start taking honest action, even when fear is present.

That’s how purpose turns into impact.

In this episode, Lydia covers:

• Why procrastination is usually a symptom, not the real problem
• The difference between fear of failure and fear of visibility
• What FOWOT, Fear Of What Others Think, really looks like in business
• Why procrastination feels protective but creates long-term stuckness
• How imperfect action builds confidence and momentum

Reflection

• What are you more afraid of right now, failing quietly or being seen trying?
• What would change if you just took one small step forward anyway?

Follow the podcast

This is Day 2 of a 21-day series. Follow or subscribe to Your Online Business Mentor so you don’t miss the conversations ahead.

Submit your question for our From Purpose to Impact podcast series and be entered into a special listener giveaway.

Share what's holding you back from launching your business, offer, or next idea. Selected questions will be answered on the podcast, and all submissions are entered for a chance to receive access to programs designed to support your journey.

Submit your question at youronlinebusinessmentor.com

Access resources and programs at https://launchwithlydia.com

Looking for a platform to run your online business? Get a 30-Day Free Trial + training & support at https://launchwithlydia.com/kajabi

Connect with me:

https://instagram.com/lydiamartinbiz

https://youtube.com/@lydiamartinbiz

https://launchwithlydia.substack.com