When my husband opened his snack bar on a small German holiday island in the North Sea, he had to invest six-figures — without knowing if the business would work.

He only had a new concept that didn’t exist on the island and a vague idea of what might be possible.

Later, when we started selling sweet cherries in the summer season (only 2–3 months long!), we had to invest another five-figure — again, without guarantees.

In short: every brick-and-mortar business we started required serious investment long before we made a single euro.

We just believed in ourselves and trusted we’d figure it out.

Now let me ask you something:

What’s holding you back from starting or growing your business?

Is it fear of failure?

Or is it — honestly — the price of a course or tool you know could help?

If so, I want to remind you of something:

Every business needs investment to grow.

Investments are like fertilizer — they help your business thrive.

And no, I don’t mean spending money blindly.

But I do mean being honest with yourself about what you really need to move forward.

Because here’s the truth: We can’t figure out everything on our own. And we don’t have unlimited time, energy, or capacity.

That’s why investing — in coaching, in a tool, or in a course — can be the smartest move you make.

But only if it fits where you are right now.

When I started my online business, I bought several courses.

Some were great — but some were way ahead of where I was.

Too complicated, too advanced, too soon.

I learned the hard way:

Don’t buy what looks impressive. Buy what you actually need — now.

If you're honest with yourself (even if you'd like to be further ahead), ask:

What’s the next ONE step I want to take?

What resource, course, or tool will help me get there — without overwhelm?

That’s how you set yourself up for success, not by doing more, but by doing the right thing at the right time.

It’s like building a pyramid. If your foundation isn’t strong, it doesn’t matter how fancy the top is — it will collapse.

My own choice: big course vs. focused help

Recently, two creators I follow launched Substack courses:

The Substack System by Write • Build • Scale — a huge, 70+ lesson program with tons of bonuses

How to Win on Substack 2025 by my friend Veronica — a focused 15-lesson course designed to help you grow your Substack in 2025

Which one did I choose?

I chose How to Win on Substack 2025.

Here’s why:

I just restarted my Substack. It’s my side hustle, and I want to grow it step by step.

I don’t need advanced monetization strategies or templates right now.

I need clarity, focus, and encouragement — not overwhelm.

So I chose the simpler course. One that matches exactly where I am.

And it’s helping me do just that.

If you’re wondering whether to invest in a course like this — especially with limited time or money — let my experience help you decide.

Here’s what you’ll get from my review:

• What How to Win on Substack 2025 is really like inside
• Who this course is (and isn’t) a great fit for
• My honest pros & cons after going through it
• What stood out to me — and what didn’t
• Why I chose this course over other big-name options

👉 Read my full review here.​

🔗 Click here to check out How to Win on Substack 2025 (Yes, that’s an affiliate link — but only because I actually found it helpful and think you might too.)

Cheers,

Katja

PS Whatever you choose, remember: You don’t have to do it all. Just the next right thing.

PPS Got questions about the course? Hit reply and ask — happy to share more behind-the-scenes. And if you’ve already taken it — what was your biggest takeaway?

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