How veterans can monetize their brains with Udemy
By: Barry Gipson
Tags: Brain, Online Learning, Veterans, Virtual, Udemy

Have you ever seen a digital product or service advertisement and wonder why you didn’t think of that first?

Age ain't nothing but a number

A few days ago I shared with you the 7 revenue streams that veterans can start creating today online. Prior to arriving at that place though allow me first to take you back to the beginning.

Shortly after I retired from the Navy I discovered a Gary Vaynerchuk YouTube video going viral about building your own brand no matter the age. After enrolling in his class on Udemy and binging it in a day I was hooked.

Initially in 2016, I set my sights on the fantasy football industry. I previously became a member of their trade association and went to their symposium in Dallas during January 2015. Mark Cuban was the headline speaker.

Before I knew that product outweighs talent, I said if Gary Vee can make a course for $50 on Udemy sharing his experience for beginners like me to build my own brand, I can too.

Over the course of 4 years platforms like Udemy, YouTube, and LinkedIn provide digital learning opportunities for veterans. Not only to learn on, but also where they can build their digital brands too.

Whats that thing your good at?

As an instructor on Udemy they provide you a profile page to share your story. What better way to learn how to make your own course on Udemy than to watch a free course there.

But first I had to figure out what I was good at enough to make my own course on. Essentially how to monetize my own brain. What was my unique value proposition to offer the world?

At the time I was currently on my second blog that would eventually fail. I began on WIX and then finally discovered WordPress. Both were fantasy football driven blogs.

Why do I share with you I created 2 courses on Udemy that had failed blogs?Simply to share the platform with my veteran readers who may not know otherwise. After all it was essentially were I began my journey as media entrepreneur. I recently updated my profile for my next course coming soon.

So ask yourself what are you really good at? Think digital first this way you can leverage what you know on the internet. The creating and building a digital business opportunity is knocking this pandemic. Once you figure this out then you extract that idea from your brain on paper to begin executing.

Although both of my Udemy fantasy football courses are FREE of monetary charge for you take it will cost you the time to invest in them both to get a return on that investment.

FREE 99

When I created the first of two courses on Udemy in September of 2015 I knew it would be FREE. The second one offered more in detail strategies and concepts. Providing a step up from the beginner course. Initially I offered this for $10.

I literally began to construct this after watching Gary Vee’s branding course, and then watching how to build my own course on Udemy next. Many veterans are very tech savvy and this can come in handy. Don’t tell yourself you cant without trying first. Age ain't nothing but a number

Merchandise can help you build your digital brand online. Even though both courses are still free it allowed me to create this t-shirt product where 1 of my 7 revenue streams reside on TeePublic.

Why give something away FREE? Building and audience on this new platform you want to attract new students. With a total of 3,968 students five years later I find myself heading back to Udemy to create my third course.

Eventually I made both courses FREE. I did make one sale for $10 before I did on the advanced course however. I did’nt anticipate returning to eventually create a third course. A decision I have been mulling for about a month.

I have followed Gary Vaynerchcuk on Instagram for the last 4 years and have watched him grind his way into creating a digital empire worth millions. Why does he offer a course on Udemy for $50 then? This is an example of how to monetize your brains as veterans.

Know Your Worth

Four years ago I had no idea I would be sharing this with you here on Medium. The war for veteran talent is real among corporate companies. If you have at least 12 months or less before departing the ranks here are a few marching orders.

Veterans are unicorns. We are built different. We are mentally stronger than most. The most valuable part of your life however is your life. You are actually worth more alive than you are dead.

Veterans are taking their own lives with firearms 69% of the time. If you have had thoughts of suicide it’s important to know you need your brain to monetize it. Seek help first. This is what allowed us to be here together today.

Veterans are struggling during pandemic currently with fatigue and no sense of purpose. If you have a mobile device and a WIFI connection you’re in the game. Be sure to follow me Barry Gipson on Medium here for more in 2021.

Finally, be sure to join my “Weekly Smoke” newsletter. Evey Monday veterans will receive a freshly packed email with cannabis content in their inboxes. Keeping you in the loop with industry opportunities to monetize eventually.