Stop Copying Eight-Figure Business Moves (They’re Not Playing Your Game)
Jan 26, 2026
If you spend any amount of time online, you’ve probably seen the headlines and hot takes lately.
Jenna Kutcher announced she’s shutting down her podcast.
Amy Porterfield is closing one of her flagship courses.
And immediately, the internet did what the internet does best.
“Are podcasts dead?”
“Are courses over?”
“Is this the end of online education?”
So I wanted to hop on the mic and talk about what’s actually happening here — and why using the public-facing decisions of eight- and nine-figure founders as a blueprint for your own business is one of the fastest ways to stall your growth.
Because these women are not playing the same game as you. And that matters more than you think.
Why Big Business Decisions Look So Convincing
It makes sense that we look up to people who have built massive businesses. Whether you love Amy Porterfield, Jenna Kutcher, or someone else entirely, they are undeniably smart, strategic business owners.
But here’s the part that often gets missed:
Public decisions are not the same thing as strategic reality.
When someone at that level says they’re simplifying, pivoting, or shutting something down, we’re not seeing:
- The teams behind the scenes
- The years of trust already banked
- The multiple revenue streams already in motion
- The scale and efficiency they’re optimizing for
What looks like “simplification” at eight figures can look like contraction at earlier stages — and copying it prematurely can cost you momentum you haven’t fully built yet.
The Game Changes at Different Revenue Levels
People building eight- and nine-figure businesses are solving very different problems than someone building toward their first $100K, $250K, or even $500K year.
At that scale, the focus is often on:
- Reducing complexity
- Leveraging teams
- Optimizing efficiency
- Protecting time and energy
But if you’re under $500K, you likely need:
- Visibility
- Consistency
- Relationship-led trust
- Momentum
- Refinement
Those are not the same goals — and they shouldn’t require the same moves.
Courses and Podcasts Aren’t Dead — Context Matters
Let’s talk specifics for a second.
Amy Porterfield’s decision to close a course doesn’t mean courses are dead. It likely means she has fully saturated that particular audience and is pivoting to serve a different one. That’s a strategic move after extracting massive value — not a sign that the model no longer works.
Jenna Kutcher stepping away from her podcast doesn’t mean podcasting is dead either. It means she has reached a level of brand trust and revenue where that platform is no longer essential for growth.
That’s not most people’s reality.
If anything, a well-run podcast or course is still one of the strongest tools for building trust, authority, and long-term relationships — especially when you’re growing without massive volume.
Relationship Capital Is Still the Growth Engine
Small businesses don’t win by volume.
They win by relationships.
If you’re building a business under $500K, your growth engine is still:
- People knowing you
- Conversations, not just campaigns
- Trust built over time
- Being consistently visible and accessible
That’s why tools like podcasts, emails, and courses still matter — not because they’re trendy, but because they create proximity.
You’re not running precision funnels with millions of eyeballs. You’re building trust, one relationship at a time. And that is not something to rush past.
Volume-Based Strategies Require Volume
One of the most important nuances that gets skipped online is this:
Anything that relies on volume requires a large audience.
I recently listened to an episode featuring Maria Wendt on Laurie Harder’s podcast, where she shared incredible success with low-ticket offers.
But here’s the key context: she has hundreds of thousands of followers.
Selling a $27 product at scale isn’t just about building the thing. It’s about building the audience first. And that step often gets glossed over when people compare themselves to massive brands.
You’re Not Behind — You’re Just in a Different Season
Big businesses aren’t wrong.
They’re just solving different problems than you are.
You don’t need to abandon your podcast.
You don’t need to shut down your course.
You don’t need to panic every time someone online declares something “dead.”
You need to focus on what builds relationships, trust, and momentum in your current season.
I genuinely believe there is still room for courses. There is still room for podcasts. There is still room for new voices — especially as others step away.
And most importantly, there is still room for you to build this your way.
If you’re making less than $500K a year, stop copying eight- and nine-figure moves. They’re not playing your game — and that’s okay.
