The Course Recursionist
"I made $100K selling courses about selling courses"
This archetype's only proven skill is selling courses to people who want to sell courses. The product is infinitely recursive: their expertise is making money from people who want to make money, creating a pyramid of information products.
Also exhibits
My course students are now making $10K/month selling THEIR courses! (about selling courses)
— Typical The Course Recursionist claim
// Higher score = more creative fabrication
Red Flags
Documented warning signs to watch for with this archetype.
Meta-Product Only
CriticalHas never sold anything except courses about selling.
Student Success = Same Thing
HighSuccess stories are students who started their own course... about courses.
Urgency Engineering
MediumCountdown timers that reset, "only 3 spots left" (always).
Testimonial Recycling
MediumSame testimonials appear across multiple product launches.
Timeline Analysis
Track the evolution of claims over time. Watch for contradictions and suspicious patterns.
Launches first course: "How to Create Your First Course"
Claims "$50K in course sales!" - launches course about launching courses
"Students making $10K/month!" - all students selling courses
No student success outside of course-selling niche
Launches $2,997 "Course Empire Mastermind"
Pattern Detection
Observable patterns with educational protection tips.
The Infinite Loop
What to watch for
Course content is "how to sell this type of course"
Why it's suspicious
Real expertise comes from doing the thing, not teaching teaching
Protection tip
Ask what they sold successfully BEFORE courses
The Manufactured Testimonial
What to watch for
Testimonials from people selling to the same audience
Why it's suspicious
Circle of course sellers validating each other
Protection tip
Research testimonial givers - are they selling the same thing?
The Aggregated Revenue
What to watch for
"$500K in course sales" without profit or refund rates
Why it's suspicious
Revenue ≠ profit, especially with high ad spend and refunds
Protection tip
Ask about profit margins and refund rates
How to Protect Yourself
Practical steps to verify claims and avoid being deceived by this archetype.
Ask what successful business they built BEFORE courses
Check if successful students do anything besides sell courses
Calculate real value: $997 course ÷ hours of content = $/hour
Look for success stories in diverse industries, not just course-selling
See More Patterns
Explore our database of fake entrepreneur archetypes and learn to recognize the patterns.
Disclaimer: This archetype is a fictional composite based on observable patterns in the entrepreneurial space. No real individual is depicted. This is educational satire for entertainment purposes only.
// "Understanding the pattern is the first step to protection."