How to engage the 90% of students who don’t finish your online course

Starting a new hobby or learning a new skill is a lot like falling in love.

First, something intriguing catches your eye. You get butterflies in your stomach. You’re curious.

Next, you dig a little deeper, becoming more and more enthralled at every level.

Before you know it, you’re totally smitten, and decide to dive in head first.

But suddenly, your interest (along with your level of commitment) begins fading away.

What happened?

Shiny object syndrome (or “SOS,” as it’s so aptly abbreviated).

When it comes to your course (or relationships, for that matter), novelty (aka SOS) often blinds people to the work associated with making it to the finish line.

Sure, it gets people to commit faster than a contestant on The Bachelor, but when it comes time to put in the work, they head for the hills.