Interview with Danny Iny
Founder, Mirasee
Interview Summary
Danny Iny, author of "Teach and Grow Rich" and creator of Course Builder's Laboratory, discusses the massive shift from "information products" to true "online education." He reveals why this shift creates enormous opportunity for authentic experts.
Good Teaching Is Pattern Recognition
Danny offers a simple definition of what makes a good teacher: being a good teacher is about seeing patterns in complexity and making these accessible to other people.
This reframes expertise. You don't need to know everything—you need to see the patterns that others miss and translate them into actionable understanding.
Being a good teacher is about seeing patterns in complexity, and making these accessible to other people.
Authenticity Is Human Sensitivity
Danny's definition of authenticity goes beyond "being yourself": authenticity is about being true to the real human dynamic. That means being honest, vulnerable, and sensitive. People don't fit into cookie-cutter molds.
This has practical implications: your courses need to accommodate real human messiness, not assume perfect students following perfect paths.
Authenticity is about being true to the real human dynamic. That means being honest, vulnerable, and sensitive. People don't fit into cookie-cutter molds.
Information vs. Education
Danny introduces a crucial distinction: in the publishing model, you sell information with no responsibility beyond the sale. In education, it's a partnership. You can't just buy a diploma—only the opportunity to earn one.
This distinction explains why information is cheap but education is expensive. It's more expensive to deliver, and the outcomes are more valuable.
In the publishing model, you sell information with no responsibility beyond the sale. In education, it's a partnership. You can't just buy a diploma—only the opportunity to earn one.
The Market Will Split
Danny predicts the future of online courses: the market will split between low-cost information (a few dollars for ebooks) and high-value education. It will become easier to charge higher prices for real premium education.
This is good news for authentic experts. You're not competing with cheap information—you're offering something fundamentally different.
The market will split: low-cost information on one side, high-value education on the other. It will become easier to charge higher prices for real premium education.
The Piloting Principle
Danny introduces a key concept: piloting. The first time you build a course, you won't get it all right. Give yourself flexibility to deliver rough and unpolished, so you can see common questions and challenges.
His advice: "Do things that don't scale." Let it be rough around the edges. Charge a little less in exchange for feedback. Learn from seeing how people respond.
The first time you build a course, you won't get it all right. Give yourself flexibility to deliver rough and unpolished. 'Do things that don't scale.'
The Long Tail Opportunity
Danny sees enormous opportunity in specialization: there's a "long tail" of thousands of course topics that can only be addressed by independent entrepreneurs providing personalized support.
Big platforms can't serve every niche. But you can. Your specific expertise serves people that no one else can reach.
Danny's Action Steps
Danny recommends these 3 steps to improve your course planning:
Pilot before perfecting
Launch your course rough and unpolished, at a lower price, in exchange for feedback. Learn from real students before investing in production quality.
Identify your long-tail niche
What specific problem can you solve that big platforms can't address? Define the narrow audience that only you can serve well.
Shift from information to partnership
Review your course. Are you just delivering information, or creating a partnership for transformation? Add elements that create accountability and support.
About Danny Iny
Founder, Mirasee
Danny Iny is the author of 'Teach and Grow Rich' and creator of Course Builder's Laboratory. He started with coaching and consulting before building one of the leading course creation training programs. Danny is dedicated to helping authentic experts build sustainable education businesses.