Success Path: The Missing Roadmap in Most Memberships and Courses

Most course creators and coaches build the content first.

They record modules, upload lessons, add a community, and call it a membership.

Then they wonder why:

• sales pages feel hard to write
• people don't finish the course
• members churn after the first month
• support gets flooded with “Where do I start?”

The real issue is simple.

There is no Success Path.

A Success Path is the clear journey from where your client is now to where they want to go, with the steps in between. It is the backbone of your messaging, your product structure, and your member retention.

If you don't build the path, your members create their own. That usually looks like confusion, overwhelm, and drop-off.

What is a Success Path?

A Success Path is a visible, step-by-step route that answers three questions:

1. Where am I right now?
2. Where am I trying to get to?
3. What are the steps to get there?

It is not “more content”.

It is a roadmap that makes progress feel obvious.

A good Success Path works in two places at the same time:

• Marketing: your sales page and conversations become clear and specific
• Delivery: your course or membership becomes easy to follow and complete

Why most memberships struggle without it

When there is no Success Path, you get predictable problems:

• Random content library: people browse, feel behind, and quit
• Weak messaging: you can't explain what changes, so people don't buy
• No quick wins: members don't feel progress early
• Higher churn: without milestones, there is no reason to stay
• More rebuilds: you keep adding things instead of fixing the journey

This is why “just create more content” is rarely the answer.

The answer is structure.

The 5-step Success Path framework (use this for any niche)

You can use four steps, but five gives you a cleaner product structure and better retention.

Step 1: Current Pain (their language)

Name the situation in the words they would use.

Step 2: Desired Outcome (their language)

Paint the “after” state in real terms.

Step 3: Strategy (the plan)

This is the bridge. The diagnosis. The decisions.

Step 4: Implementation (the work)

This is the build and behaviour change.

Step 5: Momentum (the system that keeps it working)

This is where retention lives.

If your membership doesn't include Step 5, churn will always be higher than it needs to be.

A tight niche example you can model inside your product

Here’s a real Success Path example for a life coaching niche. It shows what “clear steps” looks like.

The Portfolio Reset System for Men 40+ (career shock)

This is designed for men over 40 dealing with redundancy, a business exit, or a failed business. They want income again, but they also want options, not another trap.

Step 1: Stabilise
Regain control of sleep, habits, and week structure. Stop panic actions.

Step 2: Pressure Map
Get clear on what’s driving the stress. Money, identity, family pressure, uncertainty. Create a short runway plan.

Step 3: Portfolio Plan
Build a 3-lane plan:

• Core income (role or contract)
• Consulting income (package existing skills)
• Future income (small, scalable stream)

Step 4: Reposition
Create a credible narrative, update CV and LinkedIn, build a clean consulting offer.

Step 5: Re-enter and Build Options
Weekly pipeline targets, interview confidence, a review system, and a relapse plan.

That is a membership roadmap.

It is clear, identifiable, and easy to turn into modules, emails, and community prompts.

How to turn a Success Path into a course or membership structure

If you run Kajabi, the simplest structure is:

• One product
• Five categories (one per step)
• A “Start Here” category that explains the journey and gives the first quick win
• Weekly check-ins that match the step the member is in

Build it like this

1) Start Here

• What this programme is
• Who it is for
• How the steps work
• The first 30-minute quick win

2) Step categories

• Category 1: Stabilise (or Step 1 in your niche)
• Category 2: Pressure Map
• Category 3: Portfolio Plan
• Category 4: Reposition
• Category 5: Momentum

3) Milestones
At the end of each category, add:

• a short summary
• a checklist
• a “what to do next” lesson

4) Momentum
Add a simple rhythm:

• weekly prompt
• one progress tracker
• monthly reset session

This is how you reduce “Where do I start?” and increase completion.

Why the Success Path improves your sales page and your conversions

A Success Path gives you ready-made messaging:

• “You are here” becomes your pain section.
• “You want this” becomes your promise.
• “Here’s the plan” becomes your method.
• “Here’s what happens each week” becomes your programme outline.
• “Here’s how we keep you moving” becomes your retention story.

In other words, you stop selling content and start selling progress.

The biggest mistakes I see (and how to fix them)

Mistake 1: Starting with modules, not outcomes

Fix: write the “before and after” first. Then build steps.

Mistake 2: Too many paths

Fix: one clear primary path. Add optional tracks later.

Mistake 3: No quick win in week one

Fix: design a fast, visible result early.

Mistake 4: No momentum layer

Fix: add checkpoints, milestones, and a monthly reset.

Mistake 5: Not using client language

Fix: lift phrases from calls, emails, and DMs. Use those exact words.

A simple worksheet to create your Success Path today

Answer these in order.

Step 1: Current Pain

• What is happening right now?
• What is it costing them?
• What have they tried?

Step 2: Desired Outcome

• What do they want instead?
• What changes in daily life when it works?
• How will they measure progress?

Step 3: Strategy

• What do you diagnose?
• What do you prioritise first?
• What decisions do you make with them?

Step 4: Implementation

• What do you build or change first?
• What gets removed or simplified?
• What becomes the new routine?

Step 5: Momentum

• What keeps them moving?
• What do they do weekly?
• What happens when motivation dips?

If you can answer these clearly, you can build the product.

Where this fits in Kajabi (and what I do for clients)

This is the work I do with clients before we build anything.

We map the Success Path first, then we build the Kajabi system around it:

• clear offers and positioning
• a clean funnel and onboarding flow
• a product structure that feels guided, not messy
• retention and momentum built into the experience

That is how you get more sales and less stress.

Need help with your Success Path?

If your Kajabi site feels like a collection of pages and products that don't connect, you don't need more content.

You need a path.

I can help you map your Success Path, tighten your messaging, and build a Kajabi setup that moves clients from problem to outcome, step by step.

Andy Brown, Verified Kajabi Expert, coach, and builder of smart systems for coaches and training companies.
If you’re growing an online coaching business, I can help you scale without the stress.

Book a call to find out more.

FAQ

What is a Success Path in a membership?

A Success Path is the structured journey members follow from their current problem to a clear outcome. It turns a content library into a guided experience.

How many steps should a Success Path have?

Four steps can work. Five steps is better for memberships because it includes momentum and retention, not just delivery.

Why do members churn in online memberships?

Common reasons are lack of direction, no quick wins, and no progress milestones. A Success Path reduces all three.

How do I build a Success Path in Kajabi?

Use one product with a “Start Here” section, then organise content by steps. Add checklists and a “what’s next” lesson at the end of each step.

Can a Success Path improve sales conversions?

Yes. It makes your offer easier to explain, easier to trust, and easier to picture. Clarity sells.