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20d (edited) • Tips
Why Your Skool Community is Stuck (and How a "Personal Monopoly" Fixes It)
Most community owners are fighting a losing battle. They try to monetize by being "better" than their competitors - working more hours, filming more videos, and offering more "bonuses."
But as Andrew Kirby explains in his latest video, "Skool Is Hard, Until You Do This," trying to be better is a trap. In a saturated market, there’s always someone with a bigger brand or a longer track record.
If you’re being judged on the same metrics as everyone else, you’re forced to compete on price, which keeps your revenue stuck in the $0–$500 range.
The Problem: The Comparison Trap
The mistake most Skool owners make is entering "head-to-head" competition in broad niches like fitness, relationships, or wealth [00:42]. When you launch a "generic" community, your prospects naturally compare you to the industry leaders.
They look at your group and think, "Why should I pay $50 for this when the expert with 1M followers charges $30?" Because you haven't differentiated your offer, you’re being viewed as a commodity. This lack of unique positioning creates massive sales resistance.
You have to work twice as hard to convince someone to join because you are just another option in a crowded market, rather than the only solution to their specific problem.
The Better Way: Building Your Personal Monopoly
The shortcut to consistent $1K–$5K/month revenue isn't working harder; it's being different [00:15].
Kirby introduces the concept of a Personal Monopoly: owning a specific category or sub-niche so completely that you are no longer compared to anyone else [01:21].
When you are unique, the buying decision shifts from "Should I buy from Person A or Person B?" to "Do I want the specific result that only this person provides?"
- The "Synthesizer" Example: Andrew Kirby created a personal monopoly by claiming the term "Synthesizer." He doesn't just teach "content creation"; he teaches a specific method that he owns [01:41]. If you want to learn that specific framework, you have to go to him.
- Fitness Community Example: A generic "Weight Loss for Moms" group struggles to charge $27/month. However, a community focused on "Post-Partum Strength Training for Crossfit Athletes" can easily charge $150/month. The latter has a personal monopoly over a specific, high-stakes problem.
- Business Community Example: Instead of "General Sales Coaching," imagine a community titled "High-Ticket Sales for Introverted SaaS Founders." By narrowing the focus, you eliminate 99% of your competition and can charge premium rates with 50 members that a generalist couldn't get with 500.
The Implementation: 5 Steps to Revenue Clarity
To move away from "vanity growth" and toward actual monetization, follow this framework derived from
Andrew's teaching:
- Find Your "Play": Identify the skills that feel like play to you but look like work to others [04:32]. If you enjoy deep-diving into data, make that the "engine" of your community.
- Niche Down Until You Own It: Continue to explore sub-niches until you find a "section of the internet" where you can be the go-to person [01:27]. Don't be afraid to be "weird"—on the internet, weird works [00:18].
- Claim Your Category Name: Don't just describe what you do; name your method. Using unique terminology makes it harder for others to copy you and reinforces your authority as the "original" [02:04].
- Focus on the "Small 50": You don't need 10,000 members. With a personal monopoly, 25–50 members paying a premium (because you are the only option) is all it takes to hit your first $5K month.
- Trust the "Chaotic Flutter": Finding your monopoly isn't linear [05:15]. Start by helping people with your current skills, and pay attention to where you get the most "obsessed." Your monopoly will emerge from your authentic interests [05:25].
The Result
When you stop competing and start "owning," everything changes. Your marketing becomes easier because your messaging is specific, and your sales become "automatic" because you aren't being compared to the giants. You move from a "struggling creator" to a "category king," making the jump to $1K–$5K/month a matter of math, not luck.
What is one specific problem you solve that feels like "play" to you but "work" to your members? Drop it in the comments and let's see if we can turn it into your personal monopoly.
Based on the concepts from Andrew Kirby's video: Skool Is Hard, Until You Do This
Connect with Des: LinkedIn • Facebook • Instagram • Instagram 2 • Substack • Pinterest • Des Dreckett YouTube • Skool Monetization YouTube • The Authority Engine Community • The Authority Engine YouTube
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Why Your Skool Community is Stuck (and How a "Personal Monopoly" Fixes It)
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