The Pivot: Why I’m Closing the Doors to Digital Course Academy - The Amy Porterfield Show

Podcast Summary: The Amy Porterfield Show
Episode Title: The Pivot: Why I’m Closing the Doors to Digital Course Academy
Release Date: January 6, 2026
Host: Amy Porterfield

Episode Overview

In this deeply personal and strategic solo episode, Amy Porterfield, celebrated online business expert and New York Times bestselling author, announces a pivotal change in her business: she is closing new enrollment for her signature Digital Course Academy (DCA) after nearly a decade and over 28,000 students served. Amy unpacks the reasons behind this bold move, clarifying what makes for a “real” pivot, distinguishing between impulsive decisions and an “earned elevation,” and shares her honest reflections and advice for entrepreneurs faced with their own crossroads. She also introduces her upcoming elite coaching program for established female entrepreneurs.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Announcement & Immediate Clarity

Amy opens by sharing the headline: Digital Course Academy (DCA) will not be launched again for new students, though current members retain lifetime access.
She assures listeners, “Digital Course Academy isn’t going anywhere… But I am not launching this program again. And I’m stepping into something completely new.” (01:08)
The catalyst: On the night of her final DCA launch, amidst celebration and exhaustion, Amy describes a “calm certainty” that she’d crossed into a new chapter.
- Memorable quote: “My throat tightened. And not with regret… but with this deep awareness that I had just crossed an invisible line. A chapter had closed. A new one had begun in that moment.” (03:09)

2. Understanding the “Pivot” in Business

She defines two types of pivots (07:22):
- Impulse Pivot: Reactionary shifts driven by boredom, FOMO, or chasing novelty. They rarely work out.
  - “The impulse pivot… You’re reacting. You’re not necessarily leading. I have made these pivots. We all have…” (07:53)
- Earned Elevation: A pivot rooted in results, experience, and a solid foundation, inviting you to something bigger and more aligned.
  - “This is the pivot you make because you’ve put in the reps, you’ve gotten real results. You’ve built something solid, and now something new is calling you forward…” (08:44)
Amy cautions listeners to pause and ask themselves hard, honest questions before making any pivot, emphasizing that pivoting is rare and best done from a place of true readiness and track record.

3. Questions to Ask Before a Major Pivot

Amy offers several reflective questions (09:24–13:51):

Are you willing to make less money for a season while the new thing finds its footing?
Are you willing to sit in the uncertainty and “messiness” of big change?
Are you willing to look inexperienced or even fail publicly?
Are you willing to let go of “good” in the pursuit of “great”?
- Notable quote: “Good pays the bills. Good is what I’m known for… Am I willing to let go of good in pursuit of something phenomenal?” (12:38)
Are you willing to focus on one thing long enough to see it through, resisting the urge to bail when it gets tough?
She encourages listeners to answer honestly; saying “no” is sometimes the smartest, most strategic thing you can do.

4. The Concept of “Earned Elevation”

Amy clarifies: Earned elevation is not about worthiness (“You are worthy because you exist. Period.” [17:28]), but about having put in the reps, built something real, and walked the long road.
She outlines her own journey as an “earned elevation”—years in the same lane, building, refining, learning, serving, and evolving.
- “So for me, earning my elevation, it looks like building a company that has generated $120 million in revenue… staying in my lane and becoming known for something… learning like crazy, teaching like crazy…” (19:18)
She stresses that everyone’s “reps” and journey look different, but the core is having lived the experience you’re now teaching or building on.

5. Why Now, and Why This New Direction?

DCA remains a pillar of Amy’s brand, success, and impact, but “over a year now, something else has been growing in me. A desire… to work more closely with women who have already started their businesses” (24:23).
Her passion is now to help established female entrepreneurs move from overwhelmed and scattered to purposeful scaling—aiming for clarity, systems, and unapologetic profitability.
She introduces a new online marketing-focused coaching program, launching January 27, 2026, for women making at least $150K annually:
- “It’s designed to give you the systems, marketing clarity, messaging precision, and strategy depth that you need to scale with confidence. It’s the work I’ve been moving toward for years and it feels aligned in a way I cannot ignore.” (27:24)
Waitlist at: amyporterfield.com/waitlist

6. Empowering Listeners at Their Own Crossroads

Amy urges listeners pondering a pivot to discern whether it’s “impulse or elevation,” to resist fear-based or reactive moves, and to honor their track record by making intentional choices.
- “You’re not someone who quits easily. You’ve already built something… if this pull you’re feeling is real, if it’s an earned elevation… you owe it to yourself to explore it.” (30:25)
She paints a vision: Imagine you’re one year post-pivot—what does your life and business look and feel like?
- “That version of you, she’s already inside you. Whether you’re ready to make a pivot now or later, she’s there. She’s like, let me at it. It’s just timing now.” (32:01)
Core message: Your evolution is allowed—and sometimes, the bravest thing is to double down where you are, not pivot.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“My throat tightened. And not with regret… but with this deep awareness that I had just crossed an invisible line. A chapter had closed. A new one had begun.” (03:09)
“Pivot number one, the impulse pivot… You’re reacting. You’re not necessarily leading.” (07:49)
“Pivot number two is the earned elevation. Now, this is different… something new is calling you forward. Something aligned with what you have been doing, just something bigger.” (08:44)
“The only time I grow is when I get really uncomfortable.” (11:24)
“Are you willing to let go of good in pursuit of great? That one is hard because good pays the bills. Good is what I’m known for… Am I willing to let go of good in pursuit of something phenomenal?” (12:38)
“You are worthy because you exist. Period.” (17:28)
“Resisting a pivot when you know it’s not the right time is a highly strategic smart move.” (16:57)
“So for me, earning my elevation, it looks like building a company that has generated $120 million in revenue… staying in my lane and becoming known for something… learning like crazy, teaching like crazy…” (19:18)
“I feel different. Expanded, more creative, more grounded, more alive. Ideas come to me now that are new and different from the lane that I’ve committed to for so long. And I feel like I’ve earned this elevation into something bigger.” (26:50)
“Growth isn’t always about speed. Sometimes it’s about alignment or timing or courage. You’re capable of so much more than you even realize. And when the moment comes for your elevation, and, my friend, it will come. I’ll be right here cheering you on as you walk into it. Deal?” (34:09)

Timestamps for Key Segments

[01:08] – Announcement: Closing new enrollment for DCA
[03:09] – The moment of clarity on her final DCA launch night
[07:22] – Explaining pivots: impulse vs. earned elevation
[09:24–13:51] – Essential questions to ask before pivoting
[17:28] – Clarifying “earned elevation” vs. worthiness
[19:18] – Amy’s journey and what “earned elevation” looked like for her
[24:23] – Why she’s shifting focus to established female entrepreneurs
[27:24] – New online marketing-focused coaching program details
[30:25] – Advice to listeners considering a pivot
[32:01] – Picturing your future self—post-pivot
[34:09] – Closing encouragement and vision

Tone & Style

Amy’s tone throughout is candid, uplifting, and forthright. She leans on vulnerability without sacrificing clarity, and her encouragement is both practical and motivational. Her reflections are rooted in real business experience, making her message resonant for ambitious entrepreneurs at every level.

Final Takeaway

This episode stands as a masterclass in business evolution. Amy invites listeners to reflect deeply on their motivations, timing, and readiness for big change. She models how to honor what you’ve built while boldly stepping into what’s next—always from a place of earned experience and intentionality, never impulsivity.

Transcript

A (0:00)

My guest today is a dear friend of mine.

B (0:02)

One of them goes, that one over there, she's big money. And it was my guest today.

A (0:05)

Her name is Amy Porterfield. Amy Porterfield, the ever amazing best selling author of Two Weeks Notice, Ms. Amy Porterville. I'm about to tell you something that's going to sound absolutely crazy. After almost a decade of teaching digital courses, after building a program that served over 20, 28,000 students on their journey of creating freedom and flexibility in their lives, after launching Digital Course Academy year after year after year, I'm doing something I never thought I'd do. I'm closing the doors to new enrollment. Now, Digital Course Academy isn't going anywhere. So if you are a DCA student, you have lifetime access. Everything you need is inside Digital Course Academy and it's not going anywhere. But I am not launching this program again. And I'm stepping into something completely new. On January 27, I'm launching a brand new online marketing focused coaching program. It's specifically for female entrepreneurs who want to double their revenue and in a strategic, streamlined way. To join, you need to be making at least $150,000 annually and have an online business that you want to scale. Now, I'm going to tell you the whole story of how I got here in just a minute. But I wanted you to know up front, this isn't about stepping away from something. It's about stepping into something that I've been building toward for years. So stick with me, because if you've been circling a pivot, or maybe in the future, you'll find yourself figuring out if you should make a big move or not. What I'm about to share with you will help you figure out if you're ready for that pivot. Because I have a feeling that some of you may be standing exactly where I was not too long ago. So let me take you back to September 2025, to the moment that everything changed. It was the final night of my Digital Course Academy launch. The cart had just closed. We just completed a multimillion dollar launch. And if you've ever launched anything, no matter how much money you generated, you know that feeling, that mix of total adrenaline and full exhaustion where you're. You've literally given everything you have and you've just left it all on the table. And that was me. My team and I have this tradition. After every launch, we hop on Zoom and we get to see each other's faces. We take the collective breath and say, like, we just did that. And sometimes there are tears and sometimes it's pure celebration, and sometimes it's bittersweet. So I click the zoom link, that same link we always use, and faces started popping up one by one. People I love, people who have built this thing with me. Some for almost a decade. And the second my camera came on, I knew. I knew with this calm certainty that actually almost surprised me. This was the last time I would ever launch Digital Course Academy. My throat tightened. And not with regret, like, not with fear, but with this deep awareness that I had just crossed an invisible line. A chapter had closed. A new one had begun in that moment. And I was literally standing in this new chapter. I was ready to put my energy somewhere new. I was ready to move from something great towards something phenomenal. And here's the thing. You might be standing at your own crossroads right now. Maybe you don't even realize it yet, or maybe you've been whispering it to yourself and shutting it down within, like, five seconds. So let's talk about pivots. The real kind, the scary kind, the kind that actually matters. Because here's what I've learned. There are two kinds of pivots, and knowing the difference changes everything. So pivot number one, the impulse pivot. This is the one that you make because you're bored or you're craving newness. Something shiny just catches your eye. You see someone else doing something cool online, and you think, maybe I should be doing what she's doing. And you want variety. And maybe you feel left behind. You're reacting. You're not necessarily leading. I have made these pivots we all have, and they almost never work out the way we hope. So pivot number two is the earned elevation. Now, this is different. This is the pivot you make because you've put in the reps, you've gotten real results. You've built something solid, and now something new is calling you forward. Something aligned with what you have been doing, just something bigger, something that just feels so right in your bones now. Not because you're running away from what's not working, or you're running away from what you feel is boring, but because you're stepping toward what's next. This is what I am doing right now. And before you make any pivot in your business, I want you to ask yourself these questions. So first, are you willing to make less money for a season or while the new thing finds its footing? Because it might take some time, it might take longer than you think. And if you need immediate cash flow, this isn't the time. So I'M willing to make less money, perhaps, I don't know, in order to get this thing off the ground. So here's another question. Are you willing to sit in the messiness and the uncertainty that every pivot brings? This one's going to be hard for me because I know that a pivot like this, and maybe a pivot you're thinking about, it's not going to be clean. They never are. You're going to have moments where you think, what did I just do? I've already had those thoughts as I'm creating this new program. So are you willing to sit, fit in the messiness and just be uncomfortable? What I've learned along the way in my 16 years of building this business is the only time I grow is when I get really uncomfortable. So I'm ready for it, but I'm not looking forward to that part. And then another question. Are you willing to look inexperienced again? Because even though you're bringing all your expertise with you, there's going to be a learning curve and people might not immediately get it. So are you willing to publicly fail if it doesn't go as planned? So are you willing to look inexperienced and kind of stumble along the way? And if it doesn't work, are you willing to fail publicly? Now, no one wants to, right? That one's hard, but it's real. Not every pivot works. And if you're not willing to risk that, you're not ready. So the other question, the final question is, are you willing to let go of good in pursuit of great? And that one is hard because good pays the bills. Good is what I'm known for. Good has put me on the map. Good has created a business and a lifestyle that I am so grateful for. So the question, am I willing to let go of good in pursuit of great? I'm asking you these questions, but if I put that question on me, that's the one that really got me, because Digital Course Academy is good, actually. Okay, it is more than good. I know that. But I also know in my gut there's something greater inside of me that just has to come out. And so I had to ask myself, am I willing to put something down that is so profitable and so valuable, like, it has changed people's lives? Like, I don't say that to. To brag. I say that because I've heard it over and over again. And am I willing to let that go in pursuit of something phenomenal? And for me, the answer is yes. But you need to answer that question as well. And here's another one. I think I said the other one was the last. I'm not done yet. Are you willing to focus on one thing long enough to see it through? Now, you know this is how I've created my success, right? Focusing on one thing long enough to see it through to total success. Because pivots look glamorous from the outside, but inside is where the real work is. And if you're going to bail the second it gets hard, or even a few months in when it gets hard, see, save yourself the trouble, because it will get hard. I know it will, and you know it will. But are you willing to stick with it until you figure it out? New iterations, new, you know, tweaks and changes and asking for help and, you know, paying for guidance just to make sure you get this right, like, all of that is included in it. Are you willing to do that? Now, if you answered yes to these questions, and I mean really, truly yes, then you might be ready for your earned elevation. Now, we'll come back to earned elevation in a moment, but if you answered no, that's totally fine. Actually, I like it. It just means this isn't the moment and you're going to stick to what you're doing and continue to get good there. I don't want you jumping ship. I don't want you going from this shiny thing, that shiny thing. This is cool. That's cool. Everyone's doing this. I want you to stay in your lane as long as you can and get all the success out of it and the transformation for your students as possible. So if you answered no, that's great. Again, it just means this isn't the moment to pivot. And you need to see that as a blessing, because in my opinion, you should make very few pivots in your business. I have stuck with Digital course Academy since 2019, and for many years before, I had similar courses shout out to my OGS webinars that convert courses that convert. So I've had similar courses supporting course creation and launching years before that. I have stayed in my lane. And that, along with a great program that gets people results, put me on the map. So resisting a pivot when you know it's not the right time is a highly strategic smart move. I'm totally in your court if you stay where you're at and if you answered a resounding yes to all of the questions I just asked you, you, my friend, are ready for a pivot. You're feeling that pull forward, but you're likely Talking yourself out of it because it feels too big or too risky or too. Whatever the story is that you're telling yourself, I get it. But if you've earned your elevation, it's time to make that move. Now. Quick pause. Because the word earn can be tricky. I mentioned it earlier. I said I'd come back to it. So I grew up feeling like I needed to earn. Earn love and earn attention. And that creates all kinds of unhealthy patterns that you spend adulthood unraveling. Can I get an amen? So when I say earn your elevation, I do not mean earn your worth. You're worthy because you exist. Period. That's non negotiable. You are worthy because you exist. Earn in this context means you've put in the reps. You've built something real. You've walked the long road, not the shortcut. You've lived the lessons you want to now teach. So for me, earning my elevation, it looks like building a company that has generated $120 million in revenue. Creating a flagship program that I launched year after year after year. Staying in my lane and becoming known for something. Investing in masterminds and coaches, sharpening my skill set, going to therapy, clearing the mental clutter, expanding who I am and how I lead, Learning like crazy, teaching like crazy, becoming someone who is ready for this next chapter with clarity and conviction. So again, if you've earned your elevation, your numbers don't need to look like mine. Your story is different. You know what I mean here. Have you put in the reps? Have you done the work you. And if you've earned that elevation, it's time to make that move. You're allowed to grow. You're allowed to evolve. You're allowed to want more. So let's talk about that pivot that I mentioned earlier again. Digital Course Academy has been my bread and butter since 2019. It's what people know me for, right? I've lived on the mountaintop called digital courses. I built a house there. I've gotten real comfortable here. I could teach courses in my sleep, and I'm proud of that. Freedom, confidence, belief in what's possible. I've watched thousands of students change their lives because of this program. Whenever someone tells me their story, my heart expands in a way I can't fully explain. So trust me when I say this. Pivot is not about not loving courses anymore or not believing in digital courses anymore. Courses are still one of the most powerful ways to build a thriving online business, and I fully expect them to be a huge part of the online education world moving forward. But for over a year now, something else has been growing in me. A desire, a pull, a curiosity to work more closely with women who have already started their businesses. Women like you. Women who are in it. Women who have built something and know they're capable of more but are tired of feeling overwhelmed and scattered and stretched too thin and unsure what to focus on next. Women who want clarity and direction and strategy and grounded leadership. Women who want to make money and are no longer apologizing for wanting to make money. Now, you might be there. You wake up every day carrying both potential and pressure. You're ambitious and hungry for growth, but you're also tired of feeling like you're doing everything yourself. You crave clarity. You crave support. You want someone who has walked the road you're on to give you the straight path, not the maze. So supporting women like you have been on my heart for a long time. It's why I started my made to scale mastermind. It's why I started the Milli Club. It's why my conversations behind the scenes feel bigger and richer and more honest than they've ever been. And stepping into that world has changed me. I feel different. Expanded, more creative, more grounded, more alive. Ideas come to me now that are new and different from the lane that I've committed to for so long. And I feel like I've earned this elevation into something bigger. I've done the work to stand here. So as I mentioned earlier, I'm launching a brand new online marketing focused coaching program. It opens January 27th. It's built specifically for female entrepreneurs who want to double their revenue in a strategic, streamlined way. To join, you need to be making at least 150k annually and and have an online business that you want to scale. It's designed to give you the systems, marketing clarity, messaging precision and strategy depth that you need to scale with confidence. It's the work I've been moving toward for years and it feels aligned in a way I cannot ignore. So if you want the details and you want to get on the wait list to be the first to know when we open the doors and share all the details around what this coaching program looks like, just go to amyporterfield.com waitlist okay, so there's my story, but I'm way more interested in yours. If you've been thinking about a pivot, if something's been tugging at you, if you've been whispering it to yourself in the car or in the shower and then shutting it down, I want to gently push you not to do it, but to get honest with yourself about which kind of pivot this is. Is it impulse, or is it elevation? Because here's what I know about you. You're not someone who quits easily. You've already built something. You've already proven you can do hard things. You've already shown up for yourself when it would have been easier not to, right? So if this pull you're feeling is real, if it's an earned elevation, and not just shiny object syndrome, then you owe it to yourself to explore it. Not recklessly, not impulsively, but intentionally, thoughtfully, with the same care and strategy you bring to everything else in your business. Now, here's something I want you to picture. Let's say it's one year from now, and you've actually made that pivot that you've been thinking about. You've stepped into your earned elevation, and you're standing on the other side, looking back at this exact moment. What does your life look like? What does your business look like? How do you feel? Because that version of you, she's already inside you. Whether you're ready to make a pivot now or later, she's there. She's like, let me add it. It's just timing now. So, yes, this is a big moment for me. A new chapter, a huge announcement. And I'm not just proud of this decision I made. I'm excited about it. But. But more than that, I hope this conversation helps you see your own crossroads more clearly. I hope it gives you permission to expand when you're ready and to stay the course when you're not. And I hope it reminds you that growth isn't always about speed. Sometimes it's about alignment or timing or courage. You're capable of so much more than you even realize. And when the moment comes for your elevation, and, my friend, it will come. I'll be right here cheering you on as you walk into it. Deal? All right, so let's go make it happen. I'll see you next week.