When I first met Jo and Derek Clark, I knew their story was something special. They didn’t just overcome a couple of challenges – they faced what I’d call a “double whammy.”
First, a life-altering car accident threw their world into chaos. Then, just as they were trying to regain their footing, the Covid lockdowns wiped out their business practically overnight.
What makes Jo and Derek remarkable isn’t just their ability to persevere – it’s how they took those challenges and turned them into an incredible success story.
Using Product Launch Formula® (PLF), they not only saved their business but built something entirely new. Today, they’ve gone from struggling to thriving, completing a £50,000 launch.
Their journey is full of lessons about resilience, adaptability, and the power of launching. Let’s dive into what they did and what we can all learn from their story.
The Double Whammy That Changed Everything
Jo and Derek had built a quiet but successful business in southwest England – teaching people how to ride horses. Then their lives changed in an instant.
They were driving home from a client when they were hit by a drunk driver. Derek suffered serious injuries, spending weeks in the hospital. Jo did her best to keep the riding school afloat, but running the business on her own proved nearly impossible.
Just as they were starting to adjust to their new normal, Covid hit. Overnight, their business, which relied entirely on in-person lessons, came to a grinding halt. Expenses continued to pile up, but there was no revenue coming in.
At this point, many people would have felt hopeless. But Jo and Derek had one lifeline: years earlier, Derek had purchased PLF. At the time, Jo thought he’d lost his mind. “I was furious,” she laughs now. “I couldn’t understand why he’d spend so much money on an online course. But when everything fell apart, PLF became our way forward.”
↪ Earnings Disclaimer: Results like Jo and Derek’s are not guaranteed. Their success reflects their unique effort, dedication, and circumstances. Many factors, including your time, skill, and financial situation, will influence your outcomes. Learn more about our earnings policy here.
The Seed Launch® That Started It All
With their in-person business at a standstill, Jo and Derek decided to take their expertise online. They didn’t have a course ready, and they’d never done digital marketing before. What they had was an idea – and the framework of a Seed Launch®.
They started by asking their audience if they’d be interested in a virtual course. The response was overwhelming. Encouraged by the enthusiasm, they quickly put together a sales page, set a price, and launched.
“We had no course prepared,” Jo admits. “We told our audience, ‘This is what we’re thinking. Would you like to help us create it?’” That honesty and involvement resonated deeply with their audience.
Within 36 hours, they sold out their first course, bringing in nearly £5,700. “We had the usual worries: What if nobody buys? What if nobody’s interested? But people were falling over themselves to join,” Jo recalls. “And then we had to deliver.”
Delivering Value, Building Trust
Here’s the thing about a Seed Launch: it’s not about having a polished product – it’s about starting with what you know and building alongside your audience. That’s exactly what Jo and Derek did.
Using Zoom for weekly webinars and an iPad for demonstration videos, they created their course on the fly. “We were literally riding horses and filming each other with an iPad,” Jo says with a laugh. “We cut the ends off the videos, added commentary, and put it out there.”
Their audience didn’t just appreciate the effort – they saw real results. Students began posting videos of their progress in a private Facebook group, showing dramatic improvements in their riding skills.
Jo and Derek had created something valuable, and their audience couldn’t get enough.
Scaling to £50,000 and Beyond
At the end of the 10-week course, their students asked, “What’s next?” That’s when Jo and Derek realized they were onto something big.
Over the next year, they refined their course, doubled the price to £500, and relaunched it. This time, they brought in nearly £10,000. With each subsequent launch, they grew their audience, their revenue, and their impact. Their most recent launch? £50,000.
Jo and Derek went from working 70-hour weeks to designing a business that fits their lifestyle. They now teach students around the world, helping people develop a unique, gentle approach to horse training.
Jo and Derek’s story is full of lessons for anyone looking to build or grow an online business:
1. Start Before You’re Ready: They didn’t wait for a perfect moment or a finished course. They started with what they had – a concept – and invited their audience into the process.
2. Involve Your Audience: By asking their students for input, they created a course that directly addressed their needs. That connection is what turned students into raving fans.
3. Focus on Value, Not Perfection: Their initial course wasn’t polished, but it delivered real results. Value beats perfection every time.
4. Embrace the Power of Launching: PLF framework gave Jo and Derek the tools they needed to succeed at every step.
The Freedom of Launch Life®
Jo and Derek’s story is more than a case study – it’s a reminder of what’s possible when you embrace the Launch Life. They’ve gone from surviving to thriving, from running a business that drained them to one that energizes them.
“Without PLF, I don’t know what we would have done,” Jo says. “Now we have the freedom to live the life we want while helping people all over the world.”
Their journey proves that no matter where you start or what challenges you face, launching can change everything. What will your story be?
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