Most people who sign up for Spanish classes don’t actually learn Spanish. Not because the classes are bad — but because they pay without buying in. There’s a difference, and once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
This is the email I sent to La Tribu inspired by copywriter Ben Settle. It’s about commitment, skin in the game, and why Duolingo streaks don’t make you fluent.
[mailerlite_form form_id=4]
Ben Settle. Who? Ben Settle. A copywriter.
Anyway. In his email today he said something that made me go: ¿Qué?
He wrote: “Never pay for info products. Only buy them.”
“No pagues por infoproductos. Cómpralos.”
Ojiplática me quedé.
He explained it like this:
Years ago, he bought a $5,000 marketing seminar.
It hurt. But because it hurt…
He watched it 50 times. Studied it. Applied it. Used it.
And made millions from it. That’s buying. Ahhh, eso es comprar.
Paying is different.
Paying is when you purchase something… and never really use it.
Como cuando te compras unos pantalones nuevos y sabes que eso no va a pasar.
You skim it. You download it. You say “I’ll start Monday.”
No results. No transformation.
And this is bad for the student. Malo para ti.
And bad for the teacher. Malo para mí también.
His point? The more skin in the game, the more you win.
Now let’s talk about Spanish.
Most people don’t have a talent problem.
They have an implementation problem.
They download Duolingo. They keep a streak.
They watch a Netflix show with subtitles. But they don’t speak.
I’m not interested in you paying.
I’m interested in you buying.
Don’t pay to enter La Tribu and then disappear after week one.
Join. Read the book. Show up. Speak. Make mistakes.
Because when you use Spanish, we both win.
Don’t pay for classes. Buy the identity. Buy the connection.
Aquí no venimos a quedar bien. Venimos a hablar.
Skin in the game only.
Mañana más. Besos y amor, Mónica.
Vocabulario clave / Key Vocabulary
ojiplático/a — wide-eyed with surprise (very Spanish slang) | el infoproducto — info product (online course, ebook, etc.) | la implementación — implementation | la racha — streak | quedar bien — to look good / to impress | venimos a hablar — we’re here to speak
Expresión del día
Ojiplático/a — one of those beautiful Spanish words with no direct English equivalent. Literally “plate-eyed” — the face you make when something shocks you completely.
¿Listo para comprar (no solo pagar)? Únete a La Tribu o descarga la guía gratuita.
— Monica Bernabe Perez