Let’s get real for a second – sometimes, you’ve got to slam the brakes on a plan, even when it feels scary. Case in point: I recently canceled a launch. Yep, I pulled the plug, hit pause, said, “Not today, Satan.” And you know what? It was absolutely the right call. So, let’s talk about why canceling a launch isn’t the end of the world – and might actually be the smartest thing you can do.
I’m getting vulnerable here. But I want you to learn along with me.
Why I Canceled My Launch (But Not My Program)
First things first: canceling a launch doesn’t mean your offer is toast. My program, Rave Results, is still alive and thriving! Clients are signing up through our evergreen system, and one-on-one spots are booking up nicely. But when it came to the big, flashy launch I had planned? It just wasn’t landing.
The problem wasn’t the program itself – it was the messaging. After running the same launch cycle again and again, I realised the way I was talking about it had gone a bit… stale. My planned bonuses, a shiny new masterclass – it all sounded good in theory, but when I sat down to map it out, something felt off. It wasn’t clicking for me, and worse, it wasn’t clicking for my audience either.
Listening to the People Who Matter: Your Community
Here’s where things got interesting: instead of spiraling into a puddle of self-doubt, I turned to my community for feedback. I asked questions, listened to their pain points, and reviewed what my clients had been saying about the program.
What I found was a gap – a piece of the puzzle that wasn’t quite fitting. My messaging wasn’t fully reflecting the value of the program, and that meant it was time for a repositioning. Lesson learned: your community will always be your best focus group if you take the time to ask and really listen.
Dealing with the Fear of Canceling
Okay, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the anxiety of canceling. I won’t lie, I had a little voice in my head whispering, “What will people think?”
Would canceling make my program look weak? Would people assume I didn’t have it all together?
The truth? None of that actually matters. What matters is that I knew the program was strong. It was (and still is!) delivering amazing results. My job wasn’t to let fear dictate my decisions – it was to make the right decision for my business and my clients. And if that meant calling a timeout to refocus, then so be it.
How to Cancel a Launch Without Losing Momentum
Canceling doesn’t mean ghosting your audience. Transparency is key. Here’s how I handled it:
1. I sent a clear, honest email to my community, explaining the shift. I let them know that the program wasn’t going anywhere – it was just the launch that needed a rethink.
2. I reassured them that the value of the program was still rock-solid. The “pause” wasn’t a failure – it was a chance to make things even better.
3. I kept the conversation open. I invited feedback and questions, turning what could’ve been a setback into an opportunity to connect. You know that’s what I’m all about over here!
When you’re honest and upfront, people get it. In fact, in my experience, most of them will respect you more for it.
The Big Picture: Why Canceling Can Be a Win
Here’s the thing: canceling a launch doesn’t mean you’re giving up. It means you’re playing the long game. Instead of pushing something that doesn’t feel right, you’re giving yourself the chance to refine, reposition, and come back stronger.
Your audience? They’ll appreciate the effort you’re putting into creating something amazing. And you? You’ll save yourself from wasting time and energy on a launch that wouldn’t have delivered the results you wanted anyway.
What’s Next?
For me, canceling this launch opened up space to focus on some exciting changes, like transitioning Rave Results from 12-month access to lifetime access. It also gave me the clarity to start building my next project…
Over the past 10 years, I’ve learned that the key to increasing visibility, boosting enrollments and increasing sales is community growth. This is the puzzle piece that is missing in so many launches and programs! So in 2025, I want to help you to build thriving communities that will stick with you through pivots so that you can turn their engagement into investment.
I’m building my new offer in public (eeeek) and I’d love for you to join me on this journey. I’m still shaping the exact details of it because I want it to be everything you need – and I’d love your input along the way. Be sure to follow me on Instagram to stay in the loop.
If, like me, you’re committed to making community growth a top priority this year and want to amplify your visibility, sales, and opportunities, I’ve got something special for you. Join my totally free Slack channel, open for the next few weeks! I’ll be sharing my best strategies, insights, and tips for all things community growth, and I’d love to have you there.
Sign up here.
Without cancelling my launch, I never would have got this level of clarity on what my people truly need. So if you’re in a similar situation, let this be your reminder: it’s not a failure. It’s a pivot. It’s a strategic move that shows you’re willing to prioritise what matters most: delivering value to your people.
