Good day, Reader!
To many, this announcement will come as no shock, nonetheless I additionally know there shall be some individuals who shall be caught off guard by it. However both approach, I couldn’t be extra excited for the long run.
Your future, my future, and the way forward for SPI.
I made a decision to promote Good Passive Earnings.
Earlier than you learn too deep into this, I invite you to learn what I’ve to share beneath, as a result of it’s vital.
Promoting SPI was by no means a objective of mine, and never too way back for those who requested me if I might promote it, my reply would have been a tough “NO”.
Actually, in 2022, I had my first provide from a enterprise capitalist who was interested in the brand new neighborhood and recurring income enterprise mannequin Matt Gartland and I carried out. Despite the fact that the numbers have been engaging, it was a simple no as a result of I knew precisely what they needed: your contact data, and finally your pockets for no matter applications and providers they have been going to give you that had nothing to do with SPI.
There was ZERO consideration for what the model stood for, the neighborhood we have been constructing, and 0 care on your future as a subscriber and scholar of SPI, Reader.
A yr later, one other provide got here by, from a distinct enterprise capital agency, and once more, a tough move.
In these conversations, it was all the time in regards to the numbers first, and that’s what instructed me they knew nothing about what was vital to me. If I have been to even entertain the thought of promoting SPI, it must be as a result of that’s what was greatest for the neighborhood and the way forward for the model.
Quick ahead to 2025 in Seattle, at my 4th Card Celebration, an occasion I host that brings practically 10,000 Pokémon followers collectively. Whereas on the occasion, somebody who was working with me seen that I used to be answering emails and getting ready a script for a YouTube video for SPI that I needed to movie once I obtained again house the subsequent week.
She may inform I used to be drained and distracted, and I undoubtedly was.
It was like I used to be straddling two totally different ladders, making an attempt to climb each on the identical time. The Pokémon YouTube channel that I began with my youngsters in 2020 has grow to be a brand new calling for me, nonetheless Good Passive Earnings, which I began in 2008, is my child.
And for the final 2 or 3 years, I’ve felt the push and pull mentally between the 2. My time and my actions have been divided, and perhaps you’ve even felt that in your finish.
However, like a mum or dad who sees their little one off to varsity (which I’ll probably expertise very quickly), Good Passive Earnings simply turned 18 years previous in 2026, and it’s my time to let it go, so it may possibly transfer ahead into even greater and higher issues, past me.
So now you could be questioning: “Pat, so who purchased Good Passive Earnings from you?”
Joke.
The particular person serving to me at Card Celebration was a lady named Patricia Prak, who occurs to be Liz Wilcox’s sister and assistant. Patricia instructed Liz how busy and drained I used to be on the occasion, and he or she jokingly steered to Liz, “You need to simply purchase SPI from him so he can deal with the Pokémon factor, and perhaps you can take over and provides SPI your full consideration.”
One week later Liz, Matt and I had a dialogue about what which may even appear to be, and guess what: no numbers have been shared on both facet. 100% of our dialogue within the first two months have been about the way forward for SPI, its neighborhood, and its subscribers.
Can we share the identical values? Is there alignment in what the targets are for the neighborhood? May SPI doubtlessly be left in higher palms with Liz? May Liz’s enterprise targets align with SPI, and vice versa?
The reply to all the above questions was sure.
Let’s be trustworthy although: Liz and I will not be the identical. Though we’re each 80s infants, Liz is a former Survivor contestant that’s far more quirky and bubbly than I’m. She’s animated, expressive and a few might even say, eccentric.
However on the identical time, in terms of why we do what we do on-line, and who we’re doing it for, the similarities are unimaginable.
Like my LEED Examination weblog, she obtained her begin with an RV weblog that she later offered. She presently generates passive revenue from her e-mail advertising enterprise that homes a neighborhood of over 4,000 individuals, which is what gave her the time to discover shopping for SPI and giving extra of herself and her time to it.
However most of all, in terms of our similarities: we’re each authentically ourselves, and we present as much as serve.
Liz formally purchased SPI in April of 2026, and whereas I had contemplated making this announcement again then, we determined to first have her come on as Director of Group so individuals may get to know her first, and I needed to verify to set her up for achievement and provides her time to show herself.
And he or she has.
Since April, she’s already elevated exercise and engagement in our neighborhood by over 400%. I’ve personally obtained messages and DMs from individuals who have mentioned that the one different time the neighborhood has ever “felt like this” was again when it was launched in 2020.
That’s Liz’s doing. She’s displaying up greater than I ever did. She’s carried out a profitable recurring co-working expertise, and helps to reply so many questions and make connections that solely an individual who really cares would.
Additionally since April, she’s doubled the variety of new members in our neighborhood. That’s all Liz, too. She noticed some very clear holes in our advertising and used her e-mail experience to encourage extra sign-ups, and the neighborhood is booming due to it.
So now that the announcement is official, I can confidently welcome the brand new proprietor of SPI, Liz Wilcox, who will take the baton and run the subsequent leg of this journey alongside you.
I’m not going too far, although. I shall be again on the podcast every so often with updates, and I’m right here to advise and assist Liz by the transition as effectively. She’s already been displaying up on the podcast, and I’ve heard lots of people say they love the brand new type and power she brings to the present. She’s obtained a imaginative and prescient for the present that’s akin to the early days of the podcast, and I can’t wait to listen to it, too.
Now lastly, you could be questioning, what are my plans for the long run?
As you would possibly bear in mind, my associate Caleb Wojcik and I just lately offered our bodily product firm SwitchPod. In the present day, you simply obtained the information about Good Passive Earnings.
Aside from advising a couple of corporations on the facet, most of my time shall be spent on constructing upon what I began within the Pokémon area with my channels. My household can also be concerned in that enterprise as effectively, and it’s one thing that’s bringing us even nearer collectively.
I invested in a big bodily area to grow to be a movie studio the place quite a lot of manufacturing will happen each for Pokémon associated content material, and different new ventures, too. I do have a drive to study extra about storytelling and finally get into filmmaking, too.
But it surely’s not nearly movies and content material, or Pokémon. The drive is way greater than that. In a number of episodes of the SPI podcast, it’s possible you’ll recall that I’ve spoken about how I’ve needed to do one thing that positively impacts youngsters and households. I even tried to make an affect in my local people at a college and curriculum stage, solely to be met with quite a lot of politics and pink tape.
With the Pokémon content material and the occasion I run, I’m seeing firsthand the affect that my content material is having on youngsters and their households. Mothers and Dads are spending time with their youngsters, off-screen, to attach collectively. I’ve had dad and mom inform me that my content material is the one content material they’re comfy letting their youngsters watch. And I’ve even had individuals fighting psychological sickness say my movies have saved their lives.
Though many individuals have known as me “The Mr. Beast of Pokémon”, I personally don’t like that comparability, nor do I consider Mr. Beast is all that good for youths to start with, however that’s a dialog for an additional time.
What issues is, I don’t wish to grow to be the subsequent Mr. Beast…
I wish to grow to be, in a way, the subsequent Mr. Rogers.
I grew up with Mr. Rogers, somebody who taught me about good values, and about life. He was that voice I heard on my tv nearly every single day, and I’d prefer to step ahead and be the same voice to at the moment’s youngsters. Proper now that’s with Pokémon, and sooner or later, it might be by one thing else.
Nobody will ever exchange Mr. Rogers, and I may by no means be him. However, I’m impressed by him, and I’d prefer to have that very same optimistic affect on the world.
None of this could be potential with out you.
You’ve given me the chance to step ahead into one thing I by no means thought potential. Thanks, a lot, from the underside of my coronary heart.
I’d prefer to assume the world is a greater place due to what I began in 2008, and I’m grateful for these of you who’ve despatched me messages or letters saying I performed some optimistic position in your life story as an entrepreneur.
An enormous because of the SPI staff and everybody who has been part of this journey with me. The openness to Liz and the way y’all have teamed as much as work even higher collectively is so thrilling!
Former CEO, and my enterprise associate Matt Gartland, deserves a giant thanks as effectively. He has performed a serious position in shaping SPI for practically a decade and a ton of the largest enterprise selections over time have been made along with his counsel. And because of Caleb Wojcik too, the earlier CEO, who spent the final 2 years conserving issues organized and getting us up to now as effectively.
Thanks to Jess Lindgren, my assistant turned enterprise supervisor, who will proceed to verify I’ve what I would like and get to the place I have to go, once I have to, on my new journey.
And thanks, to Liz. I’m so blessed we crossed paths, first on the SPI podcast, then at Equipment’s occasion Craft + Commerce, and thru your sister as soon as once more. There may be actually nobody else on this planet I may think about taking it from right here. SPI is in good palms with you, and you’re in good palms with SPI. You already know this.
And to assume, none of this could have even been a factor if I didn’t get laid off from my structure job in 2008. Thanks boss, you probably did me a strong again then, though I didn’t realize it on the time. Actually.
Right here’s to the long run. No matter street you’re on, I do know you’ll get there. However bear in mind, the place you’re going, you may not even want roads.
Sincerely,
Pat Flynn
P.S. Please listen to this podcast episode on SPI with each Liz and I speaking in regards to the acquisition. A heartfelt, real dialog in regards to the sale, and our plans for the long run, too.
PPS. For these which are tremendous curious, Liz is doing something wildly transparent over here. It’s these sorts of concepts that I’m most excited so that you can see, research, and implement into your personal on-line enterprise.
