Good day, Reader!
To many, this announcement will come as no shock, nevertheless I additionally know there will probably be some individuals who will probably be caught off guard by it. However both means, 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 under, as a result of it’s necessary.
Promoting SPI was by no means a objective of mine, and never too way back should you requested me if I might promote it, my reply would have been a tough “NO”.
In reality, in 2022, I had my first supply from a enterprise capitalist who was interested in the brand new neighborhood and recurring income enterprise mannequin Matt Gartland and I applied. Regardless that the numbers have been engaging, it was a straightforward no as a result of I knew precisely what they needed: your contact data, and ultimately your pockets for no matter packages and companies 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 to your future as a subscriber and scholar of SPI, Reader.
A 12 months later, one other supply got here by means of, from a unique enterprise capital agency, and once more, a tough go.
In these conversations, it was at all times concerning the numbers first, and that’s what advised me they knew nothing about what was necessary to me. If I have been to even entertain the concept of promoting SPI, it must be as a result of that’s what was finest 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 almost 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 acquired again dwelling the subsequent week.
She might inform I used to be drained and distracted, and I positively was.
It was like I used to be straddling two completely different ladders, attempting to climb each on the identical time. The Pokémon YouTube channel that I began with my youngsters in 2020 has develop into a brand new calling for me, nevertheless 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 father or mother who sees their little one off to school (which I’ll doubtless expertise very quickly), Good Passive Earnings simply turned 18 years outdated 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 is likely to 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 advised Liz how busy and drained I used to be on the occasion, and he or she jokingly urged to Liz, “You must simply purchase SPI from him so he can deal with the Pokémon factor, and perhaps you possibly 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 like, and guess what: no numbers have been shared on both aspect. 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 objectives are for the neighborhood? May SPI doubtlessly be left in higher fingers with Liz? May Liz’s enterprise objectives align with SPI, and vice versa?
The reply to all the above questions was sure.
Let’s be trustworthy although: Liz and I are usually not 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 the case of why we do what we do on-line, and who we’re doing it for, the similarities are unbelievable.
Like my LEED Examination weblog, she acquired her begin with an RV weblog that she later offered. She at the moment generates passive revenue from her e-mail advertising enterprise that homes a neighborhood of over 4,000 folks, 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 the case 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 folks might get to know her first, and I needed to ensure to set her up for fulfillment and provides her time to show herself.
And she or he 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 exhibiting up greater than I ever did. She’s applied 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 will probably be again on the podcast now and again with updates, and I’m right here to advise and assist Liz by means of the transition as effectively. She’s already been exhibiting up on the podcast, and I’ve heard lots of people say they love the brand new fashion and power she brings to the present. She’s acquired 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 is likely to be questioning, what are my plans for the long run?
As you would possibly keep in mind, my accomplice Caleb Wojcik and I not too long ago offered our bodily product firm SwitchPod. As we speak, you simply acquired the information about Good Passive Earnings.
Apart from advising a couple of corporations on the aspect, most of my time will probably be spent on constructing upon what I began within the Pokémon house with my channels. My household can 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 house to develop into a movie studio the place a whole lot of manufacturing will happen each for Pokémon associated content material, and different new ventures, too. I do have a drive to be taught extra about storytelling and ultimately get into filmmaking, too.
Nevertheless it’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, chances are 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 influence in my local people at a college and curriculum stage, solely to be met with a whole lot of politics and pink tape.
With the Pokémon content material and the occasion I run, I’m seeing firsthand the influence 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 snug letting their youngsters watch. And I’ve even had folks scuffling with psychological sickness say my movies have saved their lives.
Though many individuals have referred to 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 develop into the subsequent Mr. Beast…
I wish to develop into, 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 virtually every single day, and I’d prefer to step ahead and be an analogous voice to at present’s youngsters. Proper now that’s with Pokémon, and sooner or later, it could possibly be by means of one thing else.
Nobody will ever change Mr. Rogers, and I might by no means be him. However, I’m impressed by him, and I’d prefer to have that very same optimistic influence on the world.
None of this could be potential with out you.
You will have 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 suppose 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.
A giant because of the SPI crew 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 accomplice Matt Gartland, deserves a giant thanks as effectively. He has performed a significant position in shaping SPI for almost a decade and a ton of the most important enterprise selections over time have been made together with his counsel. And due to Caleb Wojcik too, the earlier CEO, who spent the final 2 years holding issues organized and getting us so far as effectively.
Thanks to Jess Lindgren, my assistant turned enterprise supervisor, who will proceed to ensure I’ve what I want 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 Package’s occasion Craft + Commerce, and thru your sister as soon as once more. There’s actually nobody else on this planet I might think about taking it from right here. SPI is in good fingers with you, and you’re in good fingers with SPI. You already know this.
And to suppose, 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. Really.
Right here’s to the long run. No matter highway you’re on, I do know you’ll get there. However keep in mind, the place you’re going, you won’t even want roads.
Sincerely,
Pat Flynn
P.S. Please take heed to this podcast episode on SPI with each Liz and I speaking concerning the acquisition. A heartfelt, real dialog concerning the sale, and our plans for the long run, too.
PPS. For these which are tremendous curious, Liz is doing one thing wildly clear over right here. It’s these sorts of concepts that I’m most excited so that you can see, examine, and implement into your personal on-line enterprise.