The Making Of: Pat Flynn

06/25/24 • 83 min

Back in 2008, Pat Flynn lost his dream job as an architect. Little did he know, it would lead him on an incredible journey into entrepreneurship. Today, he's not just a successful online business owner, best-selling author, and podcast host with over 80 million downloads—he’s also a dedicated family man who values impact over material success.

In this episode, Pat unpacks how his ethos of empathy and serving first shaped his business and parenting style. From battling bullies in his teens to finding himself in a college marching band, he shares how these experiences shaped his leadership skills and commitment to authenticity.

We also explore:

Staying grounded amidst success, steering clear of ego and validation traps
Lessons learned from writing his books 'Let Go,' 'Will It Fly?,' and 'Superfans'
Managing his passion project, Deep Pocket Monster, alongside other ventures
Unlocking YouTube success during the pandemic through storytelling and community
The profound impact of community and the joy of embracing play in daily life

This conversation isn't just about business—it's about empathy, community, and finding joy in what you do.

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Pokemon Event Planning
03:42 Setting the Tone with Empathy
13:08 Raising Children with Empathy
16:37 Reflecting on Teenage Years and Bullying
23:20 Lessons in Leadership and Empathy
25:38 Rumble Strips: Creating Personal Checkpoints
29:18 Finding Fulfillment and Gratitude in 'Making It'
35:17 The Journey of Writing Books: Challenges and Lessons
47:04 Balancing Passion Projects with Other Business Ventures
53:53 YouTube Success
55:40 Profitability and Personal Experiences
59:01 Building a Story Bank
01:03:00 The Impact of Community
01:05:22 Rediscovering Play
01:09:26 Michal Szafranski's Story

This show is produced and presented by Circle, where creators turn pro.

We also explore:

Staying grounded amidst success, steering clear of ego and validation traps
Lessons learned from writing his books 'Let Go,' 'Will It Fly?,' and 'Superfans'
Managing his passion project, Deep Pocket Monster, alongside other ventures
Unlocking YouTube success during the pandemic through storytelling and community
The profound impact of community and the joy of embracing play in daily life

This conversation isn't just about business—it's about empathy, community, and finding joy in what you do.

This show is produced and presented by Circle, where creators turn pro.

Next Episode

The Making Of: Justin Moore

Back in 2014, Justin Moore made the leap to become a full-time creator. Since then, Justin has evolved into a leading Sponsorship Coach and founder of Creator Wizard, a community that helps creators negotiate dream brand partnerships, ensuring they don't leave thousands on the table.
With over $4M earned working with brands and having run an influencer marketing agency for over seven years, Justin has not only built a successful career but helps other creators earn millions more.

In this episode, Justin unpacks his transition from medical device product management to entrepreneurship, the difficult decision to close a successful agency while being over $100k in debt, and the origin of his company, Creator Wizard. He delves into how personal branding influences business decisions and why creators must take ownership of their businesses.

We also explore:

The creation of Creator Wizard and the intricacies of brand partnerships and sponsorships
The importance of audience alignment and the shift from being an influencer to an educator
The impact of sponsorship deals and the need for creators to take ownership of their business
Emphasizing the journey over hitting milestones and the importance of serving others

On a deeper level, we uncover the tough decisions Justin has made to reach his current success. Not all paths to entrepreneurship are linear.

Episode Chapters

00:00 The Origin Story: Transition from Medical Device Product Management to Entrepreneurship

20:00 The Impact of Personal Branding: Lessons from Rebranding and Mistakes Made

38:28 The Dynamics of Brand Partnerships and Sponsorships: Navigating Audience Alignment and Strategy

40:23 Navigating Creator Sponsorships: Challenges and Opportunities

45:06 From Influencer to Educator: The Shift in Creator Strategy

55:22 The Impact of Sponsorship Deals: Taking Ownership of Your Business

01:13:15 Serving Others: The Journey Over Milestones
Connect with Justin here: https://www.creatorwizard.com/
This show also features a special guest, Paul Jamison, host of the Green Industry Podcast. You can connect with him here: https://www.thepauljamison.com/

This show is produced and presented by Circle, where creators turn pro.