Pat Flynn

That confirmation bias. A few hours later, I checked my email, nothing. Reconfirming that I was not meant to do this. Sent more emails out to architects and engineers. Later that afternoon, I got an email. PayPal. Come on. Notification of payment received. $18.38 because of PayPal fees. And I was like, where did this, I made money. That was the first money I had ever made online.

That confirmation bias. A few hours later, I checked my email, nothing. Reconfirming that I was not meant to do this. Sent more emails out to architects and engineers. Later that afternoon, I got an email. PayPal. Come on. Notification of payment received. $18.38 because of PayPal fees. And I was like, where did this, I made money. That was the first money I had ever made online.

And immediately, not two minutes later, I thought something was gonna go wrong. I thought the FBI was gonna show up, you know? I could go through hours with you talking about all the times I didn't believe that I was supposed to do what I was supposed to do. Even when I was making 35 to $40,000 a month. You talk about rich, but with scarcity. That's the mindset I had.

And immediately, not two minutes later, I thought something was gonna go wrong. I thought the FBI was gonna show up, you know? I could go through hours with you talking about all the times I didn't believe that I was supposed to do what I was supposed to do. Even when I was making 35 to $40,000 a month. You talk about rich, but with scarcity. That's the mindset I had.

I was still looking for architecture jobs, even though I was generating revenue. And it wasn't until I let go of who I thought I was supposed to be, that sunk cost and literal cost that I put into college, into architecture, not wanting to disappoint my parents, all those things played a role in me believing that I was supposed to still be an architect.

I was still looking for architecture jobs, even though I was generating revenue. And it wasn't until I let go of who I thought I was supposed to be, that sunk cost and literal cost that I put into college, into architecture, not wanting to disappoint my parents, all those things played a role in me believing that I was supposed to still be an architect.

Yet there was this new world, the business world. And essentially I was climbing two ladders at the same time. How can you climb two ladders safely at the same time? That's tricky. But that's literally what it was like. So eventually I had to let go of one ladder, which was scary and dangerous. But this new ladder had endless height to it. It had opportunity. It had more freedom.

Yet there was this new world, the business world. And essentially I was climbing two ladders at the same time. How can you climb two ladders safely at the same time? That's tricky. But that's literally what it was like. So eventually I had to let go of one ladder, which was scary and dangerous. But this new ladder had endless height to it. It had opportunity. It had more freedom.

Freedom was way up there. Didn't know how I was gonna get there, but I knew that there were other people who had stepped on those rungs before me. And so I trusted myself. I had to let go to grow.

Freedom was way up there. Didn't know how I was gonna get there, but I knew that there were other people who had stepped on those rungs before me. And so I trusted myself. I had to let go to grow.

Yes. However, I've always sort of looked for the next fun thing. I think that's something that has helped me. I do a lot of things. Luis has mentioned a lot of the things I'm into now, Pokemon. I also have an invention called the SwitchPod. I have started and sold software companies. I'm an advisor to 12 different companies. I do a lot of things. And I've learned over time that

Yes. However, I've always sort of looked for the next fun thing. I think that's something that has helped me. I do a lot of things. Luis has mentioned a lot of the things I'm into now, Pokemon. I also have an invention called the SwitchPod. I have started and sold software companies. I'm an advisor to 12 different companies. I do a lot of things. And I've learned over time that

And this is what they often say. You have to do one thing and just like lean into that really well. Right. Have you heard that before? Lean into the one thing. There's a lot of people who say that. And that's great. If you are disciplined enough to do that, I am not.

And this is what they often say. You have to do one thing and just like lean into that really well. Right. Have you heard that before? Lean into the one thing. There's a lot of people who say that. And that's great. If you are disciplined enough to do that, I am not.

So when I was told to do that and tried it, that's when I started to feel like this wasn't fun because I wasn't able to scratch that creative entrepreneur itch that I had. And so I've developed a framework called the 20% itch rule, which isn't anything really new.

So when I was told to do that and tried it, that's when I started to feel like this wasn't fun because I wasn't able to scratch that creative entrepreneur itch that I had. And so I've developed a framework called the 20% itch rule, which isn't anything really new.

Google practices this, I know a lot of other friends of ours practice this, where 80% of your time is dedicated to the things that you are committed to, the things you've already said yes to, which you reserve and even protect 20% of your time for experimentation, for fun, for something new, to allow you to scratch that it's such that if that were to fail,

Google practices this, I know a lot of other friends of ours practice this, where 80% of your time is dedicated to the things that you are committed to, the things you've already said yes to, which you reserve and even protect 20% of your time for experimentation, for fun, for something new, to allow you to scratch that it's such that if that were to fail,

That's okay because you still have the 80% that you're taking care of. You're still taking care of business. But honestly, even when I've quote unquote failed in that 20%, I've started and failed a lot of software companies and other things in that 20% of time, it's always a lesson learned that then I can apply to the next thing.

That's okay because you still have the 80% that you're taking care of. You're still taking care of business. But honestly, even when I've quote unquote failed in that 20%, I've started and failed a lot of software companies and other things in that 20% of time, it's always a lesson learned that then I can apply to the next thing.