Pat Flynn

So my kids were younger, they got into Pokemon, they started collecting and anything the kids get into, I wanna get into as well. I researched those things. For example, Fortnite, back before Pokemon, it was Fortnite. My kids were playing Fortnite and I was like, what are you doing? And they're like, we're playing Fortnite dad, don't talk to me. So what do I do?

So my kids were younger, they got into Pokemon, they started collecting and anything the kids get into, I wanna get into as well. I researched those things. For example, Fortnite, back before Pokemon, it was Fortnite. My kids were playing Fortnite and I was like, what are you doing? And they're like, we're playing Fortnite dad, don't talk to me. So what do I do?

I hire a 15 year old from Fiverr to teach me how to play Fortnite. No, I swear to God, wow. Like mentorship, I'm telling you. He's 15 and he was really good. And I was like, okay, I was starting to get it and going through reps with him. And after three weeks, I was able to hang with my kids And then actually we were starting to play together.

I hire a 15 year old from Fiverr to teach me how to play Fortnite. No, I swear to God, wow. Like mentorship, I'm telling you. He's 15 and he was really good. And I was like, okay, I was starting to get it and going through reps with him. And after three weeks, I was able to hang with my kids And then actually we were starting to play together.

And it became such a fun bonding experience during the pandemic to do that. And then like kids do, they moved on from that and they moved into another hobby and this was Pokemon. So I said, okay, Pokemon. I just know about a few things, but I grew up playing Magic the Gathering, not Pokemon.

And it became such a fun bonding experience during the pandemic to do that. And then like kids do, they moved on from that and they moved into another hobby and this was Pokemon. So I said, okay, Pokemon. I just know about a few things, but I grew up playing Magic the Gathering, not Pokemon.

I didn't see any opportunities there that really piqued my interest. I guess if I look back, I probably could have found something, but I like things to come to me. And in the Pokemon space they did, because when I started to research a lot of YouTubers who were doing Pokemon, I also noticed that they were all doing the kind of same things. And nobody was really telling good stories.

I didn't see any opportunities there that really piqued my interest. I guess if I look back, I probably could have found something, but I like things to come to me. And in the Pokemon space they did, because when I started to research a lot of YouTubers who were doing Pokemon, I also noticed that they were all doing the kind of same things. And nobody was really telling good stories.

Again, I'm all about stories. So I said, okay, I didn't create a YouTube channel that day, but I got involved in the community. And that's when I became a moderator for some of these Pokemon creators. That's when I started to have conversations with other collectors and go to events. Again, immerse myself in that space before even trying to create anything, right?

Again, I'm all about stories. So I said, okay, I didn't create a YouTube channel that day, but I got involved in the community. And that's when I became a moderator for some of these Pokemon creators. That's when I started to have conversations with other collectors and go to events. Again, immerse myself in that space before even trying to create anything, right?

How do I know what to create if I don't even know who these people are yet? And I started to learn more about what they liked and what they disliked. And I started my channel in January of 2021. We got to 100,000 subs in 11 months and 28 days. I remember because we celebrated that day together on a live stream. We had, I think, 7,000 people watching that day.

How do I know what to create if I don't even know who these people are yet? And I started to learn more about what they liked and what they disliked. And I started my channel in January of 2021. We got to 100,000 subs in 11 months and 28 days. I remember because we celebrated that day together on a live stream. We had, I think, 7,000 people watching that day.

We got to 500,000 people or subscribers in three years and we're now one million beyond that in only one year.

We got to 500,000 people or subscribers in three years and we're now one million beyond that in only one year.

In another fiscal year, yeah. Cool. And it's just been the funnest thing because I've just wanted to have fun. And I think because of that, it's attracting not just kids. In fact, it's a lot of people our age who grew up with Pokemon who have now more than an allowance.

In another fiscal year, yeah. Cool. And it's just been the funnest thing because I've just wanted to have fun. And I think because of that, it's attracting not just kids. In fact, it's a lot of people our age who grew up with Pokemon who have now more than an allowance.

Yeah. And during the pandemic, everybody was all nostalgic and wanting to relive their childhood. And now they're bringing their kids along with them. And it's grown to the point now where I host two live events every single year called Card Party that each now will host 5,000 people. We had about 3,500 last year and we're hosting two events this year. I have a relationship with Pokemon.

Yeah. And during the pandemic, everybody was all nostalgic and wanting to relive their childhood. And now they're bringing their kids along with them. And it's grown to the point now where I host two live events every single year called Card Party that each now will host 5,000 people. We had about 3,500 last year and we're hosting two events this year. I have a relationship with Pokemon.

Oh, by the way, this also, speaking of just like opportunities that pop up, This Pokemon thing allowed me to open packs of Pokemon on Ford Field at the Detroit Lions-Vikings game this past season because for whatever reason, they, for good luck, opened packs of Pokemon before the game. I found out that their TikTok manager was a big Pokemon fan. So we had a connection. And then I just pitched it.

Oh, by the way, this also, speaking of just like opportunities that pop up, This Pokemon thing allowed me to open packs of Pokemon on Ford Field at the Detroit Lions-Vikings game this past season because for whatever reason, they, for good luck, opened packs of Pokemon before the game. I found out that their TikTok manager was a big Pokemon fan. So we had a connection. And then I just pitched it.