AP 0100: The 100th Episode of AskPat! A Valuable Lesson from Pat

AskPat 100 Episode Transcript

Pat Flynn: What's up, everybody? Pat Flynn here, and welcome to Episode 100 of AskPat. I can't believe we're here. Thank you all so much for the incredible support. AskPat has been downloaded well over a million times in just about three months. This is just incredible. The response to the show has been amazing.

To everyone who has has asked a question that has been featured here on the show, thank you so much. And to anybody who is going to ask a question in the future. I mean, everybody who is listening to this and those of you who ask the questions at AskPat.com, you are who make this show possible. Yes, it's AskPat and I'm the one providing the answers, but without the questions there wouldn't be any answers, so thank you to all of you, each and every single one of you. You are what make this show possible.

I also want to give a shout out to my entire team for making this possible, especially Mindy. Mindy, you're amazing. She edits every episode and facilitates all the questions and just gets it so that it's so easy just to systemize this and put it together. Mindy, you're awesome. Thank you so much.

And of course, this is why the show is here and it's free for you to listen and get content from; however, it wouldn't be possible also without the amazing sponsors of the show. We've had a number in the past. Today's sponsor is one of my favorites, LegalZoom.com, a company I've been using for years now that's helped me get set up with my own LLC, my own Doing Business As, my own will and all this other personal stuff involved legally as well. If you go to LegalZoom.com, use the discount code “Pat,” they'll provide the personal attention you need and the help that you need to take care of all of the details to get your business started, to get your trademarks done, to get all that stuff that you might need legally.

They've helped over a million businesses get started the right way, and they've received an A+ from the Better Business Bureau. Celebrate innovation with them today and get a special price on trademark, copyright, provisional patent applications, or anything you need by using the discount code “Pat” at checkout. LegalZoom provides legal help through independent attorneys and self-help but they are not a law firm. Again, discount code “Pat” at LegalZoom.com Thank you again everybody for understanding why sponsors are required and necessary here. The show wouldn't be possible without so many moving parts. The sponsors, with Mindy, with you, so thank you.

Now, there isn't a question from a user today. There are hundreds of other questions that are coming in the future, but I wanted to take a moment today to celebrate episode 100, to talk about the idea of asking questions, and tell you a little bit of a story when I first started doing online business.

You know, when I first started my own business, I didn't want to ask anybody any questions, and that was because I thought I could do everything myself. I don't know if this is an entrepreneurial thing. I know a lot of entrepreneurs are that way. We have this superhero syndrome as Chris Ducker calls it, and we think we can do everything ourselves, and that we should do everything ourselves and we don't trust anybody with our own stuff and I was that way. Partly it could've also been because I'm a dude and guys, we don't ask for directions. We'll get lost for hours and not pull over because we want to figure it out.

Whatever the case may be, I didn't ask questions and because of that, I got started very slowly. It was only when I got connected with other people and asked questions and wasn't shy about it and knew that maybe sometimes when I ask those questions, I wouldn't get a response, whether it was through email or Skype or whatever. If I was chatting with people sometimes I didn't get responses back. Sometimes I did and a lot of times those responses were, when I think about it, truly life-changing. Hopefully like what this show can possibly do for you.

Now, the thing is, when you think about it, rejection is hard, right? When you ask questions, there is a possibility because you're opening yourself up. You're telling people when you need help with. You're becoming vulnerable. Sometimes people won't answer. Sometimes people will, they'll respond, but it won't be the response you'll want to hear, but those are the things you have to go through in order to get to the next level. When you really think about it, when you ask questions, what's the worst thing that can happen? They might just say no or not respond at all, and that's not that bad. Think of all of the amazing things that can happen if you ask the right questions that can help you take your business and your life to the next level.

Now, of course, there is that line of asking questions and being respectful and also being annoying and asking every single question when you get stuck. You should try and do what you can to figure things out on your own, but if it's completely something that you don't know or have no idea where to start or what to do next, then by all means, ask. I know when people ask me questions, whether here on the show or through email or on social media or when I'm in person with them at a conference, I love answering questions and I know a lot of people are the same way.

A lot of people are afraid to ask questions to these people who are ahead of them because they think that either I don't have time for them or they're going to think they're stupid. Whatever might be going through your head. You know what? A lot of times those people remember where they come from. They want to pay it forward and they will help people who were where they were at a while back, just like I'm trying to help you because I know a lot of you are just getting started or have started your online business and want to get to these amazing levels that you see and that are ahead of you and that are at an arm's reach away. You still aren't quite there yet. There are so many people out there willing to help you.

That's sort of what I just wanted to talk about today was the fact that there are so many resources available to you, so many amazing people out there willing to help, myself included. Al it takes is you asking, asking questions. A lot of times there are people out there but they won't know you need help until you simply ask. There is no shame whatsoever in asking.

So, to close up today, I just want to say thank you so much for all of your support. I can't believe we're here at episode 100 already, and I can't wait until the next 100. There's already a lot of amazing questions that are in the lineup for the future and . . . oh! I have another thing that you've been asking a lot about.

A lot of you who are actually podcasters, you've been asking me about the AskPat player on AskPat.com. If you go to AskPat.com you'll see the player that my team and I custom-built for this show. A lot of you have been asking to get your hands on it and I'm really happy to announce that on June 12, Thursday, June 12, the AskPat Player, which is now being dubbed the Smart Podcast Player, will be publicly available. Now, we're launching it in the beta version. Only 250 people will get a chance to get a crack at it in the first round, but that's because we want to make sure it's completely working. This is just standard in software development and releasing. We want to launch to 250 people max. It's going to be a premium WordPress plugin, but it'll be very decently priced, I promise. There will be a live demonstration that you can sign up for actually. If you go to SmartPodcastPlayer.com right now, you will have a chance to sign up and also get a special discount during the launch.

I hope to see you there. SmartPodcastPlayer.com and I'll see you live on Thursday, June 12 at 6 p.m. Pacific. And again, thank you so much to LegalZoom.com for sponsoring this particular episode. If you go to LegalZoom.com and enter the discount code “Pat,” I promise you will not be disappointed at how easy it is to use, the quality of the service. Again, they've helped me several times in the past to help me get my things up and running for my own business and I know they can help you too, just like they've helped millions of other business owners. So, again, last time, go to LegalZoom.com, enter “Pat” at checkout for your discount.

Thank you so much. Again, ask those questions at AskPat.com. And my quote of the day is simply, “You got this.”