The first time I heard the name Pat Flynn (just a few months ago) he came up three times in a single week. There was a friend, a blog and a podcast all referencing this guy. I had to find out who he was and why he was so important.

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If there was ever the perfect example of an individual honestly and ethically making his own way on the internet – employment be damned – Pat was it. A more personable, down-to-earth guy you’ll never meet.

He’s the proverbial exception to the rule. Nice guys finish last? Hardly!

In Pat’s world, nice guys are right where they should be: at the top of their game and graciously showing the rest of us how it’s done.

In his new book, Let Go, available exclusively via Kindle and the Snippet App for iOS, Pat shares his story of being let go from his job in architecture in 2008, despite doing everything right. In short, it was the best thing that could have ever happened to him.

In this episode, Pat shares about:

• How he took something he was already doing and turned it into an ebook that leveraged the perception of his expertise
• The impact adding a podcast had on Pat’s online business
• Determining what it is you bring to the table no one else can?
• The importance of a dedicated physical space for those working from home
• Letting go of being on the “right path” and trying to fulfill societal and/or family expectations and, instead, living your own dreams

Pat Flynn Resources

Pat is the creator of the Smart Passive Income blog and the Smart Passive Income podcast.

Pat can be reached via e-mail at Pat [at] smart passive income [dot] com and on Twitter at @PatFlynn.

Let Go by Pat Flynn is available via the Kindle App for just $2.99 as well as on the Snippet App for iOS.

Pat mentions another podcast (but doesn’t name it) that was instrumental in 2008 as he learned all he could about starting an online business. That podcast was Internet Business Mastery and is still today a top podcast in iTunes (and they just released their 200th episode!).

One of Pat’s favorite productivity tools is Basecamp. Pat uses it to keep track of projects.

Pat Flynn’s Single Greatest Leadership Lesson

Simple: Lead by example

Books Pat Flynn Recommends

One of Pat’s favorite books (and one of mine) is Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip and Dan Heath.

Pat also mentions Stand and Deliver: How to Become a Masterful Communicator and Public Speaker by Dale Carnegie Training as being instrumental in helping get over his fear of public speaking.

Listener Question

Read to Lead Podcast listener Pablo from ChefPablos.com asked Pat how he manages to enforce self-imposed deadlines. Pat credits his MasterMind group for helping keep him accountable to his goals and dreams. While no specific resource was mentioned in the podcast, I can highly recommend 1 + 1 = 3 by Dan Miller (our first-ever guest on the podcast).

Pat also mentioned Derek Halpern of Social Triggers regarding overcoming procrastination. You’ll find more here, including the service Pat mentioned that donates your money to a charity you hate if you don’t reach your goal.

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