Beer With Kyle: A Look at Our Last 20 Years, and a NEW Bootcamp is Coming!

Hey Everyone,
Today I am raising a glass to a big milestone: 20 years of Wealthy Affiliate. It feels right to mark it in a proper Friday post, not just a quick note. I want to share how we started, what has worked, where we have stumbled, and what is coming next. I will also prime you for Affiliate Bootcamp, which relaunches next week.

This Week’s Beer

Four Winds Juxtapose IPA (Delta, BC). It is one of my favorites. I am an IPA fan, but I keep it to one. First beer, best beer. I am enjoying it in our etched logo glass (a little throwback to our Vegas run of glasses).

How It Started

Back in 2001 I chose computers because I knew they were the future of business. I enrolled in a practical Computer Systems Technology program with heavy labs. That is where I met Carson. We built sites from scratch with HTML, Dreamweaver, and Photoshop while I dug into something new at the time: affiliate marketing.

I spent 30 days building my first site, kept testing, and by graduation I was running a real business. I worked a full year at a web job, learned a lot, then quit to go full-time. Later, Carson and I crossed paths again and started meeting every Wednesday, trading ideas. Some were wild (pre-Uber ride ideas, digitized mall kiosks, a nutrition platform). The winner was simple: teach people what we were doing.

We launched with a tiny logo and a simple site (that first logo looked like money or a guitar, not sure), sharing weekly keyword lists and ad ideas. Members began asking for more, so we added a forum. That was the seed of the community you see today with blogs, vlogs, questions, chat, and topic communities.

What Worked For Us

• Build with feedback. From day one we shaped the platform around real requests. When you build for people first, growth follows as a byproduct.
• Use your own product. We live inside the tools and training daily. If we would not use it ourselves, you should not have to either.
• Stay lean and flexible. We keep the team and systems nimble so we can ship, iterate, and improve fast.

Where We Went Wrong (and What To Avoid)

The trap is trying to be everything to everyone. Too many projects pull focus from the core. Diversifying may be smart in a stock portfolio, but in business it can dilute your best work. If you chase ten niches, you become average at ten things instead of great at one. We have fallen into that and had to refocus. You can learn from that. Protect your core.

The AI Phase We Are In...

AI has changed the pace of building. We are integrating it across product, programming, support, and training. It helps us move faster and stay elastic. The landscape shifts every few months, so the right move is to keep a clear vision while staying flexible. Those who learn AI and use it well will thrive over the next 3 to 5 years. We will keep you on the front edge so you are competitive.

Thank You, Most of All!

Most businesses do not last a year, let alone five or twenty. We made it here because of you. Your feedback shapes the roadmap, your daily actions create the energy, and your wins are the reason this community exists. I enjoy being active here with you. That will not change.

Vegas: You Can Make It?

On September 1 we lowered the criteria to reach our Super Affiliate meetup in Las Vegas to 50 Premium upgrades from now until year end. Hit that and you will get an invite. We cover flight and hotel. It is a four-day, round-table style experience in a penthouse suite. Days are catered. Evenings include dinners and often entertainment. It is collaborative, useful, and fun. We have run it for many years (about 16 of the last 20).

Affiliate Bootcamp Relaunch, Coming Next WEek.

Next week I will announce the new Affiliate Bootcamp. It runs 15 weeks, starting the following Monday, and it is open to Premium-level members. You will build a real campaign around a brand you create, using channels that fit you (SEO, PPC, YouTube, AI-driven workflows, user-generated content, social). If you are aiming for Vegas, this is your springboard.

Join In!

• Share any thoughts or questions about our 20-year journey in the comments.
• Tell me if you are going for the 50 and planning to be in Vegas.
• If you want in on Bootcamp, say so below and keep an eye out for Tuesday’s announcement.

Have a great weekend. I am grateful for the past two decades and even more excited for what we will build next together.