I just received this email, and I dropped everything to write a tribute to my friend, Myke.
History of Keap Academy, From My Perspective
I will forever be grateful to Keap (formerly Infusionsoft) for hiring me when I was a Spanish teacher in Honolulu. The founders, Clate Mask, Scott Martineau, and Eric Martineau, inspired me with their authentic enthusiasm and care for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and us, their employees. In my first role at the company, I helped hundreds of small businesses implement sales and marketing automation when the concept of accomplishing such feats for small businesses was revolutionary. I leaned heavily on cubicle neighbors that taught me as I asked question after question, especially my first neighbor, Reyna Bovee – thank you.
But when I ran into tough questions my neighbors couldn’t answer, they’d direct me to Infusionsoft University recordings. What a resource! I watched and rewatched them, becoming familiar with trainers who didn’t know me at all, including Mychal Edelman and Greg Jenkins. Greg and I only overlapped at Infusionsoft for a short time, and Myke had transitioned to another team by the time I became an Infusionsoft University trainer. My wife worked with Myke on his new team, and I don’t think his name ever comes up at our house without her saying some version of, “he is just the best.”
Participating in Infusionsoft University was the highlight of my Infusionsoft/Keap experience, and I was keenly conscious of the fact that I was standing on the shoulders of giants as I delivered great curriculum that I did not develop, but only tweaked here and there to keep it up-to-date. My job was fun, and it had a huge impact. Still, I could sense that Infusionsoft University was past its peak, and that had something to do with the people who were no longer involved.
It blows my mind to think I left Infusionsoft after only two years, because I learned so much during so little time. After that, I spent a short time at Western Governors University as their Marketing Automation Manager, but quickly discovered I needed a small business environment, and found an opportunity at CrewTracks. By then, Greg Jenkins had developed an updated version of Infusionsoft/Keap training under his own brand and company, Monkeypod Marketing.
Mychal Edelman was still at Keap, a deep well of knowledge drawn upon by every part of the company. He acted as a resource for partners, spoke at events, answered questions for support, and, of course, continued training customers. When I attended my first Monkeypod Retreat, Myke was there, and I felt extremely lucky to have his time and attention. Myke has always truly cared about Keap customers and served them in any way he can. His email above is 100% sincere.
I won an award shortly after that retreat. I might have mentioned it somewhere previously. I have often credited Monkeypod and Greg Jenkins, and I still do, but here’s a little confession for you, Greg. I know you wanted that retreat to be bigger. I suspect you considered canceling it. The previous one and the next one were much bigger. But my ROI on that event was a giant check onstage in front of my family. And guess who was at the retreat, teaching me? And guess who was there again to celebrate with me and post on his Instagram?
Pause for eyes to clear… I’ll come back to this.
Monkeypod had become the go-to resource for Keap training for the masses, but you didn’t need Monkeypod if you had some of Myke’s time. I wasn’t privy to the conversations that resulted in the acquisition of Monkeypod courses by Keap, but I’m sure Myke was involved, and of course, Myke and Greg were key players behind making Keap Academy even better than Infusionsoft University ever was, with meticulously crafted online, on-demand courses, live virtual events, and live in-person events.
Back to Myke
Myke, I’m standing on your shoulders in that Instagram post, and you made me feel like a million bucks. Plus the check, that’s $1,005,000. Not bad. I knew we were friends, but I had watched hours of your Infusionsoft University trainings, and you were larger than life to me before we were friends. I still don’t use Instagram much, but I downloaded it that day just to get a screenshot of your post. Reggie Miller’s repost of my card collection is probably on iCloud somewhere, but I’ve kept this one from Mychal Edelman on hand for the last six years.
Keap users owe you a lot. You stayed “in the building” for 14 years, always with the customer’s interest at heart, somehow always able to maintain positive relationships with everyone, regardless of any unexpected pivot, momentary emergency, or assurgent concern. I envy and respect you for that.
For 14 years, your calming presence steadied the minds of Infusionites, Keapers, customers, users, partners, presenters, attendees, entrepreneurs, and anyone who sent an “Ask Us” video. Fourteen years, dude! That’s a long time!
We Love Myke
This blog post is my best attempt at the farewell you deserve. I wish you rest, a clear mind, and rejuvenation as you take a break and ponder your next moves. Enjoy time with your lovely wife, and be proud of the work you’ve done for thousands of grateful people like me. You deserve all the good things.
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