Leaving the business I spent 12 years building was terrifying. Tens of thousands of hours mastering that craft — and I walked away.
By Christopher Hamze · Archived October 2, 2026
Leaving the business I spent 12 years building was terrifying.
Tens of thousands of hours mastering that craft — and I walked away.
Because I was stuck. I knew I'd hit my ceiling.
So I bet on myself and started over in a brand new industry. Before Izzi's Gym, I'd never even owned a Pokémon card.
16 months later:
→ Over $5M in sales
→ 1,200+ packages shipped every month
→ A partnership with PSA
→ A retail store expanded to 20,000+ sq ft
→ A FREE event that drew over 10,000 people
If you're stuck and you know it — bet on yourself.
Take the chance on something new.