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Matt Hogan's Blog Posts

Everything Is Fine

Published on October 19, 2022

My car was recently up for inspection.

It drove fine. Oil and fluids were good. No suspicious noises or lights. It wasn’t pulling in any direction…

Taking it in felt like a waste of time.

But, when I did, lo’ and behold… my brakes were shot.

They needed to be replaced immediately.

This is why we do maintenance checks EVEN WHEN everything feels fine.

Because we might catch and address things before they’re definitely not fine.

And in case you didn’t catch it… this post has nothing to do with cars.

P.s. I’m on a mission to help busy people do inner work—so that they can live better lives. If these daily pieces have impacted you, you can support my ongoing work here. ☕️

The Space Between A Line And 66 Hours

Published on October 18, 2022

Seth Godin pointed out that even the longest biography is only 66 hours on audio… which means the author has to leave out almost everything.

What’s more, is that when it comes time for people to reflect on you and your life, they will likely summarize who you were and what you stood for in a line or two.

That’s right… decades and decades of life… in a mere line of words.

…Nobody is reading a 66 hour biography at a remembrance of your life.

This space, between a line and 66 hours of audio, is the space you have to fill with legacy.

Those who plug their ears and “la-la-la” this thought are usually the ones who end up with regrets and a “mismatched” legacy.

Those who do the hard work of picking out their “line or two” now and use it as a guidepost for the rest of their life… are usually the ones who live lives that stand out—the kind that are deliberate, aligned, and inspiring.

Ask yourself: What do you hope people would say about you? What do you hope they would write? What do you want to be remembered for in one breath of words?

Now is the time to figure it out—while you’re alive and still have a say. Pick your legacy, embody it, and let your actions paint the picture of your legacy that’ll inspire thousands of words to follow. Live your masterpiece life.

P.s. Want to read more on legacy? Read my personal collection of 100+ quotes and resources on legacy here.

The Key To A New Reality

Published on October 17, 2022

The key that unlocks a more beautiful outer reality is cut within… Never without.

You can keep trying to jab the current key (that is your perception) into reality and try to force it to turn—but, I’m afraid it’ll be about as useful as shoving your car key into your house’s front door lock.

The only key that’ll open the front door to your house is the key that was specifically cut to open it.

And until you get a new key cut, one that can open a different door to a different house (reality), it’s the only reality you can count on seeing.

How do you cut a new key, you ask?

Well, by doing inner work, of course.

The kind of work that cuts through the noise, distractions, and busywork—and with a fine blade of attention, challenges the rigidity of our current conditioning, beliefs, and thought patterns against those of others (found in books/ podcasts/ videos)… until a new edge on the key is created.

…And a new key is formed.

P.s. In case you missed it, you can read the best of what I posted to MoveMe Quotes last week, here.

How Would You Coach You?

Published on October 15, 2022

A question I’ve been chewing on lately:

“If I was coaching me what uncomfortable questions would I ask myself and (the important part) push myself to answer?”

Because ultimately, this is what many of the best coaches do. Why? Because we’re much more likely to believe the things we tell ourselves over the things others tell us.

And a good coach knows, if they can get you to say to yourself what they were just going to straight up tell you… their message will be far more likely to stick.

And how does one do this? By asking the right questions.

So, why not sit yourself down, get yourself a cup of coffee, put on some noise-cancelling headphones, and give it a shot yourself?

Even 15 minutes can completely alter the direction of your life.

Or… you could pay someone thousands and they could do it for you? Or… you could just not do it at all?

As always… growth in life will always be a personal choice.

The point I want to make is: the choice to grow is closer (and less expensive) than you might think.

P.s. Got any good questions that have led to noteworthy personal growth? Send a reply. I’d love to hear them.

La-La-La

Published on October 14, 2022

As soon as you stop doing inner work, ego wins control.

The problem with ego winning is:

  • Ego is instant gratification driven
  • Ego will fight at all costs for its comfort zone
  • Ego likes plug-your-ears-la-la-la as a solution to problems

Inner work challenges each of these tendencies and asks important questions. Things like:

  • “Is this really all I’m capable of?”
  • “Is comfort the purpose of my life?”
  • “Will I look back and be proud of these decisions?”

And if you’re not sure who’s in control upstairs, go ahead and try answering those questions for yourself.

Are you steered towards “La-la-la” or intrigue?

You might be surprised.

P.s. I asked, “What is it exactly that makes your best friend your best friend?” Here are the answers. A great place to linger if you’d like to build more solid relationships in your life.

What’s Enough?

Published on October 13, 2022

I have access to:

  • More books than I could ever read
  • More art than I could ever fully absorb
  • More nature than I could ever “bathe” in
  • More amazing people than I could ever meet
  • More beautiful food and health facilities than I could ever need

If that’s not enough, then I don’t know what is.

Looking for a good read? Check out my library of books that I’ve uploaded quotes from. You might even find your next favorite read…? :)