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Matt Hogan's Blog Posts

The Modern Day Chicken Or Egg…

Published on June 28, 2024

When it comes to building an online business, what comes first, the product or the audience?

…Which feels a lot like what came first, the chicken or the egg? And I have no idea how to answer that one.

But, when it comes to the former question, build your audience first, and you’ll more likely appeal to a general demographic that has a more broad taste in product. Plus, you’ll probably be more focused on trends, fads, and broad appeal (for virality probability) which, by definition, will only grow your more general following. And when you try to build a general product to appeal to that general audience, it’ll invariably blend in with the countless others.

Build your product first, and you’ll have a much better idea of who you want to target for your audience. Plus, when you build your product first, you get to build it for you. My opinion is that the internet is incomprehensibly massive and there’s undoubtedly a niche of people who would love your product—once you know what it is and invest the time and energy required to build it beautifully and pack it with value.

What we don’t need are more general products that appeal to general audiences. What we need are people who have done the inner work and have come alive inside to create a product that they themselves would be thrilled to buy, that they can then start telling their (specific) people about.

The product, in my opinion, should come first.

P.s. These are the two products I’ve built so far. Number three is on its way. :)

Give More Credit To What’s Within

Published on June 27, 2024

At what point do we stop seeking answers from others and start seeking answers within ourselves?

It feels to me like most people only turn towards their inner guidance once they’ve exhausted answers from the outside world.

Which, to me, feels backwards in most cases.

If you’re dealing with a life threatening illness or building a home from scratch or fighting a legal battle, then of course, seek answers from those who are professionally suited to solve those problems.

But, when you’re dealing with inner or interpersonal problems… the best strategy might be to seek answers from within until those are exhausted and then turn to the ideas of others.

Like when it comes to health… you probably know what you need to do… get serious and exhaust all those ideas first.

Or when it comes to relationships… they can get complicated… but they can also be simplified and I bet your inner guidance might know how to do that.

Or when it comes to career… the pressure to earn coupled with the exponential number of paths can make choosing overwhelming… and consulting others can convolute it even more… but take a good look within… and it’ll quickly become more and more evident which path(s) are best suited for you.

In most cases, I don’t think we give our inner wisdom enough credit. And with that lack of faith for what’s within, we don’t give it enough time or energy. And so we rely more and more on the information that pours in through our devices… but, this noise only further disrupts the pond of our mind.

Let it settle, listen a little closer, and you’ll soon see.

Become The Ocean

Published on June 26, 2024

“If you don’t become the ocean, you’ll be seasick every day.”

Leonard Cohen

Try and sail forward without consideration or respect for the almighty waves and winds and depths of the ocean—and you’ll undoubtedly lose.

There is no straight line across an ocean just like there is no straight line across life.

And the more you try and force a straight line or fight the ocean’s almighty currents… the quicker you’ll fatigue, get “seasick,” and fail.

As it is in water: the harder you fight the greater the resistance—so, too, is it in life.

So, don’t fight the ocean and don’t fight life—surrender instead.

And no, I don’t mean give up or quit. Surrender to the forces of the ocean—the forces of life—and learn to align with those forces so you can more smoothly flow.

Learn how to set your sails so the wind is always at your back. Learn how to steer your ship so that the power of the waves is either split down the middle (and mitigated) or aligned with the direction you’re heading anyway. Learn how to rest and recover so that your energy levels are always replenished and ready to be deployed on even the stormiest of days.

In short: learn how to become one with the ocean, as opposed to being a rebellious little ship.

P.s. The above quote was my inner work prompt for the day. What comes to mind for you when you read that quote?

Mastery Is Not An End

Published on June 25, 2024

Eight years ago, on this day, I tested for my 4th degree black belt in ITF Tae Kwon-Do—the rank of master in our martial arts system.

The title “master” can mean many different things to many different people and there were plenty of schools of thought and opinions that were passed along my way that helped me uncover my own.

To me, this step is similar to the step that’s taken when a young person graduates from school and enters “the real world;” when the child moves out of their parents’ house and learns to provide for themselves; when the sheltered homebody is sent off on a worldly adventure to learn how to make it on their own.

What I see in that title is a symbolic shift in responsibility from being a student within the school to being a student of the arts. From being a dependent on the teachers’ knowledge to being an independent seeker of knowledge. From being a disciplined practitioner to being a self-disciplined ambassador and leader.

Look at it as an ending… and you’ll quickly lose the habits and skillsets that got you there in the first place.

As it is with any skillset that’s “mastered” in life.

Mastery doesn’t represent an end to learning.

It doesn’t represent an end to training.

And it definitely doesn’t represent an end to what can be uncovered within the art(s).

Mastery, as is the case with every stage along our journey, should be looked at as yet another beginning. One that should be taken with an increased sense of responsibility, a heightened sense of pride, and a stronger than ever devotion to realizing one’s potential.

Onward.

You Parties

Published on June 24, 2024

I’ve been remembering lately how I used to crash on my bed at the end of a long day and scroll through my social timelines for 30 minutes to an hour each night before falling asleep.

…And how that isn’t even a thought that occurs to me anymore.

Now, it’s always either crash on my bed at the end of a long day and read or crash on my bed at the end of a long day and sleep.

And what an incredible victory worth celebrating that is.

One that, let me tell you, I haven’t really celebrated at all.

It was a challenge that I worked hard to integrate into my lifestyle that slowly, slowly, became a part of my lifestyle which, by definition, meant it was something I didn’t have to think about once it was established.

Upon reflection, I realized that I focused on other things I wanted to challenge and change about my lifestyle instead.

…And so it goes in life, eh?

If we always only think about what we’re lacking, not doing, or could be doing better… we’ll always feel bad about where we are—if we even remember to think about where we are at all.

Which isn’t to say thinking about how we can grow is bad… it’s just to remind you to balance it with some gratitude and awareness for how far you’ve come and to throw a little party for yourself every now and again.

I mean, seriously…when’s the last time you threw a little party for yourself, eh?

There Isn’t Much Time Left

Published on June 23, 2024

…To unleash all that you are inside.

Each day that passes that doesn’t involve you realizing more of your potential, sharing your unique gifts, expressing yourself more authentically, and/or connecting more deeply with others is a day that fades to black in the timeline of your life.

…A day that vanishes from your memory.

…A day that never makes it to your eulogoy.

…A day that may only permeate into the well of your regret.

There isn’t much time left.

Do something today that’ll help you realize all that you are inside.

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

Simplify People Gatherings

Published on June 23, 2024

Don’t complicate people gatherings.

Time… place… a thing or two to do…

And let the magical depth of our incomprehensible existences express themselves and connect (once again) for a while.

So much of the loneliness we feel can be solved by simplifying our formula.

Inner Work Prompt: What’s a problem in your life that’s being made worse by complication? How can you simplify your approach?