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Matt Hogan's Blog Posts

I Was Here [Poem]

Published on November 4, 2025

I took a picture
Of a mountain today
I don’t know why

To capture permanently
Light rendered
Off converged rock

To share socially
Document something
Get likes, impress, hype myself up 

Or maybe because
Everybody else was
And looking was pressured; timed

“Can you get the whole mountain, please?”
“Try one the other way.”
“Ew, the angle—get another shot.”

What does this mountain mean to me?
Will it ever mean anything to me?
…Is this even for me?

I don’t know why
I took a picture
Of a mountain today

But I guess I’ll leave it
Maybe one day I’ll remember
That at the very least

…I was here.

P.s. You can read my other poems here.

Character Review Score

Published on November 1, 2025

One of the best things you can do for a business (outside of giving them your business) is leave them a positive review.

This is one of the—if not the—top criteria people who have never been to the business use to determine whether or not to come.

Only a small percentage of people will actually leave a review… but everybody, at the least, subconsciously reviews everything all the time.

And each of those reviews adds up to what society might say is the businesses success at doing business.

Think about how this might relate to you.

While we aren’t getting physically reviewed, per se, we’re always getting, at the very least, subconsciously reviewed.

And each of those reviews adds up to what society might say is the person’s ability to contribute.

And not just from a value add perspective (like running a business that adds more societal value than what it charges)—I mean from a character perspective.

Are you averaging a high score from all of the positive interactions you’re having with all of those whom you cross paths with throughout your day? Or are you averaging a low one?

The goal with this exercise isn’t to get you thinking that every interaction should be transactional and with the goal of eliciting a great review.

The goal should be to get you thinking about how you treat those who can’t do anything for you… the overwhelming number of people you cross paths with on a daily basis whom you don’t even consciously notice… the people who trigger and irritate you, etc…

…What would you say your overall average review score is?

Streaks and “X’s” > Pounds

Published on October 30, 2025

Remember that the ultimate test of a personal development system is what you do about it on your worst days—not your best ones.

Meaning don’t measure progress in how you performed when you were feeling well rested, motivated, and excited… measure progress on whether or not you showed up when you were exhausted, irritable, and over it.

Personal development is measured better in streaks and “x’s” on a calendar over pounds on a bar or lost on a scale. Get this right… and the rest will take care of itself.

It Could Be Worse

Published on October 28, 2025

Boyyyyy… could it be worse.

But, you already know this… Here’s why I bring it up: you know that expression, “A dollar saved is a dollar earned”?

Think about your life situation in a similar lens: “A worse situation avoided is a better situation earned.”

Because when things are rough… sometimes the only thing we can control is our perspective… and if you can imagine all of the ways your situation could’ve been worse… and in fact, isn’t… then maybe—just maybe—it’ll help you make your situation feel better.

Because when you feel better—you’ll act and perform better.

…And that’s the first step towards actually making things better.

Good luck.

The Simple Addition Of Good

Published on October 27, 2025

There are opportunities for good in everything we do.

  • We could go for a walk. Or we could go for a walk with a trash bag and pick up street garbage along the way.
  • We could post a selfie. Or we could comment thoughtful and kind things on other people’s selfies/posts.
  • We could make dinner for ourselves. Or we could make a little extra for our neighbors.
  • We could do our job and leave. Or we could do a little extra and help another employee out.
  • We could have a party and spoil ourselves. Or we could have a party with a purpose and point resources/efforts towards a charity or cause.
  • We could read a book. Or we could read a book and start a conversation, share our favorite insights/quotes throughout, or lend it to someone who you think would really benefit from reading it.

This isn’t to say you should always do things in this way.

…Sometimes, you just need to go for a damn walk or read the damn book.

But other times… what you might really be missing, that you might not even realize, is this simple addition of good in these tasks you’re already doing daily.

…The opportunity is already there. All it takes is a pinch of added intention.

Befriend Feeling Bad

Published on October 27, 2025

It’s good to feel bad, without it, there would be no cause for you to push back for good.

I felt unhealthy this week, for example, and it made me feel bad. But it made me push back and I had an extra healthy grocery shopping trip for this upcoming week.

I’ve been missing my evening reading time because I’ve been going to bed so late and I’ve felt bad about it. But I can feel the push to get back on track with it as the book I’m reading stares me down each night I climb into bed without giving it any attention.

I felt bad about judging a homeless person in a restaurant. But, after listening to how a mother spoke to him and listened to him and helped him, it gave me cause to push back on that reflex and do better.

The point is, don’t excuse/ suppress/ or ignore feeling bad about things—befriend that feeling. Use it to magnify the energy and effort you’ll devote towards pushing back for the good.

Like Pavlov’s Dogs

Published on October 26, 2025

Years ago I read Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants To Be by Steven Pressfield.

Today, I was reminded that when I sit in my work chair, my mind modes to work; when I sit on my couch, my mind modes to relax and unwind; and when I sit on my home office chair, my mind modes to reading, writing, and meditating.

The premise of the above mentioned book is exactly this: create a sacred space where only one type of task or theme of tasks happens. Then, like Pavlov’s dogs, all you need to do is sit your ass in that space and your mind will mode accordingly.

…An excellent strategy if you are hours deep into a mindless couch slump and you need to get some work done. Just tell your mind you’re just going to sit in a different space and see what happens. And if you’ve done your conditioning correct, the rest will take care of itself.

P.s. Here are 10 of my favorite quotes from Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants To Be.