Skip to content

Matt Hogan's Blog Posts

Don’t Expect Linear In Life

Published on May 2, 2025

The slogan I’ve been using to brand MoveMe Quotes since 2010 has been, “Motivating you to keep moving forward—the only direction!”

The idea being that there’s always a way to learn, grow, and improve from any given life situation… all you need is the right mindset, perspective, and/or framework… which is what MMQ aims to provide…

Today, I uploaded a quote to MoveMe Quotes that read, “I finally found my rhythm when I realized that even the steps backwards were a part of the dance.”

And the more I live out my life, the more this latter idea of living life as a dance feels appropriate.

I think too many people try to live their life linearly… and go from one life milestone to the next with the expectation of it going smoothly, gracefully, and according to plan.

But, the plan that society brands into our mind is this misconception that linear is the way forward… or that forward should always be the only direction we should head… and maybe my slogan has contributed to that…

But, life is not linear. Life will never be without its fair share of obstacles, challenges, and setbacks. Life will never always be forward.

But… what we can always keep moving forward… is the dance of our life.

So long as we keep swaying our hips… stepping spontaneously to the beat of this life’s drum… and surrender to the rhythm and flow of our inner guidance…

How could we not always keep moving forward?

Handholds Will ALWAYS Be Needed

Published on May 1, 2025

Phil Stutz once said, “Your relationships are like handholds to let yourself get pulled back into life.”

And the thing about relationships, connection, and authentic human interaction… is that it can’t be replaced by automations, programming, or AI.

We humans will always need these handholds to keep us pulled back into life.

And if you can take a little initiative in your life to offer those around you some of those handholds… you will always be valued and cherished in your circle and our society.

Do You Do Enough Of This?

Published on April 29, 2025

All great relationships are built from great conversations.

All great conversations are built from great questions.

All great questions are built from a great curiosity and introspection.

Ask some of the people you know some great, open-ended questions.

Reinvest time, energy, and effort into the ones who have great thought-provoking answers and follow up with some of their own great questions.

This is the foundational strategy for building great (better) relationships in your life.

Why Are We Rushing?

Published on April 28, 2025

Almost everything is made better when we slow down.

The quality of our work is made better when we slow down.

The comprehension of any learning material is better when we slow down.

The connection made with another person is stronger when we slow down.

The understanding of our inner world becomes more apparent when we slow down.

The presence we might feel when traveling is more pronounced when we slow down.

Which begs the question… why are we rushing all of time?

P.s. ICYMI you can read the best of what I posted to MoveMe Quotes last week here.

Actions And Words

Published on April 27, 2025

Yes, actions are better than words (mostly).

But, that operates under the assumption that you can only pick one.

…Because you know what’s better than just actions?

Actions and words.

Is It A Big Deal Though?

Published on April 27, 2025

A lot happens on earth in a day.

I remember feeling equal parts awe struck as I did mind blown when I watched One Day On Earth.

In one day… somebody is giving birth… somebody is learning how to ride a bike… somebody is shaving with their dad for the first time… somebody is farming crops… somebody is killing a cow… somebody is hugging their mom or dad… somebody is feeling hopelessness… somebody is feeling grace… somebody is traveling to a new part of the world for the first time… somebody is making love… somebody is performing in front of an audience… somebody is closing their eyes into death…

When we have a zooming out experience like this…

And can really absorb the scale of the human experience…

It might help us remember that the things we’re complaining about… overthinking… and hyperfocused on and making into a big deal…

…Maybe isn’t and aren’t.

Invest More Into Building Soft Skills

Published on April 25, 2025

I can teach you martial arts… but I can’t teach you passion.

I can teach you how to teach… but I can’t teach you humor, warmth, and initiative.

I can teach you what to say when you make a call… but I can’t teach you to care about the person on the other line.

Sure, I might be able to say a few things about passion, humor, warmth, initiative, and care… but the thing about each of those is that they aren’t learned from the outside-in… they’re learned from the inside-out.

Meaning, you have to learn for yourself what ignites your passion, what tickles your humor, what warms your compassionate side, what makes you want to go above and beyond, and what makes you actually give a damn about the work you’re doing…

Because what it is for me isn’t the same as what it’ll be for you.

Martial arts? A block is a block and a strike is a strike—for both me and you.

Teaching? Pedagogy is pedagogy and subject matter is subject matter—for both me and you.

Following scripts? Reading from scripts is reading from scripts—for both me and you.

Learning hard skills is black-and-white. And the thing about black-and-white skills is that it’s black-and-white for everybody.

But soft skills? Soft skills are a giant gray spectrum. And what can really make you stand out in today’s overpopulated, hyper competitive, AI evolving world… is a higher landing on that giant gray spectrum.

…Invest more into building soft skills.