The Vision You're Building Isn’t Supposed To Be Rushed… It’s Supposed To Shape You
10 thoughts, ideas & creative finds on building with discipline, risking perception, and trusting the quiet momentum
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The Rundown — Here’s what I found over the course of this week that has helped me, inspired me or gave me some creative pushes…
On discipline as devotion, not performance — “Discipline isn’t about perfection… it’s about stewardship. Don’t confuse it with hustle… this is holy work.” (—Matt Gottesman) — The world has tried to sell us discipline as a form of control… a rigid routine measured by how much we produce or how fast we go. But real discipline isn’t loud or rushed. It’s quiet. Intentional. Sacred. It’s the daily decision to keep showing up for what you were called to… even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed. True discipline looks like staying faithful to your process when no one’s watching, saying yes to purpose when pleasure would be easier, and trusting movement before certainty. It’s not about optimizing every minute… it’s about honoring every step. Especially the ones no one sees.
On risking perception to protect your passion — “People say baseball was a failed opportunity… but for me, it was the best thing that could’ve happened." (—Michael Jordan on playing baseball) — In a world addicted to outcomes, Michael Jordan reminds us that the real win is internal alignment. His pivot to baseball wasn’t about stats — it was about soul. Stepping away gave him deeper gratitude, a refined perspective, and a stronger return to his purpose. Too often we sacrifice passion to preserve perception. But sometimes the detour is what gives you back the fire. You’re not here to maintain appearances. You’re here to grow into the kind of person who can hold your calling with more reverence. Jordan didn’t fail. He recalibrated. (Video via improve_daily11 on IG)
On effort and the myth of ease — “If you bypass effort, you’re bypassing any meaningful results.” (— Sarah Snow) — In an age obsessed with effortless everything — effortless productivity, creativity, output — Sarah’s words are a grounded reminder that the real work still asks for all of you. What the world applauds as ease is often the byproduct of unseen hours, midnight edits, and a deep devotion to excellence. The question isn’t how to make it easier. It’s: Are you willing to show up fully? Not just for the result… but for the sacred act of making.
On the creator economy not being oversaturated — it’s just early — "We are still in the early innings of the rising creator. The truth is, there’s so much more room than people think… the platforms just haven’t caught up to it yet… The demand hasn’t disappeared — it’s just waiting for more people to take themselves seriously as creators." (—Oren John) — Everyone’s saying the gold rush is over. Too many creators. Too much content. No more money. But the math tells a different story. TV ads? Still a $100B industry. Billboards and bus stop posters? $10B+. News media (even in its zombie state)? $70B+. These ad dollars haven’t disappeared… they just haven’t migrated yet. The opportunity isn’t gone — it hasn’t even properly arrived. And when it does, it’s not going to agencies or networks. It’s going to individuals. It’s going to creators. We haven’t hit the ceiling. We haven’t even cracked the surface. This era isn’t oversaturated — it’s under-allocated.
On not abandoning your work too soon — “The work will work… if you stop abandoning it too soon” — In a recent podcast I I explored the quiet power of staying with what’s real even when it gets uncomfortable. I talked about being patient as the external catches up to the internal, the difference between misalignment and growing pains, why pivots made too early can break momentum, and how your vision often needs your presence more than your edits. Sometimes the breakthrough isn’t in doing more — it’s in not walking away. — My latest podcast on this can be found here (APPLE, SPOTIFY)
On redefining work through joy — "If I’m doing something I enjoy, then I’m already in perpetual retirement… because work is just a set of things you have to do that you don’t want to do. So if you want to do it, it’s not work." (—Naval Ravikant on Modern Wisdom) — We often talk about escaping the 9–5 or reaching financial freedom, but Naval flips the equation: what if the freedom begins when you choose the work you’d do even if it didn’t pay you? In this clip, he speaks to a deeper liberation — one where fulfillment isn’t delayed for a future retirement, but embedded in your present reality. This isn’t about laziness or luxury. It’s about alignment. When the work energizes you, you’re not escaping life… you’re engaging it more fully. Watch the full clip here.
On why your next idea might be the breakthrough — “The next thing you create could change your life.” (—Anonymous) — Most people overthink their way out of momentum. They get caught in perfectionism, comparison, or the false belief that it’s “not ready yet.” But the truth is, you never know which piece of work becomes the catalyst — the one that connects, converts, or completely shifts your trajectory. That post, that pitch, that product… it might feel small to you, but it might be the moment everything changes. The game isn’t about control. It’s about consistency. Don’t underestimate the power of the next thing you put into the world. Create it anyway. Share it anyway. Your future might be waiting on the other side of that publish button.
On aligning with what you want before you feel ready — “Three fundamental truths. One, you need to ask yourself, what is it that you truly want so clarity becomes part of your process? Two, you cannot walk into what you want unless what you do aligns with it. And three, the things or people that are good for you require you to show up even when you're not that person yet.” (—Matt Gottesman) — Clarity isn’t just a mindset… it’s movement. It’s a decision to become the version of you that’s already walking in alignment, even when the path feels bigger than your current capacity. Your next level isn’t waiting for you to “arrive.” It’s activated by your willingness to start. You want direction? Start with clarity. You want alignment? Let your actions reflect your desired reality. You want growth? Show up before you feel fully formed. That’s how the future meets you — mid-stride.
On the mindset of “just getting started — “If you don't think you're just getting started, you're already finished.” (—Jack Butcher) — People often compliment where you are, not realizing you’re already building where you’re going. That’s the gift of vision—it humbles you. Because when your work is tied to something bigger than you, there’s no finish line. Just the next layer of refinement, the next level of obedience, the next expression of what God has entrusted you to carry. Staying in a “just getting started” mindset doesn’t minimize your progress—it multiplies your potential. It keeps you sharp, curious, and aligned with purpose over pride. So no matter how far you’ve come, keep showing up like it’s day one… because with God, it always is.
Playlist — Chillout Jazz House Music Mix — A great playlist from FlavourTrip on YouTube @flavourtrip of Chill House to work to… great for creating, designing, writing, computer work.
The Vision You're Building Isn’t Supposed To Be Rushed… It’s Supposed To Shape You…
Not just the outcomes… but the in-between.
Not just the launch… but the longevity.
Not just the result… but the refinement.
The work isn’t just a means to success… it’s the vehicle for your evolution.
Every time you stay in it… even when it’s quiet, uncomfortable, or unseen… you’re honoring the gift you were given and growing into the person it’s calling you to become.
Keep going.
Keep creating.
Keep showing up like you're just getting started.
Because the work isn’t testing your ability…
It’s training your becoming.
The niche is you.
Until next week,
– Matt
P.S. If you found value in this week's insights, consider sharing this post with someone who might need this reminder about the power of individuality. ↙️
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'Because when your work is tied to something bigger than you, there’s no finish line. Just the next layer of refinement, the next level of obedience, the next expression of what God has entrusted you to carry.' 🔥💎🙏🏻
“The real work still asks for all of you”… that’s a bar.
I think a lot of people chase ease too early. The effort part is what makes the ease sustainable — otherwise it just slips into avoidance.