Treat Your Work Like a Living Process, Not a Finished Product…
10 thoughts, ideas & creative finds on on the future of business in the age of AI, your edge that can’t be copied, and the power of doing one thing with conviction.
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The Rundown 26: Your Greatest Advantage Isn’t What You Make, It’s Who You Are
The Rundown 27: The Game Isn’t Speed… It’s Depth
The Rundown 28: Substance is the Signal in a Noisy World
Hey Everyone,
Before I begin this week’s Rundown…
**I’m currently developing an All-in-One Notion Dashboard to help you streamline your creativity, productivity and income — so you can manage the technical, creative and financial aspect of your work easier. it's not just another project management tool or content calendar, but a complete operating system for the modern creative professional who needs to be both artistically fulfilled and commercially successful. You can join the waitlist here.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled program…
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 building with people who carry your mission — Do business with people you want to do life with. Create rooms that feel like home, not ones that require you to shrink to stay in them. Build tables that feed mission, not ego... those who get the why, not just the what. In the end, it's not who you worked with that will matter... it's who you built with and what you created together. (—Matt Gottesman) — Partnership is less about what someone can do, and more about what they believe. The most powerful collaborations aren’t built on credentials — they’re built on alignment. On mutual clarity, shared values, and a collective vision that’s bigger than either person alone. When you choose people who feel like home, who speak the same mission, and who walk in integrity — that’s when the work becomes legacy. In this new era, business isn’t separate from life. It is life.
On evolving creators and founders in the age of AI — “Naval said you need two types of co-founders: one who builds, and one who sells. But in this new era, you need a third — the one with taste, speed, and vision." (—video via @saasflash on Instagram) — The game is changing. AI is leveling the technical playing field. The prompts are public. The tools are accessible. What separates you now isn’t what you can build — it’s how well you can judge what’s worth building in the first place. In a world where everyone has the same machines, taste becomes leverage. Vision becomes speed. And intuition becomes strategy. You still need a builder. You still need a communicator. But more than ever, you need a curator — someone who sees the trends before they’re obvious, and knows which ones to skip. Because the future won’t be won by who builds first — it’ll be won by who builds what actually matters. PS — In this new era, you can also be all three.
On grit being your biggest competitive edge — “Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals… sticking with your future day in, day out — not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years.” (—Angela Duckworth via Project Tune) — We’re often told success depends on luck, IQ, or raw talent — but the truth is, none of that matters without staying power. Grit is what turns a spark into a legacy. It’s the ability to show up for your vision, even when no one’s clapping, watching, or believing just yet. It’s stamina for the soul. A commitment to the bigger picture, even when the results aren’t instant. This isn’t about burning out — it’s about holding your ground long enough to watch your work evolve and compound. In a world chasing shortcuts, grit is the rarest flex of all.
On the power of a simple idea, done exceptionally well — "Find a simple idea and take it seriously." (—Charlie Munger, via the story of Todd Graves) — In a world obsessed with complexity, speed, and trend-chasing, simplicity is often misunderstood as playing it small. But the truth is, it takes courage to go deep instead of wide. Todd Graves built an empire by doing one thing — and doing it better than anyone else. Not because it was flashy, but because it was focused. Because he didn’t dilute the mission. Because he trusted that consistency, craft, and clarity would win in the end. I always say: simple scales. If it’s too complicated to repeat, refine, or teach — it won’t last. But when you commit to one essential thing — and you do it with soul, precision, and devotion — it becomes unforgettable.
On honoring the evolution of your work — “Everything big started small” — In a recent podcast I talked about the power of humble beginnings, how some of the biggest brands on the planet started off as a completely different business, embracing your own evolution, overcoming initial failures, the role of visionary leadership, being adaptable and more — My latest podcast on this can be found here (APPLE, SPOTIFY)
On the courage to start over, again and again — "Creating anything great requires zero to one… and that means going back to zero. And that’s really painful and hard to do." (—Naval Ravikant on Modern Wisdom) — The greatest artists, innovators, and founders all share one trait: they're willing to begin again. Not because they have to — but because they know the most authentic, powerful work is born in the unknown. It’s tempting to cling to what worked. To stay comfortable in past success. But that’s how stagnation begins. Reinvention requires humility. Starting over requires trust. You have to back yourself again and again — not for applause, but for alignment. I’ve had to “start over” countless of times and I learned that you’re always starting from experience more so than anything else. The truth is: the ones who keep evolving aren’t afraid to go back to zero. Because they know that zero is where the real power starts.
On following the curiosity no one else understands — “What are you excessively curious about? Curious to a degree that would bore most other people… That’s as good of a bet as you’ll find.” (—via Founders Podcast) — The things you’re obsessed with — the ideas you’d study, write about, test, and build even if no one paid attention — those are clues. Clues to your niche, your gift, your lane. Most people overlook them because they’re not loud or obvious. But that’s the point. You’re not here to chase what everyone’s doing — you’re here to honor what everyone else is ignoring. If you're willing to go deep where others stay shallow — and you have the experience to see what they can't — you’ve already found your edge. Curiosity isn't a distraction. It’s divine direction.
On making art to disrup, not just performs — “Art is supposed to disrupt the system. If it supports the system, it’s an advertisement.” (—via @creativedebuts on IG) — True art doesn’t exist to blend in — it exists to challenge, awaken, and reimagine what’s possible. If it doesn’t confront something — a norm, a narrative, a system — it’s not pushing culture forward… it’s just echoing what already exists. There’s a quiet pressure in today’s digital world to make art that’s palatable, brand-safe, algorithm-approved. But the work that moves us — the kind that stays long after the scroll — is almost always the work that was too honest, too raw, too real to play it safe. Don’t be afraid to create work that confronts, questions, or contradicts. That’s not rebellion for the sake of rebellion — that’s honor in expression. Not everything should be built for mass appeal. Some things are made to be remembered.
On treating the internet like a playground, not a podium — “For maximum surface area and serendipity, treat the internet like a notebook, not a printing press.” (—via Jack Butcher) — The moment you stop treating your work like a finished product and start treating it like a living process, everything opens up. Creativity becomes lighter. Consistency becomes easier. Opportunities become more aligned. You don’t need to perfect your message before you publish — you need to refine your message by publishing. That’s how you build resonance and range. The internet isn’t just a distribution tool — it’s a discovery engine. Not just for others to find you, but for you to find yourself through the work. Think out loud. Test in public. Share the draft. That’s where clarity lives — not in waiting, but in the showing up.
Playlist — Chill Living Room Playlist | Cozy Relaxing Kitchen Set — Another great playlist from Flavour Trip on YouTube @flavourtrip of Chill House to work to… great for creating, designing, writing, computer work.
Treat Your Work Like a Living Process, Not a Finished Product…
What we’re really building isn’t just content, or products, or brands.
We’re building a rhythm. A creative ecosystem that grows as we do.
And the ones who last — the ones who stay aligned, inspired, and impactful — aren’t the ones who rush to perfect.
They’re the ones who stay present with the process.
Who treat each post, each pivot, each release as part of a longer dialogue with their purpose.
This week was a reminder:
You don’t need to have it all figured out.
You just need to keep showing up with clarity, with curiosity, with courage.
Let your work breathe. Let it evolve. Let it teach you who you are becoming.
Because what you’re building isn’t just a brand.
It’s a life… in motion.
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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Okay, the second point got me for a sec. What a relief that vision = speed but not speed lol. The more “urgent” I try to create, the worse it gets so glad that’s clarified, phew!
“Great work is never finished, only abandoned.” Flaubert gets me - and clearly, you do too.