Your Obsessions Aren’t Distractions — They’re Signposts to the Work Only You Can Do
10 thoughts, ideas & creative finds on trusting your lane, honoring your gifts, and building with conviction in a world chasing speed
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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,
Welcome to The Rundown — where each week I share the insights, ideas, and creative finds that have shaped my work and mindset.
This month, I’m kicking off a new quarterly challenge inside The Niche Is You community — designed to help you refine your work, build more intentionally, and create with conviction.
If you want to connect deeper, join the workshops, or be part of the live challenge, you can learn more »CLICK HERE«. Would love to have you in the room.
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 the power of who you surround yourself with — Surround yourself with builders… the creators, the doers, the makers. The ones who dream vividly, move intentionally, and create relentlessly. They remind you it’s safe to step beyond comfort zones and forge paths labeled 'uncertain.' They’re your mirrors and motivators, your challengers and cheerleaders. And they’ll make you meet your higher self… again and again… and again. (—Matt Gottesman) — We often hear that your network is your net worth, but it’s deeper than that. The right people don’t just expand your reach — they expand your vision. They reflect back your highest self when you can’t see it, challenge you when you get complacent, and remind you why you started when the path gets murky. In a world that’s constantly pulling you towards noise, surrounding yourself with those who move with purpose is like building a fortress for your potential. Stay close to those who see what you’re capable of — not just what you’re currently doing.
On creating unreasonable success through volume— “Figure out what you want, ignore the opinions of others, and do so much volume that it would be unreasonable that you would be unsuccessful." (——Alex Hormozi on the Jack Kneel Podcast) — Hormozi’s advice isn’t about hustle — it’s about sheer presence. It’s about committing so fully to your work that the sheer weight of what you put out into the world becomes undeniable. Not every piece will be perfect. Not every moment will be viral. But when you focus on showing up consistently, the volume becomes the proof. It becomes the evidence of your vision, your grit, and your dedication. And when you’re willing to let the work speak for itself, you no longer need permission. You just need to keep pressing publish.
On finding your gift in the “noise” — “Your gift is what comes easy to you that’s hard for most… but if you’ve lost sight of it, maybe it’s time to clean up the clutter and go back to what you’re supposed to be doing.” (— David Shands via Social Proof Podcast) — Gifts aren’t something you have to beg for — they’re something you were given. But like the Oculus gathering dust in the closet that David mentioned, sometimes we forget the very thing we asked for. We bury it under distraction, busyness, or fear. The problem isn’t that you don’t have a gift. It’s that you’ve let everything else pile up around it. Start clearing space. Revisit what felt natural before the world told you to be “practical.” Your gift isn’t lost — it’s just waiting for you to make room for it again.
On not expecting support from those who don’t see the vision — ""If you wanna live a life that's bigger than anybody you currently know, it’s unreasonable to expect them to understand what you're doing." (—Dan Martell) — You’re telling people you’re going to do something they’ve never done, and you’re wondering why they don’t get it. They’re not supposed to. To them, it sounds impossible. To you, it sounds like purpose. If you’re waiting for validation from those who haven’t walked the path, you’re giving away your power. The ones who call you crazy today might call you genius tomorrow — but only if you keep moving forward without their approval. Let them stay where they are. Your lane was never meant to make sense to them.
On your work not just funding your life, but feeding it too — “Your work should not just fund your life, it should feed your life. Build something that aligns with your deepest curiosities, not what chases validation from the crowd.
Your obsessions aren't distractions. They're signposts to the work only you can do... the work that makes you irreplaceable. Build what feels like home, not what forces you to shrink.” — In a recent podcast I talked about why “aligned” work will be more lucrative and profitable for you, how to identify work that feeds you not just funds you, auditing your current work, designing your day, building a “feed me first” schedule, realigning your priorities to fit the lifestyle you really want and more — My latest podcast on this can be found here (APPLE, SPOTIFY)
On running your race so well you forget there are other lanes — "Winners forget they’re in a race. They just love to run. They don’t count the laps, chase the clock, or wait for the applause." (—designedbystellar on Instagram) — That’s the irony of real mastery — the ones who go the furthest aren’t fixated on the finish line. They’re lost in the craft. They’re too absorbed in the work to notice who’s ahead or behind. And while everyone else is sprinting to keep up, they’re pacing themselves to last. Because the real win isn’t in crossing the line first — it’s in becoming the person who doesn’t need the race to prove they’re already there.
On creating algorithm-free spaces where real connection happens — “There’s a big shift happening in social media right now, and it isn’t being tracked by an algorithm. People are exhausted from algorithm burnout and are moving to spaces where they can control who they hear from.” (—Sam Ogborn) — For years, we gave away our attention to platforms that turned our connections into products and our presence into data points. But now, people are waking up. They’re craving real conversations, spaces where the signal isn’t diluted by noise and where their interactions aren’t gamified by algorithms. Substack, group chats, private memberships — these are the places where people are reclaiming their attention and choosing what matters to them. And that’s exactly why I started The Niche Is You. More recently, I opened up spaces for deeper conversations — a private community for creators, founders, and builders who value depth over clicks. It’s where we connect behind the scenes, do workshops, and hang out with people who are building from intention, not just for metrics. If that feels aligned, you’re welcome to join us. »CLICK HERE«
On intentional consumption in a world of endless options — “In a world where under-consumption is trending and a recession is always maybe around the corner, how do brands keep selling more stuff? They don’t. The ones thriving now aren’t selling more — they’re selling better.” (—Sam Ogborn) — The game isn’t volume anymore — it’s resonance. People aren’t buying less; they’re buying more intentionally. They’re choosing brands that reflect their identity, values, and taste — the ones that feel like a natural extension of who they are. This is why the boutique drops, the limited runs, and the brands with soul are winning. People are waiting and paying for products that align, not just the ones that are available. That’s the shift: From mass production to meaningful connection. From selling to curating. And from chasing sales to cultivating trust.
On progress over perfection — “It just has to work, it doesn’t have to be finished.” (—via Jack Butcher) — Perfection is a seductive lie. It convinces you to wait, to hold back, to endlessly tweak until every detail is flawless. But the truth? The work that moves the needle isn’t the work that’s perfect — it’s the work that gets done. The draft that’s 80% ready can spark a conversation. The idea that’s half-formed can open a door. The product that’s slightly rough around the edges can still change a life. Instead of asking, “Is it perfect?” ask, “Does it work?” Because if it does, you’re already ahead of everyone still waiting to get it right.
Playlist — Groovy Summer Chill House Mix - Uplifting DJ Set For Positive Energy & Relaxing Vibes — A great playlist from Kitsch & SASH on YouTube @kitschandsash of Chill House to work to… great for creating, designing, writing, computer work.
Your Obsessions Aren’t Distractions — They’re Signposts to the Work Only You Can Do…
Lean into the things that light you up…
the work that feels like home, the path that doesn’t always make sense to everyone else, but makes perfect sense to you.
It’s a reminder that your obsessions aren’t distractions… they’re divine breadcrumbs guiding you back to the work only you can do.
And when you honor those callings, every step, every piece, every connection becomes part of a bigger masterpiece.
Keep building. Keep trusting. Keep creating.
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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What a post packed with value, Matt. "In a world that's constantly pulling you towards noise, surrounding yourself with those who move with purpose is like building a fortress for your potential." This really stood out for me.
Loved that Friday night read. Quite some food for thought. Thank you! 💙