Normalizing Excellence

Dear Family,

Welcome to the inaugural issue of my newsletter, Normalizing Excellence, where I share insights, experiences, and lessons learned from my continuous quest for personal and professional growth.

My mission? To inspire each of you to pursue your version of excellence in every facet of life.

Why do I use the word family? If you’re reading this, I want you to know that I’m sharing and talking to you as if you were a member of my immediate family. I’m not sugarcoating anything; I want to give you all the information I have. Too often, we feel like others have to lose in order for us to win. Families don’t do that.?

A Decade of Discovery

Over the last ten years, my journey has taken me through over 6,000 meetings with individuals across the spectrum of wealth and life experiences. This journey, fueled by an insatiable desire for personal development, has led me to some critical realizations about success, happiness, and fulfillment.

At the core, I’ve discovered the power of pattern recognition—a gift that has enabled me to be highly self-aware, navigate risks and opportunities with ease, and forge meaningful relationships that enrich rather than encumber my life.

Why Excellence Matters

Whether you're seeking happiness, aiming to build something special, or striving for incremental gains in a passion project, the essence of this newsletter resonates with your ambitions. Excellence, I’ve learned, is not about perfection. It’s about reflection, honesty with oneself, and the relentless pursuit of being the best version of oneself with the resources at hand.

The Financial Planner's Perspective

Why am I, a financial planner, delving into the realms of personal development and excellence? Because every aspect of our lives, including the financial, benefits profoundly from a commitment to personal growth. From smart investments and strategic sacrifices to lifestyle choices that align with our deepest values, excellence permeates every decision we make.

My Experiment with Time

In 2023, I embarked on an experiment that involved tracking every second of my time, including sleep. This exercise, akin to meticulously tracking financial inflows and outflows over the past five years, has unveiled patterns and insights guiding my daily decisions. It’s a testament to the fact that we can achieve a remarkable level of control over our destinies with intention and focus.

Embracing the Hard

The journey towards excellence is not an easy one. It demands hard choices, discipline, and resilience. But it’s also rewarding, offering a sense of ease and fulfillment on the other side of the struggle. "Choose your hard," as the saying goes, and embrace the journey with all its ups and downs.

The Power of Reflection

Through tools like the Monk Manual, I’ve learned the importance of reflection, setting priorities, and nurturing growth in all areas of life. This practice has helped me align my actions with my values and made me more compassionate towards myself and others.

Looking Ahead

As we move forward with Normalizing Excellence, I look forward to sharing more insights, stories, and lessons learned from the pursuit of excellence. Together, let’s explore how we can make an impact, prioritize what truly matters, and drive toward excellence in every area of our lives. Stay tuned for more, and here’s to elevating our standards to extraordinary heights.

Warm regards,

Matt