I’m on Clearwater beach right now getting ready to start my 5-day Retreat tomorrow. I don’t have my normal video set up with me, but I’m going to do my best to shoot something on my phone to say hi while I’m here.
In two weeks my show comes out on NBC.
In just three weeks my book comes out in North America.
All this means that my current schedule is pretty unrelenting.
As I write this my trainers are all sat around me on the top floor of the hotel, working on content before we go into action mode for the next 5 days.
Here’s the view from where I am:
It’s always strange the day before going on stage. I sit and think about all of the things I want to convey, and I go through my training manuals to make sure I’m on my game. One of the most important things to do before a speech is to emotionally connect with your material. If you don’t do that you can have the best material in the world but you won’t speak from the heart.
I work incredibly hard and I think about my work a lot. Often people tell me to take a break or to go on holiday. But what they don’t realise is that this IS my holiday. I’m doing what I love. There’s nothing else in the world I’d rather be doing. Maybe that’ll change one day. Maybe I’ll go in another direction altogether. But until it does, I’ll keep doing this all day everyday, because my life is focused on doing what I LOVE.
When I talk to people about their lives and whether they are doing what they love, I often hear this response: “Yeah but for you it’s easier because the successes you get validates the work you’re putting into it. It reinforce your efforts so it becomes easier to work hard.”
There is a lot of truth to this. The successes I’ve gotten HAVE reinforced my behaviour and provided much needed motivation at times.
But here is where this idea misses the point:
I was doing this LONG before there were any successes to report.
For those of you who have been following my work for years, you may remember this video:
I filmed this over 3 years ago when I was living in my apartment in London and none of this had happened. I have even older videos from 3 years before that (which were pretty terrible by today’s standards) when I was really only starting out in coaching. When I first started I was in survival mode. It really wasn’t easy. There was a ton of rejection. Lots of doors closing on me from people who said I was nobody, that I had no experience and wasn’t established enough.
But I did it anyway because, well, what else would I do?
See it’s true that on some projects in life you stop when you’re not getting any rewards.
But when it’s your love, your passion, you do it regardless of the ‘validation’, because you know you wouldn’t be doing anything else in the world.
If your love in life was business, then you wouldn’t stop creating businesses just because one project didn’t pay off. You would just change your approach. If you love business then you know you’ll be creating businesses till the day you die, because that’s what you love.
A painter who is a painter in her heart doesn’t stop painting because no one is buying her work. She paints because that’s who she is at her core – a creative soul who expresses it through her paintings. She doesn’t do it for the money.
I love the lifestyle I get from my public speaking. I love the fact that I get to travel. I love the amazing individuals I’ve been able to meet as a result, and the opportunities it affords me in life. But I was doing this before I had any of that, and I’ll still be doing this when the TV cameras go away. I’d do this if there was NO money in it and I had to sustain myself working in Mcdonalds. I’d be doing this if I had only one person to give a seminar to each week, because I F*****G LOVE learning about and helping people. It’s my obsession.
Everything else is a just a wonderful bonus (most of which I never even anticipated, let alone got motivated by).
Oh and do I need to point out the obvious parallel with your love life?
- Flirt because you LOVE flirting.
- Love because you LOVE loving.
- Be courageous because you LOVE being courageous.
Don’t do it for the rewards – those are all just wonderful bonuses.
I want to leave you with a video today from an up-and-coming artist who is also carving his space out in the world. His name is George Watsky and he’s another great story to follow. His new song is called Cardboard Castles. I have no reason to promote his work other than the fact that his song sums up so much of this blog post, and that I love to help someone succeed in doing what they love.
My favourite line of the song:
“I do things on a shoe string you couldn’t do with a cool mill”.
Because that’s what we do here on this blog. We work with what we have. You don’t have stone? Then build your castles out of cardboard.
I’ll finish with a question aimed at you…
What do you do in your life for no other reason than you LOVE it? If you have 30 seconds tell me by leaving a comment below. I can’t wait to learn about your passion in life.
Massive love to you AND your wonderful life.
Matthew
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Hey there Matthew!
Honestly there are several things that I absolutely love to do simply for the sake of doing them. Whether it be drawing (or painting), writing, or singing, I feel passionate about it. I love creative expression. I don’t earn any money doing any of these things(maybe someday that will change),but I can’t imagine not doing them.
Also, I just wanted to thank you for all the thought-provoking blog posts you take the time and effort to put up. It always makes my day just a little better when I see a new post.
Maybe this sounds weird but seeing you on the previews of Ready for Love feels almost like seeing a friend or someone you know on TV, and then you’re like “Hey, I know that guy!”… except you don’t actually know them, you just follow them on the internet…
Haha anyways, keep being awesome – can’t wait to see the show! Thanks again,
Genevieve
Creative designer. Computer Geek. People/movie lover. Writer. Musician. Artist. Environmentalist. Photographer. Poetic soul. Fitness chick. Passionate Diva :) That just about sums me up. That just about makes me love being in love with life :)
Dear Matthew,
I love your blogs. they are always motivating, positive, honest and spot on. I ve even started watching your videos as an antidote for a bad day, or if am feeling a bit down. You always cheer me up!
I love playing the piano. And i love to sing. Haven’t done it in a loooong time. but now, just thinking about it, the joy bubbles up inside me. thanks for the inspiration! Soon I will do what I love doing!
All the best luck with your TV show! I bet people all over the world are sending you their love and support – and here is some more from me xoxo Aylin
I keep hearing this song on the radio and thought Matthew might like it as I feel it relates to his life at the moment!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6kwcsDBdQ8
I stumbled across one of his earlier life coaching videos and have popped in every now and then to see how it’s going for him.
Big congratulations on your success Matthew. I hope my book will be on a shelf not too far away from yours in the future =)
Hi Matt,
My passion when things go sour that I move forward, is listening to music and dancing when no one looking. I’m still trying to break my shield of being shy especailly with a certain guy.
And he knows it too. Strange thing too, when I see him we main eye contact and sent each other smile. To this today I kick my self (not physically) but there were times that I think he was hinting me that he want to hang out or go on a date but, yes the shyness kick in.
But if things change i’ll let you know.
Shyness.
Matt,
I mentioned this already a few times on this blog – I love coaching and mentoring, or let’s say trying to get the best out of people and inspire them. It is like to give energy and immed. it gets back to you. Such a great feeling! I work in HR, which I love, so my focus is ‘getthejob’ :) and I must say you have been great inspiration for me.
Cheers!
P.
Hey there
Interesting question Matt – what are my passions?
At first I couldn’t think of any. Then it dawned on me, I do over 30 hours a week voluntary work – not because I have to but because I choose to. I gave up a wonderful career to make a difference to the world. Small steps are the best way. I received a comment earlier from a young lady who I’m mentoring to take my position (eventually), “I wish that when I do your job, that I’ll be nearly as good as you – you work so hard.” I told her that flattery gets you everywhere lol. On a serious note – it’s amazing to make a difference to somebody else’s life. I love to motivate people or simply be a shoulder to cry on (I’m nosey, I can’t help it hehe). So watch out Matt – I might try to steal your job:-)
Love
xxx
My passion is Interior Design and Gardening. I help run my family business which is a retail store and I really have little time for my passion at the moment. What I really want to do is open my own retail store and show how spaces can be created with old and new products (Furniture, home decor and plants) I am really good at it and I always have friends and family asking me for advice. I also have a 3 year college education in Interior Architectural Design. I am living in a small apartment right now and leaves little room to do what I love but I just bought a house and will be getting the keys April 12th. I will have about 6 weeks to do any major renovations and then I will be able to start organizing my plan to open up shop. I am excited about it and can’t wait to be able to move into my larger space. I also love writing, painting, knitting and sewing. I hope to do more of those things when I get into my new house and sell some of my products that I make. Scarves, purses and bags being some of my favourites to make. Thank you for asking this question because even if it is never read by anyone it at least got me to write it down. Somehow it now makes it more real and feels possible that it will happen! Matthew you have fueled me to get started on my passion right away! Love to you and what you do! Your are an inspiration! x
Hi Matthew Hussey,
to answer your question… My passion is singing… I love to sing, i’m not as good as most but that doesn’t stop me from singing. Anyways your blogs are awesome. I like reading them :).
Have an awesome day, night ..wherever and whenever your reading this :)
Kind Regards,
Ana
Matthew – I have several passions but my top two are singing and reading. If I’m not doing one, I’m doing the other. Sometimes I sing and read at the same time. They both bring me peace when I need time to think, and its who I am.
Desiree :)
Something i do that just fills me up with love is caring for animals, and especially dogs.. Right now i live in India and no matter what dog i meet (often stray dogs) i give them anything i can for food or give them some love. Its not because i want to be a good person or anything i just love them so much! And peoples views on strays are often so wrong.. Maybe i have an eye for which dog to walk up to and not, but every dog i meet is so kind and respectful! And i think it brightens both my day and the dogs after spending some time togheter!
Cooking, snowboarding, and carring for my dog are my main things I do just beacause I love them! :D
Thank you for sharing such an amzing song too!! I just fell inlove with Watsky, and I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of him yet.
Hi Matthew,
Not to sound too cheesy but my passion is life. Life with all the happy and sad moments, victories and losses, challengies, lessons, and opportunities. It’s a miracle in itself to have a chance to live so enjoying every piece of it is my watchword. As the song from Chicago musical goes “If life is a game I’ll play it the best”!
Cheers,
Anna
Hi Matthew I just love your website and this blog and your tips just everything. Thanks so much for everything i really appreciate it. Now the one thing that i love to do is Singing but everyone better than me in singing. Ive posted one video on youtube from me singing but i removed it because for it wasn’t good enough. And a few days later i saw Christina Grimmie singing on youtube and than i just thought she i so good in singing i never be good enough too improve her so since than i just leave it. well i love too sing but it never gonna workout like i thought i would. Maybe i just think wrong i dont know?
And something that i love to do is baking i just love to bake cake cupcakes for everyone. and in the bakery on school is one boy that i like very much. He like the same thing as me and he wants to be a baker later. Just like me and now is he following a eduction to become a baker and next year he is going to that another school to follow that education and i’m afraid that im not gonna see him anymore. Well once i was in a situation that i want to ask his phonenumber well i was afraid to ask him. So i ask a another boy for advice how you can ask his phonenumber and that boy were i asked that advice from says Why? do you like him? and i said to him yeah i do like him from you can now it that i like him i dont mind. So He walks to that boy i like in the bakkery and they have a little man to man talk about me. And have must go to him to hear it himself and he Said sweet for asking but NO. But i think he said no because all the other boys were stand arround him and said to him. Come on give this girl your phonenumber. I dont know? Later i said that he only use his phone to do games on it. And After a while when i working in the bakkery with him (yeah he was their just working) I said I never wanted that (the other boy) ask you that. And he said to me he already knowed it that i was i love in him they way i did and other things etc. Than i said to him i justed wanted first to be good friends and later when im older a realtionship with youi was scared to said that but later on im not regret that i said that. But how can i change his mind the he gonna like me More than friends? well he ask me now more about school and or if i wanna to the same thing as him. And every Wendsday when i have bakkery whe say Good Morning To eatchother. And he ask me once what my favorite Tv Programs were?
Maybe He dont want a Realationship Now but later when we both older. But i dont have his PhoneNumber He has Facebook i send him a friendrequest But he only comes once a year one facebook? How can i do that? PLEASE GIVE ME SOME ADVICE
I love the message in the song you posted and the storyline in the video.
The thing I do simply because I love it is spend time with children. We can learn so much from the youth around us, and it helps us to become better people when we know someone is watching your example.
The worst place to be is not knowing what hour love to do because you have Brendon programmed to do things that productive but not fun. I used to love to paint but it was discouraged so I never pursued it. You have a very important message.
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What a wonderful and creative “Castles to the Sky “video AND he got the girl! I love to help clients with their communication…I’m a Speech Pathologist with a passion for helping others! Best wishes to you and your staff!