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How to Do SXSW Right

March 4, 2025 Matt Sparks

I’ve attended SXSW since 2015. I take all nine days off from work and go go go 15+ hours a…

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Posted in: Essays Filed under: AR, art, comedy, emerging technologies, film, investment, music, networking, startups, SXSW, technology, VR, XR

Pessimism Is Not a Dirty Word

November 11, 2023 Matt Sparks

Pessimism is an important signal, warning us to take action or change course. We ignore it at our own peril.

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Posted in: Uncategorized Filed under: business, failure, hope, life path, optimism, personal growth, pessimism, philosophy, spirituality, success

Experience Is Logarithmic

October 24, 2023 Matt Sparks

Experience is logarithmic. More specifically, an individual’s personal work experience and capabilities within a single field, industry, or role compound…

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Posted in: Uncategorized Filed under: business, CPG, ecommerce, education, energy storage, entrepreneurship, finance, l&d, leadership, learning, life path, personal growth, renewable energy, rock climbing, solar, sustainability

Choosing Cooperation over Competition

February 7, 2022 Matt Sparks

I played competitive sports all the way through college. However, I didn’t have the best experience with it, for which I’m now grateful.

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Posted in: Essays Filed under: athletics, biking, board games, community, competition, cooperation, creativity, dance, fitness, health, hiking, meditation, nature, philosophy, rock climbing, spirituality, sports, table top games, yoga

We Need Better CFOs

January 31, 2022 Matt Sparks

There’s a big need here, and few people who can fill it.

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Posted in: Lessons Learned Filed under: CFO, entrepreneurship, finance, startups, technology

Read What You Do

January 30, 2022 Matt Sparks

Reading is good, but reading plus real-time experimentation is a far better way to learn.

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Posted in: Lessons Learned Filed under: business, education, entrepreneurship, finance, learning, reading

Nudges

July 26, 2020 Matt Sparks

Nudges in the structure and context of our lives are far more important than we realize. They make the difference between achieving and failing at our goals.

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Posted in: Essays Filed under: failure, fitness, goals, health, life path, longevity, nudges, philosophy, spirituality, success

Never Apply Cold

July 25, 2020 Matt Sparks

The approach of applying for dozens of jobs doesn’t work. Never apply cold. Do these three highly effective job search methods instead.

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Posted in: Essays Filed under: content, job search, networking, personal brand, platform, writing

Dad Never Met Jenn

Matt Sparks

Loved ones who have passed on don’t get to experience major events that occur after their lives have ended. But perhaps there’s more to the story than we know.

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Posted in: Essays Filed under: #metoo, adventure, blm, death, life, life path, pandemic, philosophy, reincarnation, spirituality, stories

Playgrounds for Adults

June 28, 2020 Matt Sparks

Many of us effectively stop using our bodies after childhood. Adult playgrounds are an easy and fun solution.

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Posted in: Essays Filed under: adult playgrounds, cities, climbing, fitness, health, movement, play, playgrounds, running, spirituality, urban design

Normal Is a Delusion

June 24, 2020 Matt Sparks

There is no such thing normal. There never has been and there never will be. Every day, every week becomes some kind of exception if we let it.

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Posted in: Essays Filed under: cheat day, commitment, goals, philosophy, productivity, rest, spirituality

Gardens Do a Lot

May 21, 2020 Matt Sparks

Cities can be sprawling food forests, with healthy, tasty meals growing everywhere we look. Go plant something today.

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Posted in: Essays, Lessons Learned Filed under: COVID, covid-19, food, food forest, garden, gardening, health, pandemic, permaculture, quarantine, recession, sustainability

Decentralized Interactive Education

May 20, 2020 Matt Sparks

Regardless of how the shift in education will look, it’s coming.

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Posted in: Essays Filed under: 360-degree video, AR, augmented reality, education, eLearning, emerging technologies, future, game based learned, game engine, gbl, head-mounted display, hmd, merged reality, mixed reality, MR, unity, unreal engine, video games, virtual reality, VR, XR

Adventure No Matter What

May 17, 2020 Matt Sparks

Feeling quarantine cabin fever? No problem! With the right mindset, we can make adventure happen anytime, anywhere.

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Posted in: Essays Filed under: adventure, backcountry, cabin fever, camping, COVID, covid-19, cynicism, jaded, jim carrey, life path, passion, philosophy, quarantine, road trips, spirituality, stories, storytelling, travel, up pixar film, yes man film

Alternate Universe Warnings

May 16, 2020 Matt Sparks

Things not going well? Maybe they actually are but we just can’t see it yet.

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Posted in: Essays Filed under: COVID, covid-19, education, eLearning, entrepreneurship, life path, pandemic, philosophy, spirituality, stories, storytelling, video games, XR

Alternatives to Duh

May 15, 2020 Matt Sparks

Of course the world is responding poorly to the pandemic. Why would we expect anything different? A shift in perspective can help.

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Posted in: Lessons Learned Filed under: climate change, COVID, covid-19, focus, optimism, pessimism, philosophy

Mental Vegetables and Breadcrumbs

May 14, 2020 Matt Sparks

Online distractions break our brains. Learn why that happens and how to fix it.

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Posted in: Essays, Lessons Learned Filed under: attention, brain, distractions, focus, intellectual breadcrumbs, john craun, mastery, memory, mental health, mental vegetables, news, philosophy, social media, spirituality, video games

Caterpillar Goo

May 13, 2020 Matt Sparks

We are caterpillar goo. Have patience. We’ll soon emerge and fly away into a bright new world.

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Posted in: Essays Filed under: career, life path, metamorphosis, philosophy, spirituality

I Am a Cyborg

May 12, 2020 Matt Sparks

We no longer use technology. We ARE technology.

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Posted in: Essays Filed under: 10000-Year Tech, 3d printing, AR, augmented reality, cyborg, hmd, internet of things, IoT, technology, virtual reality, VR

Distraction Engineering

May 11, 2020 Matt Sparks

It’s easier to abstain from distraction completely than to try to indulge just a little. Moderation is difficult when mediums,…

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Posted in: Lessons Learned Filed under: attention, awareness, balance, distraction, focus, moderation, productivity

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