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Author: Matt Sparks

The Epic Journey of the Four-legged Water Strider

December 5, 2018 Matt Sparks

Last night I had a dream that I was watching a water strider bug with only four legs. Two legs…

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Posted in: Essays

Order Muppets, Chaos Muppets, and Entrepreneurial Optimization

November 16, 2018 Matt Sparks

Everything is always always optimizing for something. That is, getting as close to the maximum or minimum for at least…

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Posted in: Lessons Learned

Is Your City Lifting You to Power?

November 15, 2018 Matt Sparks

Prominence, influence, and celebrity are products of place. Frank Sinatra knew this, which is why he sang of New York,…

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Posted in: Lessons Learned

Genius Is Specialized

November 14, 2018 Matt Sparks

Geniuses aren’t genius on every topic. Many people forget this and think that because they have an audience and some…

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Posted in: Lessons Learned

Conspiracy Is Neutral, How We Do It Is Not

November 13, 2018 Matt Sparks

In Ryan Holiday’s latest book, Conspiracy, he says that conspiracy is neutral, but how we do it is not. Conspiracy…

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Posted in: Lessons Learned

Relationships Are Our Story

November 12, 2018 Matt Sparks

In Esther Perel’s new book, The State of Affairs, she says that the quality of our relationships determines the quality…

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Posted in: Lessons Learned

Tenacity Is Inneffective Failure

November 11, 2018 Matt Sparks

Tenacity is ineffective failure. That is, if we keep pushing and working hard on our projects until we’re successful, paradoxically…

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Posted in: Lessons Learned

We Teach Others How to Treat Us

November 10, 2018 Matt Sparks

We teach others how to treat us. We do this by what behaviors we allow, what we reinforce, and how…

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Posted in: Essays

Understanding Is a Spectrum

Matt Sparks

Understanding is not binary, yes or no, understood or not understood. Understanding exists on a spectrum with many shades of…

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Posted in: Lessons Learned

Put Session Info on Your Business Cards

November 9, 2018 Matt Sparks

When presenting at a conference like SXSW, make business cards with your session info on them, including the session title…

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Posted in: Lessons Learned

Love Is Not a Zero-Sum Game

November 8, 2018 Matt Sparks

Natalie Portman recently gave an inspiring speech in which she said: Many men are behaving like we live in a…

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Posted in: Lessons Learned

Jobs Are Always Side Hustles

November 7, 2018 Matt Sparks

Never be duped into thinking that working for another person is a good, reliable, long-term option. We’ll never be that…

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Posted in: Lessons Learned

Always Have a Project with Your Partner

November 6, 2018 Matt Sparks

In order to maintain a strong relationship over the long-term, always work on a project together. Raising a child is…

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Posted in: Lessons Learned

Everyone a CEO Hires Wants to Be CEO

November 5, 2018 Matt Sparks

Every person a CEO hires wants their job. They all think they could do a better job and deserve to…

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Posted in: Lessons Learned

Lead with Our Own Style

Matt Sparks

Everyone must lead with their own style. However, know that freaked out leaders do not inspire confidence. As The Hitchiker’s…

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Posted in: Uncategorized

Influence Is More Important than Authority

November 4, 2018 Matt Sparks

Influence is more important than authority. Sure, we can tell subordinates what to do, but can we influence, educate, and…

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Posted in: Lessons Learned

What Can We Fix for $1000?

November 3, 2018 Matt Sparks

It’s good to periodically ask our employees what we can fix for $1000 or $10,000. They’ll nearly always have ideas…

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Posted in: Lessons Learned

Hiring is a Long-Term Commitment

November 2, 2018 Matt Sparks

Hiring is a long-term commitment. Don’t hire without a long-term commitment, even if we have a strong short-term need. Further,…

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Posted in: Lessons Learned

People Leave Managers

November 1, 2018 Matt Sparks

People don’t leave companies. They leave managers. If we want to understand why people are leaving our company, we need…

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Posted in: Lessons Learned

We’re the Villain

October 31, 2018 Matt Sparks

When we wonder why no one is on board with our idea or plan, it’s because we’re the villain. We’re…

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Posted in: Lessons Learned

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