10 Pieces of Advice I'd Give To My Younger Self
Hey Friends,
I'm not sure you know this, but this moment in my life can be called a "mess." 🥵
In addition to my daily and regular duties (health, family, friendship, work, social life), I'm experiencing massive changes.
Two are personal, and one is business-related.
Personal:
After almost three years, our new house is ready. We are planning to move next week, and this is the week of doing everything: buying stuff, activating Wi-Fi, gas, and electricity, and dealing with the suppliers to finish everything off.
My mother-in-law moved near us six months ago. Initially, we found her a house to rent. A few months later, we found an apartment and bought it. She is now moving in after three weeks of work to be carried out and the actual moving.
Work:
I'm expanding my business. I have added 3 more people to MP Consulting (Go-To Fractional, soon to be called), and I'm building my first company. After 15 months of solopreneurship and doing 100% of myself, I'm relying on somebody else.
As you can see, and as it was easily expected, my health is taking a hit.
My ​Whoop​ is constantly waking in the red or yellow zone (if you are a Whoop user, you know what that means).
Despite continuing to work out and sleep (more or less), I'm exhausted, and my body is telling me so.
Whoop Monthly Stats
From a brighter point of view, I'm coping well.
Both my wife and I are coping well.
She is as involved in all this as I am, and we are holding the fort with the kids and the new puppy.
In these moments, I often go back to reading a LinkedIn post I wrote over a year ago.
On the day of my 39th birthday, I wrote about 10 pieces of advice I would give to my younger self. It was a post that didn't go viral, but to me, it was one of the best things I have ever written.
It's a collection of newsletters, personal experiences, content I have consumed and life I have lived.
It helps me refocus, zoom out and recenter myself.
If you feel overwhelmed, tired or just down, I hope this can help you, as it always helps me.
See you all next week. Thanks for being with me today.
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1) Work where you feel energised
Forget everything you've been told about hustling, managing pressure, sweat, and tears at work. Life is too short to spend eight hours a day in a job you don't love, or that doesn't give you positive energy. If you wake up more than three times a week worried about your job, it's time to leave and follow your instincts.
2) Listen to your thoughts carefully
In heated moments or arguments when you feel pressure to yell or attack, take a second to ask yourself, "What's going on with me, Matteo?" Most of the time, it's your state of mind and not the other person's.
3) Serve a niche
At work, try to find a niche and serve it well. The broader your focus, the less likely you are to succeed. You hit the jackpot if you see the niche responding positively and paying you to live.
4) Put your phone away when your kids are around
As a father of two beautiful girls, I work from 9 to 6 p.m. When I finish working, my daughters usually play in their room opposite my office. I see them there and join them for 30 minutes before dinner. I leave my phone in another room and just play with them.
5) Surprise your partner with a hug
If your partner walks by, hug them and tell them you love them. Such unexpected gestures can be very powerful.
6) Build and cultivate your network
Networking is crucial. Seize every opportunity to meet people, shake hands, and connect. Now more than ever, the human approach counts. Keep in touch with them by using messaging apps like WhatsApp or Slack. Do them favours and help them without expecting anything in return.
7) Spend time with your parents
As we grow older, the time we spend with our parents shrinks. Spend time with them while you still can.
8) Focus on individuals to grow your team
Most leaders focus on teams and forget about the individuals. Focus on each person on your team. Learn what they like or dislike, and impact their lives while you manage them. Use one-on-one meetings to uncover personal issues and help them through tough times. The results will come.
9) Practice compassion
Always try to put yourself in the other person's shoes. Never assume somebody wakes up intending to be complicated. Assume good intentions.
10) Recognise burnout signals
If you're struggling to focus or feel overwhelmed, you're likely tired or about to burn out. Eat well, exercise at least twice a week, but most importantly, take a walk during your lunch break. No phone or anything, just fresh air.
