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The most powerful life hacks I've discovered: 1. Go Outside for 15 Minutes Every Morning Get sunlight in your eyes every morning. Sunlight: • Sets your circadium rhythm • Primes your brain to be alert and focused • Enhances metabolism and immune functionality Watch this transform your overall mood and well-being. 2. Surround Yourself With Optimists Who you surround yourself with has a bigger influence on you than you know. You’re the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. Each of those 5 should be someone pushing you forward. Choose who you spend your time with wisely. 3. Practice Gratitude Gratitude is a key ingredient for living a fulfilling life. Gratitude helps people: • Feel more positive emotions. • Build strong relationships • Improve their health Take 5 minutes/day to write down 5 things you're grateful for. 4. Set a Bedtime Alarm After this alarm goes off, allow your mind to relax: • Turn off all your devices • Take a warm shower or bath • Read your favorite fiction book Setting yourself up for success the next day starts the night before. 5. Write Every Day Writing is essential in unleashing your creative potential. Writing every day: • Builds discipline • Allows you to organize your thinking • Improves your vocabulary and communication skills Mastering this skill will lead to success in the modern economy. 6. Meditate Daily All of man’s problems come because he cannot sit by himself in a room for 30 minutes. Our society is filled with: • Cheap dopamine • Constant notifications • Screens everywhere we look Take time to slow down and be present. 7. Take a Cold Shower A 3-minute cold shower will provide you benefits that last the rest of the day. Taking a cold shower: • Increases dopamine • Boosts metabolism • Burns brown fat Anything else you have to do afterward will seem easy. 8. Build a Personal Board of Advisors Don’t underestimate the power of a mentor. Epictetus mentored Marcus Aurelius. Jobs mentored Zuckerberg. Buffet mentored Gates. Seek advice from people 2-3 steps ahead of you. You can access their lifetime of wisdom in 2-3 years. — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Matt Gray for more. Want to Learn How to Go From 0 Followers to 1,000,000 (and beyond)? Join my live (FREE) Workshop on March 13th (72 hours away) to steal my homework: www.founderos.com/workshop

If you could spare me 30 seconds, you'll save 6 months. Traditional calendars fail founders because they mix creation, editing, and distribution. Forcing constant context switching that kills creativity and productivity. I've built a $13.8M business working just 4 hours a day using this Block Architecture system: 1. Creation Days (Monday/Thursday) Enter pure creation mode, where you focus solely on generating new ideas without judgment. Turn off all distractions and create content in its raw, unfiltered form without stopping. Build a massive backlog of content ideas and rough drafts for future refinement. 2. Enhancement Days (Tuesday/Friday) Transform your raw content into polished pieces that resonate with your audience. Craft powerful headlines and hooks that stop people from scrolling past your content: • Write attention-grabbing first lines • Use contrast and pattern interruption • Create curiosity gaps that demand attention • Focus on specific benefits your audience wants Build out your content calendar with perfectly timed posts across all platforms. 3. Growth Days (Wednesday/Saturday) Study your analytics to understand what's working and double down on your wins. Map out your content strategy for the coming week based on audience feedback. Build genuine relationships with other creators who can amplify your message. 4. Reset Day (Sunday) Disconnect from social media to gain fresh perspective on your creator journey. Feed your creativity through reading and learning from diverse sources. Plan your next week with a clear mind and renewed sense of purpose. Why This Works: • Aligning your natural energy cycles with the right type of creative work • Eliminating the mental drain from constantly switching between different modes • Creating a natural buffer of content that keeps your channels active even when you're not • Incorporating strategic recovery time that prevents burnout and maintains consistency Implement this for 30 days and watch your productivity soar. — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Matt Gray for more. Want my complete content systems guide? Join our community of 172,000+ subscribers today: https://lnkd.in/eMB4fWuy

The average leader makes 35,000 decisions per day. 9 decision-making frameworks the Fortune 500 CEOs use to stay sane: 1. The OODA Loop Observe → Orient → Decide → Act Used by fighter pilots and CEOs to make rapid decisions in chaotic environments. The faster you complete the loop, the better your decisions become. 2. Eisenhower Matrix Prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance. Categorize tasks into: • Urgent & Important: Do it now • Important but Not Urgent: Schedule it • Urgent but Not Important: Delegate it • Neither: Eliminate it Helps you avoid overanalyzing low-priority tasks. 3. Jeff Bezos' Regret Minimization Framework When Bezos left his Wall Street job to start Amazon, everyone thought he was crazy. But this is why he did it. He projected himself to age 80 and asked: "Will I regret not having done this?" The risk of regret is often greater than the risk of failure. 4. First Principles Thinking Break down problems into their fundamental truths. Then, rebuild from scratch. This is how Elon Musk changed the entire aerospace industry with SpaceX. Innovation happens when you question everything you think you know. 5. Pareto Principle 20% of your actions drive 80% of your results. I apply this to everything: • Sales • Content • Fulfillment Success isn't about doing more things. It's about doing the right things. 6. Inversion Thinking Instead of asking: "How do I succeed?" Ask: "How do I fail?" Then don’t do anything on that list. Sometimes, the best outcomes come from simply avoiding failure.  7. Amazon's Door FrameworkA simple way to classify decisions: • Type 1: One-way doors (irreversible) • Type 2: Two-way doors (reversible) 90% of decisions are Type 2. Yet most people treat everything like Type 1. The best leaders know how to ruthlessly distinguish between the two. 8. Second-Order Thinking This mental model helps you make more strategic decisions. Don’t just think about the immediate impact of decisions. What is the ripple effect? Zooming out lets you spot problems before they happen (and opportunities others miss). 9. SWOT Analysis A simple but powerful framework: • Strengths: Your advantages • Weaknesses: Your blind spots • Opportunities: Market gaps • Threats: External risks Every Fortune 500 company maps out this diagram— there’s no reason you shouldn’t either. — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Matt Gray for more. Want to Learn How to Go From 0 Followers to 1,000,000 (and beyond)? Join my live (FREE) Workshop on March 13th (4 days away) to steal my homework: www.founderos.com/workshop

Leadership is an art. Not a skill. 11 signs you have a great leader: 1. Integrity Is Their North Star They do what's right, even when no one's watching. As Bill Campbell, the "Trillion Dollar Coach," once said: "It's not about what you say. It's about what you do." A great leader walks their talk. 2. They Care About The Small Things When they ask you: “How was your day?” They genuinely wait and care what you have to say. It’s not just a question for small talk. 3. Active Listeners They don't just wait for their turn to speak. They ask thoughtful questions. They lean in when you talk. Real leaders listen twice as much as they speak. 4. Take Full Responsibility No excuses. No blame games. When things go wrong, they own it. When things go right, they give credit to the team. The buck always stops with them. 5. Lead By Example They never ask someone to do something they wouldn't do themselves. A leader shows, not just tells. They're in the trenches with you. 6. Develop People A great leader is the ultimate talent magnet. Not only do they attract A-players, they also nurture them. They invest in their team's growth, knowing the whole company benefits. 7. Serve Others True leaders have a servant mentality. They put their team's needs before their own. As Simon Sinek said, "Leaders eat last." Humble service is the mark of greatness. 8. Put People First Above all else, great leaders deeply care about people. They build genuine relationships. They create psychological safety. People are never just a means to an end. 9. Courage To Stand Alone Great leaders aren't afraid to go against the grain. They have the courage to stand up for what's right, even if it's unpopular. As Brené Brown said, "Integrity is choosing courage over comfort." 10. Act With Urgency Speed matters. Great leaders have a bias for action. They don't wait for perfect information or conditions. They move fast and course-correct as needed. 11. Stay Curious Great leaders are lifelong learners. They read voraciously. They ask more questions than they answer. The most brilliant minds are those who have the courage to question everything. — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Matt Gray for more. Want to become a great leader? Join our community of 172,000+ subscribers today: https://lnkd.in/eMB4fWuy

I just read an article I can’t stop thinking about… The most effective leaders ask for the most feedback (according to Harvard): The best leaders are those who actively hunt down criticism. They create systems to seek honest input from their team and make an effort to act on them. In most organizations, feedback is given top-down but it really should go both ways. This is made clear in a study of 51,896 executives by Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman. They found that the leaders in the 15th percentile in leadership effectiveness ranked in the bottom 10% in asking for feedback. Whereas, those in the 86th percentile of leadership effectiveness, ranked in the top 10% in asking for feedback. The correlation is clear. Here’s how to get better at asking for feedback: 1. Embrace Feeling Negative Emotions Getting feedback is never particularly fun. But it's a lot like exercise—uncomfortable in the moment but necessary for the long term. The temporary sting of criticism is always worth the permanent benefits of improvement. 2. Have A Question Prepared You need to ask a specific question. For example: "What's one thing I could improve about how I ran today's meeting?" Rather than: "Do you have any feedback?" The first gets something tangible. The second gets polite nods. 3. Embrace The Discomfort Of The Conversation When someone hesitates while giving feedback, say: "I notice you're careful with your words. Just know that I genuinely want to hear this." Then wait silently, maintaining open body language. 4. Listen To Understand, Not To Respond Take physical notes during feedback conversations. This simple act forces you to process information rather than prepare rebuttals. Dedicate your full attention to listening to their criticisms. 5. Close the loop: Make your listening tangible After receiving feedback, make a visible change within one week. Then explicitly reference the input: "Based on what you shared on [X date], I've done [Y action]." Actions prove listening happened. 6. Make Giving Feedback A Team Habit You should make time on a consistent basis (e.g. monthly) for the team to share feedback. This gives everybody an opportunity to share: “One thing that would make X better is Y because Z.” There’s no pressure to share something but the option is there. — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Matt Gray for more. Want to become a better leader? Watch my new YouTube video 'how to work from anywhere (and disappear): https://linktw.in/jnokGZ

The best advice I’ve ever received: Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. Why velocity is more important than speed. You’re fast. You’ve got speed. Awesome. Good for you. But ask yourself, where are you going? What’s your direction? Speed is only useful if you have a compass to guide you: 1. Velocity = Speed + Direction Where you go matters just as much as how fast you go. There is nothing worse than sprinting ahead only to find out you’ve been going the wrong way. So, spend some time getting your bearings right from the start. Sometimes, that means slowing down. Maybe even stopping. Take the time to reflect on your surroundings. Does it look anything like your ideal life? Does it align with your inner self? Adjust if the answer is ‘No’. Lesson: Slow down to speed up. 2. Avoid Burnout I learned this the hard way. I let my first two businesses dominate my personal boundaries. My life was 100MPH, and I’d lost track of the brake pedal. Going fast in the wrong lane leads to founder fatigue. Spend time getting your direction right before hitting the gas pedal. Write down your passions and skills and focus on building leverage around those. Don’t let the entrepreneurial rollercoaster take you somewhere you don’t belong. Focus on steady and sustainable growth. 3. Narrow Your Focus Being smart and hustling hard isn’t enough. Warren Buffett knows that you need to focus your energies on the things you do best. Narrow your focus to your zone of genius. 100 hours spent on the wrong thing is 100% of your effort wasted. But this doesn’t mean you should lounge around. There’s no such thing as a perfect path. Get clear on your direction and zone of genius. Spend time on this. Then execute. 4. Decision Velocity Making fast decisions separates winners from procrastinators. Writing down your interests, skills, and goals is enough data to start. Decide with 70% confidence vs 100%. Avoid paralysis by analysis. 5. Take Massive Action Dream big, start small, and always act. Take intentional strides in the direction you’ve mapped out. Daily movement compounds your progress. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single act. 6. Make Many Decisions I prefer to make 100 decisions per week with 10 mistakes rather than 1 perfect call. The only way to improve your judgment is by practicing. Done > Perfect 7. Focus on velocity over speed. It took me 10 years to truly internalize this advice. Now I earn $13.8 million in passive income per year. Find your inner compass and build your dream life with intention, not haste. — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Matt Gray for more. Want to Learn How to Go From 0 Followers to 1,000,000 (and beyond)? Join my live (FREE) Workshop on March 13th (7 days away) to steal my homework: www.founderos.com/workshop

The one trait that creates millionaire founders: bias for action. 7 mental models to kill overthinking and start executing today: 1. Occam's Razor This principle suggests that the simplest solution is often the correct one. When facing a problem: • Strip away complexity until you find the core issue • Choose the path with the least moving parts • Ask: "What would this look like if it were simple?" Nature favors simplicity. Your decision-making should too. 2. Regret Minimization Framework Jeff Bezos used this to leave his Wall Street job and start Amazon. Picture yourself at 80, looking back at this moment. Which would you regret more - taking action or staying stuck? The answer almost always points toward action. This mental model cuts through indecision by focusing on long-term satisfaction rather than short-term comfort. 3. The Eisenhower Matrix Categorize every task by urgency and importance: • Urgent & Important: Do it now • Important but Not Urgent: Schedule it • Urgent but Not Important: Delegate it • Neither: Eliminate it This simple framework prevents you from treating every decision as equally critical. 4. Parkinson's Law "Work expands to fill the time available for its completion." Give yourself a week for a task? It'll take a week. Give yourself a day? It'll take a day. This isn't coincidence - it's human nature. Time constraints paradoxically enhance creativity and force decisive action. The antidote to overthinking is often a deadline. 5. Inversion Thinking Stop asking: "How do I succeed?" Instead, ask: "What guarantees my failure?" • Analysis paralysis • Waiting for perfect timing • Fear of judgment Eliminate these and watch your speed for action soar. 6. Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule) 20% of inputs create 80% of outputs. This principle becomes a powerful decision filter when applied consistently. Identify the vital few actions that drive most of your results, then ruthlessly prioritize them over everything else. Focus strictly on needle-moving tasks and let go of the rest. 7. Opportunity Cost Every choice has a price - what you could have done instead. When using this lens, you can't afford to sit still. The cost of overthinking and inaction is the life you could have lived, the business you could have built, the impact you could have made. The worst decisions are the ones you never make. — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Matt Gray for more. Want my complete decision-making framework? Join our community of 172,000+ subscribers today: https://lnkd.in/eMB4fWuy

The biggest improvement in my morning routine came when I realized it started the night before. Here’s the evening routine to crush the next day before it even starts: 1. Take Magnesium at 7 pm Magnesium: • Relaxes your muscles • Enhances sleep quality • Regulates your body's stress response It's the elixir for a restful and restorative sleep. 2. No Screens After 7 pm Exposure to screens suppresses melatonin production (which regulates sleep/wake cycles). So, ditch the screens after 7 pm - instead: • Read • Write • Talk with loved ones Respect your biological clock and it'll repay the favor. 3. Pitch-Black Room for Deep Rest Darkness and sleep go hand-in-hand: • Longer periods of deep sleep • Fewer light-based disturbances • Stimulates the production of melatonin (get to sleep faster) Sleep in darkness, wake in lightness - as humans were intended to do. 4. Consider Melatonin Before Bed If you struggle to fall asleep/stay asleep, melatonin might be the solution. It's great for: • Combatting jetlag • Improving your sleep quality • Falling asleep when your brain won't switch off It's your body's natural sleep secret. 5. Prioritize 5 Needle-Moving Tasks for the Next Day Planning for 5 minutes the night before saves you an hour the next day. Sounds improbable, right? But by setting out to-dos the night before, they're planted in your mind. Your subconscious whirs away on them while you rest. 6. No Social Media Content on social media is designed to stimulate: • Your curiosity • Your emotions • Your comparisons with others But stimulation is the enemy of sleep. Instead, swap scrolling for serenity - tomorrow you will thank you for it. 7. Reading Just before bed is the best time to read. Not only is it a natural, low-stimulation sleep-inducer, it puts new ideas in your subconscious while you sleep. And plants the seeds for unparalleled morning creativity. — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Matt Gray for more. Want my evening routine checklist? Join our community of 172,000+ subscribers today: https://lnkd.in/eMB4fWuy

Here's how to get so good that they can't ignore you: What does being "so good they can't ignore you" mean? “Don’t follow your passion; rather, let it follow you in your quest to become so good that they can’t ignore you.” – Steve Martin, 5-time Grammy Winner In short, it's a mindset. A mindset where, regardless of what you do for a living... You approach your work like a true performer. In the end, by optimizing for what you are great at, no one can compete against you. Give me 3 minutes, and I'll break it down: 1. Question Yourself Ask yourself: "What do I truly want?" Make a list of 10-15 items. Most of these are responses that society has conditioned you into. Question what you actually enjoy. Fearlessly write down your craziest ideas to understand your true north star. 2. Stack Skills Ask yourself: "What daily, repeated practice will get me to my goals?" Skills enable growth: • Write email copy daily → Build out an agency  • Create content daily → Bootstrap a media company Pick up a new skill every 30 days to accelerate your value. 3. Set Anti-Goals The quickest choice that kills momentum: finding distractions. Set anti-goals to build guardrails to your attention. Ask yourself: • What's the worst outcome? • What systems lead to that?  • What daily actions create that system? Avoid at all costs. 4. Kill Self-Doubt When betting on yourself, self-doubt is your biggest confrontation. View self-doubt as a signal to learn, not to quit: • Ask for help  • Learn the basics  • Practice and implement  • Teach others 5. Ruthlessly Track Your Time No one is going to hold you accountable for your own progress. Tracking your time illuminates: • Which hours are you most productive • What methods teach you the fastest  • What areas interest you the most This data is invaluable. 6. Set Specific Goals Your intentions guide your destination. Stop setting arbitrary goals (ie. "I'm thinking of surfing on a beach in Costa Rica, without worrying about money") Start setting specific goals (ie. "I want to hit $5 million in revenue by 2023, $3 million in profit") — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Matt Gray for more. Want to Learn How to Go From 0 Followers to 1,000,000 (and beyond)? Join my live (FREE) Workshop on March 13th (9 days away) to steal my homework: www.founderos.com/workshop

Leadership principles I know at 35, I wish I had known at 21: 1. No Agenda, No Meeting Time is your most valuable resource. Hours are wasted in meetings that could be emails. When you have meetings, make every minute count by having a clear agenda: • What do we want to achieve? • How are we going to get there? • What's our timeline? 2. New Initiative, Make a Plan Before every project, scope out: • Your one core focus  • The best strategies to achieve growth  • Immediate next steps Never create a plan without actions you can tackle in the first hour. Precise planning avoids pitfalls and builds focus. 3. Be Vulnerable, Be Real Be human with your team. Admit when you’ve gone wrong. Your team will trust you if they know you own your mistakes. Jocko Willink calls this "Extreme Ownership." Never act like a victim. The rest of your team will follow your example. 4. No Meetings Before Noon Intentionally make time for deep work and focus. Two core abilities are required to thrive in the modern economy: • Mastering hard things • Producing output at an elite level of quality and speed Setting aside time for deep work enables both. 5. Sweat the Small Stuff How you do anything is how you do everything. Don't let little things slide. Attention to detail is what separates you from competitors • Details matter • Design matters • Copywriting matters The customer experience is built bit by bit. 6. Be the Hardest Worker in the Room But also the dumbest. Hire people smarter than you. But let no one outwork you. Lead by example. Show others the work ethic you expect. This drives your team to reach their collective potential. 7. Flatten the Hierarchy Create a culture of psychological safety. Every employee should have a voice in your company. Value ideas from your most junior employees as well as your most senior. You build a culture of discussion and innovation, instead of a hierarchy of fear. 8. Connect to a Greater Mission Most employees: • Punch the clock in at 9 • Mindlessly go about their work • Leave as soon as the clock hits 5 Instead: • Hire mission-driven employees  • Give them projects they care about  • Sync on their purpose — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Matt Gray for more. Want to become a better leader? Join our community of 172,000+ subscribers today: https://lnkd.in/eMB4fWuy

I’m 35. When I was younger, I battled to get sober, had my company raided by the government, traveled the world, and started multiple 8-figure companies. 11 lessons for 21-year-old Matt: 1. Prioritize Nature Nature's been my biggest mentor and therapist. Getting outside daily, taking my shoes off, and grounding myself has brought infinite stability to my life. 2. Never Stop Building Your Network Over the years, I've created a personal Board of Advisors. Some of my closest friends are killers across sales, writing, YouTube, community building, and strategy. I know world-class advice is just a phone call away. 3. Never Compromise Your Ethics In tough decisions where blurring the lines is an option, choose moral. NEVER compromise your ethics. It'll affect you in subconscious ways you never imagined. 4. Be Boring A lot of success comes from just saying no to cheap dopamine. And instead, focusing on the mundane: • Maximizing sleep • Guarding time for workouts • Not eating out in favor of your nutritious diet Boring's not a bad word when you're on the up. 5. Become a Self-Starter The fastest way to grow your career: Find your bosses' pain points and solve them without being asked. You put yourself on the radar - and train your entrepreneurial muscle for when you need it. 6. Learn Storytelling Early Sales, hiring, marketing - it's all storytelling. It's the highest intangible ROI skill you can learn. The first step: Study storytelling frameworks and the 7 fundamental human emotions. 7. Be Humble However hard it is on your ego, you need to swallow your pride every damn day. It's how you'll take criticism better, know when to ask for help, and know when to cut your losses. Grasping onto an image of who you are only limiting what you might become. 8. Never Skip 2 Days With whatever habit you're forming, only skip a maximum of one day. Once you skip two in a row, you've lost momentum. I've found this rule much more practical than 'never miss a day'. 9. Find Your Peak Energy State Keep trying new work environments. Experiment with working at different times. Until you find when you're most energetic, at ease, and productive. That's your competitive advantage. 10. Embrace Compounding Aim to get 1% better everyday - and be 37x better by the end of the year. It's a simple mindset hack that'll bring you a world of joy down the line. All you need is consistency. 11. Never Feel Sorry for Yourself Embrace the suck and use it as fuel to level up. You're not a victim - don't get in the habit of thinking you are one. That's a surefire way to never achieve anything. It's simple: if you've chosen the wrong road, go back and find the right one. — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Matt Gray for more. Want more cheat codes? Join our community of 172,000+ subscribers today: https://lnkd.in/eMB4fWuy

A hill I’m willing to die on: Sleep is the best ROI. Build a business that lets you rest easy, and you’ll wake up richer every day. Here's how I built an 8-figure business that runs while I sleep: For context, I didn’t always care about my sleep. 11 years ago, when I was building my first company, I was convinced “hustle” was the only path to success. But one night, I had a panic attack in my Toronto apartment. That's when I knew something had to change. Sleep isn't just rest — it's a success metric. Not your revenue. Not your follower count. Not your bank balance. If you can't sleep soundly, you're doing something wrong. Here’s how I went from working 15 hours per day to only 4: 1. Systems I've built 100+ systems to put my 8-figure portfolio of companies on autopilot: • Content systems • Sales systems • Operations systems Systems create predictability. Predictability creates peace. 2. Chief of Staff A Chief of Staff is the most important hire for any founder. They're your business's operating system— running everything in the background. Sleep comes when you're not the bottleneck. 3. Health > Everything Some of my daily non-negotiables: • No screens after 8 PM • Daily exercise • No alcohol One hour invested in health returns two in productivity. 4. Hire A Coach My coach spotted blindspots I couldn't see. He helped push me to prioritize systems instead of grinding myself to dust. Remember: You can't read the label from inside the bottle. Seeking guidance is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of strength. 5. Surround Yourself With Nurturing Relationships I have: • Friends who push me • A therapist for mental clarity • A team of weapons I trust with everything You're only as calm as the people you choose to surround yourself with. 6. Hire An EA Random tasks, urgent emails, and calendar chaos keep you up at night. An EA becomes your second brain, handling the day-to-day operations that steal your peace. You’d be surprised at how much time you win back. Delegate your stress away. — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Matt Gray for more. JUST RELEASED: I created a deep-dive video on how I escaped the success trap and found true freedom. "If you're successful but don't feel free, watch this": https://linktw.in/DkjEEb This might be the most important 12 minutes you'll spend this week if you're tired of being a prisoner to your own success.

I’m obsessed with great leadership. But when I was young, I wasted years and opportunities not knowing what great leadership looked like. Learn from my mistakes. 11 clear signals you have a great leader: 1. Integrity Is Their North Star They do what's right, even when no one's watching. As Bill Campbell, the "Trillion Dollar Coach," once said: "It's not about what you say. It's about what you do." A great leader walks their talk. 2. They Measure Output, Not Input They care about outcomes achieved, not face time. They know that results are the currency of business, not promises and hours spent. And they know that what gets measured, gets improved. 3. They Wear Humility Like A Badge They're not afraid to admit when they're wrong or don't know something. They're always eager to learn from others, regardless of their position. They know that the ego trip is a journey to nowhere. 4. Emotional intelligence Is Their Sixth Sense They have an uncanny ability to read people and situations. They navigate complex emotions and interpersonal dynamics with flair. Empathy and understanding are their tools of choice. 5. Resilience Runs In Their Blood They view setbacks as stepping stones, not roadblocks. When knocked down, they dust themselves off and keep pushing forward. Their tenacity is contagious. They prove that enthusiasm is common, but endurance is rare. 6. Adaptability Is Their Competitive Edge They adapt themselves to circumstances, as water moulds itself to the pitcher. They don't just embrace change; they champion it. As Max McKeown says, “All failure is the failure to adapt; all success is successful adaptation.” 7. Innovation Fuels Them They foster a culture of creativity and outside-the-box thinking. They encourage bold ideas and calculated risks. Status quo? Not in their vocabulary. 8. They Don't Wear Masks or Play Politics What you see is what you get: • Real • Raw • Relatable They create depth. And depth creates authenticity. 9. They Communicate With Transparency Delivering the truth courageously is the highest form of respect. They believe clear information sharing is power. Empire building requires clarity of thought and words. 10. Active Listening Is Their Nature They don't just hear; they listen to understand. They give their undivided attention and make others feel truly understood and heard. They know that successful people listen more than they talk. 11. They Adopt A ‘Relationships First’ Attitude They invest time and energy into nurturing authentic connections. They remember birthdays, ask about family, and genuinely care. Their single greatest "people skill" is a highly developed and authentic interest in the other person. — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Matt Gray for more. Want to Learn How to Go From 0 Followers to 1,000,000 (and beyond)? Join my live (FREE) Workshop on March 13th (8 days away) to steal my homework: www.founderos.com/workshop

9 free websites for learning new skills (that will make you unstoppable): 1. Growth Design My favorite website for mastering product psychology. • Level up your product skills • Learn about cognitive biases • Use psychology to build better products 2. FS Blog Learn faster, think better, and make smart decisions. • Train your brain • Leverage mental models • Master the best of what other people have already figured out 3. Dribbble Explore the world's leading design portfolios. • Unlimited design inspiration • Discover amazing designers • Search for specific animations 4. Stock Circle See how the best investors invest. • Follow in the footsteps of investing gurus • Study Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger 5. Marketing Examples The #1 marketing website on the internet. • Better than a marketing degree • How to grow a YouTube channel in 2022 • Step-by-step guide to landing pages that convert 6. Y Combinator Get inspired by the top Y Combinator companies. • Study Stripe's design • Disect Airbnb's UX/UI • Learn from the fastest-growing startups 7. Typeshare Everything you need to start writing online. • Templates so you never have to stare at a blank page • Organize content into collections • Powerful analytics 8. Nexttbrand Study the most popular DTC brands in the world. • Learn from the best brands • Discover their business model • Study their copywriting and value proposition 9. Review First Round Learn more about product management, marketing, people, & culture from the best. • Learn habits of high-impact managers • How to become insanely well-connected • Guidebooks for upping your management game — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Matt Gray for more. Want a tools checklist with links? Join our community of 172,000+ subscribers today: https://lnkd.in/eMB4fWuy

I tested 100+ productivity systems over 10 years and discovered a shocking truth: The world's highest performers don't work more hours. They master energy, not time. After building multiple 7-figure businesses, I've found that: Strategic focus > Random activity Energy management > Time management 4 hours of DEEP work > 12 hours of shallow hustle NASA discovered their best engineers weren't the ones working longest - but those who protected their focus religiously. I've distilled my entire productivity framework into this carousel after seeing it transform my life: • The 5AM power block that resets your circadian rhythm (the first 90 minutes without your phone changes everything) • The deep work design that 10X'd my output (every distraction costs you 23 minutes of focused energy) • The energy management system that creates sustainable performance (movement isn't optional, it's crucial) • The recovery protocol NASA found improves decision-making by 34% (1 hour of sleep debt drops your cognitive ability significantly) Most entrepreneurs keep grinding 12-hour days without systems, wondering why they're stuck in the mediocrity of busy work. That was me for years, until I realized: Peak performance isn't about sacrifice. It's about strategic laziness. Choose freedom. Choose systems. What's one productivity shift that would transform your business today? — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Matt Gray for more. Want my complete productivity framework? Join our community of 172,000+ subscribers today: https://lnkd.in/eMB4fWuy

The biggest lie entrepreneurs believe is that success comes from WHAT you do. It doesn't. Success comes from HOW you think. For 10 years, I operated with the wrong mental operating system: • I chased goals without building proper systems • I reacted emotionally instead of responding strategically • I saw obstacles as roadblocks rather than opportunities • I treated criticism as personal attacks instead of growth fuel Everything changed when I realized: Your mind isn't just a tool. It's THE tool that determines everything else. After building multiple 7 and 8-figure businesses, I've identified 5 specific mindset shifts that completely transformed my results: Growth Mindset → Obstacles become stepping stones Abundance Thinking → Opportunities multiply when shared Strategic Focus → Systems over goals, always Emotional Mastery → Choose responses, not reactions Resilient Psychology → Turn setbacks into comebacks The difference between successful entrepreneurs and struggling ones isn't tactics. It's mental frameworks. I've distilled my most powerful mental frameworks into this carousel. These are the exact mindset shifts I use daily to stay focused and keep winning. What's the one mindset shift that would transform your business right now? — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Matt Gray for more. Want to learn more mental frameworks? Join our community of 172,000+ subscribers today: https://lnkd.in/eMB4fWuy

If you’re a perfectionist, you’ll never be wealthy. 10 rules to live by to stop overthinking every decision you make: 1. Slow Down, Relax You don't need to be in such a rush. Time's not the enemy; it's your ally. Take a deep breath. Rome wasn't built in a day. Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. 2. Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable Whatever you do, stay consistent. Embrace the suck. Push through the discomfort. Growth happens outside your comfort zone. Discomfort is the price of admission to a meaningful life. 3. Adopt The Cycle for Success Ship → Learn → Iterate → Repeat Don't wait for perfection. Launch and improve. Progress beats perfection every single time. Done is better than perfect. 4. Start Now. Hit Publish Stop waiting for the "right moment". It doesn't exist. Share your work before you feel ready. The world rewards action, not intention. Your imperfect work today beats your perfect work tomorrow. 5. Find Your Personal Board of Directors Surround yourself with mentors and advisors. Learn from their experiences. Leverage their wisdom. Stop second-guessing every decision. Your network is your net worth. 6. Build a Business That Feels Like Play If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life. Align your business with your passions. When work feels like play, burnout becomes a foreign concept. Life's too short for a job you hate. 7. Create Systems for Everything You Do Systems are the bridge between wishing and achieving. Automate the routine. Humanize the exception. A good system beats a good intention any day. Your systems determine your success. 8. Embrace The "Hell Yes or No" Principle If it's not a "Hell Yes," it's a "No." Guard your time and energy fiercely. Opportunity cost is real. Choose wisely. Say no to good, so you can say yes to great. 9. Apply the 80/20 Rule Ruthlessly Identify The 20% of efforts that yield 80% of results. Focus on high-impact tasks. Delegate or eliminate the rest. Not all hours are created equal. Work smarter, not harder. 10. Become 5% Better Every Day Small, consistent improvements compound over time. Focus on progress, not perfection. Embrace the power of marginal gains. You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great. Stop overthinking. Start doing. These rules aren't just theory – they're battle-tested at Founder OS. — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Matt Gray for more. Want my productivity checklist? Join our community of 172,000+ subscribers today: https://lnkd.in/eMB4fWuy

Leonardo da Vinci once said: "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." Here’s how to simplify your life (in 6 months): Minimal vs Simple Most people confuse the two. Minimalism is about having less. Simplicity is about focusing on what matters. Your goal isn't to strip everything away. It's to make room for what counts. When you master this, freedom follows. The simplest people in history found joy in traditions: • Tea ceremonies • Simple diets • Timeless fashion Old traditions represent mastery over distraction. Here are 3 tips I’ve learned from studying timeless principles: 1. The 80/20 Rule 20% of your habits drive 80% of your health. 20% of your clients drive 80% of your revenue. 20% of your actions drive 80% of your happiness. Focus on the 20%. Cut everything else. 2. Curate Your Environment It's not just about a clean desk. It's about: • Who you surround yourself with • What media you consume • What notifications you allow Your environment shapes your behavior. 3. Not-To-Do List Create a list of non-negotiables: • No email before noon • No social media after 8 PM • No meeting blocks Sometimes, the habit you eliminate is more important than the habit you add. Next, I want to break down 5 insanely simple systems that you can implement today to make you unstoppable: 1. Establish Rules 2. Have A Clear Vision 3. Plan For The Next Day 4. Health > Everything 5. Affirmations 1. Establish Rules Here are a few I’ve set for myself to maintain a simple life: • No morning meetings until 12 PM • 3 hours of deep work at dawn • Daily movement is non-negotiable  • Batch core meetings Rules + Discipline = Freedom 2. Have A Clear Vision You must create clear 1 year and 90-day goals for your business. When defining them, make sure they follow the S.M.A.R.T. framework: • Specific • Measurable  • Achievable  • Realistic • Time-bound Without a vision, you will perish. 3. Plan For The Next Day Write down your 5 priorities for tomorrow every night. The Super Bowl is won in preseason. Tomorrow's victory is planned today. Clarity before bed = Momentum at dawn. 4. Health > Everything Your most important asset is your body. Here’s my (simplified) health protocol: Morning: Collagen + H20+ Journaling + Coffee Afternoon: Apple Cider Vinegar + Lunch + Sunlight  Evening: Light dinner + 8hrs Sleep Healthy founders build healthy businesses. 5. Affirmations These daily reminders become your internal motto. Some of mine include: • "I am optimistic"  • "I recognize less is more"  • "I am present and loving" Your words become your reality. Choose them with intention. — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Matt Gray for more. Want to simplify your life? Join our community of 172,000+ subscribers today: https://lnkd.in/eMB4fWuy

10 TED Talks in 10 days that will change your life: 1. How Great Leaders Inspire Action by Simon Sinek Simon Sinek breaks down the golden circle: • Every great leader starts with WHY— not what or how • Apple doesn't sell computers; they sell innovation • WHY speaks directly to the decision-making part of the brain People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it. 2. Sleep Is Your Superpower by Matthew Walker Matthew reveals the neuroscience of sleep: • Shows how all-nighters block new memories from forming • People who sleep 4-5 hours have significantly lower testosterone • 4 hours of sleep loss cuts immune cells by 70% 3. The Power Of Vulnerability by Brene Brown In Brene Brown’s TED talk, she: • Discusses findings from 6 years of vulnerability research • Explains why we can't selectively numb emotions • Shares a personal story of her own "breakdown/spiritual awakening" 4. Inside The Mind Of A Master Procrastinator by Tim Urban Using humor and simple drawings, Tim Urban describes the roles of the: • Rational Decision-Maker • Instant Gratification Monkey • Panic Monster He ends with a powerful message on what procrastination is all about. 5. How To Speak So That People Want To Listen by Julian Treasure Julian Treasure breaks down the HAIL formula for powerful speech: • Honesty: be clear and straight • Authenticity: be yourself • Integrity: be your word • Love: wish them well 6. Grit: The Power Of Passion And Perseverance by Angela Lee Duckworth Angela Lee Duckworth walks us through her research: • Grit is unrelated or inversely related to talent • IQ isn't the best predictor of success • Grit = passion + persistence 7. The Happy Secret To Better Work by Shawn Achor Shawn Achor reveals how to create lasting positive change: • Write down 3 things you’re grateful for daily • Journaling, exercise, meditation • Random acts of kindness Success comes after happiness, not before. 8. Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are by Amy Cuddy Power posing changes your biology: • 2 minutes raises testosterone by 20% • Cortisol drops by 25% - reducing stress instantly • Your body position literally rewires your brain's confidence 9. The Power Of Introverts by Susan Cain Susan Cain talks about how: • Modern schools/workplaces are designed for extroverts • Solitude is a crucial ingredient for creativity • Some of the most transformative leaders in history were introverts Being introverted is a superpower. 10. How To Build A Profitable Personal Brand (In Just 30 Days) by Matt Gray I know this isn’t a TED talk, but it could change your life. It takes you through everything you need to know about building a personal brand (from scratch). — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Matt Gray for more. Want my complete TED talks list? Join our community of 172,000+ subscribers today: https://lnkd.in/eMB4fWuy

At 35, these are the 5 things I regret not doing sooner: Looking back at my journey, it's not the failures that sting, it's the delayed starts. I wasted years before realizing what truly matters: 1. Not Building Systems Early Enough I regret trading time for money. I worked 15-hour days thinking hustle was the answer. I should have created automated systems from the beginning. Now my businesses generate profit while I sleep, but I could have had this freedom years earlier. 2. Neglecting My Health For Too Long I regret wearing exhaustion like a badge of honor. Drinking to decompress, smoking to stay alert, sacrificing sleep to "get ahead." I should have prioritized lifting, stretching, and meditating daily from the start. When I finally did, my clarity, energy, and creativity multiplied. My body is my most valuable business asset. 3. Ignoring My Instincts I regret following others' blueprints instead of listening to my gut. I should have trusted my unique perspective sooner. The moment I started building what felt authentic to me (not what others expected) everything clicked. 4. Failing to Set Strict Boundaries I regret saying yes to everything, fearing missed opportunities. I should have realized earlier that saying no to the wrong things creates space for the right ones. Protecting my time and energy isn't selfish; it's necessary for creating a real impact. 5. Delaying My Personal Brand I regret waiting to share my journey publicly. I thought "I'll start when I have it all figured out." I should have started documenting my path immediately. The connections, opportunities, and growth that came from sharing openly have been exponential. At 35, I've rebuilt my life around the 4 Ws: working on what I want, with who I want, where I want, whenever I want. Don't wait until you're 85 to realize what matters. Start now. — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Matt Gray for more. Want to Learn How to Go From 0 Followers to 1,000,000 (and beyond)? Join my live (FREE) Workshop on March 13th (24 hours away) to steal my homework: www.founderos.com/workshop