Feet in the Sand

Hey Team!

Reporting from Nicaragua with my feet in the sand. It’s funny how often that phrase has come out of my mouth over the past five years, and most especially over the past two. I’ll share why in a second, but being here means more than six days away in the sun.

I was kindly invited to a retreat on the west side of the country… a week-long theme on elevating your personal brand. I jumped at the opportunity. After spending the weekend in Maryland for the annual Polar Plunge in support of Special Olympics, I arrived a few days late, but even day one has been great. I knew only one person walking in, so if nothing else, I’ll leave with more friends, a tan, and a fully rejuvenated system by the time I fly out.

This Week’s Shift

As I’m sitting on this beach, I keep drifting back to Maryland… and the kind of wholesome energy you can’t fake. That weekend was about showing up for Special Olympics, and for my friend Tommy’s nephew, Colin. Colin lives with an undiagnosed condition that affects his movement… similar to cerebral palsy. I’m not a doctor, so I’ll leave it at that. What I can say with confidence is this: he’s 26, he’s over 6 feet tall, he’s a big presence, and he’s got an even bigger personality.

Tommy’s talked about Colin a lot. I’ve even received a few videos over the past weeks. But meeting him in person was different. I had a feeling our team captain would put a grin on everyone’s face in the freezing cold… and he delivered in a big way.

The real shift, though, was the company. Friends of mine, who also didn’t know Colin, dropped everything and made the trip. That’s when I knew the weekend was going to be special. And it was. Everyone but Tommy and I were strangers to each other… sitting in someone’s home, sharing heartfelt stories, hard truths, and actual wisdom. No performance. No mask. Just presence.

For the first time in months, maybe years, I intentionally refrained from posting on social media for three days. Not as a tactic. As a choice. My sleep was better. My bucket filled back up. My heart felt loud in the best way. We need more of that in the world, and I’m sharing it as a reminder: if your system feels fried, don’t add more noise. Add more real.

And here’s the takeaway that matters: the people who said “I’m in” without hesitation… those are your people. Keep them close. Build your life around the ones who bring you joy and pull you upward.

From The Field

Back to my feet in the sand…

The past six years of my life had headwinds. Real ones. Business adversity that felt like a tornado. Stress that stacked. A separation. Launching a start-up. Through all of it, I wasn’t in a position to disappear to a beach the way I wanted… the way I needed.

So I did what I could with what I had. I built strategies to regulate my nervous system and manage turbulence. I got sober. I worked with one of the world’s top leaders in crisis management. I held the line. And in many ways, I thrived through it.

But thriving doesn’t mean you’re full. My emotional tank was empty. I felt crushed at corners I didn’t even know existed. And the simplest craving stayed the same: a week in a vitamin D-rich place… waves at night… quiet mornings… my feet in the sand.

So when this opportunity came up, it wasn’t “just” a retreat on personal brand. It was a long-delayed exhale. The thing I’d been asking for, without always saying it out loud. And now I’m here.

I try to remind people of this, and I’m going to say it again because it’s true: no matter how long and dark the nights get, the sun always comes up. Wherever you are right now… not physically, but energetically… you will get through what’s ahead. And when you finally find yourself on your version of this beach, whether it’s Hawaii, Mexico, or somewhere completely different… let it land. You deserve every second of it.

Keep choosing the rooms that make you feel more human. That shift changes everything.

Catch you on the Start Line,
—Matty