Growing Every Day: Brandon Matthews Of The Meaningful Marketplace On What We Can Do To Grow Every Day
An Interview With Dr. Carla Marie Manly
Your attitude is a powerful force in your life. It can direct your entire day. Like any road trip, your journey of growth is much better with a positive attitude.
Growth is an essential part of life, both personally and professionally. Every day presents an opportunity to learn, evolve, and become better versions of ourselves. But how do we seize these opportunities? How do successful writers, leaders, and influencers ensure they are constantly growing and improving? What daily habits, practices, or mindsets contribute to their continual growth? In this interview series, we are talking to authors, leaders, influencers, and anyone who is an authority about “What We Can Do To Grow Every Day”. As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Brandon Matthews.
Brandon Matthews is a speaker and professional trainer with 20 years of experience in corporate communications, professional and spiritual development. He is known for his practical, engaging, and comical communication style, and has spoken to thousands of audiences on topics like leadership, communication, customer service, mental health, and substance use prevention. His extensive experience includes leading customer service teams for Apple Inc. and coaching various organizations, teams, non-profits, and businesses, helping them reach their full potential.
Thank you so much for your time! I know that you are a very busy person. Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us your “Origin Story”? Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
Growing up my mom would always say “why do tomorrow what you can do today?” This statement is the perfect picture of the work ethic modeled to me by both of my parents. It would be hard to find (in my eyes) two people who worked harder than they did. In the mid 80’s my dad (while still working his job) began building his own business until he could support himself. He would leave early in the mornings, return late in time for dinner, and leave again working past midnight. The morning would come and he would repeat it all over again. Their business was renting and repairing forklifts for most of the biggest companies in Birmingham, AL. My mom handled administration and Dad worked with the businesses that he served. They have both passed in the last few years but their work ethic, drive, and determination is a legacy that has been left for me to live up to.
Can you tell us a bit about what you do professionally, and what brought you to this specific career path?
I help organizations be the best they can be by helping to infuse passion and purpose in the workplace in strategic areas like customer service, company culture, and caring for their teams. I like to say I help bring meaning back to the marketplace.
COVID helped to reveal the brokenness of the marketplace leading to a record setting number of people who quit their jobs physically or practiced quiet quitting. Consumer satisfaction hit record lows, and many small businesses didn’t survive. Today, 77% of people report that they hate their job. People spend ⅓ of their lives working and they hate what they do. They are living for the weekend but the weekend doesn’t last long enough. Then Monday rolls around and they do it all again. One day they wake up and wonder where life has gone.
I feel a purpose and passion to help change this cycle of work and life. So I help assess the pain points that a company is experiencing and then provide proven principles and processes that help to equip and empower the individual, the teams, and ultimately the customers that they serve.
Thank you for all that. Let’s now turn to the main focus of our discussion about Personal Growth. To make sure that we are all on the same page, let’s begin with a simple definition. What does “Personal Growth” mean to you?
This is a great question and one that everyone should be able to answer for themselves. For me, it is simply being better than I was yesterday. I pursue perfection in my life. Although I will never obtain it, as long as I pursue it I will continue to grow.
Why do you believe that it’s important to commit to growing every day?
The key word here is commitment. We become whatever we are committed to. If I commit to nothing I become nothing. However, if I commit to growth I will grow. Many people subscribe to the belief that growth just happens on its own, but growth must be a goal and a priority that we commit to.
What are the key upsides for those who mindfully engage in a journey of personal evolution?
There are only upsides to growth. It makes every facet of your life better. The most beautiful and valuable upside of personal evolution (to me) is that it not only enriches my life but those around me. When I grow it inspires those around me to grow. This helps to strengthen my influence with those I lead and creates a greater impact in all that I do.
Personally, I am the most fulfilled when I help others find fulfillment. I want to leave the people and the places I go better than I found them. Unless I continue to grow I will be unable to achieve this in my life.
When we stop evolving in intentional ways, what do you think are the biggest downsides?
The number one struggle for people who stop growing and begin to stagnate is a lack of passion in their life. And without passion, it’s nearly impossible to live with purpose. This is why I believe so many people are dissatisfied with their lives both personally and professionally. They don’t grow as an employer or employee. They don’t grow in their marriage, as parents, or even in their hobbies. A lack of growth robs you of passion and purpose and ultimately fulfillment.
What specific practices, if any, do you have in place to ensure that you don’t become stagnant in life?
Embracing a growth mindset is crucial to personal development. It involves approaching every action and decision with the intention of growth, whether in physical, spiritual, or relational aspects of life. I apply this mindset by consistently setting goals and working diligently to achieve them. I intentionally seek out new experiences, meet new people, and immerse myself in diverse environments that challenge and expand my perspectives. Perhaps most importantly, I empower key individuals in my life to hold me accountable for my personal growth, ensuring that I stay on course and continue to evolve.
Is there any particular area of your life where you are most committed to growth (e.g., spiritually, professionally, socially, internally, relationally)?
The answer is yes (to all of these areas). I apply a growth mindset to every aspect of my life, but I feel especially passionate about my family. I am committed to continually growing as a husband and father, striving to be the best I can be so that, no matter what life brings, my family remains united and strong. It’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of success and achievements, only to realize later that our relationships have suffered. I want my family to be part of my journey, so I prioritize their well-being and work hard to keep us all healthy and connected. They matter most to me, and I make sure they know it every day.
If you could offer five tips to readers on how to stimulate and perpetuate self-growth, what would they be?
1 . Know Where you Are
You can’t reach your destination without first knowing where you are. Before smartphones, when asking for directions, the first question people would ask was, “Where are you?” The starting point was crucial. Then came MapQuest and GPS, both of which required your starting location to provide directions. Today, our phones can guide us in real-time, but only if they have access to our exact location via GPS. Everything has a starting point, and understanding precisely where you are is essential. Knowing your current position provides the necessary context and clarity to chart the best course toward your goals.
Where are you Emotionally?
Where are you Physically?
Where are you Spiritually?
Where are you Relationally?
Where are you Financially?
Knowing where you are is crucial for understanding the potential paths your growth can take. It allows you to identify your strengths, weaknesses, passions, and pain points, as well as areas where you might need support as you move forward. This awareness serves as a baseline for measuring your progress.
Reflecting on where you’ve been can be incredibly encouraging, especially on challenging days. I often remind myself, “I may not be where I want to be, but at least I’m not where I was.” This perspective highlights the progress made and motivates continued growth.
2 . Know Where You Are Going
You’ve identified where you are, but to move forward, you must also know where you’re going. Without a destination, you’re just aimlessly driving. In the process of self-assessment, you may realize that you don’t like the direction you’re headed. As the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said, “If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are going.” This is why it’s essential to define your destination clearly.
Most people don’t intentionally plan to end up at the wrong destination, but they also don’t intentionally plan to reach the right one. Good intentions alone won’t get you where you want to go; it’s the daily decisions that shape your journey. These decisions must be intentional, guided by a well-thought-out plan.
A good plan includes clear goals, a defined destination, and specific, actionable steps. Each task should be clearly outlined with deadlines to ensure progress. A solid plan is also measurable, with metrics in place to track your advancement and keep you on the right path.
3 . Know Who You Are Taking
Every journey is better with the right company, and the people you bring along on your path of growth are crucial. Consider whether the individuals you’ve surrounded yourself with are always wanting to stop and sightsee or take a detour. Do they encourage you or discourage you? We’ve often heard the saying, “You are who you hang around.” The reality is that some people simply won’t be able to join you on your journey. They may be consistently negative, discouraging, or quick to point out why you can’t achieve something. These influences can stifle your growth.
Instead, seek out those who embody the qualities you aspire to and are headed in the direction you want to go. Befriend them and build a supportive network of friends, mentors, and colleagues who encourage growth and positivity. It’s true that success is not just about what you know but also who you know. Surrounding yourself with the right people can make all the difference in reaching your destination.
4 . Know What You Are Taking
The journey of growth requires some essential items to be packed. One of the most important is your attitude.
Have you ever noticed how a bad attitude can cast a shadow over everything? It’s like a storm cloud that follows you around, raining negativity on everything in your life. I’m afraid that many of us roll out of bed in the morning and by default, dress in our raincoat and rainboots, and grab the umbrella as we walk out the door. Because of our negative attitude we live in this storm even when it’s a beautiful day. Everyone around you is wearing shorts and flip flops, and yet you don’t even notice.
Your attitude is a powerful force in your life. It can direct your entire day. Like any road trip, your journey of growth is much better with a positive attitude.
5 . Know It Is a Long Trip
“Are we there yet?” is a dreaded question from the back seat, but we often ask ourselves the same thing on our growth journey. Growth is a long and challenging process that demands patience, perseverance, and self-awareness. It’s not an overnight transformation but a journey filled with incremental changes, setbacks, and moments of self-discovery.
As you progress, your growth equips you to better navigate life’s twists and turns, cope with uncertainty, and manage things beyond your control. Your relationships deepen with those who accompany you on this journey, creating meaningful moments that will last a lifetime. This journey not only shapes who you are but also enriches the experiences you share with others along the way.
Even though growth can often be fearful and frustrating, the destination is worth the trip.
What advice would you give to someone who feels stuck and unsure of how to start their personal growth journey?
Being stuck in your circumstance is a bad feeling. I think there are many who give up simply because they feel stuck. Begin to identify the places in your life that make it feel as though you are stuck. Then realize that the only thing you can control, is the way you respond to things out of your control. You have a choice to allow it to make you better, or to make you bitter. Choose to be better and start your growth journey. Remember growth is simply being better today than you were yesterday.
Are there any books, podcasts, or other resources that have significantly contributed to your personal growth?
Personally, the Bible has been a tremendous guide in my life. The book of Proverbs is full of wisdom for every facet of life and leadership. I also enjoy Dr. John Maxwell and his practical and principled approach to leadership. Today, there are so many incredible podcasts to grow from, and YouTube is also a wealth of knowledge.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I would love to see a moment of passion and purpose in the lives of people. When every person lives every day with purpose, living intentionally, everyone is better. We begin to honor those above us, serve those behind us, and walk with those beside us. Oh what a world it could be.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
BrandonMatthews.com is home to all of the work that I do. You can learn more about how I can add value to you and your organization, connect through social media, and find my podcast, The Mind Your Business Podcast.
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!
About The Interviewer: Dr. Carla Marie Manly — clinical psychologist, author, and advocate — is based in Sonoma County, California. In addition to her clinical practice focusing on relationships and personal transformation, Dr. Manly is deeply invested in her roles as podcaster and speaker. With a refreshingly direct and honest approach — plus a dose of humor — Dr. Manly enjoys supporting others in the ever-evolving journey of life. Her novel self-development paradigm builds resilience, emotional intelligence, and self-esteem. Highlighting the importance of loving connection, her work also focuses on helping others create deeply connected and satisfying intimate and social relationships. Working from a transformative model that honors the body-mind-spirit connection, Dr. Manly offers holistic relationship and wellness seminars around the world. An award-winning author, Dr. Manly’s books, The Joy of Imperfect Love, Date Smart, Joy from Fear, and Aging Joyfully highlight her empowering approach and profound expertise. Host of the captivating podcast, Imperfect Love, Dr. Manly offers uplifting guidance on navigating the messy road of life. Her expertise is also regularly cited in media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Forbes, Oprah, Newsweek, NBC, HuffPost, Reader’s Digest, Psychology Today, Parade, GQ, Women’s Health, Architectural Digest, Men’s Health, and more.
Growing Every Day: Brandon Matthews Of The Meaningful Marketplace On What We Can Do To Grow Every… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.