Ep. 26 Matthew Brett on diving into life
Why tiptoe through life when you can dive in?
That’s what Matthew Brett does best. Forget playing it safe: Travel alone. Seek new adventures. Create detours on purpose. Live a life of purpose by living your life on purpose.
Matthew founded his Chicago-based branding company Substance in 2005 while sipping coffee in Barcelona on the steps of the Miro museum. He took up diving to go to the uncharted places on the map that cartographers marked “HC SVNT DRACONES,” Latin for, “Here be dragons.”
Matthew became a Professional Association of Diving Instructors certified rescue scuba diver with over 200 dives. He talks about the beauty of coming face to face with a giant oceanic manta ray.
My takeaways:
When overwhelmed, break the challenge at hand into micro-steps.
Focus on the small tasks you can control so you don’t get caught up in the big narrative.
Find a great mentor.
Hard work and discipline trumps talent.
“I didn’t have a fear of water; I had a healthy fear of drowning.” So he took swimming lessons and learned to dive.
Bio:
Matthew Brett is the owner and creative director of Substance in Chicago.
Matthew founded his company, Substance in 2005, while sipping coffee in Barcelona on the steps of the Miro museum. The basic philosophy was simple. Create enduring brands based on a strong conceptual direction, stripped of artifice and stylistic gimmicks.
Matthew began his professional graphic design career in 1992 producing visual branding programs and interactive design. His design work has been recognized internationally by such publications as Communication Arts, Print Regional Design Annual, Creativity, Graphic Design:USA, UnderConsideration and The One Show.
Matthew received his BFA in Graphic Design from Kent State University and began his professional design career in 1992. He has been a guest lecturer and design critic at the University of Notre Dame, The Art Institute of Chicago, and Columbia College of Chicago.
Matthew is a Professional Association of Diving Instructors certified rescue scuba diver with over 200 dives and is a former dive volunteer at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium.
When not working, he enjoys painting, fitness, running and meditation.
Website and links: