Aspiring Men on Purpose have no shortage of ideas when it comes to the goals we would like to achieve. What trips many of us up is developing the commitment to consistently devote our focus to these creative projects—when it would be easier to watch Netflix. So, how can we cultivate that kind of discipline? What motivates high-performing men to be so relentless and accomplish so much?

Matthew Dicks is a bestselling author, award-winning elementary school teacher, storyteller, speaking coach, blogger, wedding DJ and life coach. His novels have been translated into more than 25 languages, and he is a 2014 Dolly Gray Award winner and 2017 Nutmeg Award nominee. Matt is also the cofounder and creative director of Speak Up, a storytelling organization that produces shows throughout New England. He teaches storytelling and public speaking workshops to individuals, corporations, school districts and universities, including Yale, Purdue and The University of Connecticut Law School, among many other venues. Matt also cohosts two podcasts, Boy vs. Girl and Speak Up Storytelling.

Today, Matt sits down with Emerald to explain how his childhood informs his primary calling to be an elementary teacher and how he uses the same strategies to teach storytelling to adults. He shares the power of story to entertain and help people see themselves and the world in a different way. Matt also describes his say YES approach to creative opportunities and his practice of giving 100% of his energy to one endeavor at a time. Listen in for insight around how avoiding regret affords Matt a relentless commitment to achieve and learn how to develop discipline by seeing things as your future self!

What You Will Learn

How Matt’s childhood informs his primary calling as a teacher

How storytelling helps people see the world in a different way

How Matt’s students gave him the courage to protest

Why Matt says YES to every creative opportunity

Matt’s practice of giving 100% of his energy to one endeavor

How to develop discipline by seeing things as your future self

How avoiding regret affords Matt a relentless commitment

How Matt celebrates by redirecting his focus to a new project

Connect with Matthew Dicks

Matt’s Website

Speak Up Storytelling

Speak Up Storytelling Podcast

Boy vs. Girl: A Podcast

Resources

Books by Matthew Dicks

Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Power of Storytelling by Matthew Dicks

Matt’s Upcoming Appearances

Connect with Emerald GreenForest

Creative Age Consulting Group

Emerald’s Website

Emerald on LinkedIn