Hey Steven, I've found myself in both modes, periods where everything moves fast and there’s no time to think, and others where there’s finally space to slow down and reflect. I can operate in both, but I’ve learned that I actually thrive when I have time to think things through. Some of my most meaningful progress has come after an intense stretch of action, when I finally get a breather and can look back at what worked, what didn’t, and how I want to move forward differently. That reflection gives the next set of actions more direction and intention. The moments after I've been doing a lot, building a lot, or pushing hard are often where clarity shows up for me. They help me reset, recalibrate, and choose my next steps with more purpose rather than urgency.

@Stephen B. Henry True, by no means though am I perfect as I, and all of us, are still learning how to optimize our energy and actions for a well-balanced life.

Hey GrowGetters 👋 Posting this with a bit of humility and honesty. After 14 years living and working in Indonesia, I recently moved back to the U.S. I spent those years teaching English Language Arts and History, building curriculum, and steadily growing into a writer and content creator through newsletters, educational content, and long-form writing. Since returning, I’ve been struggling more than I expected to land a full-time role. It’s been disorienting. I built a solid career overseas, and coming back has felt like hitting reset—professionally and emotionally. I’m working hard, applying consistently, and refining my positioning, but it’s getting tough, especially with the holidays approaching. So I wanted to reach out to this community and ask directly: If you know of any full-time opportunities, teams looking for a strong writer, curriculum/content developer, or educator-turned-content professional, I’d love to connect. I’m very open to conversations, 1:1s, or sharing my resume/portfolio if helpful. Even introductions or pointing me in the right direction would mean a lot. Thanks for reading, and thanks for being a space where it feels okay to be real. — Matt

@Ben Albert I appreciate that! I'm open for anything I can provide quality work for!

I really feel this. Rest isn’t a reward, it’s how the brain and body reset so we can show up consistently and do good work. When energy runs low and we keep pushing, burnout isn’t far behind. Appreciate this reminder, @Ben Albert . Thanks for putting it out there.

Hey GrowGetters! I’m Matt Hutson, an educator, writer, and learning strategist living in Vancouver, Washington, freshly back in the U.S. after 14 years teaching abroad in Indonesia. I’m here because I believe growth happens when we turn what we learn into action, not just absorb more information. That’s the heart of my work: helping people read better, learn smarter, and live more intentionally. I create curriculum for edtech companies like Subject, write the Learning to Learn Well newsletter, and build tools that make learning practical, reflective, and human. I help others grow by making complex ideas accessible and coaching them to bridge the gap between knowing and doing whether that’s through content, courses, or creative strategy. Here to connect, support, and stretch myself, especially in the areas of content strategy, audience building, creative entrepreneurship, and collaborative partnerships. Excited to grow alongside this brilliant group! Let’s make it count.

@Ben Albert Same here, I hope we all can benefit from this community.