BeingThinkingDoing

I’m Matthew. And, while I would like to pretend that I have an army of associates and snazzy consultants in the well-appointed BeingThinkingDoing offices, the reality is that it is just me. In a shed.

That’s both good and bad. Bad – because if I have a cold, there is no replacement and I will send you germs via MS Teams. But good – because I am committed to establishing high-value, long-term human-to-human client relationships.  I believe that this is best done by a sole person, rather than via a corporation. All of my work starts with a conversation. Tell me what you need help with. Then I will go away and find the answer.

I live in remote North Dorset in the south-west of England, with long-suffering wife Becky and two teenage humans (currently LVI, and Exeter Uni). I spend my time walking my dog, Atticus, through mud. Frequently I look out of the window and ponder life’s endless challenges. I spend a lot of time on my own, so I mull and mutter a lot.

When I am not busy with these activities, I enjoy the Saturday Telegraph cryptic crossword (maybe “enjoy” is the wrong word), a pint of foaming real ale in a real pub with real people, classic stereo systems and classic vinyl, political discussion, and cheese.

My aim is to boost the lives (and work) of my clients. I believe that, for many, work is messy, confusing and often disappointing. Increasing commercial pressure, headcount restriction, waaaay too much technology and a lack of clarity about organisational goals all conspire to make the modern workplace often pretty crap. Meanwhile, at home, the demands of family, house, Netflix, holidays, rogue builders, social life (if you have one) and everything else stacked haphazardly on your metaphorical desk, make the prospect of downtime a hazy, distant dream.

I can help. It can’t all be fixed – or not right away. But I can offer slices of insight that can lighten the load, bring clarity and engender a sense of momentum. Help is at hand.

I get a little flustered when people ask me what I do. It doesn’t really have a name. But this is how I work….

I read a LOT of books, generally drawn from the areas of Psychological Wellbeing, Cognition and Productivity. I use a brilliant, bespoke, analogue information management system to capture key insights from this reading and – most importantly – to make connections. This leads to output.

Are you interested in what the ancient philosophy of Stoicism can teach us about how to live our lives today? Would you like to embed strategies for quitting bad habits and establishing good habits? Would you like to experience the benefits of getting really really good at something? What are the drivers of happiness? How should you organise your work? Why is social media driving you bonkers, and what you can do about it? How can you enjoy the benefits of a cognitively diverse team? How should you set goals, and install the habits, rituals and practices that will lead you to achieve them? How can you make better decisions?

I think that these are interesting questions. I can share the answers with you.

For you. Your team. Your organisation.