Meet Matt Hart | Innovator / Entrepreneur / Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Matt Hart and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matt, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
The amount of intellectual investment that is involved in the innovation of a brilliant, stunning idea to the end user/consumer/fan. And it seems to follow that the higher that investment (time, effort, creativity, origination, collaboration, boundary pushing, true problem solving, etc) the more powerful, simple, and generally breakthrough the eventual outcomes re purpose, profit, meaningful impact, fandom …

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I look at the multi-hyphenate work life of twenty-somethings today and see my path as something of a prototype of that. I set out in my 20s to find something to do that would also provide a deep reason to do it. I did a keynote talk at an event (the Do Lectures) and the host (Duke Stump – a kind of brand guru guy) came up to me afterwards and said you should write that up as your next book and call it ‘One and Done’. That was my approach – do a thing for a year, see if I liked it, come the end I would seek to trade the experience forward into the next thing to try. Little did I know this approach was setting me up to become the global innovator I am today. It was unknown or at least not languaged then – as it is now re work towards your north star etc. But that is what I was ultimately doing – becoming prepared for the work that did not yet exist… an innovating, problem solving, change making entrepreneur helping clients, brands, organisations and leaders prepare for new challenges, unlock people and culture potential, and gather all of that together into a multi-discipline approach that can innovate new value for …. well anything – both the creativity of the new idea, and the fandom required to realise the impact through profit and purpose. This finds its expression in my practice we call BIF – Better Ideas Faster – focused on making creative humans through ideas, people and culture for enterprise today, and the next-gen of tomorrow.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well for the moment we find ourselves down under in Aotearoa New Zealand. If it was back home in London it would be very different – but given my family and I are spending a few years down under, let’s say it’s Auckland. So them coming down here would involve the week splitting into 2 parts – first here in Auckland, enjoying warm morning pastries from the new and excellent local cafe/bakery in Westmere called Beabeas. Then, we’d carry on west out to a stunning beach called Piha for a morning swim on the wild and beautiful West Coast. In the afternoon we’d pack bags and drive north 3 hours to a beautiful beach on the East Coast called Matapouri where we’d stop a few days and catch up at our family beach house, eat at the local spots, surf the nearby breaks, walk the green forests, paddle the estuary etc. Once we’d caught up (we might do a few touristy things around the Bay of Islands – famously known as a boating, diving, fishing destination, etc), we’d change gears and fly down to see the ‘Middle Earth’ of the South Island. This would be a road trip taking in some of what makes these distant shores so famous – natural hot pools, the majestic Southern Alps, West Coast subtropical rain forests, the adventure playgrounds of Queenstown and Wanaka. We’d then end our tour with IMHO one of the world’s best drives up the middle of the South Island to spend a nite at the Hermitage under the soaring peaks of Aoraki Mt Cook – the spiritual energy of that area would close out a mind blowing week around a truly special country.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Let’s just call him Ray – he’s now passed, but if you know the book he was my ‘way’ of the peaceful warrior. I had some major life problems (substance challenges, mental health, spiritual angst, etc) in my late teens and early 20s, and this guy Ray who was 70+ when I met him the most important voice, example, and guide that helped sponsor me onto an unconventional path.

Website: https://www.betterideasfaster.com

Instagram: @mattkiwihart

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/matthart-betterideasfaster

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@betterideasfaster

Image Credits
Picture: insta @icraigi insta@breadzki