Meet Matthew Nuth | Author and Business Consultant

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

Hi Matthew, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
My perspective on this topic changed significantly once my oldest child entered middle school. He was growing up quickly as were his two younger siblings and I realized how fleeting this time of our lives together truly was. I won’t suggest that I cut my effort or my hours at the office; personal accomplishment is part of me that will never change. That said, I did consciously cut back on my travel schedule… thank goodness for technology.

This change seems tiny, and perhaps it is, but it was accompanied by a very fundamental change in the way I balanced career vs. my family. I always told friends and colleagues that my values were based in faith and family, but that isn’t how I lived. I readily accepted transfers in support of my career goals without concern for the upheaval it created in the lives of my wife and my kids… not much of a father. I would fool myself by suggesting that career advancement was synonymous with carrying for my family; it wasn’t. I was finally faced reality when presented with an amazing opportunity, but one that required uprooting my family and moving a couple thousand miles east. It was obvious my family had no desire to move; their lives here in San Diego county was wonderful, but they, reluctantly, would support me. That’s when it struck home; my desire for advancement no longer had ANYTHING to do with taking care of my family; it was about me.

Given that I still live in San Diego and my kids are all grown now, I think you know what I decided regarding this opportunity; I said “no” to the job and “yes” to my family. I’ve never regretted that decision. In fact, it brought my values to the forefront for every decision a make. Thank goodness.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Writing might sound easy; it’s not. It’s not as if one writes a good book and readers flock to it. It would be great if I had this wired. It would be more accurate to say attaining success as a writer is a work in progress for me. Even though my books have received exceptional reviews along with winning some modest awards and I have two new books in the hopper with my publisher, success is hardly a given. In the world of commercial literature, you are competing for name recognition with more than half a million other writers at any one time.

Granted, the quality of writing and story-telling varies drastically, the reader is faced with the Herculean task of finding you. That’s always the challenge.

So what sets me and my product apart from others? It’s a combination of experiences, a talent for story-telling, and that I take delight in trying something new with each book. New story ideas come to me as a function of participating in life, not as a result of leveraging a cookie-cutter approach to book writing. I consider writing an art, not a vocation. Hopefully, when I’m done, I will be known for writing compelling and intriguing books that all elicit passion in the reader. I love it when a reader tells me they couldn’t put the book down.

Although I am far from achieving “success”…if success is to be measured strictly by dollar sales, I am making my own path that, hopefully, will pay the bills. Much of my early work was related to developing my resume and my portfolio. This early work was typically related to writing articles under contract or publishing my own short articles with Medium; these efforts were great for developing my skills and getting feedback (not always favorable).

So, what might be my near-term objectives with writing? There are two new books already with my publisher (Crimson Cloak Publishing) that need to get to market support developing my brand and secondly, to work with Crimson Cloak to develop a means to get my books into brick and mortar stores.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First stop after landing and checking in at your downtown hotel is a place to enjoy some conversation and kick back with some locals … check out the Lion’s Share for an eclectic dinner and drinks followed by a leisurely walk along the Embarcadero.
Day One – Grab a light breakfast and catch the ferry to Coronado to enjoy the beach – probably one of the best stretches of ocean beach in California. Once you soak up some early sun, take a break for lunch at Chez Loma followed by an afternoon of shopping in the village. Finish the visit with dinner and a glass of wine watching the sunset from the Hotel Del before returning home.

Day Two – Maritime history day: walk south along the bay making stops to visit the Star of India then on to the USS Midway Museum. It’s a treat and an experience not to be missed, so take your time. Finish off the afternoon with an exhilarating water ride on the San Diego Bay Jet Boat Ride. By now you are going to be ready for a change of pace. Enjoy an evening at a musical experience not to be missed – a night at the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park. Whether you see San Diego Symphony or any one of the acclaimed musical acts that make the trek to the Rady, the night will be one to remember. Spend the extra bucks to get seating at one of the tables in front and enjoy dinner and wine while enjoying some of the finest musicians in the country.

Day Three – Grab your hiking shoes and a car; we’re heading inland via State Highway 67 for the day. First stop is Mount Woodson. The hike will get you sweating, but it’s worth the work. The view from the top is wonderful. Don’t forget to stop on the way up to get your picture taken on the world-famous “potato-chip rock”. Then it’s into Ramona for a late breakfast at Marinade on Main. Bring an appetite; the food’s wonderful and the servings are huge… enough to fuel you for the rest of the day. Then continue up highway 78 toward Julian for a visit to a real gold mine and to sample the local apple pie in the mountains. On the way back to San Diego, take a moment to enjoy time with the locals at Calico Cidery. Make sure you bring a designated driver; the hard cider is a treat not to be missed. No driver, no problem, grab a growler to take back to the hotel.

Day Four – Time to visit a true gem in San Diego, Balboa Park. You can spend all day here and love every moment. The museums, the music, the architecture, the gardens, and the art make for a memorable day… and once there, you won’t need a car for the rest of the day. But you will want some good walking shoes, the park covers more than 1,200 acres. Finish the day off shopping for original art at the Artisan’s Village and dinner at Prado.
Day Five – Back to Balboa Park to visit the San Diego Zoo – a unique venue for animal and nature lovers. Afterwards sit down to a gastronomical treat at Trust. It’s only five blocks north of the zoo but take a ride… you’ve been walking all day and you’ll want to conserve energy for a night visiting the hotspots in the Gaslamp section of San Diego.

Enjoy

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Wow, such an interesting question. It seems simple, but I have been so lucky in receiving support, I would hate to short those many who have made huge contributions to making me who I am.

My wife and kids have been there for me always and I cannot imagine a life without the joy and energy they have given me. They are there whenever I need a kind word and they’re there when I need a kick in the butt to get me going…. and always in a loving way.

Now for the real shoutout, I must mention God. Some will cringe at me suggesting this, but God’s been a constant for me, always there when I needed Him… even when I didn’t realize it.

Website: mdnuth,com

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