We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Matthew Perdoni a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Matthew , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Have you ever had an amazing boss, mentor or leader leading you? Can you us a story or anecdote that helps illustrate why this person was such a great leader and the impact they had on you or their team?

The best boss I ever had was my father. As a sewer contractor back in Boston we spent summers in trenches laying pipe and during winters, we’d brave the snow plowing parking lots. Witnessing his dedication firsthand instilled in me a deep work ethic. He emphasized the importance of perseverance and consistently delivering high-quality work. No shortcuts, no “good enoughs”.

But his influence went far beyond technical skills. He was a model in treating everyone with respect, regardless of their position. Clients, fellow workers, pedestrians, neighbors in the community– everyone received courteous treatment. He taught me the importance of building positive relationships and fostering a collaborative spirit, regardless of the situation.

While the worlds of a sewer contractor and artist may seem like night and day, the lessons I learned from my father have profoundly impacted my career. The value of hard work, meticulous attention to detail, and treating people with respect are fundamental to any profession, and they continue to guide me every day.

Matthew , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Since I was a kid I’ve been passionate about two things, art and athletics. You tend to follow one path or the other, but I straddled that fence all the way through college studying art and playing football. And after I graduated I was lucky enough to continue my football career in Europe and continued to spread my energy between the two. Working in Europe I found art all around me, both classical and contemporary. It was a dream. Towards the end of my career I was getting really turned on by the street art scene and I fell in love with these massive murals I was seeing all over Europe. As bummed as I was for my football career to be wrapping up, those murals got me excited about the next chapter, leaning into my art. So, when I returned stateside I found a home painting mural for businesses and gyms all over and thats what brought me out to San Diego. I came out to paint a mural in Pacific Beach in 2015 and I haven’t left. I love it out here and I feel like my style fits the vibe of the city.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I guess one big thing that non-creatives may not fully understand is the absence of a clear defined path to a career as a creative. The creative path is anything but linear. Unlike many professions, there’s no one-size-fits-all roadmap to success. For creatives, the challenge lies in defining their own unique way forward. This freedom however comes with challenges. This means embracing exploration, taking calculated risks, and learning from both successes and failures. It’s a constant process of reevaluation and refinement.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield had a big impact on my transition from amateur to professional. The book was put on my radar early in my career while I was still trying to make sense of what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it. Its not that everything changed after I read it, but it did give me an instant sense of community. I better understood I wasn’t alone in the struggle to take my passion for art to the next level. You can read cover to cover and learn how to identify, battle and ultimately conquer resistance or you can periodically pick it up and inevitably on any given page you’ll find inspiration and motivation. I highly recommend it to any aspiring creative looking for a healthy nudge.

Contact Info:

• Website: Matthewperdoni.com
• Instagram: @matthewperdoni