We recently connected with Matthew Wilcox and have shared our conversation below.

Matthew, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?

Challenging youth to question their identity, purpose, and conduct could be a powerful component of personal development through education, offering numerous benefits to both the individual and the public education system. Encouraging young people to explore who they truly are helps them develop self-awareness, leading to higher emotional intelligence. This self-awareness can lead to greater confidence and an understanding of their strengths, weaknesses, values, and passions, while facilitating personal growth, by simply encouraging the questions: Who are we? Why are we here? How are we to conduct ourselves?

By questioning their purpose and identity, youth engage in critical thinking, an essential tool for problem-solving and decision-making. This skill can be beneficial in academic settings, and in real-world environments, encouraging depth in relation to friends and family. I think if students see education as a means to explore and define their own life paths, they might be more engaged, potentially leading to improved academic performance, overall more excitement about learning, and a greater sense of belonging. Adolescence is a critical period for identity formation. Challenging youth to explore their identities supports this developmental process, helping them establish a sense of self that is authentic and resilient, preparing them for which is the complexities of adulthood.
Obviously, these things start at home, and are highlighted in sports, and extracurricular activities such as band, orchestra, and clubs, however, I think collectively we can as a lot more meaningful questions in classroom settings and throughout our school systems.
When students are encouraged to question and explore oneself, meaning for being alive, and how they are to conduct themselves, it can lead to a more vibrant and dynamic school environment. Educators who support this exploration could possibly foster a greater environment and culture of more openness and greater respect, where diverse thoughts and ideas are valued more than ever, enhancing the overall educational experience.

Matthew, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I had the privilege of working with an inspiring chef at a farm-to-table café, which ignited my passion for pursuing what truly mattered to me. At that time, I was balancing two children and an unfinished college degree, but I knew I loved food, music, and the thrill of success. This led me to a role with a craft coffee roaster, eventually advancing to two prominent coffee brands where I held significant responsibilities across multiple states, enjoyed a travel budget, and became the face of these companies.

The pandemic prompted a shift, leading me to an employee-owned food company where I traveled extensively, even flying on a company jet. I later joined a private jet firm at Centennial Airport, selling jet-card memberships—a brief but enlightening experience. However, these roles lacked the passion I sought, prompting reflection on how I was spending my time.

I subsequently established an LLC to consult on customer base expansion and product distribution, allowing me to choose my collaborators and engage in creative projects alongside my full-time job. I am currently developing a brand development agency, focusing on local clients in the food and beverage sectors with a goal of supporting approximately 12 clients across various industries to foster business growth and community connection. To me, success means being part of a collaborative team that leverages my communication skills, and generates reasonable income.
I am particularly proud to partner with Mad Lemon, a woman-owned lemonade cocktail brand, where our professional connection has blossomed into a successful collaboration, supporting consumer tastings statewide and expanding the brand nationally.
Additionally, I’ve been working with a mentor, on developing a global kindness movement, promoting hope and collective consciousness. This initiative addresses values such as truth and integrity from a non-political and non-religious perspective. We are currently redeveloping the website and designing the brand’s blueprint and go-to-market strategy.

My girlfriend has been incredibly supportive, providing vital encouragement in my pursuit of self-discovery and personal growth. My three sons also inspire me with their unique paths, each requiring confidence, compassion, and empathy.
Professionally and socially, I aspire to connect with individuals who share my quest for greater meaning, creativity, and work ethic. My agency’s approach ensures that no opportunity is overlooked; if your brand has a target audience, our team will perform a market analysis, and present and pursue a strategic approach to captivating your audience with a focus on achieve revenue goals in the most efficient ways possible.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I have been fully committed to achieving sales goals and targets. By providing transparent, real-time feedback on market trends, consumer insights, and innovative ideas.
In today’s content-driven environment, sharing photos and video testimonials with clients has also added considerable value. Most importantly, I’ve prioritized creative thinking and maintain a focused mindset dedicated to pursuing the next sale, while also considering the calculated risks that may be necessary along the way.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The challenges of rising global temperatures, the need for enhanced self-awareness, and the global need for understanding the diverse range of individual perspectives we live with, and how we can better co-exist collectively, are all key missions guiding my journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.drinkmadlemon.com
• Instagram: Wyatt_urp_
• Facebook: /liddlebuddie
• Linkedin: Mattjwilcox
• Twitter: MattWilcox
• Youtube: https://YouTube.com/kidsandmusic

Image Credits

N/a