# Matt Rutherford
> Practical career growth for busy people. One weekly email with tips, tools and ideas to help you think clearer and move faster. Join 2,000 readers, free.
Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. Use `/llms-full.txt` for consolidated page and post context.
Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`).

## Pages
- [Account](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/account.md)
- [Writing](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/blog.md)
- [Books](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/books.md)
- [Build Your Best Year](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/byby.md) - Build Your Best Year Join me on a seven day journey to reflect on your success, define your values and set intentional goals for the year ahead. One Week to Build Your Best Year! My seven day email course will take you step-by-step through the process of Building Your Best Year. I wanted to create…
- [Public CV](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/cv.md) - My CV 2020 - today / Meta, Dublin At Meta, I lead a talented global team of Program Managers who help to deliver AI Labelling and Annotation projects. 2019 - 2020 / LinkedIn EMEA, Dublin At LinkedIn, I was part of a Customer Success organisation that focused on connecting talent with opportunity at…
- [DJ](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/dj.md) - Being a DJ is a privilege...making memories with mixes.
- [FreeStuff](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/freestuff.md) - You shouldn't (always) have to pay for useful tools, here's every free site I've shared in Stuff.
- [Headshots - 2024](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/headshots.md)
- [Practical Career Growth for Busy People](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/home.md) - One email a week with practical ideas to help you think clearer, work better, and make real progress in your career. * Practical career tips that you'll actually use * Tools & ideas from around the web * A shortlist of links worth your time Join 2000 subscribers. Always Free.
- [Instant Icebreakers](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/ice.md) - One click. One question. Instant conversation.
- [Ideas](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/ideas.md) - Stuff that I'm thinking about doing
- [Mixtape](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/mixtape.md) - Every month, I make you a mixtape featuring some of the best tunes that have been in my ears.
- [Latest Newsletters](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/newsletter.md)
- [Now](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/now.md) - What I'm doing now, inspired by Derek Sivers.
- [Instant Journal Prompt](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/prompt.md) - Click once to get a sharp writing prompt. No Overthinking.
- [Subscribe](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/subscribe.md) - Why sign up? With over 30 years experience in Tech, Leadership and Coaching, I'll share practical tips on: * Career clarity * Personal growth * Finding meaning in the everyday One email a week. Always Free. (See the Archive Here) Here's what some of the 1.3k subscribers have to say: Just dropping b…
- [Weeknotes](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/weeknote.md) - Seven days away from the Newsletter - music, media, travel and the rest...
- [Welcome!](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/welcome.md) - It's great to have you here.

## Posts
- [#304 - Constraints are the Brief](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/304-constraints-are-the-brief.md) - Most constraints have an expiry date. Almost nobody writes them down.
- [TWIL #133 - The Worlds Smallest Buffalo](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-133-the-worlds-smallest-buffalo.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned about the worlds smallest buffalo, and she's adorable! World’s smallest buffalo born at Chester Zoo | Chest…
- [Constraints are the Brief, not the Problem.](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/constraints-are-the-brief.md) - Most constraints have an expiry date. Almost nobody writes them down.
- [#303 - A Question Before the Job Hunt](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/303-a-question-before-the-job-hunt.md) - Can you name three alternatives to your salary?
- [TWIL #132 - How to watch an Eclipse](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-132-how-to-watch-an-eclipse.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned exactly how to watch the upcoming Solar Eclipse - including location, direction and timing - all from this…
- [A question BEFORE a job hunt](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/a-question-before-a-job-hunt.md) - Most people can't name three alternatives to their salary. Here's what happens when you sit down and try.
- [302 : How to Win at Work Every Day](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/302-how-to-win-at-work-every-day.md) - How an internal scorecard can drive your career, and help your mental health.
- [#76 - From Dublin](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/76-from-dublin.md) - Updates This week was dominated by the sad news of the death of Glen Hansard. A friend messaged me on Wednesday morning asking if I had read the rumours, soon afterwards more official news started to arrive of Glen's death in a motorcycle accident. Glen was a favourite - I've seen him live 5 or 6 t…
- [Now - August 2026](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/now-august-2026.md) - I'm still living in Dublin, Ireland. I love my space here. I can see the sea from my living room and I'm surrounded by my records and books. * I started an email newsletter six years ago called "Stuff that MattR's", it has evolved into a great way of sharing career and development advice to a growi…
- [How to Win at Work Every Day](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/how-to-win-at-work-every-day.md) - An Internal Scoreboard can drive daily performance AND improve your mental health. Here's how (and why) to build one.
- [A door, not an answer](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/a-door-not-an-answer.md) - Most of my working time is spent asking people questions. As I pivot towards coaching for a living, the work is mostly one thing. Helping someone see what they are standing too close to see. This week I tried to put some of that into a deck of cards. It is called oblique.cards. You draw one when yo…
- [TWIL #131 - Oxygen in Space](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-131-oxygen-in-space.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned how the International Space Station generates fresh oxygen in space... turns out they find it on board!
- [301 : The Lay-Off Field Guide](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/301-the-lay-off-field-guide.md) - Getting laid-off can be a shock - but I have some advice to help you throughout the process.
- [#75 - From Dublin](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/75-from-dublin.md) - Updates Another week post layoff, and I think I have a handle on my daily routine now, I'm keeping busy and working on my next career plans. Meanwhile, I built and launched a new small project this week. oblique.cards is a site, inspired by the Eno and Schmidt Oblique Strategies cards - but focused…
- [A2. Layoff Glossary](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/a2-layoff-glossary.md) - Layoffs come with their own vocabulary, often used at the exact moment you're least able to look things up. Here's the plain-English version. At-will employment — Mostly a US concept. Either side can end the job at any time, for almost any reason, with no notice required. COBRA — The US mechanism t…
- [A1. Where to get Help](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/a1-where-to-get-help.md) - Your head and your wellbeing. If you're struggling, talk to your GP or doctor first. In the UK and Ireland, the Samaritans are free and available any time on 116 123. In the US, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is there by call or text. In the UK, Mind offers mental health support; in Ireland, A…
- [14. Before you go](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/14-before-you-go.md) - If this guide helped, don't let it be a one-off. Every week I write Stuff that MattRs, a newsletter about work, careers, and building a life that doesn't hang on any single employer. This guide is the map for one hard stretch of road. The newsletter is how you keep moving once you're through it. Co…
- [13. Build your own Roof](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/13-build-your-own-roof.md) - Let's end where the whole series started. The contract was always transactional. The loyalty was always conditional. Once you actually accept that, instead of feeling betrayed by it, something strange happens. It sets you free. The safe job was always a story There was never a safe job. There were…
- [12. Watch Your Back](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/12-watch-your-back.md) - Here's something nobody warned me about. The moment you're laid off and visibly looking, you become a target. Scammers watch for it. A fresh open-to-work banner, a public post about being let go, a CV newly uploaded to the job boards. It signals someone who's anxious, moving fast, and hoping for go…
- [11. You're not job hunting. The rules have changed.](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/11-youre-not-job-hunting-the-rules-have-changed.md) - Here's a trap. People treat the next job search like the last one, just with more competition. It isn't. You're now searching in a market that AI is actively rewriting, for jobs that AI is actively rewriting, using tools both sides are gaming. Same goal, different game. Know which way the ground is…
- [10. Claim what you're Owed](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/10-claim-what-youre-owed.md) - There's money the state owes you when you lose a job, and a surprising number of people never claim it. Pride, confusion, or a vague sense that it's not for people like them. That's expensive nonsense. You paid in for years precisely so this safety net exists. Use it. The systems differ by country,…
- [9. Runway buys you the thing that panic steals](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/9-runway-buys-you-the-thing-that-panic-steals.md) - Back in post two you worked out your runway. This post is about flying on it without doing something stupid out of fear. Here's what runway actually buys you. Time. It's the one thing panic takes away. The person with six months of breathing room makes better decisions than the person with three we…
- [8. Mind Yourself](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/8-mind-yourself.md) - The job hunt gets all the attention. The search, the CV, the applications, the networking. And meanwhile the one thing that has to carry you through all of it, you, gets left to fall apart in the background. Here's the thing not many people put on the checklist. You are the vehicle for everything t…
- [7. The Loss You Have Permission to Feel](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/7-the-loss-you-have-permission-to-feel.md) - Everyone focuses on the money. The money is the easy part to talk about. In my experience, it 's not the part that keeps you up. What keeps you up is quieter, and somewhat harder to admit. You lost more than an income. You lost a version of yourself. The losses that aren't on the payslip The badge…
- [6. The First Number is not the Last Number](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/6-the-first-number-is-not-the-last-number.md) - Many people sign the first offer they're given. Not because it's fair. Because they want the whole thing to be over. That instinct can be the most expensive feeling in a layoff, because the first number is almost always a starting position. Start by understanding your selection Before you talk mone…
- [5. How Consultation Actually Works (where ever you are)](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/5-how-consultation-actually-works-where-ever-you-are.md) - 💡Important bit - I'm not a lawyer, or an employment law expert - so read this as 'advice' and then find out from your local experts what the LAW is in your market. In the United States, you find out you're gone. In much of Europe, you find out you might be, and then everyone has to talk about it f…
- [4. Pack a Career Go Bag](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/4-pack-a-career-go-bag.md) - The cruellest thing about a layoff isn't the decision. It's the speed. In some markets, one click and your access is gone. Email, files, contacts, the lot, often cut before the meeting that tells you has even finished. In some companies, you don't get to go back to your desk. You don't get to gathe…
- [3. You Already Know](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/3-you-already-know.md) - Most people aren't blindsided by a layoff. Not really. They felt it coming for weeks and talked themselves out of it. In my recent case, they told us a month before that there would be ‘significant cuts’, most people worked on knowing that decisions were being made that they couldn’t influence. The…
- [2. Layoffs are the Weather now](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/2-layoffs-are-the-weather-now.md) - Every round of cuts still gets reported like a surprise. A shock. A sign that something somewhere has gone wrong. It hasn't. Nothing has gone wrong. This is the system working exactly as designed. That's the part not many people want to say out loud. So I will. The numbers stopped being a blip a wh…
- [1. Why I Wrote this](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/1-why-i-wrote-this.md) - I've been laid off twice in the last six years. So I'm not writing this from the outside looking in. I'm writing it from the chair you might be sitting in right now. I know the email. The strange quiet afterwards. The 2am maths. The way your own name suddenly feels unfamiliar once the job attached…
- [TWIL #130 - Apocalypse Early Warning System](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-130-apocalypse-early-warning-system.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned about a system that could alert us all to an impending 'Apocalypse' by tracking the private jets of the wor…
- [#74 - From Dublin](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/74-from-dublin.md) - Updates My first week post layoff is completed - and I'm starting to settle into a slightly different rhythm of gardening leave. A few times this week I have felt 'adrift' without the scaffolding of the rhythm of my days, so it's up to me to create my own cadence while I work through what is next.…
- [#300 - Another 100 ✅](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/300-another-100.md) - Writing and researching Stuff every week has introduced me to some incredible ideas, when I hit issue #100 and #200, I documented some of them. For #300 I'm capturing the next set. Some are mine, some aren’t but all are strong advice for a decent and productive life.
- [TWIL #129 - An undersea roundabout](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-129-an-undersea-roundabout.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned about an undersea 'jellyfish' roundabout... some excellent engineering going on here! World first under sea…
- [299 : The Clockspeed Trap](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/299-the-clockspeed-trap.md) - The job ends. The tempo changes. Running your decisions at company speed is how good people make bad calls.
- [The Future of Truth by Werner Herzog](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/the-future-of-truth-by-werner-herzog.md) - Werner Herzog wrote a book about truth and half of it is made up. That seems to be the point.
- [#73 - From Dublin (via London)](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/73-from-dublin-via-london.md) - Updates I missed a week - we were travelling in the UK and I had no connection. We had an amazing weekend, involving a wedding at Queen Victorias Summer House, a tattoo, a Tracey Emin exhibition, a walk around Arsenals ground - and loads of sunshine and food in between. In the prior week, we went t…
- [The Clockspeed Trap](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/the-clockspeed-trap.md) - The job ends. The clockspeed doesn't. Running your biggest decisions at company speed is how good people make bad calls.
- [TWIL #128 - A 52 year old pot of broth](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-128-a-52-year-old-pot-of-broth.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned about a single pot of broth that has been tended by the same family, for 52 years. The Thai Beef Noodle Sou…
- [298 : The Polished Ones are the Dangerous Ones](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/298-the-polished-ones-are-the-dangerous-ones.md) - Taking a strategic pause in a job hunting process can save you from scams.
- [TWIL #127 - What is an 'Otrovert'?](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-127-what-is-an-otrovert.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned what an 'Otrovert' is - and how they differ from common Extro- and Intro- 'verts' What is an ‘otrovert?’ Th…
- [The Polished Ones Are the Dangerous Ones](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/the-polished-ones-are-the-dangerous-ones.md) - As someone being made laid-off next week, I have been spending hours back in the job market and researching how it works now. I've already been watching fake recruiters up close. They have changed. The old ones were easy to spot. The new ones are not. I used to spot a fake in two seconds. Too good…
- [297 : What are you ACTUALLY building?](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/297-what-are-you-actually-building.md) - You don't build a reputation in the future. You build it today, in the choices when no-one is watching
- [#72 - From Dublin](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/72-from-dublin.md) - Updates A beautiful week in Dublin - shirtsleeve weather all week, and the beach in Killiney was packed out most evenings. The interminable lay-off process is continuing, and things are starting to look clearer now. I'll definitely be leaving Meta, and I'm making plans about what is next as I go. H…
- [28 Side Quests Worth Taking](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/28-side-quests-worth-taking.md) - Nobody tells you to go on a side quest. That's the whole point. A side quest has no deliverable. No ROI. No deadline and nobody to answer to. It's a thing you do because something in you said that looks interesting and you listened. As I wrote previously, side quests are where a lot of great things…
- [TWIL #126 - Islands you can't visit.](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-126-islands-you-cant-visit.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned about five islands you cannot visit - and why they are forbidden. 5 Isolated Islands That Are Strictly Forb…
- [What are you ACTUALLY building?](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/what-are-you-actually-building.md) - You don't build a reputation in the future. You build it today.
- [296 : What has Dropped Off your Calendar?](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/296-what-has-dropped-off-your-calendar.md) - What if the EXACT thing you need to turbocharge your career, is missing from your calendar?
- [#71 - From Dublin](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/71-from-dublin.md) - Updates We flew back to Dublin last night - four weeks in Spain has been perfect to recharging a little bit as I move into the last phase of the consultation process for my role at Meta. The heatwave over Western Europe looks like it will really take shape over the next few days, and my apartment i…
- [Showing Up for Yourself](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/showing-up-for-yourself.md) - Over the last few weeks, I've been writing about what it means to show up consistently. The compound effect of doing it. What it looks like when it's hard. The difference between presence and performance. All of that was about how you show up for your work. For your team. For your career. This week…
- [TWIL #125 - FIFA World Cup Footballs](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-125-fifa-world-cup-footballs.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned how Official FIFA World Cup Footballs are made - they seem so simple, but definitely aren't!
- [295 : Are you showing up, or performing?](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/295-are-you-showing-up-or-performing.md) - If you stepped away for two weeks, what would actually break?
- [#70 - From Spain](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/70-from-spain.md) - Updates I'm still in Spain - the warm weather is doing a good job. Entering our final week in Spain, and once again my time has mostly been absorbed in the layoff process from my role. Alongside the consultation process, I've also been helping others that are impacted by running some coaching sessi…
- [TWIL #124 - Global Fungi Network](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-124-global-fungi-network.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned about a global network of fungi, that would span 10% of the Milky Way. Earth’s underground fungal network i…
- [The Difference Between Presence and Performance](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/the-difference-between-presence-and-performance.md) - Presence is a choice. Performance is a habit. Know which one you're practising.
- [294 : The Days You Don't Feel Like It](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/294-the-days-you-dont-feel-like-it.md) - Motivation is a terrible fuel source, here's how to cope when it runs out.
- [#69 - From Spain](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/69-from-spain.md) - Updates I'm still in Spain - the warm weather is doing a good job. We spent a couple of days in Almeria this week, a nice hotel, some excellent Tapas and an afternoons relaxation in a spa hotel. Just what the therapist ordered! I am working while in Spain, but the majority of my time has been engag…
- [TWIL #123 - Tube Beavers](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-123-tube-beavers.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned that beavers have been drafted in to fix the London Underground. Beavers could protect a tube station from…
- [Showing up when its Hard](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/showing-up-when-its-hard.md) - Last week ago I wrote about the compound effect of showing up. The key assumption was a convenient one: that you feel like showing up. Some days you don't. The alarm goes off and the thought of another day doing the same thing feels heavy. The meeting you prepared for doesn't feel worth the effort.…
- [293 : The Year Nothing Happened](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/293-the-year-nothing-happened.md) - The least glamorous career advice I have ever written, and some of the most important.
- [#68 - From Spain](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/68-from-spain.md) - Updates I've decamped to Spain for a month - it's our usual summer plan, but with a slight twist this year. The expected happened, I mentioned that my company was expecting layoffs and after five years at Meta, I'm on the 'at-risk' list. I'm going through the consultation process, and while I try a…
- [The Compound Effect of Showing Up](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/the-compound-effect-of-showing-up.md) - The least glamorous career advice I will write.
- [292 : Is it worth the fight?](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/292-is-it-worth-the-fight.md) - How to tell the difference between a system worth shaping and one worth leaving.
- [TWIL #122 - Intrepid Tails](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-122-intrepid-tails.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned about an intrepid tail - humpback whales that travel 14,000km to breeding grounds. Intrepid tails – fluke p…
- [When to work the system and when to leave it](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/when-to-work-the-system-and-when-to-leave-it.md) - Is the organisation you work for, worth navigating?
- [291 : The Consolation Prize](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/291-the-consolation-prize.md) - Authority lets you announce things. Influence lets you achieve them. Most leaders never close that distance.
- [#67 - From Dublin](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/67-from-dublin.md) - Updates Work remains in a holding pattern. Layoffs were announced weeks ago and we're still waiting on the specifics. Who stays, who goes, what the new shape looks like. Everyone is planning in the abstract, running scenarios, having conversations that feel productive but aren't, because nobody can…
- [TWIL #121 - Hector the Convector](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-121-hector-the-convector.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned about Hector the Convector - a thunderstorm that arrives in the same place every day at 3pm. Nature is trul…
- [Influence without Authority](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/influence-without-authority.md) - How the most effective people stop waiting for permission.
- [I Built a Website To Show Off My Postcards. Here's What I Learned.](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/i-built-a-website-to-show-off-my-postcards-heres-what-i-learned.md) - Most of my side projects die as ideas. They live in notes apps and on scraps of paper. They get talked about with friends and then get quietly forgotten. OncePosted.com is one of the rare ones that made it out. It's a simple premise. A curated collection of vintage postcards, each one scanned front…
- [290 : I Don't Do Politics](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/290-i-dont-do-politics.md) - You do. You just don't know it yet.
- [Now - May 2026](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/now-may-2026.md) - I'm still living in Dublin, Ireland. I love my space here. I can see the sea from my living room and I'm surrounded by my records and books. * I started an email newsletter four years ago called "Stuff that MattR's", it has evolved into a great way of sharing career and development advice to a grow…
- [#66 - From Dublin](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/66-from-dublin.md) - Updates Another week sitting with the uncertainty of layoffs at work. It's a strange headspace to operate in. You can't fully commit to long-term projects. But I also can't just stop. So we show up and do the work in front of us. On the flip side, I've been investing a huge amount of time this week…
- [TWIL #120 - Fact Factories](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-120-fact-factories.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned that Neanderthals ran 'fat factories' - a carefully constructed site where they could maximise opportunitie…
- [The Politics You're Already In](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/the-politics-youre-already-in.md) - You're already playing. You just don't know it yet.
- [289 : When your best idea isn't enough](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/289-when-your-best-idea-isnt-enough.md) - What actually carries an idea through an organisation
- [#65 - From Dublin](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/65-from-dublin.md) - Updates Eugh - not a great week. Work has rumours of layoffs, every conversation seems to be 10% heavier as we navigate. I've been through this before, more than once, and the thing I keep coming back to is that the best thing I can do is be present for the people around me. Not with answers, becau…
- [Why Good Ideas Don't Always Win](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/why-good-ideas-dont-always-win.md) - The gap between a great idea and a green light
- [TWIL #119 - Super Vintage Wine](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-119-super-vintage-wine.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned that the oldest bottle of wine in the world is from c350AD - I presume it has aged enough by now. Speyer wi…
- [288 : You're already in the room](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/288-youre-already-in-the-room.md) - The question isn't how to get access. It's what happens when you start showing up on purpose.
- [#64 - From Dublin (via Austin)](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/64-from-dublin-via-austin.md) - Updates A week in Austin. The kind of business trip where the real value isn't in the meetings (though they were good) but in the time spent around them, that you cannot replicate via Zoom. Also made a cowboy hat while I was there. Not ironically. It fits well. I shipped it home, so I hope it makes…
- [How Decisions Actually Get Made](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/how-decisions-actually-get-made.md) - You're already part of the process. Here's how to show up with intention.
- [TWIL #118 - Robot Ping-Pong](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-118-robot-ping-pong.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned the scientists have developed a robot that plays Table Tennis (Ping-Pong) using AI guidance. Turns out, its…
- [287: Nobody tells you this part](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/287-nobody-tells-you-this-part.md) - You don't really know where you work - here's how to find out.
- [#63 - From Dublin](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/63-from-dublin.md) - Updates A week that moved fast! Work has been full-on with a lot of plates spinning, and most of the week was spent prepping for a trip to Austin. Pre-travel weeks always have that slightly frantic energy where you're trying to close things out before you leave while also getting your head around w…
- [You don't know where you work](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/you-dont-know-where-you-work.md) - Every organisation has two versions. You were only shown one of them.
- [TWIL #117 - Cloud Jaguars](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-117-cloud-jaguars.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned about the rare sighting of a 'Cloud Jaguar' - an elusive animal that rarely gets seen - this is a massive w…
- [286: The Decision Nobody Makes](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/286-the-decision-nobody-makes.md) - You Can't Outpost an Unclear Signal
- [#62 - From Dublin](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/62-from-dublin.md) - Updates Getting back to work after a five week break was always going to be challenging - but throw in a four-day week and things get compressed down to a very busy week! I now have a well established second brain running at work, with Claude Code helping me stay organised and accountable as well a…
- [TWIL #116 - Lego for blind people](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-116-lego-for-blind-people.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned how one man is making Lego accessible to blind people. How a blind man made it possible for others with low…
- [The Career Investment You Haven't Made](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/the-career-investment-you-havent-made.md) - Most people will spend years building skills, relationships, and experience. Very few will make the one investment that makes all of it visible.
- [285: Someone is talking about you](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/285-someone-is-talking-about-out-you.md) - Understand the atoms that make up your reputation
- [#61 - From Spain](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/61-from-spain.md) - Updates I’m nearing the end of my 5 week recharge from work, an amazing benefit that accrues after five years with Meta. I’m open my last few days here in Spain. We went on a road trip, visiting Cordoba and Almeria - two lovely cities with a mix of Moorish and Christian architecture, and tons of gr…
- [You Don’t Control Your Reputation](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/you-dont-control-your-reputation.md) - Understand the Atomic Structure of your Reputation
- [TWIL #115 - Parmesan Cheese](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-115-parmesan-cheese.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned How Parmesan Cheese is made.
- [284: Good Work does not speak for itself](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/284-good-work-does-not-speak-for-itself.md) - Many professionals are leaving their most important work relationship entirely unmanaged.
- [TWIL #114 - a Human Fart Atlas?](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-114-a-human-fart-atlas.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned that scientists are working to compile a Human Fart Atlas, to track the 'explosivity' of farts. The Human F…
- [283: You need a sponsor, not another mentor.](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/283-you-need-a-sponsor-not-another-mentor.md) - Whilst one gives advice, the other spends political capital. You need both, but you’re probably only building one.
- [#60 - From Spain](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/60-from-spain.md) - Updates I missed a week - travelling back from Norway meant I was offline for a day - so here I am now in Spain for a couple of weeks. Norway was fantastic - we saw the Northern Lights (above) and explored the fjord around Tromsø. In the second half of the week my son and I rented a cabin to the So…
- [TWIL #113 - The Scottish Island that Bought itself](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-113-the-scottish-island-that-bought-itself.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned about Eigg, a Scottish Island that bought itself. The Scottish island that bought itself100 residents now o…
- [282: The Return on Generosity](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/282-the-return-on-generosity.md) - The 'softer' skill that can bring you advantages in your career.
- [TWIL #112 - North Korea's hotel of doom](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-112-north-koreas-hotel-of-doom.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned about North Korea's Hotel of Doom. The story of North Korea’s ‘Hotel of Doom’ | CNNThe 1,083-foot Ryugyong…
- [The Return on Generosity](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/the-return-on-generosity.md) - If advocacy cannot be manufactured, how do you actually earn it?
- [281: Nobody Does it Alone](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/281-nobody-does-it-alone.md) - The careers that look like solo achievements rarely are. Find out the three people I think you need.
- [#59 - From Tromsø](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/59-from-tromso.md) - Updates I’m writing this from my hotel room in Tromsø, Norway where I’m visiting this week. My recharge break from work is really starting with seven days above the arctic circle, seeing what adventures I can find. My son is arriving later on today, and we have some fun planned this week - check in…
- [TWIL #111 - The origins of curling stones](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-111-the-origins-of-curling-stones.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned about the origins of curling stones. From island to ice: The origins of Olympic curling stonesHow curling s…
- [Your Career Is Not a Solo Project](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/your-career-is-not-a-solo-project.md) - Every career that looks like a solo achievement has invisible people behind it.
- [#58 - From Cork](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/58-from-cork.md) - Updates We’ve decamped to the People’s Republic of Cork this weekend - so I’m writing this in the hotel lobby the morning after a christening party for a friends baby. This week I've been heads down getting ready for a 4 week sabbatical from work - every five years we're given the benefit of a 'rec…
- [280: Prestige is a Lagging Indicator](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/280-prestige-is-a-lagging-indicator.md) - Your job title tells you what WAS valued. AI is about to tell you whether it still is.
- [TWIL #110 - the problem with womens clothing sizes](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-110-the-problem-with-womens-clothing-sizes.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned about the problem with women's clothing sizes. Sizing chaosThe inter-generational struggle to find clothes…
- [Prestige is a Lagging Indicator](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/prestige-is-a-lagging-indicator.md) - Your job title tells you what was valued. Not what will be.
- [279: What are you waiting for?](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/279-what-are-you-waiting-for.md) - Patience without a plan isn't strategy. It's 'waiting' with better branding.
- [#57 - From Dublin](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/57-from-dublin.md) - Updates Well, the calendar may not have been so crazy - but I've kept myself busy with a couple of really interesting projects. At work, I've been experimenting with a new productivity setup. I'm using Claude Code and a closed vault of files organised using the PARA setup. Letting Claude learn abou…
- [The Hidden Cost of Keeping Your Options Open](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/the-hidden-cost-of-keeping-your-options-open.md) - Patience without a plan isn't strategy. It's just waiting with better branding.
- [TWIL #109 - The most joyful girl on the internet.](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-109-the-most-joyful-girl-on-the-internet.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned about the most joyful girl on the internet - and this young lady is from here in Ireland! Video The most jo…
- [How I'm Eliminating Low-Value Tasks Using Claude Cowork](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/eliminating-low-value-tasks-using-claude-cowork.md) - What low-value task are you still doing manually that's costing you mental energy?
- [278: You overthink every career decision](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/278-you-overthink-every-career-decision.md) - There is one brutal question that forces clarity for career moves
- [#56 - From Dublin](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/56-from-dublin.md) - Updates It's been another busy week! My entire leadership team were in Dublin and we had multiple meeting days that kept me fully engaged. Away from work I spent some time thinking about building a second brain using AI and some tools that would allow me to share context on a more regular basis. I'…
- [Stop Overthinking Career Decisions - Use this Test](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/stop-overthinking-career-decisions-use-this-test.md) - You know the question. Does this decision make you stronger in 12 months or just more comfortable today? Great test. How will you execute it? Most people ask it once, get a vague feeling about the answer, then ignore it and choose comfort anyway. Or they ask it in their head, confuse themselves wit…
- [TWIL #108 - When coffee was illegal](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-108-when-coffee-was-illegal.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned that a various points in history, coffee was illegal - and even punishable by DEATH! Nowadays of course, it…
- [277: Most careers drift by accident](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/277-most-careers-drift-by-accident.md) - The danger is not picking the wrong path, but building a career around momentum you did not choose.
- [#55 - From Dublin](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/55-from-dublin.md) - Updates It has been dreary all week - I'm grateful for a little bit of dry sky as I reflect on the week. This week I've been working on two main things which I've enjoyed: 1. A long form essay - I've never written one before for the site, but I've had this in mind for a while and so I'm pleased wit…
- [Stop Drifting: The 10-Minute Career Audit](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/stop-drifting-the-10-minute-career-audit.md) - The danger is not picking the wrong path, but building a career around momentum you did not choose.
- [TWIL #107 - Electric Cars](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-107-electric-cars.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned that in January 2026, Norway sold only SEVEN petrol driven cars, and just 98 diesel cars. Even after cuttin…
- [276: Clarity Beats Confidence](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/276-clarity-beats-confidence.md) - Confidence without clarity creates noise that can damage your career. Clarity turns effort into progress.
- [#54 - From Dublin](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/54-from-dublin.md) - Updates Another week of multiple storms in Dublin - barely a dry moment! As I'd hoped, worked was a bit quiter this week and I managed to spend some good time working on projects. The website for our rental apartment in Spain is finished and went live - and I managed a couple of evenings work on so…
- [TWIL #106 - The Cry Cry Horse](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-106-the-cry-cry-horse.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned about the cry-cry horse, a stuffed toy made to celebrate the 'Year of the Horse' with a minor stitching mis…
- [275 : Activity Is Not Always Progress](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/275-activity-is-not-always-progress.md) - Do you know the difference between 'busy work' and progress? Make sure your activities count with a low-friction weekly review.
- [#53 - From Dublin](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/53-from-dublin.md) - Updates This week has been wild! As I write, the latest storm to hit Western Europe is on its way to me in Dublin. The Wind gusts are already pretty strong and its been raining for most of the day. Tonight (Saturday) should be fun! Work has been busy, in the peak of the annual performance cycle the…
- [TWIL #105 - Public Spending in Paris](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-105-public-spending-in-paris.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned that ANYONE can decide how public funds are spent in Paris - this includes children who can propose major u…
- [#274 : Comfort Is the Most Dangerous Career Strategy](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/274-comfort-is-the-most-dangerous-career-strategy.md) - Comfort is how careers silently stall. Growth might feel awkward, but it's a great way to escape a trap. One uncomfortable action a week is all it takes.
- [#52 - From Dublin](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/52-from-dublin.md) - Updates A full year of weeknotes! It's been an interesting experiment, and a great way to try and focus the main writing in my newsletter. Writing these words each week feels more akin to writing an old fashioned blog, and I've enjoyed it. This week has been busy at work, it's annual review time an…
- [Start Writing Now: the simplest way to build a journaling habit](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/start-writing-now-the-simplest-way-to-build-a-journaling-habit.md) - Most people don’t need more motivation. They need less friction. Less pressure. That’s why I built Start Writing Now. Not as a productivity flex. Not as a fancy journaling system. Just a simple place to write for a few minutes each day and get your thoughts out of your head and onto a page. Because…
- [How to Save the Internet by Nick Clegg](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/how-to-save-the-internet-by-nick-clegg.md) - My old boss (sort of) has written a book about the internet. It took me a while to get through it, and I found it an engaging read that has some interesting ideas about the way forward for the Internet in the age of AI. Can the Internet Still Be Saved? Nick Clegg thinks so. How to Save the Internet…
- [12 Questions to Ask Before Quitting Your Job](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/12-questions-to-ask-before-quitting-your-job.md) - Quitting your job can feel like progress. It can feel clean and decisive. It can also be the best way to dodge a challenge. Before you hand in your notice, pause. These questions will help you decide if quitting is the right move, or a rushed on. 1. What problem am I actually trying to escape? Most…
- [TWIL #104 - Farming on Mars](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-104-farming-on-mars.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned that NASA is running a competition to figure out how to feed people when they are on Mars. I'm definitely n…
- [#273 > Most Career Advice Sucks](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/273-most-career-advice-sucks.md) - It's time for a change. Find out why I think Most Career Advice Sucks - plus, the Stuff.
- [TWIL #103 - White Storks in London](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-103-white-storks-in-london.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned that White Storks are making a comeback to the streets/skies of London. I saw a ton of them in huge nests M…
- [#51 - from Dublin](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/51-from-dublin.md) - Updates Fully back to work this week, and into a busy cycle for annual reviews for everyone in the place. Managed to finish the week off with a trip to see the excellent Marty Supreme at the local cinema, and then to see Christian Löffler at the National Concert Hall last night (some pictures below…
- [#272 - Welcome to 2026!](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/272-welcome-to-2026.md) - Every January, I set intentions for the 52 weeks ahead. Here are my key themes for the New Year.
- [#50 - From Dublin](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/50-from-dublin.md) - Updates New Years Eve was fun, we went to see the fireworks in nearby Dun Laoghaire, followed by a lovely meal. Home in front of the TV by 10.30, times have changed by we still had a marvellous time. I've been spending the rest this week clearing the decks a little bit, I went to the office for a d…
- [Now - It's 2026!](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/now-its-2026.md) - I'm living in Dublin, Ireland. I love my space here. I can see the sea from my living room and I'm surrounded by my records and books. * I started an email newsletter four years ago called "Stuff that MattR's", it has evolved into a great way of sharing career and development advice to a growing li…
- [TWIL #102 - Drinking on a plane](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-102-drinking-on-a-plane.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned WHY alcohol hits harder on a plane, than when you are on the ground. Seems it's down to both the altitude A…
- [52 things I learned in 2025](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/52-things-i-learned-in-2025.md) - Writing a newsletter every week helps me learn new things, here are 52 things from this year that didn't quite make it into the mailout.
- [Stuff that MattRs - #271](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/stuff-that-mattrs-271.md) - Happy Monday! It's good to see you. Here's some relaxed insights for you and your career.
- [#49 - From France](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/49-from-france.md) - Updates The week between Christmas and New Year is a funny one, no-one really knows what day it is, and we're all carrying a bit of regret for the 8 million calories we consumed in the last few days. We're in Northern France this year, at my mother-in-laws house. It's been a lovely break, but I'm a…
- [TWIL #101 - Speeding Black Hole](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-101-speeding-black-hole.md) - Every week, I share something I learned in the previous seven days. I usually find these while I'm putting my weekly newsletter together but somehow, they don't quite fit! This week I learned that scientists have found a black hole, racing along at 2.2 million miles per hour! Seriously, this is fin…
- [Stuff that MattRs - #270](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/stuff-that-mattrs-270.md) - Happy Monday, and Happy Holidays! It's great to see you! Here's some new insights for you and your career.

## Optional
- [RSS Feed](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/rss/)
- [Sitemap](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/sitemap.xml)
- [Full content of pages and posts](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/llms-full.txt)