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Matthew Gordon

Educate. Innovate. Create.

In Swimming and in Business, the Mental Game Is the Toughest


shutterstock_106533593 (1)This time last year, I promised myself that I would be back competing at a high level in swimming again. I kept that promise, and I plan to compete at the international level this December.

I was recently featured in a press release on PRWeb about my achievements in competitive swimming. I believe it’s important to take a breath and recognize achievements before moving on to the next goal, so I want to express my appreciation for being able to celebrate these milestones and illuminate one of our core values at Gordon Group: Anything is possible.

If you take the time and effort to gain a mental edge, you can accomplish anything.

You just need determination.

Training and competing have been part of my life since I was a young boy. I started off diving, and at 10, my coach thought I should switch to swimming. I was reluctant because I knew how intense swim practice would be, but the coach needed another body in the pool, so I agreed.

Just a few years later, I placed first in New York state competitions and went on to set a Division I record at Iona College that still stands today. I even traveled to Illinois to train with a coach who brings athletes to the Olympics.

Throughout the next 30 years, I kept training even though I wasn’t competing. I added yoga and triathlons into the mix. Yoga taught me mindfulness, and training for triathlons gave me tenacity. Both of these attributes made me mentally strong and gave me the prolonged determination and energy to come back to competitive swimming with vigor.

One thing I’ve realized is that once you get to a high level in swimming, your opponents are just as skilled and talented as you. In sports — and in business — you’re actually playing two games at once: one against your competitors and one against yourself.

The hardest battle is always the mental one.

If you can’t win the mental game, you don’t have a chance of winning against your competitors.

My most challenging days are the days when I just don’t want to go out and run 20 miles — when it’s raining or snowing or I’ve got a schedule packed with meetings. These are the days that separate the champions from the rest of the pack.

Take the example of Roald Amundsen, who competed against Robert Falcon Scott in the race to be the first man to reach the South Pole. Amundsen’s expedition was years in the making. He spent months living with indigenous populations, acquiring sled dogs and supplies, and planning the route. Scott spent relatively little time preparing but had motorized sleds and only progressed in fair weather. Unsurprisingly, it was Amundsen who reached the target on schedule by setting daily goals and making slow, steady progress.

If you’re able to go out and train every day consistently, then you have the mental edge you need to succeed. This is exactly what I found and what Gordon Group prides itself on.

Consistency doesn’t mean not pushing yourself, though. Once you reach a certain level, you have to expect that there will be no more “easy days.” In business and in swimming, if you’re having an easy day, you’re not competing hard enough. You have to put in everything you have if you want to win. If you can tell yourself every day to keep going and push harder to get to the next level, then you can win the mental game.

What are your secrets to staying consistent and maintaining determination as you work toward your goals?

 

Matthew Gordon

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Thursday, June 5, 2014

Are You Spending Too Much Time Managing Instead of Leading?

shutterstock_172626641How much of your day is actually devoted to leading? Of course you’re a “leader,” but are you actually leading, or are you just managing?

Leadership is about more than just a title. It’s about believing in and establishing an overarching vision for an entire company. But many leaders get bogged down in their daily managerial duties and don’t leave enough time to strategize and communicate the company’s long-term vision.

In this article, Matthew Gordon describes the difference between managers and leaders and provides tips to help you develop a balanced leadership-to-management ratio.

Read the full article at CEO.

Matthew Gordon

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Monday, June 2, 2014

Encourage Your Employees to Work When They Are Most Effective

shutterstock_119956342Do you ever feel your eyes start to droop in the middle of the workday? Do you slog through the afternoon without getting any real work done?

It’s not your fault. Productivity isn’t constant. It oscillates throughout the day, and it’s nearly impossible to maintain a continuously high level of focus from 9 to 5. To make your team more productive, you should allow some flexibility in the workday so your employees can work when their energy and focus are at their peak.

In this article, Matthew Gordon discusses how to boost your startup’s productivity by encouraging your employees to work when they’re most efficient.

 

Read more at Overdrive.

Matthew Gordon

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Monday, May 12, 2014

5 Ways You Are Scaring Away Potential Hires

Company leaders and recruiters often complain about a lack of quality job applicants. If you’ve been posting your job openings on generic job sites and have an impersonal application process, you’ve probably been bombarded with anything but quality talent.

However, that’s not the talent pool’s fault — it’s your recruitment process. If your inbox is being flooded with sloppy résumés and ill-fitted job applicants, your company has most likely fallen victim to five recruitment mistakes that scare away potential talent.

In this article, Matthew Gordon discusses the most common ways companies lose high-quality job candidates and explains how companies can correct their recruitment process to land the right talent.

Read the full article on Smart Recruiters.

Matthew Gordon

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Friday, March 7, 2014

How to Start an E-Commerce Company in New York

Now more than ever, entrepreneurs and investors are looking to New York City
and the surrounding areas as a center for startups.

There are many great resources and opportunities for new businesses, and the thriving cultural epicenter of New York City attracts some of the best tech talent
the world has to offer.

When starting a business in the City That Never Sleeps, you’ve got access to New York City’s unbelievable pool of resources, which includes top talent,
Wall Street, Silicon Alley, and world-class retailers and wholesalers.

If you choose to make New York your start-up’s home, you’re in good company.
Read the entire article of tips and tricks HERE

Matthew Gordon

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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

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Matthew GordonI am the President and CEO of Gordon Group, a holding company that manages successful growth focused companies. My leadership at its core is to create progressive & positive corporate cultures.

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