Meet Matt Barlow

 

We recently connected with Matt Barlow and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Matt, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

I think imposter syndrome is something that everyone has dealt with at some point in their career. But here’s the thing—you can’t let it crash your party. I remind myself that I’m here for a reason, and I didn’t stumble into success by accident. When those doubts start creeping in, I tackle them head-on by focusing on the wins, big or small, and the value I bring to the table. I surround myself with positive vibes, stay curious, and keep pushing forward. Plus, I believe that a little bit of imposter syndrome is just proof that I’m constantly leveling up.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a social media & digital strategy manager, working full time for Midwest Barrel Co. after 4 years at Rabbit Hole Distillery. My story is definitely not the typical marketing career path (or one I’d recommend).

I got my degrees in Exercise Science and Sports Administration, pursuing my dream career in college football. After working as a recruiting intern for the University of Louisville, I became the Director of Recruiting for the Ball State Cardinals, and at the time, I was the youngest in the country at that position. It was my dream job and I had it at the age of 25. Due to personal reasons, I decided to leave the profession in 2020.

Looking at what made me successful in recruiting in college football, I decided to pursue a career in marketing, and specifically in digital marketing. I took an internship to get my foot in the door and ultimately landed at Rabbit Hole Distillery in Louisville, KY.

It was a complete 180 on my career path and one that I initially didn’t see coming. But if I could give readers any advice from my story it’s that your career and your life is not set in stone no matter how much you think it might be. If you’re stuck in a career or a job that isn’t your vibe anymore (even if it used to be), you can change it. Life’s too short to continue on doing something that makes you unhappy.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Three qualities that have been key for me is resiliency, attention to details, and personal relationships. Being resilient in whatever you choose to do can make or break you, things will get hard whether you’re a corporate lawyer or you run your own puppy bath company. Don’t be afraid to step back and make tweaks, but after that keep moving forward.

Attention to details was something that was instilled in me from a young age working in college football. Not only will you save yourself time in the long run making sure the small things are correct, your superiors WILL notice.

Finally, focus on your personal relationships you have with your coworkers. It’s not necessarily any skills you have that’ll land you that promotion or big job, but the relationships you have with those people. I was once told “It’s not who you know, but who knows you.” Go get that drink after work with your supervisor, grab lunch with a coworker – that matters more than completing a task.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

I feel like “overwhelmed” is a constant state for me at times. And my advice is probably not what most people are looking for but it’s effective when you use it right.

When you’re overwhelmed with work, clients, etc. – just remember that none of it actually matters. Every job, client, role, company, etc. was created by society and at the end of the day isn’t where you will pull your happiness from in this life. Take a step back, grab a drink with a good friend, read a good book, go for a walk in nature. Seperate yourself from that source of stress and put it into perspective. If you end up failing (which you won’t), would it actually impact your life? Probably not.

Then after that’s put into perspective, attack the situation again knowing that whatever happens you’ll be successful.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?

We asked folks a question that led to many surprising answers – some sad, some

Highlighter Series
Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?

Culture, economic circumstances, family traditions, local customs and more can often influence us more than

Highlighter Series
What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?

We think this is an essential question because so often there is a disconnect between