Special Guest Feature: Matt Posey | Purpose Fueled Eden Prairie
Matt Posey moved every 2 or 3 years until he was 17. He was always the new kid, walking into rooms where he didn’t know a soul.
He is Director of Sales at ScaleNorth, and he has spent his career noticing the person standing just outside the conversation.
Matt is our Special Guest at Purpose Fueled | Eden Prairie on Friday, October 2nd, hosted by Jim Martin.
Here is more about him, in his own words.
What do you actually do (in plain language), the way you’d explain it to a friend over coffee?
I solve problems. I help organizations understand what’s actually wrong, not what we assume is wrong. Most of the time, the real problem is standing just outside the conversation. I help people notice it, understand it, and then figure out how to fix it. I’m good at slowing things down, asking the right questions, and being genuinely curious about what’s actually going on.
What’s the moment or decision that changed the direction of your life or career?
I moved every 2 or 3 years until I was 17 years old. I was always the new kid walking into rooms where I didn’t know a soul. But I learned early on that I could build my own tribe. It took me decades to realize I’d spent years trying to do what I thought I should do, mimicking what I saw other people doing. About 2 years ago when I changed jobs, I started trusting myself and went back to what I’ve always done naturally. And it changed everything. Once I stopped trying, it became second nature. I didn’t have to think about it anymore. It just came naturally.
What do you believe about people that most others in your field don’t?
Most people in my field assume the problem is the system or the process. They come in with solutions in their back pocket. I believe you don’t have the answer until you’ve genuinely understood what people are experiencing. The person doing the work every day knows something the system doesn’t. If you skip past understanding them, you’re building the wrong solution.
What are you most proud of, in life, not just in work?
I’m most proud of the people I’ve connected with and helped grow. I’m proud of being the person in the room who notices the person standing alone and makes space for them. And I’m proud of my willingness to be vulnerable and keep learning. Those three things are all connected. When you’re willing to admit you don’t have all the answers, when you genuinely see people, and when you help create connections that matter, that’s when people grow. That’s when real things happen.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A race car driver.
How do your closest friends or family describe you? Who do they say you are?
My closest friends and family all describe me differently. I show up in different ways for different people. What one person says about me might be very different from what another person would say. I think that’s okay. I think that’s honest.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
People might think I have it all figured out. I don’t. I struggle with things just like everyone else. I fight my introverted tendencies every time I walk into a room. I battle anxiety. I’m not as kind to myself as I am to others. And I can get caught trying to perfect things. The work I do with other people, helping them slow down and understand what’s real? I have to remind myself to do that with myself too.
What does “purpose” mean to you personally?
Purpose means helping others avoid the mistakes I did. I spent decades trying to be what I thought I should be, fighting my instincts, not trusting myself. If I can help someone else skip past that and get to the part where they actually trust who they are sooner, that’s purpose to me. That’s the work that matters.
What’s the title of your next chapter, in life or in business?
Speaking. I’ve been asked to speak more often, and I’m leaning into it. But I’m going to do it the way I do everything else. I’m going to slow down. I’m going to be genuine. I’m going to notice the people in the room and what they actually need to hear. I’m going to connect, not dominate. That’s the next chapter.
What’s one thing you’re hoping people leave your conversation thinking about?
I want people to leave here leaning into being themselves. Not trying to be what they think they should be. Not mimicking what they see other people doing. Just being who they actually are. Because that’s when the real magic happens. That’s when genuine connection becomes possible. I want everyone to ask the questions they really want to know the answers to, that is when real connection happens.
What’s a question you wish more people would ask you?
I’m much more comfortable helping than asking for help. I ask more questions than I answer. So I’m uncomfortable thinking about something I want people to do for me. I think that’s the real answer to this question. I don’t have a good one because it’s not how I operate.
Come meet Matt
Matt Posey is our Special Guest at Purpose Fueled | Eden Prairie on Friday, October 2nd, hosted by Jim Martin. Fat Pants, 8335 Crystal View Road, Eden Prairie. Doors open at 7:00 AM and the event begins at 7:30 AM.
Come hear his story and bring your answer to his question. Register here.