Good Work with Barrett Brooks

This week, I talk with Matt D. Smith—better known on the internet as MDS. Matt is a world-class designer and the founder of Shift Nudge, where he’s building the Juilliard of design education. Over his 20-year career, Matt has generated millions in revenue while helping clients craft iconic visual identities. But beyond the work itself, this conversation is about the inner journey behind outward success. We dive into how Matt and his wife built a marriage that serves as the foundation of his career, the three major turning points that shaped his path, and what might have happened had he chosen differently. Most importantly, we explore how Matt transitioned from seeking external validation to being guided by a deeper sense of peace and joy in his work. This is a conversation about success, self-awareness, and the courage to forge your own path. Let’s get to it. In this episode: * (00:00) - Intro * (02:20) - Is writing online still relevant? * (09:51) - A pivotal childhood moment * (15:12) - Lessons from crop dusting * (20:54) - Discovering a passion for design * (26:31) - College life and relationships * (29:41) - The early ingredients to Matt's successful marriage * (40:27) - Choosing to settle down in Athens, GA * (43:54) - Raising four kids * (45:31) - Gaining notoriety with the Float Label design pattern * (48:47) - Moving to San Francisco? * (52:04) - Building a community in Athens * (57:56) - The shift to online education * (01:08:50) - The downside of putting all your eggs in one basket * (01:12:17) - Launching Shift Nudge * (01:18:32) - Dealing with self-doubt * (01:23:32) - Launching during COVID * (01:28:16) - The stats behind Shift Nudge's first launch * (01:33:20) - The emotional and psychological challenges of success * (01:40:22) - Dealing with “little t trauma” * (01:54:31) - What makes Matt world-class? * (01:56:38) - Matt's most beautiful future * (01:58:36) - Who Matt is becoming Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com [https://goodworkshow.com]. Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks [https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks].

This week, I talk with Tina Tower, founder of Her Empire Builder, a membership community helping women start and scale online course businesses. Tina’s journey to success has been anything but straightforward. She launched a tutoring center at 20, built a franchise that nearly broke her, and sold it in a deal that taught her some tough lessons about business and burnout.  We dive into what she learned from scaling too fast, how to avoid the potential pitfalls of selling a company, and how she transitioned from a high-stress business to running a wildly profitable $2 million-a-year company—with less stress and more joy than ever before. If you’ve ever wrestled with balancing wealth, meaning, and a lifestyle you truly love, this conversation is for you. Let’s get to it! In this episode: * (00:00) - Intro * (02:52) - How a toy bear became a symbol of Tina's entrepreneurial journey * (04:29) - Tina's chaotic childhood and leaving home at 14 * (06:58) - Discovering Tony Robbins and rewriting her story * (13:00) - Tina's mindset shift from survival to entrepreneurship * (16:05) - “If you can dream it, you can achieve it”—or can you?  * (19:00) - Hustling to stay afloat * (22:19) - Hitting rock bottom and facing failure * (31:00) - Scaling too fast—when growth becomes a trap * (36:00) - When success feels like a burden * (39:43) - Selling the business—a deal that was too good to be true * (46:10) - Running away to find herself again * (52:05) - Accidentally starting a seven-figure business * (01:01:00) - What it’s like running a $2M/year business without burning out * (01:04:20) - Letting go of overworking * (01:09:00) - Choosing success without sacrifice * (01:13:00) - When ambition clashes with contentment * (01:18:00) - Realizing success doesn't mean burnout * (01:23:45) - Barrett's approach to coaching * (01:34:36) - What makes Tina world-class? * (01:34:54) - Tina's most beautiful future * (01:35:47) - Who Tina is becoming Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com [https://goodworkshow.com]. Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks [https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks].

This week, I’m bringing back one of our most popular episodes—my conversation with neuroscientist, writer, and Ness Labs founder Anne-Laure Le Cunff. When we first spoke in 2024, she was deep in her PhD, balancing academic rigor with writing for a broad audience, all while sharing her journey in public. Now, she’s releasing her new book, Tiny Experiments, which explores how small, intentional experiments can unlock personal growth and creativity. Anne-Laure’s approach to navigating uncertainty, following curiosity, and designing an intentional life is something I deeply align with. And I wanted to revisit this conversation because it’s packed with insights on how world-class creators forge their own paths—without a roadmap. Whether you’re familiar with Anne-Laure’s work or hearing from her for the first time, this episode is a must-listen. Let’s get to it! In this episode: * [00:00] - Intro * [01:59] - Liminal moments and navigating life's crossroads * [05:41] - Lessons from neuroscience on embracing the in-between * [10:44] - The power of intuition in decision making * [30:07] - Cultural roots and identity * [40:03] - Learning from failure * [46:38] - Ness Labs * [48:34] - The journey of learning and growth * [49:22] - The power of authenticity and community * [50:07] - Embracing personal evolution * [51:35] - The impact of public learning and mistakes * [53:00] - Exploring inner growth through psychedelics * [54:47] - Ayahuasca experiences * [57:42] - The significance of ancestral pain and healing * [01:09:41] - Creative process and the virtue of writing in public * [01:15:44] - Navigating between academic research and public engagement * [01:19:30] - The personal content diet and the anti-library concept * [01:27:53] - Envisioning the future and reflecting on personal growth Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com [https://goodworkshow.com]. Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks [https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks].

This week, I talk with Bonnie Wan, a trailblazing strategist who spent 30 years in advertising, eventually becoming a partner and Head of Brand Strategy at Goodby Silverstein & Partners. She earned Ad Age’s Chief Strategy Officer of the Year award, but perhaps her most impactful work is The Life Brief—a tool she developed to transform her own life, which became the foundation of her book. We explore Bonnie’s remarkable journey—from immigrating from Taiwan and overcoming bullying and abuse to rising to the top of her field. We also dive into the power of brand storytelling as a force for good, including a national campaign she led to prevent child pornography online. Finally, we discuss Bonnie’s current career transition and what it means to embrace change as a lifelong practice. If you’ve ever questioned your path or felt trapped by your success, Bonnie’s story will challenge and inspire you. Let’s get to it! In this episode: * (00:00) - Intro * (04:01) - Bonnie discovers her dark sense of humor * (07:34) - Wanting to belong * (14:23) - Confronting difficult childhood memories as an adult * (20:03) - The power of storytelling and writing * (24:31) - Why is practice so important? * (28:33) - "I am committed to" vs "I am a commitment to" * (33:53) - Somatic sensory experience * (39:36) - What is worth wanting? * (47:47) - Where lasting change comes from * (53:31) - How a moment of vulnerability redefined Bonnie's leadership * (01:04:35) - Pay gaps and gender bias  * (01:12:22) - How Bonnie became a strategist * (01:16:58) - The most meaningful ad campaign that Bonnie has worked on  * (01:23:55) - That moment Bonnie found out she was being made a partner * (01:29:05) - How Bonnie knew it was time to move on * (01:30:17) - The shift from career to vocation * (01:34:24) - Bonnie's most beautiful future * (01:35:53) - Who Bonnie is becoming Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com [https://goodworkshow.com]. Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks [https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks].

This week, I sit down with someone who’s had an enormous impact on my life—my mom, Ann Brooks. She’s built an exceptional career spanning nearly 40 years in sales, leadership, and entrepreneurship, working for Xerox, Haworth, and Allstate before becoming a financial advisor. As the primary breadwinner for our family, she’s learned what it takes to manage high-performing teams, create scalable systems, and lead with integrity. Beyond business, this conversation is personal. My mom taught me some of the most valuable lessons I use every day—how to build teams, how to sell in a way that feels good for everyone, and how to lead with character. If you’ve ever wondered where my mindset on work and leadership comes from, this episode is a window into that foundation. Whether you call her Ann or Mom, I think you’ll learn something from her story. Let’s get to it! In this episode: * (00:00) - Intro * (03:29) - How Ann became a Georgia Bulldogs fan * (08:49) - Growing up in Georgia * (10:26) - Family dynamics and sports * (15:47) - Cultural heritage and identity * (22:25) - On working very early in life * (23:49) - Key learnings from Ann's early career * (25:11) - The value of hard work early in life * (28:46) - How Ann ended up working at Xerox * (32:46) - Cultural identity as an immigrant  * (41:30) - The hard truth about sales * (43:13) - How Ann and her husband met and the importance of their partnership * (46:52) - The transition to Hayworth * (48:47) - Managing teams and building relationships * (52:58) - Balancing family and career * (57:44) - Navigating a male-dominated industry * (01:03:41) - Ann's philosophy on bringing a team together  * (01:08:09) - On standards of excellence * (01:16:05) - Evaluating the real cost of opportunities * (01:19:48) - Embracing entrepreneurship * (01:21:56) - The first day at the new agency  * (01:24:09) - How Ann changed the trajectory of her business * (01:27:47) - Selling the business * (01:35:55) - Working on a business vs working in the business * (01:38:46) - What drew Ann to the financial industry * (01:42:58) - Where excellence and joy meet * (01:44:55) - Ann's beautiful future * (01:46:28) - Who Ann is becoming Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com [https://goodworkshow.com]. Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks [https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks].