Matt Higgins: Give Yourself No Other Choice
Play • 37 min

When Matt Higgins,  Author of "Burn the Boats,"  was a kid in Queens, you were likely to find him hawking flowers on a street corner or scraping gum off restaurant tables. Today Matt Higgins is co-founder of RSE Ventures, a prominent entrepreneur, investor, and business executive known as a CBS Shark Tank guest. Hear how having limited choices and making bold moves set the board for his success.

What Matt remembers about his childhood in Queens is the government cheese, food stamps, and a rodent-chewed mattress. But he also had an example of resilience, as his Mother pursued her GED and got into Queens College. Unfortunately, she had health problems that necessitated Matt caring for her rather than enjoying being a teen. His desire to escape poverty led to an epiphany. He became a college student at 16, aspiring to change his family's path.

Over the years, Matt found himself in situations with limited options, but he refused to be boxed in. Never one to let circumstances dictate the end, he controlled his destiny by making himself invaluable. Matt became Press Secretary for the New York Mayor's office, the youngest ever at 26, followed by the COO of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, which oversaw rebuilding the World Trade Center. From there, he moved on to several high-profile executive positions, including executive positions with the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets NFL teams.

As Matt says, only you have the full context of your life. The only thing you need to believe is your infinite capacity to figure it out. Tune into this conversation for endless insights on overcoming imposter syndrome, leveraging your skills, and why limiting choice is a good thing.

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