Matt Higgins

I mean, so people ask, zooming out, how does all the pieces fit together? How does somebody go from McDonald's or press to running an NFL team? All the things I've done and the connective tissue was something, a question I would always ask myself. What is the highest and best use of Matt Higgins now? And what can I do now?

I mean, so people ask, zooming out, how does all the pieces fit together? How does somebody go from McDonald's or press to running an NFL team? All the things I've done and the connective tissue was something, a question I would always ask myself. What is the highest and best use of Matt Higgins now? And what can I do now?

What skills do I possess that I can leverage to move me closer to my ultimate ambition? So every job that came next was because I was leveraging a skill to keep moving me on this continuum toward what? Toward freedom, autonomy. The number one thing I crave and still crave and always want and protect is autonomy because it's the one thing I didn't have. My whole entire goal was to get there.

What skills do I possess that I can leverage to move me closer to my ultimate ambition? So every job that came next was because I was leveraging a skill to keep moving me on this continuum toward what? Toward freedom, autonomy. The number one thing I crave and still crave and always want and protect is autonomy because it's the one thing I didn't have. My whole entire goal was to get there.

And the reason I got to the New York Jets is because after 9-11, I was running the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site. That made me an expert in land use. I know we just glossed over overseeing the rebuilding of 9-11, but that was my skill. And because of that, the New York Jets needed somebody to build a stadium. And I was able to leverage the ability to do that and get that job.

And the reason I got to the New York Jets is because after 9-11, I was running the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site. That made me an expert in land use. I know we just glossed over overseeing the rebuilding of 9-11, but that was my skill. And because of that, the New York Jets needed somebody to build a stadium. And I was able to leverage the ability to do that and get that job.

And so each of these jobs is because I was moving closer to something. And I say this to anybody listening who feels like you have to have it all figured out or the next job has to be the job. The next job just has to move you due north in the general direction of your ambition. And you just need a thesis about like, all right, if I do this, right, I'm going to learn this and I'm going to go there.

And so each of these jobs is because I was moving closer to something. And I say this to anybody listening who feels like you have to have it all figured out or the next job has to be the job. The next job just has to move you due north in the general direction of your ambition. And you just need a thesis about like, all right, if I do this, right, I'm going to learn this and I'm going to go there.

But it shouldn't be an excuse. to prevent yourself from going ahead and doing the next thing. It should be a rational-like continuum. But I'll pause there. But I had all these crazy jobs. But when I was at the Jets is when I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. I assume that's what you're talking about. And then it worked out. And I'm fine. And I'm here now. I'm alive.

But it shouldn't be an excuse. to prevent yourself from going ahead and doing the next thing. It should be a rational-like continuum. But I'll pause there. But I had all these crazy jobs. But when I was at the Jets is when I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. I assume that's what you're talking about. And then it worked out. And I'm fine. And I'm here now. I'm alive.

Just to stick with cancer for half a second, because I think I love what you just said about the victim. I mean, I love Tom, by the way, and I love the way he frames it. For me, it is, I do think that every bad thing that happens to me is an opportunity for exceptionalism. And when I had testicular cancer and it didn't kill me, I thought, you know, this disease hits one in 7,000 people.

Just to stick with cancer for half a second, because I think I love what you just said about the victim. I mean, I love Tom, by the way, and I love the way he frames it. For me, it is, I do think that every bad thing that happens to me is an opportunity for exceptionalism. And when I had testicular cancer and it didn't kill me, I thought, you know, this disease hits one in 7,000 people.

And of those 7,400, well, I geek out on statistics, 400 of them will die. Now, it has a very high survival rate. My version was the kind that wasn't going to kill me. So then I thought, okay, out of all the people, those 7,000, what percentage of those people live below the poverty line? What percentage of those people just went through a divorce?

And of those 7,400, well, I geek out on statistics, 400 of them will die. Now, it has a very high survival rate. My version was the kind that wasn't going to kill me. So then I thought, okay, out of all the people, those 7,000, what percentage of those people live below the poverty line? What percentage of those people just went through a divorce?

What percentage of those people have depression, whatever? And when I took a step back, I was like, I'm probably one of the most equipped people to have testicular cancer. And then two, I thought... In some ways, look how exceptional it makes me. I'm probably the only guy in the world with a GED and one testicle. And so I decided to own it. I have these dog tags to this day.

What percentage of those people have depression, whatever? And when I took a step back, I was like, I'm probably one of the most equipped people to have testicular cancer. And then two, I thought... In some ways, look how exceptional it makes me. I'm probably the only guy in the world with a GED and one testicle. And so I decided to own it. I have these dog tags to this day.

It's a little crazy and a little crass. And it says half the balls, twice the man. And that became my attitude about it. Like, you know what? What's more badass than surviving testicular cancer and losing a body part? And so...

It's a little crazy and a little crass. And it says half the balls, twice the man. And that became my attitude about it. Like, you know what? What's more badass than surviving testicular cancer and losing a body part? And so...

And the point of that, I tell that story is I really believe that every crisis is an opportunity for exceptionalism, but also every crisis gives you an opportunity to extract something more valuable than what's taken from you. I can honestly say what was taken from me with testicular cancer, and even I've been on testosterone my whole life.

And the point of that, I tell that story is I really believe that every crisis is an opportunity for exceptionalism, but also every crisis gives you an opportunity to extract something more valuable than what's taken from you. I can honestly say what was taken from me with testicular cancer, and even I've been on testosterone my whole life.