By Matt Doan · July 26, 2025 · 3 min read

The Harmonized Life

We just got back from an epic family trip across Europe.

Probably the most enjoyable vacation I’ve ever had.

To start, we flew business class—not because of corporate status or points, but because we built a business that earns it.

We swam in the crystal-clear waters off the Croatian coast.

Biked through Amsterdam parks, wind in our hair, with the little dude in tow.

Rode public trams like locals. Ascended 400 steps up the medieval hillside in Dubrovnik to reach our Airbnb.

Laughed together over fresh bread and local cheese. And closed out most days with an Aperol Spritz in hand, watching the world slow down for a moment.

And… we worked.

I ran a group coaching call from our Budapest apartment. Cecilia and I enrolled and onboarded new clients from coffee shops. Launched a new coaching program—from a ferry—that had quietly been in the works over the prior few weeks.

There was no tension. No guilt.

Just flow.

That would’ve been unthinkable five years ago.

Back then, I was still inside the system—deep in the grind.

Vacations felt like pressure cookers.

The inner scripts were relentless:

So I tried to “unplug.”

But even poolside in those days, I found myself scanning DMs. Refreshing inboxes. Worrying about perception. Pretending to be present while still serving the machine.

I had to break this awful pattern.

So I started my graduation journey—not by quitting, but by downshifting.

Obsessively creating space from the job: time, energy, emotional bandwidth.

Starting to say no by default. Declining meetings. Installing huge calendar blocks.

Making myself less available and, in doing so, boosting my reputation and improving my perceived value (funny how that works).

I started designing from scratch. Architected what my perfect week might look like. Even within the corporate system, I found ways to shape it. To begin feeling what life on my terms might feel like.

The turning point came when I circled a date on the calendar—six months out.

My resignation date. My freedom day.

That single move became a forcing function.

It aligned everything: how I spent my precious hours, how I planned our finances, how I prioritized my energy.

I stopped seeing corporate as permanent—and started treating it like a short-term runway… enabling me to take off and soar on my own.

That’s because the costs of staying became too steep.

I still vividly remember the worst part. Week after week, I had to tell my wife where I’d be traveling next.

How many days I’d be gone. What our kids would miss out on. What I would miss out on.

It broke me.

So I went all in.

I joined masterminds. Hired coaches. Invested in programs.

None of them worked exactly how I envisioned.

But every single one taught me something I needed to know.

I learned what felt good to me—and what didn’t. What was sustainable. What was fun. What drained me. What gave me life.

Most importantly, those environments—especially the people in them—completely rewired my identity and my definition of what's possible.

These were all ingredients that helped me build a business and path beyond corporate.

Yes, it was messy. But it was mine.

And that’s the thing we all need—something that’s ours.

We crave ownership.

After leveraging my employer as my investor for several years, I left corporate fully in March 2022. No more paychecks. Just me, a little talent, and an impossible vision.

Fast-forward to now: I work harder than I ever did in corporate—helping others smartly graduate corporate life too (but way faster than I did).

But it hardly feels like work. I find myself wishing I had more hours in the day because it feels so right.

Because I’m finally doing what I was built to do.

That’s what I call The Harmonized Life.

Not balance. Not escapism. Not a fantasy.

Just a life where everything clicks into alignment.

It looks like this:

• Work that energizes instead of depletes
• Days designed with space for health, creativity, and family
• Income that reflects your genius and respects your time
• Presence that’s felt in your home—not just promised
• A calendar that mirrors your values, not someone else’s priorities
• The ability to travel, rest, and build—without needing permission

This isn’t passive income fantasy.

This is real. But it requires intention, courage, and skin in the game.

It demands a business that compounds: in clarity, confidence, income, and peace.

And that’s the path we quietly guide people through in the Corporate Graduation™ Lab​.​

This recent Eurotrip proved it—work and life can truly blend.

So I’ll leave you with this:

What would your version of the Harmonized Life look like?

And when will you finally start building it?

—Matt

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PS - Check out some of our trip photos here, showing the Harmonized Life in action.
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What’s next:

• Reply to this email—share what came up for you or any questions you have. I read and respond to every message personally.
• ​Apply for our (free) Corporate Graduation™ Lab—an immersive, live workshop where you’ll learn exactly how to navigate the journey from corporate success to entrepreneurial ownership. It’s where we help high achievers design $30K/month service businesses rooted in identity, not templates—while protecting income, stability, and family life. Backed by a decade of work, $250K+ in development, and 145+ clients served. This is where real transformation begins.
• ​Explore our podcast for deeper insights into Corporate Graduation™ strategies and building your next chapter.

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