I loved this so much, Matt. When my friend and I snuck into the Masters, we cut through the woods of an employee parking lot to bypass a security check. Then we waved down a parking shuttle that was bringing employees into the grounds (the ol' Trojan Horse technique, perhaps the oldest sneaking-into-places trick in the books).
When the shuttle stopped for us, it was easy to step inside with confidence and a quick "thank you", since we wore the navy blue golf shirts with the classic Masters logo on them, which we knew all employees wore the prior year. We took our seats, looked around, and quickly realized that everyone instead had on green shirts this year XD. I like to think that from the shuttle driver's perspective, ours appeared to be green as well, clouded by the sheer confidence we exuded as Real Masters Employees™.
Thank you for the reminder to look through my closet for something I can wear to become who I want to be, and more importantly, to dig through my psyche to figure out who that might be.
Matt I love this! I often get dressed into regular clothes in the early morning to write rather than do it in sweats as a way to tell my brain that this is a "real" activity rather than something homey and comfortable. But I think I need to take it a step further...full uniform! Or at least one consistent element.
This is incredible! What a list of moments. I did my fair share of sneaking in to events / better seats but the Super Bowl is a whole new level! Love the angle of how a consistent uniform helped make it happen
I was just relating the story to family last night, of our mutual affinity for John Mayer, especially “The Heart of Life,” then while sitting in a Land Rover in the Masai Mara, watching the animals, my phone vibrates, and it was you, at a John Mayer concert, listening to “Heart of Life.” One of my favorite moments!
I find it funny that people often write off superstitions as “woo-woo,” but I’ve found that having certain rituals (like wearing a lucky pair of underwear) taps into the same psychological forces you described in this essay. In the end, if the placebo effect works, it doesn’t really matter whether the magic is real or just in our heads.
100% agree. I maybe should have mentioned this in the essay but around the time I started wearing a uniform, I'd just read a book about placebos called "Suggestible You" — which highlighted different studies that showed how you can knowingly use the placebo effect to your advantage. It definitely doesn't matter how it works, if it works. Thanks for reading Matt!
I loved this so much, Matt. When my friend and I snuck into the Masters, we cut through the woods of an employee parking lot to bypass a security check. Then we waved down a parking shuttle that was bringing employees into the grounds (the ol' Trojan Horse technique, perhaps the oldest sneaking-into-places trick in the books).
When the shuttle stopped for us, it was easy to step inside with confidence and a quick "thank you", since we wore the navy blue golf shirts with the classic Masters logo on them, which we knew all employees wore the prior year. We took our seats, looked around, and quickly realized that everyone instead had on green shirts this year XD. I like to think that from the shuttle driver's perspective, ours appeared to be green as well, clouded by the sheer confidence we exuded as Real Masters Employees™.
Thank you for the reminder to look through my closet for something I can wear to become who I want to be, and more importantly, to dig through my psyche to figure out who that might be.
This is soooo good.
This was an exceptional piece of writing brother. And an amazing story.
🙏🏼 Thanks Adam!
Love it.
In a more literal sense, you can basically go anywhere you like, and do anything you like if your wearing a visijacket and a lanyard 😈
👆 This is true
Stealing rocks, plants and logs since 1999
hell yea i like to wear colorful clothes when i go climbing to channel some positive climbing energy, this is a great essay!
Matt I love this! I often get dressed into regular clothes in the early morning to write rather than do it in sweats as a way to tell my brain that this is a "real" activity rather than something homey and comfortable. But I think I need to take it a step further...full uniform! Or at least one consistent element.
Totally. One consistent element can make a crazy difference!
Dude, this is awesome.
PS: Your writing uniform is working, your writing is excellent
Aw, really appreciate that Alex!
This is incredible! What a list of moments. I did my fair share of sneaking in to events / better seats but the Super Bowl is a whole new level! Love the angle of how a consistent uniform helped make it happen
Wow, love to hear about a kindred spirit. Would be fun to swap stories some time.
Let’s just say I stood on center court after Game 7 of a certain epic NBA finals…
Down!
That is an insane level of confidence, incredible story
Thanks Max!
A realm of creativity and communication that is so underutilized. Great essay.
Agreed! Thanks Aubrey.
Yes!! I’m so happy you finally published this. So so good
Thanks Carly 🙏🏼 And thanks for your feedback on the initial draft!
Love that last paragraph
I was just relating the story to family last night, of our mutual affinity for John Mayer, especially “The Heart of Life,” then while sitting in a Land Rover in the Masai Mara, watching the animals, my phone vibrates, and it was you, at a John Mayer concert, listening to “Heart of Life.” One of my favorite moments!
Wow, such wild timing. Continuum still ranks as one of the best albums of the last few decades for me!
Great and thought-provoking words. And great writing, Matt!
Amazing what you can achieve if you commit to it wholeheartedly!
Very interesting read, I've never been to any concerts or events like this, you have managed to experience a lot of cool events!
I find it funny that people often write off superstitions as “woo-woo,” but I’ve found that having certain rituals (like wearing a lucky pair of underwear) taps into the same psychological forces you described in this essay. In the end, if the placebo effect works, it doesn’t really matter whether the magic is real or just in our heads.
100% agree. I maybe should have mentioned this in the essay but around the time I started wearing a uniform, I'd just read a book about placebos called "Suggestible You" — which highlighted different studies that showed how you can knowingly use the placebo effect to your advantage. It definitely doesn't matter how it works, if it works. Thanks for reading Matt!