Matt Tilmann
@mittendad.bsky.social
Senior Analyst, Girl Dad, Husband | Staying curious about life and sharing what I learn along the way. I Subscribe now at https://mittendad.substack.com
Pinned
Matt Tilmann
@mittendad.bsky.social
· May 6
I’m building a life where:
– Time matters more than titles
– Family moments aren’t missed
– Self-care isn’t a luxury, it’s the foundation
And through Mitten Dad Minute, I’m helping other parent-preneurs and creators do the same.
Join in. Subscribe at the link in my bio and start today.
– Time matters more than titles
– Family moments aren’t missed
– Self-care isn’t a luxury, it’s the foundation
And through Mitten Dad Minute, I’m helping other parent-preneurs and creators do the same.
Join in. Subscribe at the link in my bio and start today.
Your "newness" is your value.
You're solving problems in real-time that others are facing right now.
Stop waiting until you're "ready" to connect with other creators.
You're solving problems in real-time that others are facing right now.
Stop waiting until you're "ready" to connect with other creators.
November 8, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Your "newness" is your value.
You're solving problems in real-time that others are facing right now.
Stop waiting until you're "ready" to connect with other creators.
You're solving problems in real-time that others are facing right now.
Stop waiting until you're "ready" to connect with other creators.
You hit 1,000 followers and still feel completely alone after publishing.
Here's why creator loneliness isn't about audience size (and what actually fixes it):
Here's why creator loneliness isn't about audience size (and what actually fixes it):
November 8, 2025 at 2:02 AM
You hit 1,000 followers and still feel completely alone after publishing.
Here's why creator loneliness isn't about audience size (and what actually fixes it):
Here's why creator loneliness isn't about audience size (and what actually fixes it):
You need a creative accountability buddy:
Weekly 5-minute check-ins
Share what you shipped
Share what's next
No judgment, no pressure
Just consistent support
One person changes everything.
Weekly 5-minute check-ins
Share what you shipped
Share what's next
No judgment, no pressure
Just consistent support
One person changes everything.
November 8, 2025 at 1:04 AM
You need a creative accountability buddy:
Weekly 5-minute check-ins
Share what you shipped
Share what's next
No judgment, no pressure
Just consistent support
One person changes everything.
Weekly 5-minute check-ins
Share what you shipped
Share what's next
No judgment, no pressure
Just consistent support
One person changes everything.
The loneliest creators:
Have thousands of followers
Post consistently every day
Get decent engagement numbers
Never share the messy middle
Build an audience but zero friendships
You can be popular and completely alone.
Have thousands of followers
Post consistently every day
Get decent engagement numbers
Never share the messy middle
Build an audience but zero friendships
You can be popular and completely alone.
November 7, 2025 at 10:29 PM
The loneliest creators:
Have thousands of followers
Post consistently every day
Get decent engagement numbers
Never share the messy middle
Build an audience but zero friendships
You can be popular and completely alone.
Have thousands of followers
Post consistently every day
Get decent engagement numbers
Never share the messy middle
Build an audience but zero friendships
You can be popular and completely alone.
You joined 4 Discord servers and never posted.
You attended virtual meetups and felt more isolated.
You follow 100 creators but never talk to one.
Stop collecting communities. Start building relationships.
You attended virtual meetups and felt more isolated.
You follow 100 creators but never talk to one.
Stop collecting communities. Start building relationships.
November 7, 2025 at 9:33 PM
You joined 4 Discord servers and never posted.
You attended virtual meetups and felt more isolated.
You follow 100 creators but never talk to one.
Stop collecting communities. Start building relationships.
You attended virtual meetups and felt more isolated.
You follow 100 creators but never talk to one.
Stop collecting communities. Start building relationships.
If you're waiting to "make it" before finding your people, you've got the order backwards.
Build community first.
Success follows connection.
Build community first.
Success follows connection.
November 7, 2025 at 7:04 PM
If you're waiting to "make it" before finding your people, you've got the order backwards.
Build community first.
Success follows connection.
Build community first.
Success follows connection.
Most creators don't burn out from creating too much.
They burn out from creating alone too long.
They burn out from creating alone too long.
November 7, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Most creators don't burn out from creating too much.
They burn out from creating alone too long.
They burn out from creating alone too long.
A cheers of the morning ☕️ or 🫖 cup to my fellow parents of young ones or fur babies for who that mystical “getting an hour back of sleep” fails to exist once daylight savings time ends.
November 2, 2025 at 1:02 PM
A cheers of the morning ☕️ or 🫖 cup to my fellow parents of young ones or fur babies for who that mystical “getting an hour back of sleep” fails to exist once daylight savings time ends.
Not exactly sure what they’re teaching (or not teaching) in driver’s ed to the younger crowd anymore:
October 31, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Not exactly sure what they’re teaching (or not teaching) in driver’s ed to the younger crowd anymore:
There’s something liberating about realizing how little the stars care about your to-do list.
Curious? Make sure you're subscribed at the link in the pinned post.
Issue drops tomorrow morning at 6:30 am EST.
#universe #selfcare #worklifebalance #mindfulness #productivity
Curious? Make sure you're subscribed at the link in the pinned post.
Issue drops tomorrow morning at 6:30 am EST.
#universe #selfcare #worklifebalance #mindfulness #productivity
October 31, 2025 at 2:50 AM
There’s something liberating about realizing how little the stars care about your to-do list.
Curious? Make sure you're subscribed at the link in the pinned post.
Issue drops tomorrow morning at 6:30 am EST.
#universe #selfcare #worklifebalance #mindfulness #productivity
Curious? Make sure you're subscribed at the link in the pinned post.
Issue drops tomorrow morning at 6:30 am EST.
#universe #selfcare #worklifebalance #mindfulness #productivity
At the end of each month, it’s worth asking: where did my #energy actually go?
What gave you energy this month — and what drained it?
Reflect on one activity, habit, or mindset that fueled you… and one that exhausted you.
What gave you energy this month — and what drained it?
Reflect on one activity, habit, or mindset that fueled you… and one that exhausted you.
October 30, 2025 at 1:56 PM
At the end of each month, it’s worth asking: where did my #energy actually go?
What gave you energy this month — and what drained it?
Reflect on one activity, habit, or mindset that fueled you… and one that exhausted you.
What gave you energy this month — and what drained it?
Reflect on one activity, habit, or mindset that fueled you… and one that exhausted you.
You know that overwhelming feeling you have right now? Like there's just way too much on your plate?
Here's the thing: you're not imagining it.
There genuinely is too much. Your gut is telling you the truth on this one.
Here's the thing: you're not imagining it.
There genuinely is too much. Your gut is telling you the truth on this one.
October 29, 2025 at 3:02 PM
You know that overwhelming feeling you have right now? Like there's just way too much on your plate?
Here's the thing: you're not imagining it.
There genuinely is too much. Your gut is telling you the truth on this one.
Here's the thing: you're not imagining it.
There genuinely is too much. Your gut is telling you the truth on this one.
Sometimes the best moves happen when you stop forcing things and just pivot.
Where have you had to shift lately, by choice or by circumstance?
Think of one area where your focus had to change.
What did it teach you?
And what kind of peace did it bring once you stopped fighting it?
Where have you had to shift lately, by choice or by circumstance?
Think of one area where your focus had to change.
What did it teach you?
And what kind of peace did it bring once you stopped fighting it?
October 29, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Sometimes the best moves happen when you stop forcing things and just pivot.
Where have you had to shift lately, by choice or by circumstance?
Think of one area where your focus had to change.
What did it teach you?
And what kind of peace did it bring once you stopped fighting it?
Where have you had to shift lately, by choice or by circumstance?
Think of one area where your focus had to change.
What did it teach you?
And what kind of peace did it bring once you stopped fighting it?
Launching my referral program, I opened six tabs researching "perfect incentives."
Caught myself. Closed everything.
Ran my Clarity Check.
I just needed three simple tiers. Fifteen minutes later it was live.
No perfection required.
Just real progress.
Caught myself. Closed everything.
Ran my Clarity Check.
I just needed three simple tiers. Fifteen minutes later it was live.
No perfection required.
Just real progress.
October 28, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Launching my referral program, I opened six tabs researching "perfect incentives."
Caught myself. Closed everything.
Ran my Clarity Check.
I just needed three simple tiers. Fifteen minutes later it was live.
No perfection required.
Just real progress.
Caught myself. Closed everything.
Ran my Clarity Check.
I just needed three simple tiers. Fifteen minutes later it was live.
No perfection required.
Just real progress.
I didn't need a new planner.
I needed decisions to be easier when I had 7 minutes of energy and a half-eaten sandwich.
Now I ask 5 questions before opening any tab.
The rescue: What decision am I avoiding? What's my actual energy?
One clear move beats magic every time.
I needed decisions to be easier when I had 7 minutes of energy and a half-eaten sandwich.
Now I ask 5 questions before opening any tab.
The rescue: What decision am I avoiding? What's my actual energy?
One clear move beats magic every time.
October 28, 2025 at 5:18 PM
I didn't need a new planner.
I needed decisions to be easier when I had 7 minutes of energy and a half-eaten sandwich.
Now I ask 5 questions before opening any tab.
The rescue: What decision am I avoiding? What's my actual energy?
One clear move beats magic every time.
I needed decisions to be easier when I had 7 minutes of energy and a half-eaten sandwich.
Now I ask 5 questions before opening any tab.
The rescue: What decision am I avoiding? What's my actual energy?
One clear move beats magic every time.
Last spring I had a "brilliant" newsletter idea.
Three weeks later: seven tabs of research open, two half-finished outlines, zero published words.
My clarity check would've saved me 20+ hours of wheel-spinning.
The drag wasn't laziness but a broken system.
Three weeks later: seven tabs of research open, two half-finished outlines, zero published words.
My clarity check would've saved me 20+ hours of wheel-spinning.
The drag wasn't laziness but a broken system.
October 28, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Last spring I had a "brilliant" newsletter idea.
Three weeks later: seven tabs of research open, two half-finished outlines, zero published words.
My clarity check would've saved me 20+ hours of wheel-spinning.
The drag wasn't laziness but a broken system.
Three weeks later: seven tabs of research open, two half-finished outlines, zero published words.
My clarity check would've saved me 20+ hours of wheel-spinning.
The drag wasn't laziness but a broken system.
For today, something to think about is that when you feel off track, the hardest part isn’t starting again but simply giving yourself permission to.
What helps you reset your rhythm when life gets messy?
What helps you reset your rhythm when life gets messy?
October 27, 2025 at 2:35 PM
For today, something to think about is that when you feel off track, the hardest part isn’t starting again but simply giving yourself permission to.
What helps you reset your rhythm when life gets messy?
What helps you reset your rhythm when life gets messy?
Feeling like your to-do list is running you instead of the other way around?
Meet my new 15-Minute Chaos-to-Clarity Reset — a simple 3-step system that fits into even the busiest (parent-creator) schedule.
🕒 15 minutes.
📄 1 practical PDF download.
Meet my new 15-Minute Chaos-to-Clarity Reset — a simple 3-step system that fits into even the busiest (parent-creator) schedule.
🕒 15 minutes.
📄 1 practical PDF download.
October 26, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Feeling like your to-do list is running you instead of the other way around?
Meet my new 15-Minute Chaos-to-Clarity Reset — a simple 3-step system that fits into even the busiest (parent-creator) schedule.
🕒 15 minutes.
📄 1 practical PDF download.
Meet my new 15-Minute Chaos-to-Clarity Reset — a simple 3-step system that fits into even the busiest (parent-creator) schedule.
🕒 15 minutes.
📄 1 practical PDF download.
You don’t need to plan your week from pressure.
You can plan it from peace.
What would it look like to build next week around your energy, not your to-do list?
Try this:
🌿 What restores me: ___
🕰 When I’ll make space for it: ___
💡 Why it matters: ___
Let’s close October with clarity and care.
You can plan it from peace.
What would it look like to build next week around your energy, not your to-do list?
Try this:
🌿 What restores me: ___
🕰 When I’ll make space for it: ___
💡 Why it matters: ___
Let’s close October with clarity and care.
October 26, 2025 at 3:35 PM
You don’t need to plan your week from pressure.
You can plan it from peace.
What would it look like to build next week around your energy, not your to-do list?
Try this:
🌿 What restores me: ___
🕰 When I’ll make space for it: ___
💡 Why it matters: ___
Let’s close October with clarity and care.
You can plan it from peace.
What would it look like to build next week around your energy, not your to-do list?
Try this:
🌿 What restores me: ___
🕰 When I’ll make space for it: ___
💡 Why it matters: ___
Let’s close October with clarity and care.
How many times have you said it this week?
"I'll build a system for that when things calm down."
"I'll #automate this process once I have more time."
"I'll set up that workflow after this busy season."
Sound familiar?
"I'll build a system for that when things calm down."
"I'll #automate this process once I have more time."
"I'll set up that workflow after this busy season."
Sound familiar?
October 26, 2025 at 2:39 PM
How many times have you said it this week?
"I'll build a system for that when things calm down."
"I'll #automate this process once I have more time."
"I'll set up that workflow after this busy season."
Sound familiar?
"I'll build a system for that when things calm down."
"I'll #automate this process once I have more time."
"I'll set up that workflow after this busy season."
Sound familiar?
Your best ideas don't fit your niche.
Your audience didn't follow you for your topic. They followed for how you think.
The best #content lives at intersections.
Stop forcing yourself into someone else's category. You are the niche.
More: open.substack.com/pub/mittend...
Your audience didn't follow you for your topic. They followed for how you think.
The best #content lives at intersections.
Stop forcing yourself into someone else's category. You are the niche.
More: open.substack.com/pub/mittend...
The 18-Month Expiration Date On "Niche Down" Advice
Why the strategy that gets you noticed is the same one that burns you out and what to do instead
mittendad.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Your best ideas don't fit your niche.
Your audience didn't follow you for your topic. They followed for how you think.
The best #content lives at intersections.
Stop forcing yourself into someone else's category. You are the niche.
More: open.substack.com/pub/mittend...
Your audience didn't follow you for your topic. They followed for how you think.
The best #content lives at intersections.
Stop forcing yourself into someone else's category. You are the niche.
More: open.substack.com/pub/mittend...
You're burning out trying to stay ahead.
But the secret to doing more isn't moving faster.
Here's how slowing down makes you better at everything:
But the secret to doing more isn't moving faster.
Here's how slowing down makes you better at everything:
October 21, 2025 at 5:10 PM
You're burning out trying to stay ahead.
But the secret to doing more isn't moving faster.
Here's how slowing down makes you better at everything:
But the secret to doing more isn't moving faster.
Here's how slowing down makes you better at everything:
Community care is a form of self-care.
What lifts one of us can inspire another.
What’s bringing you peace, joy, or comfort lately?
Share a post, or creative project that’s made you feel grounded or renewed.
Then, comment on someone else’s and tell them why it resonated.
What lifts one of us can inspire another.
What’s bringing you peace, joy, or comfort lately?
Share a post, or creative project that’s made you feel grounded or renewed.
Then, comment on someone else’s and tell them why it resonated.
October 21, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Community care is a form of self-care.
What lifts one of us can inspire another.
What’s bringing you peace, joy, or comfort lately?
Share a post, or creative project that’s made you feel grounded or renewed.
Then, comment on someone else’s and tell them why it resonated.
What lifts one of us can inspire another.
What’s bringing you peace, joy, or comfort lately?
Share a post, or creative project that’s made you feel grounded or renewed.
Then, comment on someone else’s and tell them why it resonated.
Stop waiting for courage to show up.
Courage is built through:
Tiny bets with zero downside
Private launches before public ones
Real conversations instead of viral dreams
Proof that your ideas resonate
By the time you feel "ready," you'll have already shipped 10 things.
Courage is built through:
Tiny bets with zero downside
Private launches before public ones
Real conversations instead of viral dreams
Proof that your ideas resonate
By the time you feel "ready," you'll have already shipped 10 things.
October 19, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Stop waiting for courage to show up.
Courage is built through:
Tiny bets with zero downside
Private launches before public ones
Real conversations instead of viral dreams
Proof that your ideas resonate
By the time you feel "ready," you'll have already shipped 10 things.
Courage is built through:
Tiny bets with zero downside
Private launches before public ones
Real conversations instead of viral dreams
Proof that your ideas resonate
By the time you feel "ready," you'll have already shipped 10 things.
Action creates clarity.
Clarity creates courage.
You've been running this backwards.
Clarity creates courage.
You've been running this backwards.
October 19, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Action creates clarity.
Clarity creates courage.
You've been running this backwards.
Clarity creates courage.
You've been running this backwards.