Start Smart!

From Ambitious Student to Sensational Leader

Self-Teaching? Use Journaling!

author
Mateo Chaney-Martinez
12 October, 2020
“I’m a writer!” Those were the words that chorused out of our classroom on my first day of English 370. Our professor, Dr. Richard Louth, gave us more than this new mantra. On that first day, he also gave us Dr. Kim Stafford’s little book, Meditations and Poems for Writers. This little...

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Impact > Popularity

author
Mateo Chaney-Martinez
05 October, 2020
One of my friends is an incredible singer. Her voice frequently gives me chills. And apparently, I’m not the only one. During the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown, she decided to provide people with a little encouragement. Set up on her driveway, she sang some praise songs. It wasn’t long...

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Want People to Listen to You? Remove Filler Words!

author
Mateo Chaney-Martinez
28 September, 2020
Have you ever been in conversation with someone, but instead of paying attention, found yourself counting the amount of times they said ‘like’? I know I have. Especially amongst teenagers, the use of filler words is almost absurd. We seemingly say ‘like,’ ‘um,’ and ‘uh’ every 3 seconds! Don’t...

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Using Vision to Overcome Obstacles as a Teen

author
Mateo Chaney-Martinez
21 September, 2020
We’ve all been there. You’re moving along successfully, and then, suddenly, completely stuck! A roadblock has emerged and you have no idea how to get around it. This pattern occurs everywhere, in every field, area of study, career, or personal pursuit. Roadblocks are a natural part of life....

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ABOUT

Hey!


Welcome to the Blog!


You've found one of my favorite places. I love sharing powerful ideas, and here I get to do so on a weekly basis!


This blog—which I'm calling Start Smart!—exists to communicate life-changing mindsets and actions we can implement to further our journey towards becoming sensational leaders. Think of it like a library full of the most impactful ideas, all neatly condensed in this one place. Sounds pretty nice, right?


As a reader, you can expect a new post every Monday. As readership grows, however, I'll start posting twice per week. So, if you're enjoying the posts and want to see more, be sure to share it with your friends!


While topics will vary, they will generally fall within one of our four pillars:

  1. Leadership
  2. Time Management
  3. Relationships
  4. Reflection Skills


As a writer, I'm excited to be sharing these ideas. Many of them have had a profound impact on my life. If you apply them, I believe they'll have a similar effect on you.


Just like everything else done through Smart Start University, the mission is always to best serve you on your journey from ambitious student to sensational leader. Please be sure to comment your thoughts, pass along any powerful ideas, and share the transformations you're engaging in. It encourages me more than you know.


Happy Reading!