The Cleary Theory

The Cleary Theory v2.0

March 01, 2020 • ☕️ 3 min read

It’s March 2020, and it’s now been four years since I left the fitness industry for the world of technology startups.

Since then, a lot has happened. I’ve enjoyed some successes, some failures and a ton of learnings.

These learnings and what I’m still learning is what’s prompted me to start writing again.

I figured that now (a new decade) was as good a time as any to restart this blog. Doing so in March is also fashionably late compared to those who jumped on the New Years Resolution band-wagon too.

Here are a few of the things I’ve been busy with over the last few years:

  • Shut down both my in-person and online fitness business, Cleary Theory Fitness

  • Shut down my fitness blog (The Cleary Theory V1)

  • Left Dubai and my girlfriend (Angie) behind, for Silicon Valley, USA to chase my tech startup dreams

  • Lived in a ‘Hacker House’ with a 15 other aspiring startup founders

  • Learnt to code build software

  • Started a regular meditation practice

  • Gotten engaged to Angie

  • Failed to build a billion-dollar startup

  • Began a dedicated study of Stoicism

  • Gotten out of shape

  • Gotten into debt

  • Moved to London

  • Started a new career as a software engineer for an insurance technology startup (Flock)

  • Started cycling every day

  • Learned to play the guitar

  • Learnt who my real friends are and why I’m so lucky to have them

  • Learnt to cook Indian food

  • Gotten back into shape

  • Gotten out of debt

  • Learnt a little about a lot regarding startups and technology

  • Gotten married to Angie and finally started a home together in London

  • Started learning Hindi

  • Began to appreciate mushrooms on pizza

  • Restarted this blog

Needless to say, there have been several significant changes in my life. I’ve been fortunate to have some unique experiences and meet a lot of fascinating people. With those have come many lessons.

All of these have influenced my worldview, life philosophy and opinions. For the sake of cheese, The Cleary Theory has evolved.

So why start writing again? For multiple reasons. Here are the big three:

1. To improve my thinking.

Good, strong and clear thinking is always useful. It’s vital for smart decision making, creating value in the world and helping my loved ones.

Writing, rather than purely being a sum of strong thinking, is often the source. It is the act and process of writing itself that can improve how we think. It clarifies, hones and develops our thoughts. It also allows us to learn things deeply, step back and objectively reflect upon our thoughts.

There’s also the benefit of having a historical record of this.

If the sum of writing is useful or entertaining, then that’s a welcome bonus.

2. To give back

As mentioned above, in the last several years, a lot has happened. I’ve gone from a personal trainer in Dubai to a software engineer in London.

I’ve gotten out of, and into shape, I’ve become a married man, and I’ve learnt to play the guitar (a little).

I’ve learnt a lot about technology, startups, health, fitness, happiness, happiness, productivity and… life.

I’m grateful to many people I’ve learnt from over the past several years, and I’d like to pay it forward. I’ll be sharing some what I’ve learnt on those topics. More importantly, I’ll be sharing a lot about what I’m still learning.

3. I enjoy it

This would probably be enough. I enjoy writing, and I’d like to get better at it.

There’s an extra incentive to write well when publishing to the great, wide world.


I’m just getting started; I’m glad to say that though this website is limited, I was able to build this version myself. Being able to write code has some use, I guess.

There’s no way to leave comments or stay up to date on when my next post is for now, but I’ll add that soon.

You can always email me at matt@theclearytheory.com.

Until then, take care,

Matt

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    The Cleary Theory

    Matt Cleary

    Matt Cleary's musings on fitness, startups and tryin' to live the good life. You should follow him on Twitter