We had the good fortune of connecting with Matt Guastaferro and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matt, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?

When HUGO launched back in 2010, I was not a father. It wasn’t until the end of 2015 that I became a dad. So much about my work/life balance has changed since my daughter came into the world. When she’s done with school, I make time for us to hang out and then we cook dinner together. As she’s gotten older, that one event has become a ritual for us. It’s one of the most special parts of our day. She helps out and I try to teach her what I know about cooking (I’m no Michelin Star chef but we have fun doing it). After she goes to bed, I go back to doing a little bit of work.

The balance between work and life is essential. Burnout is a real thing. We all are trying to keep up with inflation or the Joneses or the internal drive we can’t shut off. But it’s important to find time to play, to unwind, to read, to exercise, to simply not be working. I love what I do for a living, but it is still work, and doing it keeps me from my family and friends. It has to be put in it’s proper place.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m eternally curious. Shutting off my brain is a challenge. So, I let it wander and tinker. I like to play and I like a challenge. I love being an entrepreneur and running my own company. It’s hard, but as Jimmy Dugan said “The hard is what makes it great.” We started out with four founding partners and quickly that became two. Years later that became one. Now I don’t have to answer to other people…lol. But we still have clients to answer to and my daughter doesn’t quite get that: “but, daddy, you’re the boss.” Yeah, tell that to the US Air Force.

At the core, we create advertising, marketing, and promotional content for brands. Asking “Why Not?” is our secret sauce. It’s challenging the status quo and the first step in the process to address creative problems set before us. The world has more content and visual stimuli available than ever before. It’s on your phone, your computer, your tablet, your TV, even your watch! It’s overload on our brains. We are constantly filtering this information To help our creative partners promote their ideas, we must reopen minds. The “Why Not?” helps us get there. It helps them stand out in the seas of sameness.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

Living just across the river from Washington DC, this is both an easy question and hard one. The city has so many great options for food and experiences. Do you want to go hiking and see a very cool waterfall? Great. Just 20 minutes north is Great Falls Park. Do you love museums? Lord have mercy, do we have lots of those. The Spy Museum is amazing. The Museum of the Bible is riveting. Of course, every museum in the Smithsonian catalog is worth a trip. Go see some history in Old Town Alexandria, or visit a really cute nature preserve at Huntley Meadows Park. You almost have to climb the Exorcist stairs in Georgetown – yes, and grab a cupcake while you’re there. Or, go see a play in historic Ford’s Theater where Lincoln was shot.

For food, you’d have to visit the historic presidential haunt (along with the tourists too) of Old Ebbitt Grill, but also grab a delicious margarita at Oyamel. For the best views go directly to the Vue atop the Hotel Washington. You won’t be disappointed.

Also magical is a dusk walk around the monuments as the sun sets behind the Lincoln Memorial.

So, when are you coming to visit??

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

That’s almost an impossible question to answer. There are four people at the top of my professional development list: Lucas Aragon and Richard Veteikis, Greg Erf, and Richard Jenrette. Lucas and Richard were my first boss and co-worker (respectively) and I was their first intern at the National Geographic Channel. Lucas gave me a chance and taught me, among me other things, to have fun doing your job. Richard, taught me more about being an animator than my entire college career. Greg Erf was my college professor who turned me onto Motion Design and introduced me to Lucas, and I never looked back. Richard Jenrette was my boss at CNN and later co-founding partner at HUGO. He told me “show me it can be done, and I’ll let you do it.” That attitude breads confidence!

Personally, my faith in Jesus is my rock and foundation, and the love and support of my family. Hands down, without those, I am nothing. My daughter inspires me to be better. And a very special person helped me get out of one of the hardest situations of my life. I will always be grateful to her – thank you Kristin.

Website: hugo-creative.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hugo_creative/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hugo-creative/

Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/hugocreative

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.