Matt Rea is the founder of R Lab LLC, a fractional marketing agency for startups. Matt specializes in creating and executing strategic & scalable brand & marketing initiatives for growth-stage companies.
Matt is also the founder of LXCAL Sportswear LLC, a sportswear and training brand with the goal of inspiring confidence through perseverance and the action of overcoming challenges.
For more details, visit their website here.
Here we sit down with Matt, to know a bit more about his journey as an entrepreneur.
Q. Tell us a little more about your journey as an entrepreneur – how did you get started? What inspired you?
Matt: I’ve always worked for startups and learned quickly that I thrived when building things from the ground up. In 2016 I started my first side hustle – a local fitness brand selling T-shirts. That’s what really opened my eyes to the opportunity of being an entrepreneur.
During COVID, I was laid off and started to pick up side marketing gigs. I did good work, and it led to more work. Seeing the value in multiple revenue streams and being able to do the work that matters most was paradigm-shifting for me.
Q. What’s one thing in your routine that you do consistently that has made a huge difference in your personal or business life?
Matt: I never miss a training session (in the gym). As a former professional athlete, my physical health leads to my mental health and I take my training seriously. It keeps me sharp, gives me clarity, and teaches me the importance of pushing through discomfort.
Also, cold morning showers.
Q. Who are your mentors and inspiration? and what knowledge or insight did they give to you that was valuable?
Matt: Early in my career I had the opportunity to work with a Toronto-based executive coach, Valerie Henderson. She gave me a crash course in conflict resolution, leading amongst my peers, and communicating with high emotional intelligence. Valerie had a profound effect on the ability to successfully lead teams and influence people positively.
These are more so inspirations – Chris Walker of Refine Labs and Dave Gerhardt of Exit Five each have podcasts that have given me a massive competitive advantage in regards to my marketing expertise.
And I don’t read many newsletters but Sahil Bloom’s is a must-open when it hits my inbox.
Q. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Matt: When a client starts to use marketing-specific language and understands the vision of what we’re trying to do for them, that’s always a win.
Q. How do you market your business, and which tactics have been most successful?
Matt: I write about marketing and brand strategy on LinkedIn and Twitter, which is my best channel for creating awareness. At the end of the day, my biggest resource for revenue has still been referrals from doing good work for clients.
On Instagram and TikTok, I post training and workout tips, and general mindset improvement strategies.
Q. What have been your biggest failures or challenges?
Matt: Facing down impostor syndrome. Trusting myself as the expert.
Q. How did this failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?
Matt: Made me realize that no one has it figured out. All we can do is continue to learn and share what we’ve learned.
Q. If someone was to create a TV show about you, what would it be about and what would it be called?
Matt: “The Come Up: Walk On to Executive”
It would detail my journey from the early playing days of my football career and the lessons learned as I transitioned out of the world of professional sports and into the corporate-startup world. Throughout those years: meeting my wife, getting our dogs, COVID, and how to stay level-headed through all the highs and lows.
Bonus, it would star Chris Hemsworth as me.
To keep up to date with Matt and his journey, connect with him on LinkedIn.