Matt Gottesman, a Tucson-raised University of Arizona alum, is rapidly growing an online-based publication with his website, hdfmagazine.com. The site has garnered thousands of views, over 141,000 followers on Instagram and grows upwards of 1,000 to 2,000 followers on Facebook per week.
The publication is actually part of an even bigger picture–a house of media brands which he co-founded with his business partner Case Kenny, founder and editor-in-chief of PRSUIT.com.
“We are building a massive media empire to not only bring purpose-driven content and influence to the masses, but distribute content that makes an impact,” Gottesman said. “We want to inspire the world to create, work with and own their own path.”
With the help of Kenny, the duo is providing content to millions of entrepreneurs including a podcast called The Hustle sold Separately.
“Why I chose Kenny was simple; it was the next step in our business relationship in regards to growing and expanding our content to our rapidly growing audiences,” Gottesman said. “I knew from the moment we first started working together that he is a young, driven entrepreneur that is very clear in his vision and has a strong set of morals and values.”
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Kenny, a 2011 Notre Dame Graduate describes PRSUIT as “a daily online publication that features stories and experiences from millennials on a variety of topics with one core fundamental value-experiences.” All of his articles feature stories first and then conclusions and motivational takeaways.
“He’s just an exceptionally smart and savvy entrepreneur who got tired of click bait,” Gottesman said. “He is very connected to millennial thought leadership, the new economy and doing content for all the right reasons.”
Their podcast is a weekly syndication that has run since October 2015, and is available on iTunes. Last Friday, the show celebrated its 100th episode as it’s steadily approaching 1 million followers.
One of Gottesman’s critical core focus areas is the new economy or transitioning from manufacturing to service-based economies predicated off the internet.
“The new economy is a globally connected one; people are communicating and networking online faster than history has ever allowed before,” Gottesman said. “This digitally connected world has brought opportunities to collaborate and promote their projects and/or brands out at rapid speeds.”
Gottesman graduated from Arizona in 2001 and he says the entrepreneurial world is much different than it was in his college days.
“It wasn’t cool when I was doing it,” he said. “Entrepreneurship was not understood or accepted as it is now. If you look at today, it’s never been easier to launch a company or concept, gain some traction and find out if an idea is going to work or not.”
Gottesman said he would tell up-and-coming entrepreneurs to follow their own paths and not let others dictate what that should be. Everyone has their own unique journey.
“Opportunities are out there for anyone willing to make moves and demonstrate hustle for an idea or concept they are passionate about,” he said. “Taking action will put you in a position to be around other people, places or ideas, which in turn will lead you to your next step or venture.”
While creating content can be a grind, said Gottesman, he loves the journey, not to mention interacting with his readers and subscribers.
“My favorite part about my job is creating amazing content that connects with the audience and allows that relationship to build, grow and understand why we are doing it.”
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Gottesman also believes it is important to love what you do, as well as value and have purpose with your work.
“When you are attached to your ‘why,’ you will not quit the journey because your vision is too important to achieve,” he said. “That vision and impact you want to make on the world will keep you going. It will sustain you.”
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