05/11/2026
Congrats to all our graduates! Each year I have some senior coaches and young friends that receive the letter below. It is long and I've assumed most don't even read it, but I've had folks ask me to post it for all their friends to have the choice to read. If you have a graduate that has ever had a link with Summit or Matt, consider sharing with them. At a minimum, I'd like them to know I'm still "in their corner" and will help in their journeys however I can.
You have received this letter because I have special interest in your life. I’ve been watching you over the years…and I’m impressed. You stand out as unique, special and I suspect you’ll do big things. I want to help in your pursuits in whatever way I can because I believe that any time/resource with you is not wasted but wisely invested. You’ll use your gifts to help folks I will never know. Please consider me as a friend. I’m in your corner. I’m interested in your success/peace/happiness/leadership/legacy. Below are some of which I wish I knew when I was your age. Perhaps some thoughts might apply to your journey over the next few years.
On religion…Faith is tricky, and I suspect I’ll never know all the answers to the mysteries of the universe like some claim to have. I like what Chief Tecumseh said, “Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view and demand that they respect yours.” I personally believe that God is LOVE and that is worth pursuing. I believe the purpose of life is to discover your unique God given passions/abilities and then use them to help others. “Live Pure, Speak Truth, Right Wrongs and Follow the King” was applicable to the Knights of old and still a code worth living for. I’ve had the great pleasure of climbing life’s mountains with many folks of different backgrounds and viewpoints. I’ve decided I’d rather be known for what I’m FOR rather than what I’m AGAINST. I’m for doing. I’m for living out your beliefs. “It’s hard to throw stones, when you are busy washing feet.” Find a way to use your gifts to serve and I suspect you’ll discover you get Joy!
On $...Money, it’s on your mind in a big way at your age. How to get it, How to use it. It is a tool. With any tool, use it wisely. Some have said, the secret to success is to start from scratch and keep on scratching. Work for your $, avoid the get rich quick schemes. Smarter people than me disagree, but I’ve done well limiting and avoiding debt. I suggest you buy things with $ you have rather than loans. You’ll sleep better. 3 things you can do with money and you should do some of all 3, use some, keep/save some, give some. Create an emergency fund. Get out or stay out of debt as quickly as possible. When buying a house, the location is more important than the structure. Your car is a hole you throw $ into, keep that hole small. When you have some $ saved, you gain power. Power to live life on your terms. Power to use your gifts to help other people. You’ll discover you get Joy!
On Risk/Failure…sometime ask me about my $10,000.00 mistake. It wasn’t pleasant at the time, but I now budget myself "mistake money." I plan to lose $5k per year. That gives me freedom to try crazy/fun/new endeavors. I’m not afraid to take calculated risks. I know some will fail. Some will not. I’ll learn/grow from both. “You don’t drown by falling in the water, you drown by staying there.” When you mess up, learn and move on, get out of the water! “Adversity causes some to break, others to break records!” You are a record breaker, but you’ll still fail along the way, you’ll struggle, I believe both are important to the resulting success. Do me the honor of letting me help in the hard times so I can even more greatly enjoy your successes. I want to be in the trenches with you. At some point give me that Joy! Help others out of their trenches and you’ll discover you get Joy!
On Relationships With People…Martha taught me that people are more important than businesses, people are more important than money or deals or even being right. “Use things, love people” not the other way around. Love is an easy word to say, hard to live out. (1 Corinthians 13) Pursue loving others without strings attached. This often looks like learning selflessness. Forgiveness. Putting others first. You’ll find the better you get at Love, the more folks are drawn to you. More folks to love. You’ll discover when you love, you get joy! You also get pain! In this case, the pain often makes the joys greater.
On Romantic Love…one of those people will catch your eye, your heart in a big way. Folks are afraid to be known. Let yourself be known. If it comes time for mutual decided on commitment…commit. If you find yourself saying vows, keep them. When folks say, “in the good times and bad” they are only thinking of the good times. The bad will come, know that, prepare for that, be strong enough to love through those times. This builds love. This brings Joy! Who you invest your life with is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Choose wisely. If comfortable, I’d love to meet your future choice. I’ll pay for a meal or outing to get to meet and share in your excitement.
On Career…we live in this great country where you truly can find what you love to do, and find a way to get paid for it. That has worked for me. However, I’ve also seen folks do a job to get $ and use that $ to enjoy life. If you invest time in your coworkers, employees, and bosses…you’ll find joy. “Do more than you get paid for and eventually you’ll get paid more for what you do.” “Look for big problems, they are hiding big opportunities.” “Opportunities are missed by most, because they are dressed in overalls and look like hard work!” “If not you, who?…If not now, when?”
On Attitude…please continue to be a positive person. Please don’t lose the sparkle in your eye. Your willingness to help others. The world is full of negativity. Be weirdly positive! Be a “get to” not a “got to” personality. Every obstacle will introduce you to yourself. See the good. Anyone can find the dirt in someone/something, be the one that finds the gold! It is there, just harder to see. So most don’t end up with it. Positive people bring out the best in others. We need you. Please. Stay positive, bring us both joy!
I see many folks start well, I see fewer finish well. Life knocks them down, and it will you. Plan now for how you’ll react. That’s why I want to be in the trenches, in the lows with you. If I can help you out you are giving me joy. Helping me live my purpose. We have precious time on earth with muscles attached to our bones and blood running through our veins—Use that gift! As you go climb your mountains in life, know that I and others are cheering you on and want to assist. You’ll do big things. You’ll impact so many people. I’m proud to be your friend!
LIBYKI,
Matt Guldan
