Some personal news: Putting family 1️⃣st After a challenging 2020, personally + professionally, and 13 straight years leading marketing teams at @Atlassian + @intercom + @loom , today I shared with my fantastic Loommates that it was time for me to hang up my boots. A thread 👇🏻

Starting in 2021, I'll be taking a much-needed break from work to focus on improving my physical and mental health. It's time for me to focus on being a healthier, happier, and better husband, father, and friend. Because life is too short.

2020 has been a tough year for all, but it's been a particularly hard year for me and my family. After 10 great years in San Francisco, my wife, Shya, and I decided to move to Sydney (home for me, a new home for her).

Last Dec, we left SFO for SYD with our 1.5yr old daughter, Lula. We arrived at the height of the tragic Australian bushfires, and within a few short months, the country had gone into full lockdown due to COVID-19. Life in Australia was off to a great start. 🙃

Three weeks before we left SF, my wife and I learned we were going to be blessed with a second child. After a difficult time conceiving our first, this was welcome news, but the timing was not planned.

Lula's little sister, Maeve, was born on August 4th, 2020. We love her to death. However, the transition to having 2 children, Shya not being able to see her family, trying to settle in a new country, and me being very busy at work, was all incredibly difficult to manage.

With a vaccine coming and talk of travel restrictions being relaxed in the medium-term, there's light at the end of the tunnel. We can't wait to see our family + friends in the US. And our 11-year-old lab, Buddy, who's been under the loving care of Shya's parents.

Making the decision to leave @loom was a really tough one. I know I am walking away from a great team and a massive opportunity. That said, it was a decision I needed to make and was in the best interests of both me and the company.

I'll always be a champion of @loom – the company + product. I'll always consider @yoyo_thomas + @vhmth mates (you too @nodeOne 😉). And, I'll always be thankful for the opportunity they gave me and the support they've shown me over the last 15 months.

Being the father of 2 young children whom I want to set up for success as best I can, I put a lot of pressure on myself. Not knowing what I'll do next is equal parts terrifying and liberating – something I'll be talking through with a therapist (for the first time in my life).

Who knows, maybe Matt's Tacos will finally become a reality. /thread

@mattnhodges What a generous gesture sharing your experience. I've had a similar 2020 experience to you, and I can say doing therapy, exercising more and taking a step back from work have been all extremely positive steps. Good luck to you and your family.

@ojschwa Thanks, Joshua! So happy to hear that for you. More exercise is a real thing for me too. MTBing is my meditation. Need to cut down on the 🍻 still though. :)

@mattnhodges What an amazing journey mate. A break is well-deserved, and thanks for sharing your story. It truly helps ❤️

@stenpittet 🙏🏻❤️

@mattnhodges Try somatic therapy 🙌

@galumay Thanks so much, Rick 🙏🏻. Love my girls. Excited to have more time with them.

@mattnhodges Nice move, Matt. I’ve done a career downshift in the past to be able to bring things back into balance and it was the best feeling. Between when the decision was made and announced, someone who didn’t know even said I looked like a huge weight had dropped off my shoulders.