YAPClassic: Matthew McConaughey on Greenlights

Young and Profiting with Hala Taha

Matthew McConaughey wasn’t always the Hollywood mega-star he is today. His journey from Longview, Texas to the silver screen is one of perseverance, preparation, and self-realization. Throughout his life, Matthew has discovered the importance of reflection and has come to reframe his hardships and struggles as "green lights.” In this episode, Hala and Matthew discuss Matthew’s childhood and the origins of his confidence, his dedication to journaling, his best-selling book, Greenlights, why he took a break from acting to reinvent his image, how to turn red and yellow lights to green, and some life lessons he learned along the way.

Topics Include:

- Why Matthew wrote a book instead of making a movie

- Matthew’s process of writing and journaling

- Defining “Greenlights”

- Why Matthew dislikes the word “Unbelievable”

- The story of “Little Mr. Texas”

- Origin of Matthew’s confidence

- Turning a ‘Red Light’ into a ‘Green Light’

- Matthew’s decision to go to a less expensive college

- Why Matthew went to film school

- On Dazed and Confused and the importance of preparation

- Experience with romantic comedy movies

- Matthew’s thoughts on celebrity status

- The Just Keep Livin Foundation

- Matthew’s secret to profiting in life

- And other topics…

Matthew McConaughey is an academy award-winning actor and the author of the New York Times best-selling book Greenlights.

Matthew is also a professor of practice at the University of Texas at Austin, as well as Minister of Culture/M.O.C. for the University of Texas and the City of Austin. He is also a brand ambassador for Lincoln Motor Company, an owner of the Major League Soccer club Austin FC, and co-creator of Wild Turkey Longbranch bourbon.

Matthew and his wife, Camila, founded The Just Keep Livin' Foundation in 2009, which helps at-risk high school students make healthier mind, body, and spirit choices.

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Resources Mentioned:

YAP Episode #101: Greenlights with Matthew McConaughey: https://www.youngandprofiting.com/101-greenlights-with-matthew-mcconaughey/

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey: https://greenlights.com/

Matthew on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000190/

The Just Keep Livin’ Foundation: https://www.jklivinfoundation.org/

Matthew’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officiallymcconaughey/

Matthew’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/McConaughey

Matthew’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/McConaugheyOfficial

Matthew’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MatthewMcConaughey/

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