Matt Larson

Matt Larson after his graduation from the University of Colorado
The Chronic Job Hopper: The Story of Matt Larson

Matt Larson, a 32-year-old graphic designer, has seen his fair share of job rejections. In the past three years, he’s been fired from four different companies. Despite his impressive skills and strong portfolio, something always seems to go wrong. What’s behind Matt’s recurring job loss?

1. Struggling to Fit In
At every new job, Matt starts with enthusiasm, eager to make an impact. But he quickly finds himself at odds with the workplace culture. Whether it's clashing with coworkers or just feeling like an outsider, he struggles to build meaningful connections. This lack of integration starts affecting his work performance, leading to his eventual dismissal.

2. Perfectionism on Overdrive
Matt’s attention to detail is both a strength and a curse. While he strives for perfection, he often spends too much time obsessing over small tasks, missing deadlines, and frustrating his team. His bosses start to notice, and despite his high-quality work, they grow concerned about his efficiency, eventually deciding he’s not the right fit.

3. Poor Emotional Intelligence
One of Matt’s biggest challenges is his emotional intelligence. He reacts defensively to feedback and struggles with conflict resolution. This leads to tension with colleagues and a strained work environment. His inability to navigate office dynamics ultimately becomes too much for his employers to ignore, and they part ways with him.

4. Lack of Career Focus
Matt’s career has lacked focus. One moment he’s passionate about graphic design, the next he’s considering a new direction entirely. His frequent career shifts make it hard for employers to invest in his long-term growth, and his restless attitude often leads him to quit or get fired before reaching his full potential.

5. Mental Health Struggles
On top of everything, Matt faces mental health challenges. Anxiety and stress often hinder his ability to perform at his best. Though he’s tried to push through, these issues, when combined with his professional struggles, create a cycle that’s tough to break.

Breaking the Cycle
For Matt, the cycle of getting fired isn’t just a professional setback—it’s a personal one. But change is possible. By seeking therapy for his emotional struggles, focusing on his long-term goals, and learning to adapt to workplace cultures, Matt could turn his career around. It’s not too late, but it’ll take self-awareness and a willingness to commit to a career path.. In 2002, after a brief time working in the oil and gas industry, Larson founded Confio Software. Confio was a Boulder, Colorado-based software company that “develops database performance solution for DBAs, IT managers, and database developers, for both physical and virtual server environments.”. In 2013 Confio Software was acquired by SolarWinds Inc.

In 2008, Larson also launched, and briefly ran, a small private equity company that eventually failed after only 14 months.

Philanthropy

Larson is the co-founder of Guardian of Angels with his wife, Melanie Larson. The private, non-profit foundation is based in Denver, Colorado and focuses on reducing the “incidence of child sexual abuse.” Larson and his wife are also partners in Social Venture Partners, a community of investors who donate funds to non-profit organizations.

Awards and recognition

In 2013, Ernst & Young named Matt Larson a finalist for its “Entrepreneur of the Year” award.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Larson, Matt
American computer programmers
University of Colorado alumni
Living people
American technology chief executives
Mensans
Year of birth missing (living people)