Make It Matter: Unlocking Human Potential Through the Mattering Mindset - Hardcover

by Matthew Emerzian (Author), Guy Kawasaki (Foreword by)

We can do better. And at this point, we must.

Something deeper is happening beneath the surface of our lives and our work. People are more connected than ever... yet feel more alone. Achieving more... yet questioning if any of it truly matters. And in the quiet moments, more people than we realize are asking: "Do I matter?"

In Make It Matter, Matthew Emerzian introduces a powerful and timely framework -- The Mattering Mindset(TM) -- built from over two decades of work helping individuals, teams, and organizations reconnect to what matters most. This isn't about motivation. It's about mattering. Because when people know how much they matter -- to themselves, to others, and to something bigger -- everything changes... How they show up. How they lead. How they live.

Blending research, real-world application, and deeply personal insight, Make It Matter offers a new way forward -- one that moves beyond surface-level solutions and addresses the root of disconnection, burnout, and disengagement. This is not a quick fix. It's a shift in how we see ourselves, each other, and the role we play in the world.

Inside, you'll learn how to:

• Reconnect with your own sense of worth -- independent of performance, productivity, or approval
• Build stronger relationships where people feel genuinely seen, valued, and understood
• Bring deeper meaning to your work -- and help others feel that their contribution truly matters
• Create environments rooted in trust, connection, and shared purpose -- at home, at work, and in your community
• Turn mattering into action -- so it's not just something you believe, but something you practice every day

Whether you're navigating your own search for meaning, leading a team through constant change, or trying to make a greater impact in the world around you... This book meets you where you are and helps you move forward.

Because in a world that feels increasingly disconnected, uncertain, and heavy... The most powerful thing we can do is help people know they matter. And when we do that, we don't just change how people feel... We change what's possible.

Front Jacket

We can do better--and we must. In a world where distrust, isolation, and a growing sense of insignificance are eroding our workplaces, relationships, and communities, Make It Matter arrives as an essential guide for our time. Matthew Emerzian--founder of Every Monday Matters, a highly sought-after keynote speaker, and bestselling author whose work has impacted millions of lives and countless organizations--has been on a mission to create a world where everyone embraces how much and why they matter to themselves, one another, and the world.

Make It Matter, his fifth book, introduces the Mattering Mindset(TM), a powerful framework designed to restore connection and unlock human potential at both the individual and collective levels. Drawing from cutting-edge research, real-world organizational use cases, and raw personal experience, this book offers a transformative approach to reconnecting with ourselves, our work, and each other. Rather than relying on temporary motivation or surface-level fixes, the book provides practical tools, actionable strategies, and guided reflection that can be implemented immediately. Readers gain clarity around purpose, a deeper sense of belonging, and the ability to inspire meaningful, sustainable change in the people and environments around them.

Whether you are an individual searching for deeper meaning, a leader striving to engage and inspire your team, or an organization committed to creating a culture of lasting impact, Make It Matter provides a proven blueprint for transformation. This is a must-read for anyone ready to rebuild trust, restore significance, and fundamentally reshape how we live, work, and show up for one another in a world that desperately needs more mattering.

Back Jacket

PRAISE FOR MAKE IT MATTER

"Make It Matter is a powerful reminder that significance isn't found in success, but in how we show up for others. My friend, Matt Emerzian, brilliantly invites us to live with intention, dignity, and purpose. This book will change how you see your life, your work, and the people around you."
--JOHN O'LEARY, inspiration for the film, Soul On Fire, and #1 national bestselling author of On Fire and In Awe

"Make It Matter isn't a leadership book you read; it's a conversation you find yourself part of, guiding you toward a more meaningful direction in both your work and your life. Matt's wisdom, honesty, and focus on mattering resonate deeply, leaving individuals and teams feeling truly seen, inspired, and better equipped to make an impact that actually matters."
--DREW HAGEN, Co-Founder/Advisor, InVision

"I've interviewed hundreds of extraordinary leaders, and few articulate the connection between purpose and practice as powerfully as Matt does in Make It Matter. This book speaks with rare clarity to both personal transformation and organizational culture, challenging how we lead, serve, and show up in the world."
--SCOTT MACGREGOR, Founder and CEO of The Outlier Project, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Outlier Magazine

"Make It Matter goes beyond inspiration, offering a proven framework filled with practical wisdom for individuals, leaders, and brands to create a lifestyle and culture where everyone feels valued. Matt has delivered a timely message to lead us into a better future together."
--CHARLES LEE, CEO of Ideation and author of Design Your Good Life and Good Idea. Now What?

"Make It Matter is a powerful reminder that life isn't asking us to be louder or more successful. It's asking us to be more human. This book challenges you to live and lead in a way that matters."
--JESSE ISRAEL, Founder of The Big Quiet

Author Biography

MATTHEW EMERZIAN is the founder and CEO of Every Monday Matters, a nonprofit organization that has impacted millions of lives through its K-12 Education program, Employee Engagement and Culture program, and Senior Living program. A bestselling author of four books and sought-after keynote speaker having spoken for Zoom, Smucker's, Google, HP, Jack in the Box, Gallo, Genentech, Amgen, and more, his work has been featured on The Today Show, Oprah.com, and Fast Company. He previously served as SVP of Robert Kardashian's music marketing company, working on projects for U2, Coldplay, Avril Lavigne, Tim McGraw, and several other artists. He lives in Los Angeles, with his wife, Patty Malcolm, and their four furry children.