Matt Mullenweg’s gave an interview with Kleiner Perkins Podcast Grit on his 20-year journey with WordPress offers profound lessons for any long-term creator, especially in fields like game development, which is also a marathon rather than a sprint.

Some notable WordPress powered sites Playstation.Blog which has been running since PS3 era. Xbox News too was running WordPress at one time.

Gaming publications like Polygon, Hypebeast

Angry Birds News Site for Dev updates

And of course this blog

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My History with WordPress

I started using WordPress and WordPress.com since 2010. Took

Last year I bought a Personal Plan even though I griped about the changes to the service (WordPress.com) and was frustrated maintaining it went it went Gutenberg, Price changes decided went to Medium for a while than substack but something kept me coming back it was not the tech, but my values of having transparency and mobility in a license, freedom to express myself.

if I don’t like it I can self host my data sure it will be a lot of work but I can own something and owning something is rare these days for the price of a new game about $70-$100 a year get control.

Now of course not all is perfect the WordPress plugins try to claw my wallet and upgrades keep becoming but I can manage it for now putt on the blinders, so far on the personal WordPress.com plan. it feels alright to use.

And also lately with AI and Zero Click people might not read much sites such as this. But even then Matt has discuss this 20 year tenure at WordPress all the ups and downs and how one day your hot and next year not. So its nothing new I guess with time and seasons coming ang going even for big giants of the past.

Lessons from Matt Automattic and WordPress

Here is how you can apply his principles to your path

Focus on Longevity, Not Just Speed: 

Matt emphasizes that the entrepreneurial journey is not a straight line up and to the right; it is defined by cycles of struggle and reinvention (11:27-11:35). Don’t let the lack of immediate viral success discourage you; like WordPress, your project can gain momentum over decades if you stay committed to your mission.

Measure Output Over Input: 

Matt warns against the trap of equating hours worked with productivity (59:35). Instead of obsessing over how many hours you code each day, focus on the crucial decisions and milestones that actually drive your game forward (59:58). Quality and strategic direction often outweigh raw hours.

Find Your “Why”: 

Matt notes that he only stayed through the hardest times because of his deep belief in the mission of open source (33:08-33:43). In game development, when you hit a wall or face technical debt, your passion for the type of experience you are building will be your primary defense against burnout.

Embrace Cyclical Nature: 

You will likely face your own versions of public criticism or doubt. Matt advises developing “psychic armor” and remaining transparent with your community (21:46). Don’t let the internet’s volatility change your long-term vision; treat feedback as data, not as a reflection of your worth as a developer.

Build Sustainable Habits: 

Matt is a strong advocate for rest and recharging. He mentions that he sometimes forces colleagues to take time off to prevent burnout (59:13). As a solo or indie developer, remember that your health is your most important asset for a 20-year career.

Key Takeaway: Your age is an advantage. Matt notes that by the time you reach your 40s, you are no longer defined by the pressure of being the “youngest” or “fastest” to achieve something (54:53). You can focus entirely on the impact and legacy of what you are building, which is the secret to true longevity in any creative field.

P.S other thoughts

Text I believe will stand the test of change in an ever evolving online media landscape.

I have tried to do video but hosting was expensive and Youtube which is partially social in a closed garden.

Substack while the newcomer still does not have the same impact as WordPress but attention is there I still will keep this blog around using it more to archive my thoughs, works and be a place for AEO and GEO to index and citate.