Introduction
Sometimes the universe forces us to pause. For Matthew Lumsden, that moment came during the COVID-19 lockdowns when the constant travel and relentless pace of his corporate career suddenly stopped. What began as an enforced break became a profound reckoning with what truly mattered. After 13 years at Vanguard, including roles in London, Hong Kong, Japan, and Australia, Matthew faced a choice at the fork in the road: return to the office as if nothing happened, or embrace the gift of introspection and choose a different path.
For men navigating midlife, Matthew’s story offers something rare and valuable—permission to question the trappings of success. The job title, the status, the perceived prestige—what if these things aren’t actually serving us? What if the hard conversations we’re avoiding are precisely the ones we need to have? Matthew didn’t just walk away from a prestigious career; he walked towards something more aligned with his values, his family, and his long-held passion for Japanese culture and philosophy.
The transition wasn’t without its challenges. Matthew openly discusses the grieving process that comes with leaving a workplace that had become like family. There’s a profound identity shift that happens when you step away from a role that’s defined you for over a decade. But his earlier experiences—seeing law firm partners who were overworked, divorced, and neglecting their health—had planted seeds of awareness about what he didn’t want. This insight became crucial: sometimes it’s easier to articulate what we don’t want than to answer the overwhelming question of life purpose.
In this conversation, Matthew introduces us to shibui, a Japanese aesthetic concept built on four principles: simplicity, subtlety, imperfection, and impermanence. These aren’t just abstract ideas—they’re practical frameworks for rethinking how we live and work. The book itself embodies these principles, reading from back to front like a Japanese text, immediately breaking our expectations and inviting us to think differently.
Matthew’s connection to Japanese culture runs deep. At 15, he lived with a host family who welcomed him with two simple expectations: be simple and honest. Decades later, after extensive research in temples across Kyoto and conversations with his host father, Matthew has woven these principles into a business advisory practice and a book that challenges how we approach life’s complexities. When he asks, “What do you not want to do?”, he offers a refreshingly accessible starting point for those of us who find the bigger questions overwhelming.
This discussion covers:
- The signs of burnout Matthew ignored before COVID forced a reckoning
- Why he moved his family from Melbourne to Port Macquarie during the pandemic
- The identity shift that comes with leaving corporate life and how to navigate it
- How Japanese culture and the concept of shibui shaped his approach to life and business
- The four persimmon principles: simplicity, subtlety, imperfection, and impermanence
- Why we overcomplicate wealth planning and neglect the heart and soul of retirement
- His role as chair of Just One Reason, the suicide prevention charity
The power of asking “What don’t I want?” rather than “What is my purpose?” - Finding meditative moments in everyday tasks like washing dishes or ironing
- Why impermanence teaches us not to wait for the future to live fully today
Matthew’s journey reminds us that reinvention isn’t reckless—it’s calculated, considered, and deeply personal. It’s about planning wisely, taking deliberate steps, and having the courage to let go of what no longer serves us. Most importantly, it’s about recognising that family, connection, and moments of presence matter more than any title or salary.
Reflections and Experiments
Pod provides reflections on each conversation, summarises what he has learned from the guest, and suggests one experiment he plans to try as a result of their shared information.
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Guest info
Matthew Lumsden
Matthew Lumsden is the principal of Shibui Advisory and author of Shibui: The Persimmon Principles. A qualified lawyer with a BA/LLB from Bond University and a Masters of Applied Finance and Investment, Matthew spent over a decade at Vanguard in senior leadership roles across Australia, Asia, and Europe, including as Head of Distribution for Vanguard Australia. He speaks and reads Japanese, a passion that began at age five and led him to live with a Japanese host family as a 15-year-old exchange student and later work in Tokyo. Matthew now lives in Port Macquarie with his family, where he helps individuals and businesses simplify their lives and operations through the lens of shibui. He also serves as chair of Just One Reason Limited, a suicide prevention charity founded by Stuart O’Neill.
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