For nearly a decade, Matt Perna has been building a career on his terms through Field Nation. What started as a search for flexibility quickly evolved into a full-time vocation\u2014one that\u2019s taken him from setting up displays at big-box retailers to leading multi-day, multi-site projects around the country. Along the way, Matt has embraced the unpredictability of field service work and created a lifestyle that reflects his values, skills, and ambitions.<\/p>\n
Matt\u2019s journey into field services began unexpectedly. After spending some time at a network operations center (NOC), he searched for something different that didn\u2019t involve sitting at a desk from 9 to 5. A friend introduced him to Field Nation, and it clicked. \u201cI didn\u2019t like 9-to-5, and I didn\u2019t want to work for somebody else,\u201d Matt recalls. \u201cI signed up, and within a month, Field Nation became my sole platform.\u201d<\/p>\n
He brought a background in tech and a lifelong fascination with computers. His first few work orders were modest\u2014like setting up a product display in a Home Depot\u2014but by the fourth or fifth, he led a team on a complex install. \u201cTwo months later, I flew to New York to lead a week-long project at a flagship store.\u201d<\/p>\n
Today, Matt focuses on project-based work that offers stability and substance. He prefers projects that are roughly 4 to 40 hours long. His services range from POS installs and structured cabling to site surveys and laptop setups for state testing.<\/p>\n
A typical day in Matt\u2019s world is anything but typical. His schedule is usually set a week or two in advance, but the work can vary wildly. \u201cSome days start at 4 a.m., some at 4 p.m.,\u201d he says. \u201cI just roll out of bed and get on the road.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s one thing he\u2019s learned: Expect the unexpected. \u201cI thrive on challenges,\u201d he says. \u201cGetting the project done isn\u2019t always the hardest part. It\u2019s navigating the surprises, the equipment issues, the communication gaps.\u201d Matt leans on years of experience to problem-solve on the fly and cut through confusion.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, Matt is open to growing his operation, potentially bringing on full-time employees. But for now, he\u2019s focused on what\u2019s working: a flexible, rewarding career powered by hard-earned skill and a strong sense of autonomy. \u201cIt\u2019s an exciting career. I get to do what I want, when I want, and Field Nation has been a big part of that.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For nearly a decade, Matt Perna has been building a career on his terms through Field Nation. What started as a search for flexibility quickly evolved into a full-time vocation\u2014one that\u2019s taken him from setting up displays at big-box retailers to leading multi-day, multi-site projects around the country. Along the way, Matt has embraced the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":20170,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"xn-wppe-expiration":[],"xn-wppe-expiration-action":[],"xn-wppe-expiration-prefix":[],"footnotes":""},"content-group":[],"class_list":["post-20168","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","fldn_content_category-stories-from-the-field","fldn_content_type-blog"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n