Grow or Fold: Transform Yourself in Midlife and Beyond

"If you’re at a crossroads in your life, this book will show you how to move forward on your terms." —Mel Robbins, New York Times bestselling author of The Let Them Theory and host of The Mel Robbins Podcast

In this genre-defying, deeply personal, and ultimately inspiring book, Grow or Fold redefines what it means to thrive in midlife and beyond. With honesty, insight, and a toolkit forged in fire, Matt Ross—former CEO of School of Rock and architect of One River School—invites you into his story of transformation, resilience, and purpose.

At fifty, faced with personal catastrophe and professional upheaval, Ross chose growth over surrender. This book is his blueprint—and your invitation—to do the same. Through raw storytelling and practical wisdom, Grow or Fold helps you navigate the turbulence of change with clarity and confidence. You’ll learn how to take inventory of your life, reconnect with your core values, and design a future that reflects your most authentic self.

Whether you’re feeling stuck, uncertain, or simply ready for more, this book is your call to action. Because in the face of adversity, there really is only one choice: GROW OR FOLD?

Matt Ross is an entrepreneur, author, and former media executive with over thirty years of experience building businesses that inspire passion and creativity. From rocking New York’s airwaves to scaling global education brands, he’s spent his career blending business savvy with a passion for the arts. Now, he is the author of Grow or Fold, a profound story of awakening your enthusiasm for growth with a call to action to transform yourself in midlife and beyond.

Since 2012, Matt has been the Founder and CEO of One River School, a company whose mission is to “Transform Art Education®.” Today, One River School operates fifteen schools in six states with plans for substantial growth over the next five years. In 2005, Matt invested in and became the CEO of School of Rock and turned a struggling music education startup into a dominant brand. Under his leadership, the company grew from five to fifty-five locations, while securing commitments for another fifty locations. In 2009, he engineered a sale of majority ownership to Sterling Capital and stayed on as an investor and multi-unit franchise operator until its sale to Roark Capital in 2023.

From 1989 to 2005, Matt led some of the most important radio brands, including: Q104.3, New York’s Classic Rock Station, and Hot 97, New York’s Hip Hop Station. Matt was featured in Crain’s New York Business’s “40 Under 40” and is responsible for increasing shareholder value by billions of dollars for Clear Channel, Viacom, Emmis, and Broadcasting Partners Inc.

Matt holds an MBA in Finance from the Stern School of Business at NYU and is a cum laude graduate in Marketing from SUNY Albany. He is also a former member of the Board of Trustees for Art 21 and the Bergen Performing Arts Center.

His advocacy efforts focus on two main areas: supporting organizations that build communities for adults with autism, such as Reed Autism Services and United Way of Bergen County, and championing artists and arts-based organizations. Along the way, he has also built a personal collection of contemporary art that now includes over 400 artworks from more than 100 artists.