Matt Anson - a Naas Voice

04/07/2025

Please sign the petition: https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/dog-park-for-monread-park-naas?share=acb0f059-3aba-47cc-9859-556cc886ee8c&source=thank-fwd&utm_medium=myuplift&utm_source=thank-fwd

Energetic dogs need exercise and mental stimulation and socialisation opportunities with other dogs and people. They need freedom from a leash and the chance to roam in a larger area, a safe space for dogs to play and interact.

Many park users (and dogs) are afraid of other dogs, and, let’s face it, a minority of dog don’t know how to use a poo-bag.

A designated dog park is the ideal solution for this. Look at the ones in Corkagh Park, Marlay Park and St. Anne’s Park in County Dublin – rarely do you see a dog off the leash outside of these areas in those parks.

There are a number of areas that can faciliate this – one of the two fields by the car park, the field opposite the playground, or the area by Morell opposite the GAA/Soccer pitches (circled below).

As dog ownership in Naas has increased, so too has the demand for safe, enclosed areas where dogs can exercise freely, without disrupting other park users. At present, the park does not have a designated space for off-lead dogs, which has led to safety concerns and limited opportunities for responsi...

02/04/2025

After watching Adolescence on Netflix, while I thought it was technically brilliant and strong performances (especially the kid and Stephen Graham)… it didn’t hit me as hard as Buy Now, also on Netflix.

Buy Now genuinely shocked me. I feel I'm savvy enough to know that companies try to brainwash us all into buying, but the level of waste and bu****it they produce was vastly more than I thought. I'm now wondering should I ever buy from Amazon, Shein, Temu, or indeed 99% of online stores at all.

If you haven't seen it, check it out (don't let the annoying fake-bot presenter put you off). Curious what others thought of it too. 👀📺💥

21/03/2025

Not a weekend to put the washing out or clean the windows

22/09/2023

168 signatures are needed, let’s get there by the end of the day?

07/04/2023

https://chng.it/LQwvhydbF8

Dog run for Naas

26/10/2022

I’m delighted to say that I am now an Associate Partner with Grow Sales, the leading sales development company in Ireland.

Grow Sales gives business leaders the data and the insight they need, and then help them to implement the necessary changes, to optimise their sales team.

On average, clients increase their revenue by 37%.

We can also screen your sales candidates to ensure they get the best person for every sales role.

92% of the candidates we recommended will be in the top half of the sales team within 12 months.

DM me to find out more, or potentially to try it out in a free trial.

13/10/2022

What’s your favourite ‘weird’ sandwich?

Mine is cottage cheese and marmite.

I ‘discovered’ it when I was a teenager. Occasionally, I forget about it, and then it pops into my head, and I immediately want one. Like today.

I know a lot of people hate marmite, and a lot of people hate cottage cheese. Even if you love both, maybe the combination of the two doesn’t sound appealing. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it though!

Why am I telling you this?

I was reading through one of my old journals, and was reminded of a sales rep I used to manage. Let’s call him John.

I’d just joined a new company and taken over an underperforming team where people were resigning on a regular basis.

After a few weeks, John approached me to ask for a transfer to another team, with a thinly-veiled threat to move elsewhere if it didn’t happen. When I asked why, he simply stated, ‘I don’t like your management style’.

That evening, I drove home upset. What had I done wrong? Why didn’t he like me? Nevertheless, I was able to arrange for him to move to another team.

Without him, my team went on to improve. People stopped leaving. They smashed their numbers. When I moved on to a new role, the team’s feedback on how I had led them was glowing.

Over on the other team, John went from strength to strength too.

So why hadn’t it worked with him? I was being my authentic self, using my own management style that has always served me well.

I was cottage cheese and marmite, and most of the team loved it. Just not him.

The lesson?

Don’t fake it. Be authentic.

Be cottage cheese and marmite, and see who likes it.

If it’s 70% of the team, that’s great - just understand that not everyone will like it. It’s not personal. Remember the old adage, you can’t please all of the people, all of the time.

A longer term lesson for me - of all of the people on the team, John is the one I am still the most in touch with years later. Looking back, I respect him for his honesty.

It wasn’t personal.

Now, go and try that sandwich!!

ps. If you'd like to book some time to discuss coaching around your management style or leadership skills, book a slot at https://calendly.com/mattanson/30mins

07/10/2022

Did you know that the 'smiley' was invented by Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Massachusetts, in 1963?

As the years passed Harvey Ball became concerned about the over-commercialization of his symbol, and how its original meaning and intent had become lost in the constant repetition of the marketplace. Out of that concern came his idea for World Smile Day.

He thought that we, all of us, should devote one day each year to smiles and kind acts throughout the world.

The smiley face knows no politics, no geography and no religion. Harvey’s idea was that for at least one day each year, neither should we.

He declared that the first Friday in October each year would henceforth be World Smile Day.

So, today, share a picture of your lovely smile (every smile is lovely) and, most importantly, do something kind for someone.