Ep#74 What’s Next for Microsoft Dynamics & Social Media?

Host: Jon

Well, joining me again is Mat Batterbee. Now I am not gonna actually give you his title because we've got some interesting things to talk about. My name's Jon Myer and Mat, this is gonna be awesome because I think we're planning this at least once every couple of weeks or, uh, a month.

Guest: Mat

Yeah. Yeah, definitely. It's always fun to chat. Always good to, uh, to keep in touch and, uh, Hey, we may as well record it and uh, put it out there.

Host: Jon

You might regret that. I'm just saying before I jump in, I got a little surprise for you. Hold on a second. All

Guest: Mat

So yeah.

Host: Jon

What do you think?

Guest: Mat

It looks great. It, we, is it likeer the wizard.

Host: Jon

You

Guest: Mat

Brilliant. Brilliant.

Host: Jon

Oh, I couldn't resist. Wow. Whew. Good thing. I wish that was real. If I grow mine, this gets really dark, but this is gray. So it's kind of similar what it would look like. Just a little dark. <laugh> not as good as yours, man.

Guest: Mat

I get, well, whenever I get the old gray hair, my wife is kind enough to point it out and she's like, you gotta pluck that one. You gotta get rid of that one hair, like one gray hair. That'll just appear.

Host: Jon

If I get rid of, I can probably get rid of more or less black than more gray, you know, for me. So <laugh> uh, ah, so real quick, what did you think of my intro of the video I released?

Guest: Mat

That was great. I mean the fake beard, the, just everything about a video that, that, yeah, it's uh, it's a good one. I mean, my, my parents have watched that video now and, uh, they were message. I saw my dad commented on the, on the video, on YouTube and stuff. My mom says she's watched it like twice. So you you've got fans in my parents now. <laugh>

Host: Jon

Did, did they hit like and subscribe? That's all I got. <laugh>

Guest: Mat

I think they would've done. I think my dad definitely would've done

Host: Jon

Well, huge. Shout out to your parents for watching. I absolutely got a kick out of just making the intro, but the whole entire conversation we had. I, I, I literally, when I was done, I was like, my cheeks are hurting from laughing and smiling.

Guest: Mat

Yeah. That's one of my most fun ones. I'm looking forward to doing this on a regular basis. This is great.

Host: Jon

Okay. Well, let's jump. I, I gotta jump to this because you indicated, I was like, Hey Mat, what are we gonna talk about? And you're like, Jon, I think we're gonna have something to talk about that week. And then all of a sudden, Monday you dropped an announcement that you're leaving Ingram micro, and you're going someplace else. Let's talk. I, I wanna know why and what you were feeling and then also maybe where you're

Guest: Mat

Going, if possible. Yeah. I mean, there's a, there's a few things going on right now. I wanted to, I wanted to announce where I was going and I, I I've even made a video, as you can imagine with me, there's definitely a video I'm having fun with that announcement, but yeah, there's some stuff going on right now, um, with my contract and stuff like that. So it's a little bit tricky for me to, to announce where I'm going. Um, but I'm staying in the channel similar company to Ingram, uh, and, uh, I am, uh, gonna continue to push the messaging of Microsoft. Um, but yeah, I mean, it's one of them, we talk, we touched on it slightly in the last podcast around some of the things that had been said to me around polishing in order to, uh, in order to get promoted and, uh, yeah, those kind of things.

Guest: Mat

Like I, you know, I kind of alluded to it in the last podcast. They don't stick well with me. Um, I don't want to change who I am just to get a better job title. Uh, and I, you know, I don't, I don't think I should have to. I think, uh, you know, you can put me in a suit and all those kind of things and make me speak a certain way. But at the end of the day, I'm still the guy with a Steamboat Willie and a Donald duck on his arm. So you can't change me too much. Um, you know, and, uh, I, I had some really interesting conversations. I mean, it's, it's funny on, on Monday when I announced that I was leaving Ingram, I got free messages, uh, from three different competitors of Ingram, uh, saying, is it, is it certain that you have another role because if not, we have a role for you, which is just the most flattering thing ever, you know, being that approached, uh, very quickly, like within half an hour of getting the messaging out, uh, I was approached.

Guest: Mat

So, uh, but I do have a role lined up. Don't know when I'm starting yet. These are some of the things that are being, uh, negotiated right now with, with Ingram, uh, in terms of my leaving and what that means and notice periods and gardening leave and all these other things. Um, but yeah, I mean, a big part of my, my reason, I just didn't see myself progressing within Ingram. It kind of felt like a lot of the conversations I was having were almost those almost like a holding message. Um, you know, whatever exec I spoke to kind of said the same thing. And it was, he was very, it felt very rehearsed felt very, uh, not realistic. Um, and I kind of thought, you know, they were going, going for a bit of a reorg structure. Um, and I, I found myself sitting if, if you're like lower than I started the FY and I kind of thought I want to go the other way, not, not backwards.

Guest: Mat

Um, and yeah, so, uh, timing is everything. And, and someone reached out to me, um, the, the company that I'm gonna be working for, who I will say, I being absolutely amazing right now, cuz there's some stuff going on and they are just being so understanding so amazing, uh, and really supportive, which kind of tells me I I've done the right thing right now. Um, because of the way I'm, I'm being treated. Um, but yeah, I I'm going into a bigger role, um, and uh, much more prestigious title. Um, and I'm just, I'm really excited to get going. I I'm, I feel like I'm rejuvenated.

Host: Jon

I know that feeling. I definitely, man, I hats off to you for making the decision for yourself, uh, your, your mentality, your benefit, like really kind of bringing back, you know, and not going away from your personal, you know, being who you are. I, I, I follow you on Twitter where you do a lot of your posting and I like it that you are choosing you and your family and not deviating from your personality because I've, I've been there. I've actually had a leave companies because I was required to change who I am. I'm not willing to change this personality. I'm willing to, you know, adapt to the company culture. I have no problem doing that because yeah, I'm getting hired by them to do, you know, that work and that message. But how I present that message, if you look at the number of followers you have and all your social stuff, people like that, and they want more of that. And if you change that, you're going to alienate those followers.

Guest: Mat

Yeah, definitely. And I, I think I've become less approachable by members of staff within the company that I worked for. And, you know, I thought about in the last podcast, when I was at cloud summit, the amount of people that came up to me that knew who I was, had something to thank before in the work that I'd done. Um, and I didn't know who they were, you know, <laugh>, I was, and, and in some way I'd help them. I'd supported them. I'd attracted partners to Ingram I'd and I'd really helped them. So, um, you know, I, I don't, I didn't wanna change anything like that about me. Um, and you know, leading up to, uh, cloud summit, there was, there was things going on at the time. And, uh, I, I remember my, uh, my wife saying something that was, that was shocking to me where it was kind of, you know, oh, I hope I hope when you get a cloud summit, things get sorted out because you are one grumpy get right now.

Guest: Mat

Um, and yeah, you know, I spoke to a few people as there's a few people in the industry that I'll, that I've known for many years now, and I will reach out to, and have a bit of a chat with, especially if I know they work with different companies and, you know, what's, what's their feeling about the, the company that I may be going to work for. And, uh, when they, when I told them the grumpy grumpy gate got comment, um, they just said, that's not you, you, you know, you're not, you, you are a positive person. And, uh, you know, I came back from, I came back from cloud summit and I was, I was in a good frame of mind. I'd had some good conversations while I was there and then nothing, nothing kind of materialized after that. Um, and then the same kind of the cycle kicked in again. And I was kind of like, okay, this nothing's going to change. And, uh, I, I just need to get out. Um, and yeah, is, it is definitely a decision for me. Um, and, and my family in terms of wanting to be happy, uh, you know, good work life balance, all those kind of things. And, uh, I'm going into a, a very positive culture. Uh, you know, I can say that

Host: Jon

Now for a quick interruption, a huge shout out to our friends at Veeam for sponsoring this episode, Veeam backup for AWS can easily protect all of your Amazon EC two RDS and VPC data. Wait a second. They can protect my VPC data too. Yep. That's right. Simplify AWS, backup and recovery while ensuring security and compliance. All right. Now, back to our episode, speaking of the culture we were messaging, and, uh, we were talking about this new role that you're taking and we'll dance around the name of the company. So we won. But, uh, it was funny how you indicated your, your, your new manager. No, I can't talk tonight. I'll be getting drunk. And you were like, you know, she's like, that is freaking awesome.

Guest: Mat

Yeah. So I had a, I had a, uh, a co someone reached out to me on LinkedIn, and then we had a call on, uh, this, this person said, um, you need to speak to the, the next person. He'll be like your boss's boss. Um, and it was coming up to the queen Jubilee, and I think it was the Tuesday. And I said, um, if you're gonna call me all this week, it has to be Thursday, I'm free on Thursday, Friday, I will be drunk all day. And it was kind of a jokey comment. And then when I got on the call with who will be my boss's boss, um, she said, did you really say that I couldn't call you on Friday because you'd be too drunk. I was like, yeah, I, now you say it, it sounds stupid. I was like, yeah, yeah, I did say that.

Guest: Mat

And she said, oh, as soon as he told me, I said, we've gotta hire that guy. <laugh>, it's like, that's cool. So, um, and you know, I've met, um, my, who will be my boss. Um, and obviously my, my boss is boss and a few people within the company. And, uh, yeah, they're all phenomenal. They're all so forward thinking. Exciting. Um, and yeah, they, they seem to be very excited about having me on board as well. So, uh, you know, I think I'm gonna go in add, add value and, and have fun and continue to have fun.

Host: Jon

Well, keep doing what you're doing, being your personality, your energy do not deviate from any of that. Uh, because obviously we're gonna talk about that on the, our future podcast, as we get around to it. I did notice when we scheduled our first podcast that actually went out, we rescheduled you weren't feeling it. And I, I think this was all attributed to it. Now I'm putting the puzzle pieces together where, you know, you were kind of like graded a cloud summit. Uh, then we scheduled something two weeks later and you're like, you know what, I'm not feeling it. I need some time. And I completely understand you need to be in the right mental state and have, you know, great conversation. Uh, then we did the podcast, like I said, could not stop. I mean, it was freaking awesome. And then the, these follow up ones are gonna be just, we have no plan, basically. We're just gonna wing it. In fact, I only knew about what we're gonna talk about now yesterday. And I was like, yeah, we'll, we'll go from there, but I can tell from your energy level, your conversations I have with you offline that mentally, this is the right decision for you. And I mean, I like Ingram. I have no problem with that. I'm just talking about you as a person.

Guest: Mat

Yeah. And, and this is it. I would never, you know, I've had people from Ingram reach out to me. Um, and it's, it's amazing. It gets me emotional because it's, I've clearly helped a lot of people and I've affected a lot of people in a really positive way. So I've had so many messages off people, um, and I've not spoke bad about Ingram once. And I won't, um, you know, I think they they've been really good to me. I was able to go in there on a, in a UK role and then very quickly grow into a global role. They definitely recognized talent and they looked after it and they, you know, they nurtured me, uh, somewhat into the role that I ended up doing. Um, but I kind of think I hit the ceiling in terms of what I was going to do there.

Guest: Mat

I don't think I was looked at like an exec, um, and, and someones me taken seriously in that respect. They, they loved what I did in terms of my social media, the biz apps and those kind of things. Um, so it is a very personal decision to me and I wouldn't encourage anyone else to, to leave or, or anything like that. You know, if it's the right thing for them then great. But the right thing for them may be to stay at Ingram on my way out. I put someone forward for a promotion within Ingram, because I think that's, they will do very well there. And that, that promotion that I kind of encourage them to go for will be a very good role for that person. So, you know, I, I want them to continue what they're doing. Um, even though, you know, could be competing with them, uh, that doesn't doesn't bother me. Um, so yeah, I think very personal to me, uh, and my career and my development, but in terms of the, the company, I can't say anything bad about them, um, in terms of how they treated me in the whole, on the whole.

Host: Jon

Yeah. I think it's difficult for some older companies to realize that the social influencers like yourself being in an exec role, it's always that you have to kind of worry about, uh, I wanna say coming across as a sea level, you know, a little more polished, a little more stuff, but that's not the culture. A lot of folks are going to, uh, startups, uh, even, you know, those innovators, the type of person that we are, will now be acceptable in any role. You wanna be quirky. You wanna be fun. You wanna come in shorts and a t-shirt like myself, cuz I don't come in much of anything else. I do have to probably find a nice shirt that goes with shorts, but Hey, uh, but I think that's something that people are starting to realize and accept people for who they are and their personalities. And you don't have to change outside versus inside work like home life versus work life. Yeah.

Guest: Mat

And, and this is it, you know, I'd had conversations with other companies as well. It it's been, it's definitely been a kind of long road into this and I wanted to kind of give cloud summit a chats and kind of just see if I could have the right conversations with the right people and then see where we go from there and see if anything changed. And if it improved for me and uh, you know, sadly it didn't. So, uh, you know, I made the decision, but um, you know, I spoke to another company and it was funny. They, they wanted me to, they wanted to do more with me in terms of the social media stuff and this isn't the company I'm going to, but they, they were like, oh, our marketing people are crying out for like an influencer that they can just do anything with.

Guest: Mat

And I was like, yep, I can be that guy. Um, and this again, would've been an exec level role and uh, and a, and a global role. And they, you know, they really wanted to encourage the market inside and the, the quirkiness and the, you know, and I definitely, I, I don't think I'd have ever had to go to work in a suit working for this company. That's for sure. Um, you know, hoodie, shorts and flip Flos, would've been absolutely fine. I think <laugh>, um, but you know, again, there's then this other opportunity came up and I was just like, it was it's too good to pass up. And I'm, I was really hard for me not to say, cuz I am so excited about this, uh, this next change in my next role. Uh, but yeah, just, it's just one of those unfortunate things that, uh, you know, maybe this time next week I'll be in a position to, to put something out there. But it's, it's ex it's funny right now because I've got people messaging me from Ingram that they have a sweep stake on bets, on where I'm going. So people are putting, people are banging on where I'm gonna show up and I've been winding people up all week, uh, because they, there was, uh, people think that I was going to one of our partners. You, you, uh, BA boom cloud.

Host: Jon

I, I saw how many retweets you were going. And I

Guest: Mat

<laugh>, which I have the Teddy I have. So I've been sending pictures with like my Teddy going, oh, I dunno where I'm going. And then I was, I was going to the gym on the, on Tuesday. And um, this guy messaged me saying, are you going a bamboo cloud? And I repli, I was happened to be sat in my car and I was wearing my BA boom cloud hoodie to go to the gym. So I sent him a photo saying, no, I'm just going to the gym. Uh, like, um, but yeah, I mean, I have a lot of fun with those guys, so they they'll be happy that their little Teddy's making it into the podcast. <laugh>

Host: Jon

Wait. So Mat, if I could promise you that this doesn't go out until you announce, would you, you wanna share it on this podcast?

Guest: Mat

Yeah, but it might have to wait like three months. That's the problem. So I'm currently

Host: Jon

Three months. No, I can't wait three months. These, this stuff is too good to get they'll. Hold on. Okay. Okay. We won't put you on the spot. I'll, I'll switch gears a little. <laugh>

Guest: Mat

I'm hoping, I'm hoping to get things sorted in the next few days so that it's not three months. Um, and it's more like a month, um, or you know, a few weeks, but, uh, yeah, there's, uh, there's things going on in the background right now and I'm, I'm getting through it though. I'm keeping smiling and this is definitely some of fun to, uh, to put my time into, instead of just sat around. Twidling my thumbs.

Host: Jon

<laugh> no, wait, wait. I, so the day that you're about to release, maybe we could do a recording beforehand and share with everybody and then I'll put it out the next day or something and be like, whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a second. Mat share did on the show. And, uh, you can hold a couple of, you know, maybe your, your pillows or something by the way.

Guest: Mat

<laugh> yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, yeah, I think, yeah, I think that'll be a good idea. So I think, um, like I say, I think over the next few days it will get sorted and uh, then I'll be able to kind of know when I'm gonna start in the new place. Um, I wanna do sooner rather than later, I can't do, um, like free months of doing nothing. It's it's no good for my mental health. I'll go crazy. Just doing nothing for free months. So, uh, yeah. I'm hoping I can start in August really.

Host: Jon

Well. We can do three months of episodes if you want. <laugh>

Guest: Mat

Yeah, yeah. We can tease it for three months.

Host: Jon

<laugh> drag it on a little bit. You know what? You just gotta get a couple more props with a little, couple more swag on and be like, no, no, no I'm going here. No, no I'm going here. No, wait, which one?

Guest: Mat

This is it. So actually, yeah, anyone watching this, if you wait for like tech data, feel free to send me some pens or something, you know, send me, show me some swag, uh, whatever in there

Host: Jon

You could spell something out.

Guest: Mat

Yeah, yeah. Any, any partners out there that wanna send me something and I can tease that I'm going to use. That'd be great. <laugh>

Host: Jon

This new role tell, talk about, can you talk about this new role, what you'll be doing?

Guest: Mat

Yeah. So it's, it's fairly similar to, to what I'm doing now. Um, and you know, it's a, it's a global role as well, so I'll, I'll get to work with people all over the world, still get to still push the, the Microsoft messaging. Um, and it's, like I say, it's a much more kind of senior role as well. So it's, you know, it's kind of everything I've I've wanted. Um, and yeah, I'm, I'm very excited about it. Uh, and I think the way in which this company goes about it with more kind of in-person events, getting closer with the partners, not everything being virtual, uh, I think there's gonna be so much opportunity to, to do some traveling as well and, and meet, actually meet, you know, face to face with partners, uh, all over the world. Um, you know, all the way from the us to, to Australia. So it's, it's gonna be interesting.

Host: Jon

Uh, hopefully I'll see you here on the east coast, in the United States so that you can join me for a couple events summits. If not, you gotta let me know where you're going and be like, I gotta go there. I'll be back <laugh>.

Guest: Mat

Yeah, definitely. I think, uh, I, I there's definitely room for us to do some in person podcasting, I think, uh, <laugh> that needs to happen. Definitely. I was actually really, uh, good. There's a, there's a partner in, uh, based in New York, uh, Q associates that having their 30th anniversary party in a cool rooftop bar in New York. And I was so disappointed that I can't go, but, uh, that would've been, that would've been a good opportunity to come over to the east coast.

Host: Jon

Is that happened to be like the cloud social bar on, in New York, because I just hosted a book signing there and it's pretty cool.

Guest: Mat

That's cool. I don't think it's that one. It's it's it looks similar to the edge, like, like the, the whole, but I forget the name of it. I, I, yeah, it's gone

Host: Jon

<laugh> but

Guest: Mat

I kind of saw the invite and I was so flatter to be invited, but I knew I couldn't go. So I kind of didn't dwell on it too much, otherwise. Yeah. Like any opportunity I've got to go to New York, I want to go, um, you know, it's, uh, I love that sea.

Host: Jon

Did you tell this new company the same thing you told Ingram about what are your limitations on social posts? Because you are gonna push those?

Guest: Mat

Uh, I think they just know <laugh>, uh, they just, they, they kind of know with me and, you know, like they, you know, I mean, I was quite open and said, you know, you can't call me that day. I'll be drunk. Uh, they know exactly what they're getting. Uh, and they're, you know, again, they're excited about the, the opportunity of my social, um, you know, presence and everything that I'm doing. Um, and you know, I definitely think they want to use that. So that's, that's gonna be great. Well, and this company as well, tend to, you know, I follow them for a while on Twitter and on, um, on Facebook and stuff like that. And they tend to post more funny things. So you might see like Microsoft every now and again will, will post something. And it's just like a caption. And it says, you know, someone will come off off mute, say, hello, go back on mute and stuff like that. And it's like these funny little captions and yeah, this company's been posting some pretty funny stuff on their, on their socials, which is quite refreshing because you know, a lot of big companies try to do the whole corporate thing. Um, and, and what this company's doing, there's a bit of a mixed bag. There's, there's the, there's the professional, if you wanna call it that. And then there's the funny, and I'm excited about being a part of that as well.

Host: Jon

I actually enjoy that when we see companies use their personal side, some quirky stuff, some funny stuff. And don't worry about what is gonna be the, like the drawback, just for being a little bit of funny on social. And they're like the perception there is that the, those are the type of companies that I wanna work for. Those are the companies I enjoy.

Guest: Mat

I remember, uh, for a while I F I followed innocent smoothies on social media because they just posted stuff that was really silly, but it, it just made me laugh. And it was things like that. Say there was a stapler and on the bottom of the stapler, it'd say like, property of the sick floor do not remove from the sick floor. And then they would like say, oh, we, you know, we shouldn't have taken it from the sick floor. We took it to the empire state building. They would do things. So it would just be a photo of a stapler somewhere in the world. And it, and it just really made me laugh. Cause it's got nothing to do with smoothies. It just showed that they had a bit of a culture and, you know, they were trying to have fun. And it, the thing is stuff like that went viral because it, it was different. And, uh, yeah, I'm looking forward to, to doing some stuff with, with this new company and, and seeing if we can get anything to go viral.

Host: Jon

Uh, I'm sure you will knowing your, your culture. So, uh, I shared my pillow. I shared my stuff on it. I don't know if this is gonna get me in, in any trouble, but man, I, I think we're, this is a collection I I'm starting to get just because of the cloud summit one, I think, uh, next time you're at an event and they have these, we gotta see what we can get,

Guest: Mat

Suzanne. Yeah. I'm gonna, and, and in the new company that I'm in, I'm gonna, I'm gonna actively encourage this. Like when they're talking about what Swagel, what do we need to market? Like we need cushions. That's, that's what everyone wants. That's what the cool people want. They want cushions. That's

Host: Jon

What they want to borrow.

Guest: Mat

<laugh> yeah. Yeah. We gonna pay for the cushions, but do not expect to get any of them back because they'll go

Host: Jon

<laugh>. I, I think that's a given the reason I got now full disclosure, we did, we took the red eye back. So my, my wife went out with me to Vegas to re Mars and, you know, we were taking the 10 40 red eye back and I was like, dear, I got this for you to lay your head on, on me so you can sleep and, you know, shoved it right into my backpack. <laugh>

Guest: Mat

Yeah, that's it. You can that's. Do you know what that got you? Some brownie points right there. You've got an extra cushion for your wife. That was the reason behind it. I like that.

Host: Jon

Uh, you know what? She had a great time. We had a good time out there. A lot of people, uh, meeting, greeting, conversation, socializing, uh, the whole thing, I think the biggest part was, you know, spending time with my wife and being able to do things. We went to a concert. Uh, we went to see Luke Bryan, uh, at the resort. Oh, amazing.

Host: Jon

Uh, he was awesome. He was drunk, but he was awesome. Like I got a freaking CA I could not, uh, he did not, uh, disappoint at all. He was doing shots with the crowd. He was, uh, they had this, uh, lift that would come down from the, the sky, like the catwalk. And it would lower down right. To the mezzanine two level where we were at. And he performed right in front of all of us. And it was, I mean, that little bit, that extra little bit that he did for this show, it was like two hours long was well worth it

Guest: Mat

That's, that's so cool. Yeah. My, my wife and I, we, we like country music, so we wanna, we want to get out into like the us and, and go see some, some country artists. We've seen a few when they've come over to the UK. And the good thing about when they come to the UK is it's normally quite cheap to go because not many people, you know, country, music's not that big over in the UK. So we've seen like Dan and Shay when they came over to the UK. Um, but yeah, we, there's a few more that we want to, we want to go and see like Luke Combs and, and some other folks, uh, Brett young, but there's a few, so we're, uh, yeah, I think we are gonna make all way to Nashville or some at some point <laugh>,

Host: Jon

I didn't know. You're a country music fan. All right. So we'll have to get, uh, double date. We'll have to go out to see a country music. Luke. The first time I saw Luke, my wife saw him last year. Uh, but there are plenty of venues right around me that happened, uh, like in Hershey, Pennsylvania, they usually have some big shows, big kickoff, uh, happening, uh, the Allentown fair, which is another one, Carrie Underwood, usually plays there. I've seen Toby Keith there. Uh, he's always, uh, yeah, he's always pretty good.

Guest: Mat

Yeah. We were gonna go, I think it was down in she again, but they were doing at all as COVID hit and we actually booked, uh, it was tickets to go see them in Boston and we'd sorted out a flight. We were gonna watch 'em and then fly home the next day, we were just gonna do it like quick, overnight stuff, uh, bit of fun. And then obviously COVID happened. And then it all got delayed and pushed back. And then, uh, by the time they were going back on tour, you know, we, we were responsible adults and had a baby, so we couldn't just go to Boston for the night. Um, so unfortunately I think we even sold our tickets or we sold them back so someone else could buy them. But, uh, yeah, we, we definitely want to come over and, uh, and soak up that, I mean, it was one of the best concerts I've been to in the, in the UK was down and shade just because where they were playing. You could just walk around the venue so you could get as close as you want. As far back, it felt like a really big pub, like a really big bar upstairs that you could go wherever you want and just watch them. And, uh, everyone that was there is big fans of them. So everyone singing to every song and, uh, it was, it was good. Fun.

Host: Jon

All right. So I'm gonna write this down. We're gonna have to get together and do a country concert. There's plenty around that are happening. Whether we squeeze it in this year or we plan for next year.

Guest: Mat

Definitely. And then in the UK, we've got the, the long road festival. So that's a country festival that happens in the UK. Um, so we're probably not doing that this year. There's too much going on, but we've looked at that for next year, maybe.

Host: Jon

So how long is that festival? Is that like a week long or

Guest: Mat

No, I think it might be a, it might only be one day or it could be two days. Uh, but yeah, they have country singers from the UK and then they, they come over from the us obviously as well. Um, so yeah, it's it, but it, it looks good. And again, for the, for like the whole day you'll pay the same sort of price as you would just to go to a concert. If it was like edge sheering or someone like that, you know, in, in the UK, it seems like the country music scene is a bit smaller. So you, you, they don't charge as much for the tickets, which is, which is good for me, cuz I'm a big fan. So I save money.

Host: Jon

I'll have to plan a trip. Let me see if I have any customers out there. The wife can come along, we'll come to the UK, see a country thing. <laugh>

Guest: Mat

That sounds good. That sounds

Host: Jon

Good. I'll put, I'll put that into the works so real quick before you wrap it up, cuz I know we wanna make these some quick ones and conversations, but this is going too well. It's hard to end these, uh, happening now, your workout's coming along now that things have changed for you with the new role.

Guest: Mat

Do you know what I've? Uh, so this week my, I I've, again, I feel like rejuvenated in the gym, so I've been just enjoying myself again and yeah, it's, it's been so much better. Um, you know, I'm probably gonna go after this. I'm probably gonna go straight on my bike in the garage and do some LinkedIn learning, uh, may as well, use my time wisely and do some LinkedIn learning. Um, but yeah, this week's been been good and I'm, I'm trying to keep it to the light of weights. I wanna save my joints a little bit. Um, and I'm trying to lose weight anyway, so there's no point in going heavy. Uh, but yeah, I've just been enjoying it sweating and uh, yeah, it's amazing how you do one little thing in your life and it's like weight lifted off your shoulders and over parts of your life start to feel better. Like I handed my resignation in, I went to the gym after that and it was just,

Host: Jon

You probably had an awesome workout. You probably killed it.

Guest: Mat

<laugh> it was like the best workout I'd had in months. Um, after doing that and it kind of told me, yeah, I've done the right thing here. Like over aspects of my life seem to be better. And then other than, you know, as well, you know, we were, was out on the beach yesterday with the little one and just, just enjoying a bit of time as a, as a family as well, you know? And that's, uh, that's the over thing. That's just been awesome. You know, I'll get up in the morning, sit with MAVA and watch toy story for the fifth time this week, but it's a good film. It's my childhood film. So I don't mind it as much. Uh, but yeah, it's just been such a good week so far in terms of, uh, just, you know, enjoying the time with family going to the gym. Uh, and as soon as a few other things get boxed off, uh, I'm gonna be back to full strength

Host: Jon

Before I get back to the workouts. Who's your favorite toy story character.

Guest: Mat

Oh, I'm gonna say missed a potato head. I just think he's brilliant. And it actually do, you know what? It actually gets me in the fourth one he'd actually passed away the, uh, the guy who voices it, but passed away. And they used like 20 odd years of recordings to fill the film for the bits that he was talking. So I have to admit when I watch the fourth one and I see him, I'm like gets me a little bit, cuz it's like, you know, that they, they work hard to make sure that his character is in the film and uh, and speaking and yeah, it's like a tribute to him, but yeah, I think Mr. EO, I think his attitude is just great.

Host: Jon

<laugh> <laugh> I like that. What's that?

Guest: Mat

What about you? What about yours?

Host: Jon

Um, oh, I'm probably more on the Woody side. I mean the traditional, like whatever it is, I, I just like, you know, Tom Hanks, I, I like all, all of it. It's just, have you ever seen any of the short ones? They did it a little short video of them, the spooky one in the motel and you know yeah. Captain Carl or whatever does it, you know? And um, yeah, I I'm a big Woody fan.

Guest: Mat

Yeah, yeah. You can't be here. I, I like watching the behind the scenes footage. I actually like now on Disney plus they've started doing the making of like movies and stuff. Like even, even the frozen, too, the making of that was such a good documentary. Uh, and then they've got the light year award now as well out on Disney plus there's just, yeah. Uh, I love that kind of the, the making of movies. I think that's always really cool to see. So seeing when I see Tom Hanks doing his voiceover for Woody, you can tell, he just loves it. Like, yep. He, you know, he comes across like he would do it for free because he's just enjoying himself. Yep. Uh, which is just great.

Host: Jon

Ah, that's how I look at things. If I enjoy myself and if it financially works, I have to do it for free. Do it for free. I'm looking get back to your workout real quick because I can, that resonates with me and I know how you feel because when something's heavy on you and you, your workout seems stagnant after a while, they just seem like you're just doing the routine. You're not pushing it. And I have a heart rate monitor I usually put on and I always look at it. I'm like, man, I'm always in the yellow, but now I'm just in the green. And I barely sit, hit yellow. When I gave my notice at my last company, I at the endorphins kicked in and I had the best workout. I was pumped. I came home, I was rocking things out and it just all clicked. So I know where you're coming from from a workout and an exercise perspective that when that mentality lifts, you're just, you're in a, you're in a groove stick with it. Let you know your workouts, whatever you're doing, you're gonna have the best time right now.

Guest: Mat

Yeah. This is it. So, uh, yeah, I've enjoyed it. And I feel like as well, it's easier to get up in the morning. I seem to hear my alarm once and I'm up. Yep. And I'm up before the baby and everything and I just, yeah. Everything about this week and that aspect has just been great. I just, uh, and I'm sleeping easier, you know, head hits pillow and I fall asleep because I've just relaxed. I feel, uh, yeah, like a lot of pressure's off me. Um, and uh, yeah, mentally I'm, uh, I'm, I'm definitely getting that. It's great.

Host: Jon

Except for Friday nights, when you have a little bit of extra there for the drink, then your head hits the pillow on your <laugh>.

Guest: Mat

This is it. Well I'm actually, so yeah, tonight I'm actually off to the pub with a few, few guys that live near us cuz it it's kind of a new build state that I, I live on. And uh, we all kind of set up a WhatsApp group just to get to know people and uh, yeah. There's like four guys on that that we just grow up for a beer every, every few weeks and uh, tonight's that night. So I'm gonna be celebrating. I've been, and they're all talking about how they're gonna, you know, prop me up to walk home because I'm gonna be the most drunk, just celebrating. So, uh, yeah. It's gonna be a, gonna be a good night.

Host: Jon

<laugh> I will be you tomorrow. How was your name? <laugh> will hear from you for hours. Be like, I just cut up.

Guest: Mat

Yeah. I'll just send you a picture. Like <laugh> just me

Host: Jon

Be like, your buddy will take a picture and then you just send it to me. Like yeah. Yeah. This is how awesome it was.

Guest: Mat

I'll just reply and go, you know, all that stuff. I said about the workout. Yeah. Not today. That didn't happen. Didn't happen. I've at, at McDonald's and I've just, just lay in bed. <laugh>

Host: Jon

You? Uh, you'll workout later. You'll ride the bike later. Once it settles down, you'll be like, man, I gotta, I gotta go do this this day. I know how that is.

Guest: Mat

Yeah. Well I admit after the, the queen Jubilee, so when I'm on my bike, I've actually got a sauna suit that I'll wear just a sweat.

Host: Jon

Yeah.

Guest: Mat

I drank quite a lot of whiskey. The queen Jubilee, like quite a lot of scotch. And when I took the sauna suit off, I could smell like scotch. I was like, I have sweat that scotch out. Like that is, it was a good work. I did like an hour and a half on my bike just to make sure I felt good. And uh, but yeah, I could definitely smell alcohol when I took the so suit off <laugh>

Host: Jon

That's when you know you had a great time.

Guest: Mat

Yeah, definitely. Definitely.

Host: Jon

All right. So we're gonna wrap this up. I think our next one, if we can, and if it works out, we have to announce where you're going. If not, we'll just find another topic to BS because no one you or I, we we're gonna find something to talk about.

Guest: Mat

We'll find, so maybe I'll interview you. We can switch it up. <laugh>

Host: Jon

Ah, sold. <laugh> that doesn't happen too often. It does get flipped. I'll do the recording. You do the intro. Well, let's see where it goes.

Guest: Mat

Let's see what happens.

Host: Jon

All right. Sounds good. All right, Mat. Thanks for joining me.

Guest: Mat

Always a pleasure. Thank you.

Host: Jon

Yeah, no problem. See everyone.