In The Loop With Andy Andrews

On this week’s episode, I answer a listener question on what to do when someone asks for a letter of recommendation when you wouldn’t recommend them.   How authentic are we going to be in our lives? This dials down into who we are as much as who they are. There is pain and confrontation that could be avoided, but should it? There is the opportunity for retreat or deceit. This is an odd situation that many of us have found ourselves in.   When we are asked to write a letter of recommendation for someone we absolutely love, we’re excited and we start thinking of other ways we could possibly help. Think about your Would you like somebody to throw a hand grenade into it? When we write a letter of recommendation and that person fails miserably because of a character flaw or bad habits, it’s not just them who gets the bad mark—it’s you.   What kind of people are you wanting to be around, and who are you wanting to become? If this person is someone you would not recommend for a job, they’re probably more of an

On this week’s episode, I talk about a football player who impacted my life, and a new movie about his life that you should see with your family this fall.   When I was in high school, we were across town from another high school named Woodlawn. We had heard about racially motivated riots there and how some of the kids had to be bussed into school. During the football season, I became aware of a student on Woodlawn’s team named Tony Nathan. He was unbelievable—a running back no one could stop. In the fall of my 10th grade year I would get the newspaper every Saturday and read the articles about Tony.   They announced that undefeated Woodlawn would play Banks, another undefeated powerhouse, in the playoffs. The game would be played at Legion Field where at the time Auburn and Alabama played each other every year. I talked my dad into going, and when we got there, 20,000 people must have been standing outside the gate. They delayed the game so they could keep bringing people in; once we got in, you could see

On this week’s episode, I answer a listener question about the “treasure chest” that Polly and I have for our boys.   The boys know that we have treasure chests for them, and it’s something we will probably give them when they are around 21. The treasure chest has things that they will need to know or want to have. They don’t get to go in these chests, but I’ll occasionally show them something that’s going inside, or tease that something has been added.   When you have some kind of awesome family moment, take something from that place and write a note explaining what it is. Wrap it up and put it in a box. When you’re gone, instead of having a vague memory of that day, your kids will having something tangible—a treasure. There are very few things that I have of my parents, who passed within months of each other when I was young. I can picture my dad’s handwriting, but I don’t have any of it. It will be very important and comforting for the boys to know how much we loved them; the “treasures” make it obvious

On this week’s episode, I talk about why it’s important to let your kids make mistakes, and how “treading water” in life means you’re not only failing to get ahead but actually losing ground.   Not too long ago the boys had a movie they brought to me and asked if they could watch it. I looked at it and kind of paused before saying, “yes, you can watch it.” As they walked away I said, “You can watch it if you want to.” They stopped and of course wondered why I said it like that. I told them that we choose what we watch and read, and we also choose what we won’t watch and read. How we think becomes who we are. The movie wasn’t really good or bad, just a time-waster. But in the current of life you’re either swimming upstream or you are being swept away. If you’re just treading water, you’re headed downstream.   We want our kids to grow up to be productive, influential, and purposeful adults. Sometimes it’s okay to let our kids lose money or time. It’s much better that they learn these things at a younger age

On this week’s episode, I answer two listener questions on how fear shapes your life and how to balance belief in yourself against pride.   I find many instances indicating that God can use tragedy and bad choices to fulfill His purposes, but I don’t find any evidence that God decides to make you scared. The times that I have been scared have usually been instances that I’ve kind of brought on myself. I can’t imagine God would say “Fear not” so many times but still try to instill fear in us anyway.   Adam started at a new school this year and he was fearful. I talked to him about purpose and we broke down all the things he might have to be fearful of. When he came home from school I asked how it was and he said it was different. I said, “Good different?” He said, “It was.” So, if it’s different, and it’s good, then it’s probably better.   The old saying is that God made you with a purpose. If you’re out there speaking thoughts and truths that you’ve spent time struggling with, you’re wide open to critici

On this week’s episode, I discuss some of my favorite speakers and the methods that help me stay organized.   I don’t get to see many speakers because I’m usually by myself when speaking at an event, but I listen to them online. I shift and change who I’m listening to, but Patsy Clairmont is first and foremost my favorite speaker. There are very few people who can deliver serious topics with humor, and Patsy is one of the best. Ken Davis is also up there for the same reasons. He is so funny to me.   One of my other favorite speakers is someone I wouldn’t have said if you asked me a couple of months ago. He’s a great guy, but he didn’t seem to be very comfortable telling his story when he got started 20 years ago. Speaking is kind of a gift. You can learn it and shape it, but to a great degree you can either talk or you can’ I’ve found that some companies are hesitant to bring in speakers because they’ve brought in speakers who are athletes or actors previously. While these people can memorize their lines,

On this week’s episode, we’re finishing up our series on discussing my office and the items that bring me a spirit of gratefulness, belief, opportunity, and achievement.   Tune in to this week’s episode to hear about: The book that I’ve read in its entirety every month for over 30 years. (I’m shocked that I still get new understanding from some of these things…) The award from the Center for Healthy Families that reminds me to be obedient, seek wisdom, and that I make a difference. The gift Adam made me for Father’s Day. How islanders would pull sharks to the shore hundreds of years ago. The item Civil War officers used to brush the day’s dirt away, and why it reminds me to move forward and look towards another day. What started me on the path towards learning the Seven Decisions. Questions for Listeners Do you have a question? Call in and your question might be featured on the show! Phone: 1-800-726-ANDY E-Mail: InTheLoop@AndyAndrews.com Facebook.com/AndyAndrews Twitter.com/AndyAndrews

This week, we’re celebrating our 200th episode with a deeper look at the items in my office, and more specifically, what I keep within arm’s reach at my desk.   You might look at my desk and not know why some of these things are here—and you might also not know what these things are!   Tune in to this week’s full episode to hear which of these objects remind me of: The fact I can choose my thinking, and if I’m scared, that isn’t from God. Ingenuity. The history of our country and that there are things that seem impossible, but with the right thought process, impossible things can be made simple. Things last even if they’re covered up or buried. We need to make sure that the things we create are of great value. While things are permanent, they can still be shaped. There is always a way to figure something out. Questions for Listeners Do you have a question? Call in and your question might be featured on the show! Phone: 1-800-726-ANDY E-Mail: InTheLoop@AndyAndrews.com Facebook.com/AndyAndrews Twitter.com/An

On this week’s episode, we’re continuing our visit inside my office and discussing why it looks the way it does.   People have made excuses for themselves and other people based on environment. •       As an adult, you have control over your environment. •       You are never trapped, although you may choose to think you’re trapped. •       If you understand that your thinking is the foundation of everything, that gives you control. You want to achieve “the best.” •       The objects in my office spur a specific thought. Everything has a story and lesson.   Everywhere I look, I want to produce gratefulness and belief in my spirit. •       I have to produce the best in writing and speaking topics. To do that, I know what kind of thinking produces the best. •       When I am in an ungrateful or aggravated state of mind, could I possibly come in and create the best? •       I urge you to not have the same kind of office that everyone has.   Tune in to the full episode to hear about the personal letters from

On this week’s episode, we’re recording from my office in Orange Beach, Alabama, and talking about the “wall of influence” that sits across from my desk.   I have been around people successful in entertainment, business, and politics, and have seen them hit a point in their career where they turned kind of monstrous. It’s an odd world to live in where people say, “You’re great. You changed my life.” If you’re not prepared to deal with that, I see how you could turn into an idiot! I have an “influence wall” to remind me where I’m from. Whatever it is that I am, these people are the ones who deserve the credit. Every time I look at that wall, I am reminded of an umbrella of authority.   If you look at people’s lives that have gotten out of control after having a lot of success, it’s because they have no authority in their lives. While we watch “heroes” in our modern day, everyone thinks they’re great until we find something out that’s leaked to the public. To our kids, that’s one more notch of disappointment

On this week’s episode, I’m answering more random questions—this time from listeners—for our second episode of Getting to Know Andy Andrews. What was your first thought when you woke up today? What question do you hate to answer? Is there something you constantly lose at your house? Have you ever been pulled over by a cop? What is your favorite knock-knock joke? If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a month, which would it be? What is your favorite movie and movie quote? What’s the best meal you ever ate?   Please tune in for some surprising answers and very funny insight into Andy’s likes, loves, and even a few of his “little foibles.”   Questions for Listeners Do you have a question? Call in and your question might be featured on the show! Phone: 1-800-726-ANDY E-Mail: InTheLoop@AndyAndrews.com Facebook.com/AndyAndrews Twitter.com/AndyAndrews

On this week’s episode, I answer a listener question about people who have a different style of communication than yours.   When you get down to the way people communicate, there are so many differences. I will never forget the time a friend and his wife were over at our house, and Polly called the boys twice to come greet the guests. I lean my head in the room and let them know their mother has called them twice and they need to get up. They both look at each other and they’re going, “Dad, she didn’t call us…” I ask the boys to go wash their hands and tell Polly that the boys say she didn’t call them. Our friend laughs and says, “That’s just a guy thing.”   There are differences between boys and girls. Our friends have two boys and two girls. They said all four of them can be watching TV and the girls will hear their mom calling, but unless she gets in front of the TV and gets the boys’ attention, their focus won’t be drawn away.   Tune in to the full episode for further insight on communication gaps, an

On this week’s episode, I answer a listener question on how you can confidently pursue a deeply satisfying career path.   I have gone through several career phases as an adult, and I wonder if I’m still narrowing down my career path. There are some guiding factors for pursuing the right career. What would you do every day if money were no object? Once you figure that out, the next question is what value does that have for other people? It is important to like what you do, but if you’re the only one who likes that thing, you might have a hard time making a living out of it.   In today’s world, you can take what most people would consider a hobby and find value in it for other people. A lot of people move to a city like New York and try to break into an industry. They go up there and don’t know how to find an agent or a place to live. It occurred to me that I knew someone struggling in this area who had a lot of the answers for these kinds of problems. With the ease of creating a website these days, someone

On this week’s episode, I answer a listener question about creativity and when you should go with your instincts or take others’ advice.   We all have people who we lay our stuff out for. There are a handful of people in my life who I will read something to occa I thought it was odd to read it out loud, but I’ve started hearing about a lot of authors who have a couple people they read to. It’s easier for an author just to read it himself, but when I read it out loud to someone, it lets me read in a different way than if I were alone or proofre If I can read it to you and you totally get it, then I know that if you read it, there won’t be any problem at all.   With almost every project there will be a point where I get a little too creative, and I don’t mean that in a good way. As a comedian, I wrote a joke that I thought was very funny (and I still think it’s funny). I tried it four or five times and it became very obvious that it’s not as good as I thought. If one or two out of ten don’t like something an

On this week’s episode, I answer a followup listener question on how Polly and I taught the boys to communicate to adults.   It was a very intentional process. Polly and I wanted to raise a boy who would turn into a 15-year-old young man; we wanted people in passing to be blown away by his maturity. Some people say “Yes, ma’am” and “Yes, sir” is just a regional thing, but don’t we know people in California who are from Georgia? After years of thinking this through, the reason to go through the extra trouble of making children say “Yes, sir” is because everyone who looks at this kid will think he is mature and respectful.   The opportunities for well-mannered kids are endless. There is a small percentage of people who think it’s disrespectful not to say, “Yes, sir.” People who don’t think it’s necessary won’t be offended by it. Why not make sure your children are showing respect to 100% of the people they talk to? Remember, manners are money!   We started teaching them to talk this way as soon as they coul

On this week’s show, we’re switching things up a bit and presenting an episode of random questions that will hopefully help us get to know Andy a bit more.   Andy talks a lot about how important laughter should be in people’s lives, so this week we asked him some random questions designed to be fun and funny—but also to really make him think:   Who is your favorite songwriter right now? Who is your favorite author right now? What’s the best voice impression that you do? If you could have personally witnessed any event, what would you have wanted to see? What are three historical characters you considered including in The Traveler’s Gift but they didn’t make it?   Here’s a challenge for our listeners…what is an interesting question you’ve never heard addressed that you want to ask Andy?   Questions for Listeners Do you have a question? Call in and your question might be featured on the show! Phone: 1-800-726-ANDY E-Mail: InTheLoop@AndyAndrews.com Facebook.com/AndyAndrews Twitter.com/AndyAndrews

On this week’s episode, I answer a listener question on how the boys and I go out of our way to make sure Polly feels respected.   Before we get into some of the specific ways we honor Polly, let me tell you why we think these things are important in the first place. We want to provide an advantage for our children when they are adults. The way you act in your home and when you let your guard down is the way you will act in critical moments. We want to do the same positive things over and over again. There are little bitty things you can do to make your home a happier place.   I love asking HR people and CEOs how they narrow down their search for new managers. They’ll put the word out for a new position and let’s say you get 400 appli You bump most out immediately and have maybe 30 left. You’re now seriously looking at resumes. The next round of 6 to 10 people is personal interviews. Now you’re down to 3 people and they’re all basically the same on paper. You would be shocked at how many times their next s

On this week’s episode, I answer a very emotional listener question from the friend of a football coach who has lost his son.   Everybody has a worst time in his or her life. I can’t imagine that it gets any worse than losing a son or daughter. I have some understanding of the shock and grief; my parents both passed away at a young age. My mom’s passing was long and drawn out, and my dad’s was a call in the middle of the night. While your memories and longing will never go away, the awful grief that you feel right now will pass.   Since your friend is a football coach, let’s consider eternity to be the length of a 100-yard football field. You were with your son for 19 years. Let’s assume that you’re 40 and will live another 40 years. That 40 years is not even a blade of grass on the football field of eternity.   This sounds odd to say, but if my parents had lived a normal life span, I wouldn’t have ended up doing what I do. Everything that has happened in my life came about after being forced into a posi

On this week’s episode, I answer a listener question on how to guide your thinking when beginning with the very best end result in mind.   I really believe that “the best” is an ever-expanding target. As your understanding of what is possible expands, your determination of what the best is will also expand. When people talk about best practices and industry standards, they’re talking about the way everybody has thought and operated for years. Don’t let your methods determine your Determine the destination first and then design the methods that will get you there.   The destination you determine should be the very best you can possibly imagine. If you imagine something that someone has done before, you’re shooting too low and need to go back to the drawing board. I’m trying to lay out a thought process with a goal so ambitious that I will be forced to come up with methods that will approach it. A shift in thinking creates a shift in choices and actions—and eventually results. If you want massive results wit

On this week’s episode, we have renowned author Jerry Jenkins back with us for more laughs, and to compare notes with Andy on public speaking and how to deal with editors. He also gives us a preview of his latest book.   Andy is at the top of the public speaking game, but Jerry is also a sought-after public speaker. Jerry had always heard he should ask for an introduction that sets up what he’d be covering, and that mentioned he would be funny. Andy, in contrast, has learned that too big of an introduction before speaking gave the audience unrealistic expectations. “Under-promise and overproduce,” therefore, is one of many public speaking pointers Andy goes on to discuss.   Jerry is at the top of the writing game, but Andy is also a successful author and has some good questions for Jerry. Jerry’s asked how he comes up with endings, and the “Carol Burnett Show” “Saturday Night Live” approaches to ending sketches are debated. Jerry’s also asked if a 21-time New York Times bestselling author like himself st