Andy’s Blog
How to Influence People to Take Charge of Life
In this video blog, Andy answers the question: What’s the best way to influence people to take charge of their life? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoU2rv-wbwY What are some ways you’ve influenced friends or family to start taking charge of their life? Let everyone...
The Jordan Effect
In football, there is a common expression designed to keep players focused on what they can control. They are coached to “compete from the snap to the whistle.” This, of course, means that each player is supposed to give 100% from the time each play starts (when ball...
How to Get Your Kids to Read
Q&A: How Do You Get Your Children Excited About Reading? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0t1cN0P3Z8 If you want to get your kids excited about reading, get them excited about a story. Focus on the exciting “story” element of what you want them to read, as opposed...
The Worst Rejections I Ever Received
People often ask what it was like to receive 51 rejection letters when I was trying to get my first novel, The Traveler’s Gift, published. Well, actually writing the book was the hardest part, but the rejection stage wasn’t all that pleasant, either! Rejection is...
A Key Quality of Great Leaders
In this video blog, Andy answers a reader question: What is the value of humility in leadership? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7TGc0n6RDk Notes: People relate better to those who aren’t blowing their own horn. People relate better to people who are giving and...
3 Lessons We Can Learn from Norman Borlaug
Norman Borlaug has taught me a lot over the years. How much? Well, enough that I’ve talked about him in three of my books (The Butterfly Effect, The Boy Who Changed the World, and The Lost Choice). For those of you who are not familiar with Norman Borlaug,...
The Secrets to Turning an Idea Into a Business
In this video blog, Andy answers a reader question: How do you take a great idea and actually make a business out of it? To start a business from an idea, you have to figure out one thing: what value does that idea have to other people? It’s not necessarily about how...
How Will You Spend Saturday Afternoon?
Saturdays mean different things to different people. For most—not all, but most—Saturday is a day off from work. You might spend the day running some errands, working around the house, doing family activities, etc. It’s a day to catch up on life. But what if it could...
Is It Ever Too Late?
In this video blog, Andy answers a reader question: “What do you say to people over 55 that have lost their jobs and feel like their life is over? David Ponder was 47. My wonderful husband is 57… Is it ever too late?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gupFLYr93g Notes:...