In the Loop with Andy Andrews

On this week’s episode, I respond to a listener question about handshake etiquette for girls.

I don’t think there is a “right” or “wrong,” but I do think there is a “best.”

There are a couple of schools of thought here:

  • One is the old-school “debutant” school of thought:
  • Women go to college to find a husband.
  • Everything a woman does should be geared toward a wife and homemaker.
  • I don’t know if there is anything more important than that, but there are definitely other things that may be equally important.

With the way our world works today, I don’t think a woman shaking hands should offend anyone.

  • For the most part, professional women shake hands.
  • What looks really strange, though, is when a woman doesn’t know what to do.

I’ve taught my boys that there are many people who will not expect a handshake from them because of their age.

  • I see many surprised (and delighted) faces when by boys reach their hands out and say, “nice to meet you” to adults.
  • To a huge degree, how you treat your wife or husband will create a baseline for your children’s expectations as they grow up.

I’ve elaborated on this topic in a free 4-video series I did on smart parenting. I’d love for you to get to watch it!

These short videos cover must-know information for parents. In seconds, they could change your kids’ lives forever.

Click here for free instant access to the videos.

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
Direct download: ITL143_Whats_the_Correct_Handshake_Etiquette_for_Girls.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 5:00am CDT

On this week’s episode, I talk about my special new book, The Perfect Moment, and the peculiar story of how it came to be published: 

It all started while I was throwing football with one of my boys.

  • That led to a magical conversation, and it became a story for our friends.
  • I wrote it down, and then it became a story I would tell on stage.
  • We turned it into a free downloadable eBook and then finally Simple Truths said that they would like to publish it in hardcover. (more in the video) 

The book offers amazing insights into finding the hidden value of everyday life.

  • There are so many things that we see everyday and don’t notice anymore.
  • Our family has begun to notice the perfect moments that are occurring in our lives. Yours can, too.
  • The end of your book has a “Life Planner” of sorts that will help ensure your next six months are outstanding, noticing and creating more of your own perfect moments.

We are very grateful for Mac Anderson and Simple Truths for putting this book out nationwide. I’m absolutely thrilled with how beautiful the book turned out! 

[If you’d like to grab your own copy of The Perfect Moment, just click this link to go to the book’s page.]

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
Direct download: ITL142_The_Perfect_Moment.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 9:41am CDT

Before getting into our discussion, I wanted to give a shout-out to my friend Wes Hampton.

  • He and his family were over this past 4th of July weekend and we had a lot of fun grilling and watching the kids play.
  • Wes also has a Kamado Joe (plus his own cookbook), so we had a great cooking discussion.
  • Find Wes on Facebook or head over to WesHampton.com, and you can find his recipes there.

This week’s topic comes from a pastor who sometimes works with victims of sexual abuse, and what “accepting responsibility” would look like in this situation. One of the women he works with started reading The Traveler’s Gift and closed the book when she read to accept responsibility for your past.

Life is a series of advancing what we understand, or we kind of stop in a certain place and say, “That’s it.”

  • There was a time in most people’s lives when they had not acquired a taste for certain types of food.
  • If I had a chance to talk to her before she read The Traveler’s Gift, I would say, “Read the book with the same mind-set as you would have going into a cafeteria.”
  • They might have a lot of things you like, but you don’t leave when you see something you won’t eat.

Accepting responsibility for our past also means determining what we are responsible for.

  • The things we are not responsible for would certainly fall more into the forgiveness category.
  • At the age of 9, you would really have no choice if an adult imposed something on you.
  • I know this is a delicate situation and I don’t know all the circumstances, so this is more of just exploring ideas, but I do feel there is a certain age when responsibility to get yourself out of a situation falls somewhat to you.

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
Direct download: ITL141_When_Does_The_Buck_Stops_Here_NOT_apply.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 9:49am CDT

On this week’s episode, I address the question of how to balance contentment and the things you want in life.

There are several things I want to do and want to have.

Before anything “goes up on our refrigerator,” so to speak, I see if it fits my criteria…

  • Does this line up with my mission in life?
  • Would it make my mission more vibrant and successful?
  • Can this thing be a tool to help people?

We are very joyful whether we get to do something or not. There is an understanding that we don’t need certain things to feel fulfilled.

I am very aware of blessings beyond need.

  • We have a house, but I have proven in my life that I only need a pier to sleep under.
  • We have blessings beyond what we need cultivate a grateful spirit.
  • Gratefulness will make you into a content person.
  • In my quiet time, I will examine the things beyond what I need and determine if I should pursue them.

Gratefulness is right in the middle of this question. You’ve got to have a grateful spirit and understand that if your needs are met, everything else is gravy.

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
Direct download: ITL140_How_to_be_Content_and_Ambitious_at_the_Same_Time.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 5:00am CDT