In the Loop with Andy Andrews

On this week’s episode, I address a listener question about my perspective on finding peace when dealing with death. 

This topic was on my mind when I was writing The Noticer Returns.

  • When I wrote this book, I wanted to have Jones deal with several things that people have a hard time with.
  • I wanted to handle this subject with sensitivity, but in a way that answers questions and gives people real comfort.

Listen in as I answer this question by reading a full chapter from The Noticer Returns.

Get your full version of The Noticer Returns for a more thorough answer to this question.

To get your own copy now, just click here.

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: ITL148_-_How_Do_You_Find_Peace_When_Dealing_with_Death_.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 5:00am CDT

On this week’s episode, I answer a listener question on how to turn big powerful thoughts into smaller, concise statements so they can be clearly communicated to others.

Before getting into that, we have a quick announcement.

  • There are not a whole whole lot of opportunities for ticketed events to hear me speak.
  • Crossroads Church in Oklahoma City is holding the 2014 Leadership Conference with Jon Acuff, Dr. Mark Rutland, and myself on September 26th, 2014. 

We’ve all heard the statements:

  • Average people compare themselves with other people.
  • High achievers compare themselves with their potential.
  • There is a clue in that statement as to what we should be doing to take these big ideas and turn them into little steps.
  • Most of us are so consumed with the little steps that we hope the big thing will manifest itself. 

It is a common mistake for people to allow methods to determine their possible results.

  • I urge you to turn this idea on its head.
  • If you want to be clear and concise with those little things and create a huge picture, you need to determine the best possible result you can achieve.
  • Once you have that clearly defined, you can quit thinking about it so hard. Now you can go back and devise the methods that will take you there. 

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: ITL147_How_to_Refine_Your_Methods_and_Accelerate_Your_Success.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 8:59am CDT

On this week’s episode, I share my perspective on how to talk to your kids when they are being to hard on themselves and falling apart. 

As parents, it is crucial that we are vulnerable about our pasts.

  • Some kids need to know another person has experienced the same problems as they have.
  • Obviously we’ve forgotten what being 12 feels like, but we can try to imagine how things are going on in their minds.

My son, Adam, is very sensitive and tends to think about things that might not bother his older brother.  

  • His feelings don’t get hurt easily, but he is very aware of what other people are feeling—and he tends to focus on areas where he’s not doing so well. 
  • I encourage you to help your child understand that we are all in the same boat together.
  • We all have strengths and weaknesses, and you can always find someone better than you.
  • Talk to your children about how they act, walk, and talk—and try to instill these habits in their lives.

I recently heard a pastor say to the church’s youth, “Sometimes God will give you a weakness that you really have to struggle with, and it will become a strength.”

I told Adam a story about two football teams.

  • The first team had athletes that didn’t have to work hard to beat the other team every year.
  • One year the second team decided to start lifting weights and working out harder than ever.
  • The first time they played the really good team again, they lost worse than before because their bodies were sore.
  • But the next year after sticking with the workouts, they creamed the other team. The first team decided to start working out harder, but they were already too far behind.

Make sure to check out the free parenting videos on the website. There’s a bunch of great information on how to talk to your kids.

Here’s a link, so you don’t have to go hunting: Click here

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: ITL146_What_to_Say_to_Your_Kids_When_Theyre_Too_Hard_on_Themselves.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 5:00am CDT

On this week’s episode, I respond to a question about reading biographies to children and my thoughts on fiction.

I would read biographies to the boys when they were younger and paraphrase to make it more age-appropriate.

  •      With biographies you can foster an interest in history and good lessons.
  •      Non-Fiction will inform and teach, and I believe it is important to be able to explain why a certain thing will work.

 I find it weird when people have a sort of snobbery toward fiction.

  •      When you read fiction, it will ignite your imagination in a way that nonfiction cannot do.
  •      It’s knowledge and imagination that drives the great breakthroughs on our planet.
  •      You need both to create a successful life.

You want the kind of fiction that sparks the right kind of imagination.

  •      Be careful what you and your children are reading.
  •      Your imagination is so crucial to making a great living, having awesome relationships, and being a great parent or spouse.

The Kid Who Changed the World is a clever telling of how much we all mean to each other and the difference we can make, while also teaching history.

Click here to learn how to get your own copy of The Kid Who Changed the World.

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: ITL145_What_Kinds_of_books_should_you_and_your_children_read.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 11:35am CDT

On this week’s episode, I discuss a popular listener question: “What should you provide for your kids, and what should they have to work for?”

Some parents have a cut and dry answer for that, but I don’t.

  • My answer changes depending on what’s going on.
  • It’s according to how they are behaving.
  • If I sense a spirit of gratefulness, then there are more things that I will handle for them. A lot of the time it’s not even things they are aware of. 
  • The one thing that can truly stop it in a heartbeat is if I sense a spirit of expectation or a lack of gratefulness. Then it’s a totally different ballgame.

There was a time last week that I needed to drive Austin around to several locations for the business he has started. 

  • Something distracting was happening when we got home, and a few minutes later I was aware that Austin had not thanked me for doing that for him.
  • I used this situation to explain to him that as he grew older, life would become more chaotic and there will be more occasions to forget how to act.
  • People want to be around grateful people, and it’s a desirable quality in an employee or boss.

I recently saw a kid who got a brand new BMW on his 16th birthday.

  • At some point that car is going to wear out. And if the parents aren’t going to buy him another car when he’s older, then that may be the nicest car he ever has.
  • I see young adults all the time who are disappointed with their life, because the best car they ever drove, place they lived, or most fun they had was when they were a kid.
  • As they become more disappointed, it affects how they act. And then their performance level is affected at work. Over time, they become more and more likely never to have that BMW again. 

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