On this week’s episode, I answer a listener question on how to teach a child to tell a good story in a conversational setting.

The ability to tell a great story is extremely valuable in all phases of life.

• When we train ourselves to tell a good story, we become more engaging to our peers, to authority figures, and to people we are in authority over.
• Being well liked by people can lead to a great number of additional opportunities.
• So we not only need to train our children to tell great stories, we need to train ourselves to tell great stories.

First, we need to train our kids to talk to all kinds of people.

• To train your child to tell a good story or anecdote, it’s very important that they watch adults tell good stories and anecdotes in conversational settings.
• Most kids grow up on the outside of those conversations. They don’t get to listen because the parents do not give them the opportunity to listen.
• Let them see adults in conversations. They tend not to act appropriately if they haven’t seen mature conversations before.

Encourage them to read.

• People who read books will learn things that fire their imaginations, and they’ll be able to bring those things into conversations beyond the books.
• People who watch TV generally talk about TV shows or the stars of TV shows.
• One of the best ways to learn how to communicate is by reading a book.
• Teach your kids to be good at learning in person when you’re with them, or when they are learning by themselves (when all they have is a book).

Questions for Listeners

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On this week’s episode, I answer a question on how to help a child when they’re having a tough time making friends.

How can you help when they say, “No one wants to be my friend?”

• It’s a focusing process.
• Our thinking is at the foundation of everything.
• It determines our choices, and everything about us.

When people are disgruntled or depressed, they’re thinking more about themselves.

• They aren’t thinking about whom they can serve and help.
• If you’re child is sad or scared about making friends or going over to a friend’s house, focus their mind on the fun activities or opportunities they have.
• I wouldn’t talk to your child about why no one wants to be his or her friend.
• Instead, direct their thinking to how they can be the greatest friend in the class.

Questions for Listeners

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• Phone: 1-800-726-ANDY
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On this week’s episode, I address a listener question on the questions I ask when first going into a consulting situation.

There are a couple things I’m looking for when deciding if I’ll take on a client.

• They have to be somebody that I like and connect with.
• They must have a great level of belief in their company or team.

You have to ask the questions that will lead you to their level of belief.

• I rarely ask, “What are your goals?” because people will lie or tell you what they think you want to hear.
• Ask, “What you we trying to do here?”
• Listen carefully to see what their level of belief is and what they ultimately want to accomplish.
• This can apply to all relationships: family, neighbors, teams, colleagues etc…

You’re going to have to come up with your own questions according to what you’re after and the people you are dealing with.

• If you’re going to be a guide, you have to see the future.
• You first need to find out where they want to be, so you can help lead them to it.
• Ask, “If you had a magic wand and could do anything you want, what would you do in this area?”

Questions for Listeners

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• Phone: 1-800-726-ANDY
• E-Mail: InTheLoop@AndyAndrews.com
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On this week’s episode, I discuss whether transparency helps or hurts your leadership potential.

I’m in a period of learning a ton right now.

• When it comes to my boys, I want them to understand that I’m still struggling to be wise in my choices and thinking everyday.
• We’ve heard leaders promise to be transparent and we see varying degrees of their choice to pulling that off.
• If you declare your intention to be transparent and you’re obviously not, then that hurts your leadership.
• Other than that, I do not see how transparency can hurt your leadership—UNLESS it reveals something about you that makes you not worthy of following. (details on what makes someone unworthy of following available in podcast)

As a leader, we’re human and we’re going to mess up.

• If you know the difference between a choice and a mistake, and you handle both in a proper way, your leadership will grow by leaps and bounds.
• When a choice has been made, only true remorse and “Will you forgive me?” can press the reset button.
• Would you rather follow somebody who knows how to get back on track when they mess up, or somebody who either bluffs their way through life or doesn’t understand where the track is to begin with?
• A good leader knows when they’re off track, they know why they got off track (whether they made a mistake, or whether they chose to), and they know how to handle each situation the right way.

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
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On this week’s episode, I discuss the little-known benefit of the hard times in our lives—and how my greatest struggles led me to my most important realizations.

During the time I was living under the pier and reading biographies, I was graphing out in my mind what had worked to make these people turn out like they did.

• I was at a point in my life when I had a tough time with, “Is there more?”
• I thought, were these people born this way, or was it something they did? What did they do and how long did it take them to do it?
• After reading that many of them, you start to realize the things these people have in common.
• I realized they weren’t habits, or theories, or really even mine. But I saw that they worked every time, and that they were principles.
• I began to think what happens to somebody who knows all seven?

A lot of people don’t understand there is huge value in tough times.

• To back this up this statement, my idea for the Seven Decisions came from a horrible time in my own life.
• I would not have read these biographies had I not been living under a pier.
• When you’re struggling in a certain area, you build muscle in that area. For the rest of your life, you are able to call upon that muscle.
• Tough times can often force us into different ways of thinking.

The situations that have been the biggest wins for me have been because I was forced to think differently.

• If everything were always in our control, none of us would ever struggle.
• The “worst” thing can actually turn out to be the greatest thing that ever happened to you, but ONLY if you allow it.

If you know people who would benefit from Andy’s books or materials, this episode would be a great one to share. It’s a great entry point to get people up to speed on who Andy is and what he wants to help you accomplish. Take a moment and forward this episode to a friend!

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
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