Don't miss my big, time-sensitive announcement in this episode! 

"Time allows you to seek wisdom and understand what you've gone through so you can help other people with what you've learned."

From homeless to bestselling author. From small-town Alabama to on-stage in front of thousands. From hating 6th grade football to working with the last nine college football national championship teams:

My guest today has spent his lifetime gathering unbelievable observations and insights many of us would miss - and then - packaging them up to share with the world.

Andy Andrews has written 20 books with more than 3 million copies in circulation. I am one of Andy's biggest fans and he is one of the most pure-hearted people I've met. Let me introduce to you our newest Live Inspired friend, Andy Andrews.

SHOW NOTES

• His 8th grade teacher has been one of the most influential people in his life. THANK YOU to all of our teachers in the Live Inspired community. YOU make a huge difference!
• Andy's worked on mental toughness and strategic thinking with the the last 9 college football national championship teams.
• "Quitting is a habit. Theres no penalty for quitting today, everyone just says 'you tried!' But when you persist without exception, there's something in you that figures out a way, something lasting." [Tweet this.]
• "It's about what you're becoming. You're finding a way where there doesn't seem to be one."
• Andy's first New York Times bestselling book The Travelers Gift was turned down by 50 publishers before it was picked up by one. Today, it's in 40 languages and one million copies have sold.
• We can't fix other people, we have to fix ourselves. 
  
  
• How did you get out of being homeless? There's the answer I'd have told you when I got out, the one I'd have told you 10 years later and the one I'd tell you now. Time allows you to seek wisdom and understand what you've gone through so you can help other people with what you've learned.
• A guy named Jones came up to me under my pier and encouraged me to read biographies. I hated them at first, but then I started seeing a pattern emerging. After 60 books, I realized there were 7 things all the people had, but they'd only harnessed 2 or 3. I started thinking, what happens to someone who harnesses all 7? I used those principles to get myself out from under the pier.
  
  • These principles were the basis for the my book The Travelers Gift.
• One principle is "responsibility" which is typically thought of in extremes. "Until these people accept responsibility..." - or - "Its not their fault!" But, responsibility is about hope and control. Hope for a greater future that they can control. [Tweet this.]
  • If you blame your mom, economy, neighbor, spouse - there's not hope because there is no control.
  • If you own that you made choices to get yourself to a place that you DON'T like, isn't it great news that you can then make decisions to get you to a place you DO like?
• Andy's newest book The Little Things: "No matter if you create a masterpiece or disaster it's made 1 decision, 1 tiny brush stroke at a time."
  • I was helping to double and triple my clients businesses, but I realized the little things I'd figured out that I was putting in place for them, I had never written down. Now it's all in this book.
• If you want incredible results, understand it will not happen doing what you've been doing or what "the industry does." I help people compete at a level the competition doesn't know there is a game going on.
  
• Everyone competes the same way and because they do: It's easy to find little things that make a big difference. It comes from looking in the other direction. [Tweet this.]
• Customer satisfaction is the lowest bar you can possibly hit and stay in business. Anything less than that, you're in trouble.
• The greatest advertisement you can have is word of month. It trumps everything.
• Everyone competes with price and product. That doesn't work. I don’t care what industry you are in, the product is you.

ANDY ANDREWS'S INSPIRED 7 

1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? Greatest Salesman, Og Mandino

2. Tomorrow you discover your wealthy uncle shockingly dies at the age of 103; leaving you millions. What would you do? I would buy timber land. I would be very quiet about it because I know right now I might be mentally and emotionally able to handle that, but most people are not. I'd use the timber land to be self sustaining and help people; be valuable to charitable organizations.

3. Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be? My mamma's bible. Her notes are in there and her underlines. Since my mom died so long ago, there are so many things I'd ask today if I could. Today I can go through her bible and get a good idea of her thinking.

One note she wrote, "God does not have to heal me to prove to me who He is. I am fine."

4. You are sitting on a bench overlooking a gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it be? Winston Churchill. 

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? I continue to unpack this one, from 35 years ago. The Noticer, that book tells the story of old man Jones, the man who befriended Andy when he was homeless under the pier. "Most people live their entire lives and never understand: You can't believe everything you think."

6. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself at age 20? Be patient. God is under no obligation to tell you what he is doing in your life. Though you may be angry and not understand, or wish He did things differently or think He's left you, if you just remember what has happened, if you look behind you, you will see His hand on your shoulder every step of the way. Calm down.

7. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read? He was a great father, husband and friend, he followed his heart and provided value for his fellow man.

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Live Inspired – IN STUDIO: For the first time ever, John is launching IN STUDIO – a LIVE, virtual monthly experience. Registration opens in April for a limited time. Learn more: www.JohnOLearyInspires.com/In-Studio

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I can’t wait to see you here next Thursday! Today is your day. Live Inspired.

Live Inspired with John everyday on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest and get his Monday Motivation email: www.JohnOLearyInspires.com/Monday-Morning