by admin | 29 Aug, 2025 | Andrew's Blog, Mindset
Have you noticed the impact words have on your life? Have you ever felt inspired, encouraged, and empowered to take action and do something great? On the flipside, have you ever felt discouraged, anxious, angry, or hopeless? I think it would be fair to say we all experience all of these emotions, and many others. It’s these emotions that move us into action or inaction, and all emotions are triggered by words. Make no mistake about it, whether empowering or destructive, words always work.
I know this stuff, I practice this stuff, yet I’m still impacted by words. I think, as humans, all of us are, no matter how developed we are in this space and how much we think we know. Words still and will always have an impact on us. I had a recent experience that reminded me of this powerful message. I was out training the other morning. It was leg day and leg day hurts. I was doing some high step ups out of the sand down at the beach. It’s actually quite impressive, if I do say so myself.
As always, whilst training, people jog, walk, and ride past. I enjoy the social aspect of my morning exercise as I often get to say hello to some people as they pass. Every now and then someone will make a positive comment that is very encouraging. Something like, wow that’s really impressive, good on you, or you are so dedicated. Those comments, whilst they seem very simple, really help me. The leg workout is not an easy one, and any word of encouragement makes a difference and supports me to get through it.
The other morning, I did get a couple of positive and encouraging comments which were very helpful. At one point, a lady jogged past. She was not young. In fact, if I’m honest, I’d probably put her in the elderly category. In my estimation she was probably in her late 70s or early 80s, which is incredibly impressive. She ran past once, I smiled and said good morning to her. I got no recognition or response. I just kept on squatting, lunging, and stepping. About 30 minutes later, she jogged past again from the other direction. I was in the middle of doing my impressive steps out of the sand, she looked at me, no smile, and instructed, keep your back straight, and she kept running.
As I said earlier, I totally understand this space. I understand the power of words, and I also understand that other people‘s opinion shouldn’t affect me. However, her words stung a little bit. Even though, I’m sure, in her mind she was trying to help me, the tone of her voice and the dismissive manner in which she spoke to me was actually quite abrupt, and if I’m being truthful and a little vulnerable, it was a bit hurtful. I pondered on it for a while and thankfully got over it quite quickly.
What it did reinforce, was the power of words. They always work. They work to lift, heal, encourage, and empower. They also work to hurt, harm, discourage, and destroy. Many people who speak to themselves, or others, don’t really think about the impact of their words. A throw-away comment to yourself like, I’m such an idiot or to someone else such as, you always get it wrong. Will have a very destructive impact on yourself, and the person you’re speaking to. Words always work.
On the flipside, when you lift yourself and speak highly of yourself, you will empower yourself to great things. When you can support, encourage, and compliment other people you help them have the courage to initiate positive action. Again, I want to say this so that you hear it, words always work. I know you will remember a time, even many years ago, when words had a powerful impact on and in your life. In fact, those words may still be affecting your life today, in a great way or a devastating way. I have spoken about the teachers who said to me as a child, over 50 years ago, I wish you were more like your brother. Thisaffected my life and how I felt about myself for decades. I also remember, very clearly, the words my parents said to me as a child, that I could do anything I wanted in life.
All I want to ask of you this week is to monitor the words you say to yourself and to other people. They are working to build or to destroy. If you catch yourself being critical, insulting, abusive, or discouraging, please stop, reflect, and recalibrate. You know how words have been and are working in your life, so now is the time to make sure they are working to build, encourage, and empower yourself and others. Don’t miss my wonderful podcast this week with Lisa Johnson, called Getting you back. Her words are impactful, your words are impactful, so never forget that words always work.
by admin | 15 Aug, 2025 | Andrew's Blog, Mindset
There are times in my life when I have felt incredibly stuck. Times, when I was in a situation and I wanted to get out, but I just didn’t know how. In business, financially, in relationships, and in many other areas. I just felt stuck. What I didn’t realise at the time was that the actual escape vehicle was already there to take me to freedom.
I’m sure you’ve heard this story before, but it’s worth repeating. Because the message is valuable, and I hope it prompts you to realise the fact that your escape vehicle is already there, waiting for you to get on.
The story is about the guy who was stuck on his roof as storm waters were rising. He was a Christian man, and as he sat on the roof, the rain waters rising, he prayed to God to be saved. He had total faith his God would rescue him. The water kept rising and rising, and as it was touching his feet, a boat came past. The guy in the boat said to him, quickly, jump in and I’ll save you. The man on the roof said, no thank you, it’s okay I know my God will save me.
The rain kept coming, the water kept rising, and as it was climbing past his belly and up to his chest a helicopter flew and hovered just above him. The door opened, a rope ladder dropped, and instructions came to jump on to be lifted out. Again, the man said, no thank you, my God will save me. He refused to climb the ladder, so the helicopter flew off to save other people. The water kept rising eventually reaching his neck, then rose over his head, and the man drowned.
He went up to Heaven, and he was cranky. He started knock knock knocking on Heaven‘s door, and when he entered, he found God to confront him. He said, I waited and waited for you to save me, and you didn’t come, and now I’m dead. God replied, I sent you a boat and a helicopter, what else did you want?
As I said, it’s an oldie but a goodie, and it has a very valid and important message I encourage you to ponder on. Are there any areas of your life where you feel stuck, yet the escape vehicle is right in front of your nose? It may not be as obvious as the boat and the helicopter, but it is there nevertheless, as long as you open your eyes and look for it.
It’s a little bit like a term that I know as domestic blindness. I have it! I look in the fridge and ask, where is the yoghurt? I look and I look but just can’t see it. However, if someone else opens the fridge they’ll see it sitting right there. It was right in front of my nose, but for some reason I missed it. Maybe because it was so obvious. What are you missing because maybe it’s too obvious?
What if the answer to you getting unstuck and free from your health concerns is just opening the front door and going out for a walk? What if the escape from your financial challenges is waiting for you to open your mind to other options that you can do outside your normal work hours? What if the solution to your relationship issues is simply having an open and honest conversation with your partner?
Have you ever been offered something by someone and, without really considering it, said no? What if that was an escape option? Have you ever said to yourself, you need to start doing something or stop doing something, and then talk yourself out of it? What if that was the escape option? What if changing your life was as simple as opening your heart and your mind, and getting out of your own way, to take advantage of the amazing people, resources, and options that are available to you right now?
Honestly, it’s that simple. Just open your eyes and see what’s all around you. I promise, the solution to help you escape and get unstuck is right in front of your nose. To help with this journey, my two podcasts this week are awesome. I speak with Laura Bratton in a podcast called, Grief, grit, and gratitude. I also speak with Michael Hession in a podcast called The two superpowers.
We make life way more complicated than it needs to be. We get so caught up in our challenges, problems, and stresses, that we are blinded to and miss the obvious answers and solutions that are right there waiting for us. This week, please look up, look around, and you’ll see that your escape vehicle is already there waiting for you.
by admin | 9 Aug, 2025 | Andrew's Blog, Mindset
Let me tell you what is you. You are incredible. You are good enough. You have amazing potential. You have endless capacity. You have an abundance of love to give. You are incredibly loveable. You are capable. You are resilient. You are passionate. You have been created for greatness. Whatever you believe in conflict with any of these things, is not you.
I have some fantastic people in my life who I love dearly. I’m so grateful to have all of them in my life. I’m sure you feel the same as me, when I say, I wish some of them believed about themselves the same way I believe about them. In the same way, I know, at times, I may be lacking in self-belief, when I know other people have incredible belief in me. At times, more than I have in myself. With all the things I could focus on, and all the things you could focus on, why do we choose to focus on the things that are really not us?
The other day I was sitting with an incredibly important person in my life who is going through a serious health challenge. Whilst the condition was having a significant impact on her physical health, I knew as we spoke, it was her mindset and belief system that needed most attention. I’ve quoted many times from Craig Groeschel’s book, The Power to Change. In it he says, you do what you do because of what you think of you. This is such a powerful concept, playing out in every single person’s life, and the outcomes experienced depend on one thing. That is, what you think of you.
As I was talking to this beautiful human, I could hear the fear in her voice, the doubt about herself, lack of self-worth, anger towards her family and even God. As the words were coming out of her mouth, all I could say to her is, ‘this is not you’. I know this person to be a positive, passionate, empathetic, loving, compassionate, holistic, healthy, and very spiritual human. However, with everything happening in her life, she had been overcome by negative thoughts, damaging self-talk, and lies.
All I could do was remind her of the amazing person she is, the love and support she has around her, and a God who loves her and can heal. She knows this stuff, however, she had let the lies start to take over her thinking, and her life. Don’t we all do that at times? Don’t we all spiral into doubt, fear, and insecurity at times? I know I certainly do. What I now know is, whenever I’m thinking poorly of myself, doubting myself, or questioning whether I’m good enough, I know enough to stop myself. I know that’s not me.
What is me, is a loving, caring, empathetic, compassionate, resilient, resourceful, creative, purposeful, and passionate human being. I am a child of God, and I am loved beyond measure. That is my truth and all the stuff that contradicts that is 100% lies. I know that now. I know who I am, and I know who I am not, and I choose to focus on who I am. I encourage you to do the same.
Remember, you do what you do because of what you think of you. That means, if you think you’re good enough, think you’re worthy, think you are created for great things, then you will do what you need to do to create an incredible life for yourself and others. However, the flipside is also true. If you doubt yourself, if you think you’re not good enough, if you think you can’t do it, or that people won’t accept you or love you for who you are, then you will act in a way that supports those lies. The result of this is a life that you’ll end up regretting. That’s not what you want, that’s not what I want, so focus on who you are and know when to say, that’s not me.
In my podcasts this week, I have amazing conversations with two wonderful humans. I speak with Nate Turner in a podcast called Lawnmower, rake, and shovel. I also talk with Jodi Gonzales in a podcast called Creativity is your Compass. Both will help you focus on who you really are; someone who is wonderful, worthy, and always welcome. This week, I urge you to spend some time reflecting on what actually is you, and what definitely isn’t?
by admin | 12 Jul, 2025 | Andrew's Blog, Mindset
I really surprised myself this week. For much of my life, I have reacted poorly to things that have happened. Often, things in the big picture which are not that big a deal, but in the moment seem earth shattering. However, there is an incredible thing called perspective, which has helped me enormously. So, what I’ve discovered this week, despite the things I don’t have, I’m incredibly grateful for what I do.
The best way to describe the week I’ve just had, is a personal growth week. That’s a polite way of putting it. I won’t bother you with all the things that happened; however, there’s one experience I want to talk about, because there’s a powerful lesson. Every Wednesday afternoon and evening I volunteer to spend time with, feed, and connect with homeless people around the city of Melbourne. They come into a venue in the city, to connect, to eat, to be warm, and to feel normal for a short amount of time. It is something that I love to do and is an incredibly fulfilling part of my life.
On Wednesday just gone, I made a rookie error. I put down my mobile phone and turned my back away from it for a moment. I was playing music from my phone via Bluetooth through a large speaker and put my phone on top of the speaker. I then got distracted. As I was talking with someone, I noticed the music had stopped playing. I turned around and my phone was gone. I’m not sure how you would respond to that, however as for many people, everything – and I mean everything – is on my phone. In times past, I would’ve spiralled into victim mode. I would’ve gotten angry, been stressed and anxious, and I would’ve been incredibly angry that someone had stolen my property. However, this time, for some reason, I was surprisingly calm.
I’m not sure why, as my life was on my phone, and tragically, I knew I hadn’t backed everything up. Therefore, I knew I was going to lose a fair bit of stuff. So, not only did I lose my phone, but I lost a whole heap of photos, many messages, and a lot of other things that are important to me. I thought, incredibly, yes, someone has taken my phone, and really, I should be angry, but I’m not. Why? Because, at the end of the night, I just walked out of that building without my phone, and most of the homeless people walked out that night without a home to go to or a bed to sleep in. I got to walk out of the building with a great life, a partner who loves me, with friends and family I am grateful for, a home to go to, and purpose in my life. I didn’t have the phone, but I did have a cause for celebration.
As I thought about the person who stole my phone, I reflected on the reason why they would’ve done that. I thought about the life they must be living, the struggles they must be having, and the fear that must be in their life. I then again thought about my life, the love, the security, the resources, and the joy that I have. And I realised I’m not the victim here, I am absolutely the blessed one.
Isn’t it easy to focus on the things we don’t have? The problem with that, is the more we focus on what we don’t have, the less chance we will ever have those things. So, my greatest encouragement for you this week is to focus on what you do have, because when you do, you’ll realise you’ve got so much to be grateful for. And, what you focus on, you will attract into your life. So, please focus on the amazing things you already have. You may want more money, but I am sure you have enough now. You may want more friends, but I am sure you have some great ones already. You may want more energy, but don’t forget to celebrate the wellbeing you already have. Are you getting my drift?
This week I have published two cracking podcasts that will help you in this area. I talk with Justin Grifford in a podcast called Start poorly, and Mort Orman in a podcast called Embrace wrongness. Just remember, every day and every situation provides an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to find joy and purpose in life. It is my greatest encouragement this week, that you spend more time focussing on what you have.
by admin | 26 Jun, 2025 | Andrew's Blog, Mindset
So, I was driving along earlier in the week and thinking about what I could possibly write about for my next blog. This blog, in fact. Then I thought to myself, something is going to happen in this moment that will trigger a topic. It might be something I’m listening to, something that I see, something that prompts an idea or a thought. Guess what happened? My focus on the magic in the moment is the reason I’m writing this blog.
Ironically, I was listening to an audio at the time. The speaker was talking about a moment that changed his life. In that moment, it was a sign that he saw that simply stated, ‘today is the first day of the rest of your life’. In that very moment, he said, he stopped focusing on the past and his previous mistakes and started focusing on what he could do in that moment to create a better future.
Would you agree, that’s pretty incredible? As I was thinking about finding something in the moment to trigger an idea for a blog, a speaker was talking about something that happened in a moment that changed his life forever? Wow. The power of our mind and what we can attract when we focus on the right thoughts and the magic that’s in every single moment.
Tragically, I have missed so many of the moments in my life. Too busy stressing, putting out fires, worried about what I should’ve done, what I need to do, what I don’t like, what I wish was different, and all the other rubbish I was allowing to occupy my mind at that time of my life. What I didn’t realise was that the answer to all of my challenges lay in the magic of the very moment I was in.
All the things that I was stressing about could’ve been solved in an instant by changing my perspective. All the fires I was trying to put out could’ve been resolved in a heartbeat, by focusing on a simple solution. All the things I was worried I should’ve done, could’ve been answered in that moment by starting to do them. All the things I was thinking that I needed to do, could’ve been transformed in that moment by thinking that I got to do them. All the things I was focused on that I didn’t like, could’ve very quickly been changed in the magic of the moment by focusing on what I do like. All the things that I wished were different in my life, could’ve been changed in a heartbeat by focusing on exactly what I was able to do in that very moment.
The moment is the only time you and I have. It’s the only time you and I will ever have. It’s the only time when things can change. It’s the only time when we can use our past as a blessing and as a teacher. It’s the only time when we can take action to predictably ensure a future that we love. It’s the only time to be grateful. It’s the only time to show love and care for others. It’s the only time to take action. It’s the only time that will make any difference. It’s the time when magic happens. In this moment.
What are you focused on? What are you worried about? What do you wish was different? No matter what the challenge, the struggle, the adversity, or the situation, it can be solved in a place where magic happens. That is, in the moment.
In my wonderful podcast conversations this week, my guests and I talk about this very kind of magic that happens in the moment. I speak with Dr. Glenn Toby in a podcast called The story, not the glory, and with Gretchen Schoser, in a podcast called Laugh, love, and live. The conversations are full of ideas and tips to help make the most of the magic that is in every moment.
Life can be so complicated if we let it. On the other hand, it can be incredibly simple, meaningful, and enjoyable. The secret is to focus on the magic of the moment.
by admin | 21 Jun, 2025 | Andrew's Blog, Mindset
Every one of us has a sticking point. Every one of us wishes we were further ahead in certain areas of our life. Every one of us has a good list of reasons why we are not. I’m guessing, the things that you would like to achieve in your life are important to you. Would I be correct? If that is the case, I think it’s very worthwhile analysing what is stopping you and being honest with yourself as to whether it is actually the real reason.
I can remember many times in my life when there was something I wanted to achieve, but I didn’t. Why? Not because I couldn’t or because I wasn’t good enough, instead, it was because of all the reasons I had convinced myself of. Reasons like; too busy, I don’t know enough, I don’t know how, it’s not the right time, and all the other rubbish I fed myself. They were all the wrong reasons. If you are starting to feel a little bit uncomfortable right now, good!
I was at a stage in my life, where I was at the beginning of a business and wanted to really get it moving, however, I was feeling stuck. There were certain things I needed to do that I wasn’t doing. Things that included, meeting new people, making a list of potential prospects, making phone calls, and following up. I made all the excuses and had all the reasons why it wasn’t the right time, I didn’t have enough time, I didn’t know enough, and I didn’t know exactly what to say. I kept on procrastinating because I wasn’t paying attention to the real reason.
I was at a seminar once where the speaker discussed this very subject and gave the audience two options. First, he would teach us everything we needed to know about meeting people, contacting people, and getting a positive result. He told us he would teach us all the scripts, everything that’s worked for him, and everything he knew about being wildly successful. That was option one. Option two, he explained he would stop the meeting right there and not teach us another thing. Instead, for each single person we made contact with, over the next 60 minutes, he would give us $1000. When he asked people to put their hand up if they needed more information, no one did, everyone felt confident they could go out and get results.
Isn’t that interesting? So actually, time, knowledge, the right scripts, and all the other reasons that we give ourselves are not the real reasons. For a bigger reward, we could all go and get the job done. Again, the question, what is the real reason why I’m not doing what I need to do?
So, what is it for you? Are you procrastinating on starting an exercise regime or eating better? Do you feel like you need more time, willpower, information, or knowledge? What if I gave you $1000 every morning you got up and went for a walk or run? So, what is the real reason? Are you struggling to resolve some kind of conflict in your life? Is it because you think it’s the other person’s responsibility, or because you don’t know what to say? What if I gave you $1000 to simply resolve it? So, what’s the real reason?
Are you getting my point? Often, the real reason is not all the things we may be convincing ourselves are relevant. Instead, if we’re being honest, the real reason is fear. We just don’t like to admit we are scared. However, if you’re procrastinating or putting off anything that’s important to you, I guarantee you that fear is the reason. When you understand that, then you can go to work to find some solutions and answers that get you to move beyond the fear to create the life you want.
In this blog, I’m not going to tell you how to do that, all I suggest right now is that you destroy all the reasons that you’re giving for not doing the things you know you should be doing. Be honest and admit to yourself what is actually the real reason. Once you’ve done that, there is someone who can help you find a solution to move you beyond the fear. I’m not going to give you $1000 every time you do any of the things we mentioned. However, trust me, find your real reason, identify your fear, overcome it, and it will be worth so much more to you than any amount of money I could give you.
Both of my podcasts this week will help you find and overcome fear in your life. I encourage you to listen to Faith is the key with Trevor Dunbar and others. You can spend your life making excuses about why you are not doing what you know you should be doing, but that will stop you from enjoying abundance in life. Find the real reason, deal with it, and move on to create the best life you can.
