by admin | 26 Jul, 2025 | Andrew's Blog, Joyful Longevity
The tragedy for so many people – including myself for much of my life – is that they make decisions about what they can do and achieve based on what they already have and where they already are in life. The problem with making these kinds of decisions is that they’re limited by current reality and past experiences. Where you are right now may be tolerable to you, but is it the life of your dreams? If not, I encourage you to think about the possibilities of what it’s like on the other side.
There was a time when running a mile in under four minutes was considered impossible. Based on current and previous attempts, it was believed that there was no physical way a human could run that fast over a mile. All the experts agreed that the muscular structure couldn’t endure it, the lung capacity couldn’t sustain it, and it was an impossibility. Then, in 1954, along came Roger Bannister. He didn’t make his decision based on current reality or past performances, he decided he would explore his capacity and see what was on the other side. The result, he was the first man to ever break the four-minute mile barrier.
Then, guess what happened? In the next 12 months, 37 other people did the thing that was considered impossible, and in the following 12 months another 300 people broke the four-minute barrier for the mile. So, what happened in those two years where 337 people did what just two years earlier was considered impossible? Were they all of a sudden infused with greater lung capacity and muscular endurance? Did the training methods improve dramatically? Was the track surface improved and the quality of footwear of a higher standard?
Maybe a couple of those things happen, but certainly not in that two-year period. What really happened was that people got to see what was possible on the other side. So, where is the other side and what’s there? It’s a wonderful place where you are stronger, more joyful, enjoying the abundance that life has to offer, and is actually just a decision away.
For the last couple of weeks, as I have made reference to, I have faced a barrage of things happening in my life that would be considered undesirable. I won’t go into the gory details, however what I will say is there’s been a couple of times in this period I’ve been affected very heavily. If not for some wonderful people in my life, it would’ve been much more difficult. The thing that has helped me the most is knowing and believing that very soon I would be through it and on the other side. The other side is a wonderful place, and it is ready for you to start enjoying today.
On the other side of conflict is resolution. On the other side of adversity is opportunity. On the other side of a decision is hope. On the other side of a different choice, is a new direction. On the other side of a dark day is a new dawning. On the other side of a storm is a rainbow. No matter where you are right now in your life, no matter what you might be going through, on the other side is something wonderful.
All you need to do is believe it and expect it, and that is not always easy. The other side is really just a decision away, and as soon as the decision is made, you step across to that side. I couldn’t have predicted the path my life was about to take when I was in possibly the darkest place of my life. In $100,000 debt, working seven days per week in two businesses, one failing, and I had no life. I was feeling lost, alone, helpless, hopeless, and as deep into the mud and muck as I could be. In that moment, I started to imagine and visualise what the other side looked like. A life I loved. At that time came an idea, and with that idea a decision. Immediately after that decision, I stepped across to the other side. The decision was to write a book, and the other side was hope that I had the answer. As a result of that one seemingly illogical decision, my path changed, my life changed, and I am today, more than 20 years later, still enjoying the fruits of that decision.
What I am saying here is that the other side is waiting for you. All you have to do is decide and then step across. To help you with this exciting transition, please enjoy my two podcasts this week. I speak with Jeff Bailey in a fabulous podcast called Liberate the mind, and Caroline Trickey in a wonderful podcast called The pause. No matter where you are in life right now, have faith, get excited, make a decision, take a step, and you will be enjoying all the blessings that reside on the other side.
by admin | 19 Jul, 2025 | Andrew's Blog, Joyful Longevity
Perseverance is a powerful concept. All of us have used perseverance at least once in our lives to help us achieve something that we truly wanted deep in our hearts. Unfortunately, for most people, including myself, as much as we intellectually understand what perseverance means, what it requires, and what it can deliver in our lives, we don’t always let it do its work.
Perseverance works every single time, if we let it work. Perseverance requires no natural ability. Perseverance can never fail. Perseverance is available to every single person. Perseverance can help all of us create any outcome we would like. All of those statements are true. That being the case, why aren’t we all living the lives we are created for? Simple, we don’t let perseverance do its work. I need you to understand this idea very clearly; when you start in the process of creating any result you want, there are only two possible outcomes. You will either achieve it, or you will give up.
People believe that the two outcomes possible with any aspiration are success or failure. However, there is no failure if you persevere. There are lessons, modifications, and different approaches, but if you keep going, there is no failure, only the outcome you desire. The condition is that you allow perseverance to do its work. The definition of perseverance from a well-known online dictionary: continued effort to do or achieve something, even when this is difficult or takes a long time.
Perseverance is our servant, our employee, and our greatest ally. However, no servant, employee, or ally can help if you don’t let them work. In addition to that, all employees need certain things provided for them to work well; trust, training, purpose, and compensation. So, what does perseverance really need to work well? Simple; time, effort, perspective, and patience.
There is no way I would have ever played professional football if I hadn’t let perseverance do its work. It was 20 months between my first and second senior games of professional football. The only way I made it through all the rejection, heartbreak, doubt, fear, anger, frustration, and temptation to give up, was perseverance. I let it work, and it worked. It was that second game of professional sport which really started my career.
There is no way I would be the author of almost ten books today if I hadn’t let perseverance do its work. Over twenty years ago, I was working seven days per week in two businesses, and in almost $100,000 debt when I made a random decision to write a book. I believed it would be the ticket to help me live a life of meaning, joy, and abundance. I had no idea how to write a book, I had minimal time, and really didn’t know how long the process would take. Without letting perseverance do its work, I would not have survived the day-after-day struggle to find time, to believe I could write a book that would make any kind of difference in the world, or to find a publisher. Then after two years, with a publisher, I required more perseverance to see if it would sell and do what I needed to do to make it successful.
What perseverance delivered was beyond my imagination. Four years after starting this process, with no idea what I was doing, with just faith and allowing perseverance to do its work, I was able to retire from an 80-hour per week personal training career and get out of debt. All from the decision to write a book and allowing perseverance to do its work. Perseverance is the most powerful tool we all have, as long as we let it do its work.
It’s not all sunshine and roses, as I wish the same could be said for many other areas of my life where I didn’t let perseverance do its work. I gave up on playing the guitar far too soon when I was younger, and it’s something I regret today. I have lost many relationships because I didn’t allow perseverance to do its work in terms of building strong connections. Even today, as I am going through some challenges in my life, I am tempted to find a quick-fix and reaction-based answer, when the only way through is to let perseverance do its work.
I think I have made my point loud and clear. So, all I will ask you is, what area of your life do you know would be better, as you would like, if you just let perseverance do its work? I will leave you with that thought. To help, I would encourage you to listen to my podcasts from this week; When I stop fighting, with Daryl Dittmer, and The brain revolution, with Dominika Staniewicz. It works every time, and it will deliver everything you want, so, this week, why not just let perseverance do its work.
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 | 5 Jul, 2025 | Andrew's Blog, Joyful Longevity
I think it’s fair to say we all want freedom in our lives. There are many things limiting and constraining us we would love to break free from. I know that is certainly true for me. Many of the things we are trying to gain freedom in will take time and work. However, ultimate freedom is readily available and a decision.
Where would you like to create freedom in your life? Would you like to be free financially so that you can do all the things you want to do? Do you want to be free from health challenges and limitations so that you can be the best version of yourself? Do you want to be free from conflict so that you can enjoy amazing relationships? Do you want to be free from stress and anxiety so you can focus on things that are important? I think it is fair to say we all want these things.
All of those things will require focus, hence why maybe you haven’t achieved all of them at this point in your life. However, there is one type of freedom, the most important type of freedom, that is ultimate freedom, and you can have it right now if you choose. So, what is it?
That’s a great question, and as always, I’m not going to answer it straight away, but see if you can work it out. I’ve already told this story at some stage; and it goes back to the time when COVID-19 first started to impact our lives. As a speaker, a large percentage of my income relied on me standing in front of people and talking to groups. At the start of 2020, I had many paid speaking gigs booked for the first half of the year. It represented speaking to many people and earning many tens of thousands of dollars in return. We all know what happened in March 2020 when the word started spreading about this global pandemic.
All of a sudden, panic set in all around the world. Places started shutting down, events were canceled, and consequently, every single one of my paid speaking gigs evaporated in front of my eyes, all within a couple of days. Did I feel free at that time? Not only did I not feel free, I felt imprisoned by uncertainty, by anxiety, by all the things I could no longer do. In that moment, fear rose in my body, anxiety hit me, and I slid down the wall and dissolved into a massive and earth-shattering tantrum. After about 15 minutes of stomping, crying, swearing, and all the other normal stuff that goes along with a tantrum, I stopped myself.
In that moment I knew there was only one person responsible for moving forward positively and productively, and that person was me. I decided to stop focusing on all the things I’d lost, all the things I couldn’t do, and the uncertainty of the future, and I responded by asking myself a question. The question was, there are things that, right now, I can’t do. So, what can I do? In a heartbeat, God went to work putting ideas in my mind about all the things I could do at that time. I knew there was a greater need for my message and skillset. I knew that, with technology, everything I was doing face-to-face, I could do online. I knew that I could move from a local audience to a global audience. In that moment, I felt ultimate freedom to do whatever I wanted to do. I felt empowered, excited, and free.
Within a few short weeks and months, I had replaced the speaking gigs I had lost, and was working with companies, schools, and groups, not just in Melbourne, but all over the world. 2020 and 2021 were the best two years I have ever had from a speaking and influencing perspective. This situation taught me about ultimate freedom. It taught me that circumstances are not my prison. It taught me that losing money was not a limiting factor. It taught me very clearly that ultimate freedom is not something I have to earn or work for, but something I already have within me. Have you guessed it yet?
Ultimate freedom is contained in one word. That word is responsibility. Really? That’s it? I can hear you asking. Yes, that is it. Let’s just look a little more closely at the word, because it is the amalgamation of two words that made this a little clearer for me. Those two words are Response Ability. In other words, your ability to respond, not react. Reacting happens when we look directly at the circumstance and think about how and why it is so bad. Responding is looking at how the situation can actually work for you. Can you see the massive difference? Reacting will imprison you in fear, lead to poor choices, and trap you in a dark place. Responding will liberate your mind, open up options for you to learn, grow, and improve and give you ultimate freedom to be the best version of yourself.
This message is very much reinforced in my podcasts this week with Wilk Wilkinson, called Ultimate Freedom, and Back pain be gone, with Ben O’Loghlin. The next time something happens in your life that looks on the surface, like a bad thing, ask yourself a very simple question. That question; how is this happening for me? The moment you ask that question, ultimate freedom is yours. It will unlock ideas, it will empower you, and it will leave you knowing that you can never be held hostage by any circumstance ever again. That truly is ultimate freedom.
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.
