Q&A: Andy Andrews

May 13, 2003 -- In The Traveler's Gift: Seven Decisions That Determine Personal Success, author Andy Andrews weaves a fictional tale about a man who loses his job and money but finds his way after he's magically transported to seven key points in history.

Andrews joined a live discussion with Good Morning America viewers on Tuesday, May 13. The transcript follows.

Also: Read an excerpt from The Traveler's Gift — this month's GMA "Read This!" book club pick.

Moderator

Andy, welcome! Thanks for joining us today.

Andy Andrews

Thanks for the opportunity to be here. I'm anxious to hear the comments and field some questions.

Moderator

What prompted you to write The Traveler's Gift? How do you think this book can change people's lives?

Andy Andrews

When I was 19 years old, both of my parents died in the same year; my mom of cancer and my dad in a car accident. Through the next two or three years and a series of bad decisions — all my own, I might add — I ended up literally homeless, before that was even a word. I even slept occasionally under a pier on the Gulf Coast.

I remember hearing that old Bible verse: "God will put a man after his own heart where he wants him to be." And I remember thinking, "Thanks, you put me under a pier!"

So my question at that time was: Is life a lottery ticket, or is there something we can do to direct our progress and our growth and our success?

Here's what I did. I read hundreds of biographies at that time. Library cards are free, and I read biographies trying to find a common denominator between all of these successful, influential, happy people.

Is it something that they all were? Is it something they all did? Is it something they all became? What I found were seven common denominators between all of these successful people.

These seven principles became the seven decisions that are in The Traveler's Gift. Not coincidentally, they are also the seven decisions that I made to bring myself out of the circumstances that I was in 20 years ago.

The reason that these seven decisions are so critical and the reason that people recognize their power to change lives is that they are principles, not ideas; they are principles, not theories. A principle is something that works every time.

Curiously, a principle affects your life whether you are aware of it or not. For instance, the principle of gravity was working long before the apple ever fell on Newton's head. But once it did, and he understood it, then we as a society were free to harness this principle to create, among other things, airline flight.

The principles of personal success are exactly the same. They are affecting our lives, whether we know them or not. Therefore, shouldn't we harness them and place them in our lives, under our control, to create the future of our choosing?

One more point: The reason that these principles are called decisions in The Traveler's Gift, is that when you harness a principle and place it in your life, it has become a decision.

Moderator

Would you say this is self-help book?

Andy Andrews

I can see why people would term it that way, because one can certainly use the information to help oneself. But I really believe it's more of a life manual. These principles are things that you might have heard before, but maybe didn't understand how they fit into the context of your life, your happiness and your success.

I believe that any type of education can be great, but an education about ourselves can create something wonderful. I am a comedian, but people have called me a motivational speaker. I don't really consider myself that at all.

I am a teacher and the reason I'm a teacher is because I'm learning as hard as I can. I'm not any different from anybody else. I am searching and having some success finding answers.

The reason people think that I might be a motivational speaker is because they get excited about the material. But all I'm doing is teaching some common truths within a story. When people understand that they do have choices and understand which choices to make, they are excited about their future. (But if you're motivated when you get through with me, it's not my fault. Ha. Ha.)

Cathy asks:

How is this message different from all the other motivational and how to books I've read?

Andy Andrews

There's that motivational thing again! The book is different because it is put in the context of a story about a family with whom we can all relate.

I've never been labeled the smartest guy in the world, so I don't mind telling you that frankly text books and "how-to" manuals are boring to me. I have a hard time getting through some of them. But stories connect with me. Since I have a hard time reading text books, I sure couldn't write one. So I wrote a story.

In a period of time in our country when so many people are having a tough time financially, I have greater hope that this book will connect with them.

I get messages every day on my Web site, www.andyandrews.com, with people saying that they never liked motivational books per se, but this is a book that they're giving to their children and parents and friends. I'm very grateful for that because I feel like The Traveler's Gift was a gift to me too.

As an author, I believe The Traveler's Gift is the most important thing I have done. But one thing you might find curious is that I had begun to wonder if it would ever be published.

After I completed a manuscript, I went through three literary agents and 51 different publishers rejected it. It was obviously very different from anything that had been done in a while, and I'm not sure if people knew how to categorize it. In fact, if you look at some of those book lists, it's on a fiction list in one place, a nonfiction list in another, an advice list in another, religion in another. So I can see why they had a hard time categorizing it.

The wife of the executive vice president of publishing at Thomas Nelson Publishers, Gail Hyatt, saw the manuscript and convinced her husband, Mike (the big boss), that there was something there. I've been very grateful to Thomas Nelson.

But it is an amazing confirmation of the 7th Decision that Gabriel gives David Ponder in the warehouse: I will persist without exception.

Jambo asks:

How did you get to be an author, from being a comedian?

Andy Andrews

I always wanted to be a comedian when I was growing up because I knew that laughter was the outward expression of enthusiasm, and enthusiasm is the fuel that runs the world. People want to be around happy people. And I enjoy making people happy.

But I've always been a comedian with an underlying message. My last CD, entitled My Life So Far, is actually a combination of comedy with a couple of serious topics thrown in.

The Traveler's Gift was really an extension of my life — an extension of my own continuing search for answers. Remember, I'm still learning too, so if you come up with some answers that can help me, send me an e-mail!

Everybody has a book in them. Everybody has a story to tell, lessons they can teach. It just took me a while to really start paying attention to the things I was learning.

By the way, I hope I read your book one day.

IBC Bob L writes:

Andy, I read your book when it was first published and loved it! The section on Lincoln and forgiveness really validated a process I undertook years ago. I now believe that without forgiveness, one simply cannot grow.

My question is, where in heck do you come up with this stuff?

It's great! Keep up the good work!

Andy Andrews

You can really understand things like forgiveness when you live without it. And you can really understand how powerful it is to forgive when you have lived without forgiving.

How many times have I laid awake at night thinking about that specific person who did something to me or said something to me — I laid awake thinking what I should have said to them or done to them — and it occurs to me that they are just fast asleep, not even aware that I am spending energy on this.

When I understood that principle of forgiveness and how liberating it is to ourselves to forgive others even though they haven't asked for it, and even though they don't deserve it, it changed my life.

The principle of forgiveness is especially necessary to use with yourself. So many of us are caught up today in the guilt of what we said we were gonna do, or what we said we were gonna be. It's time to realize that nobody else is mad at you, so you don't need to be mad at you. Put down the whip you've been beating yourself with, and let's get on with our life.

Foncie in Mobile, Ala., writes:

I don't have a problem with the "motivational" thing. What I'm realizing is that some of the greatest "motivational doers" of all time are the historical figures David Ponder visits in The Traveler's Gift. How did you choose the figures that he would visit?

Andy Andrews

When I was doing the research, I knew what the principles were, and so I found the seven people throughout history that I felt best exemplified those decisions. But you are right on the mark that those people did live lives that are still affecting people today.

Kevin asks:

Do you feel that the message(s) contained in this book impact a larger (and younger) audience due to the "story" format in which it is written?

Andy Andrews

Without a doubt. Parents are giving this book to their children and children are actually enjoying it because of the story. But I also think that's why adults enjoy it too. Stories are just more fun. While a text book will connect with your head, a story has the power to connect with your heart.

Debbie in Salt Lake, Utah, asks:

What's next for Andy Andrews?

Andy Andrews

I'm working on a book right now for Thomas Nelson that I think will complement The Traveler's Gift, even though it's totally different. It too is a story that contains a basic message that I need to hear on a daily basis.

I will continue to speak and travel around the country. You can keep up with me on andyandrews.com.

I want to tell you all how much I appreciate your support of The Traveler's Gift. I feel like this is a tool we can use together to help people understand that their lives don't have to be just better; their lives can be incredible.

Always remember that no matter how tough things get, whether you're 20 or 30 — or 80 or 90 — if you are still breathing, your purpose on this Earth has not yet been fulfilled. There is more fun to have, more people to help, more life to live. You are not through.

It may be tough now, but you are only at halftime and nothing is LESS important in this game we call life than the score at half-time.

Moderator

Thanks to Andy Andrews — and all those who joined this chat session.