Andy McDowell Joins Us On Join Up Dots Podcast
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Introducing Andy McDowall
Andy McDowell is an engineer by trade and a creative by nature and the founder of generateyourvalue.com
He spent 22 years with the Boeing Company, where he always felt more like a life coach than a boss.
In 2002, he began his journey into entrepreneurship within a Corporation when he was asked to develop an Airspace Design Consulting business from scratch that would serve the global government market.
Now at his core he believes that leadership of your life starts with an evaluation of how you are generating value in your own life and how that translates into your business life and relationships.
As he says “Wow…..what a crazy adventure, right? Putting yourself out there in the form of a business can be quite frightening.
To share your thoughts, ideas and creativity in hopes that others have a need for your offering(s).
How The Dots Joined Up For Andy
We are all born with a purpose in life to give to this world.
To bring value to the lives of others and create connections.
That’s what I hope to do with this business is to bring my talents and experiences to assist you in what it means to bring value to this world in your personal and business life.
To do so means that we are being a leader of our own life.
A good steward of the purpose we were given upon our creation.
So where is he hoping that this business takes him and how does he structure it so it really fuels him emotionally. spiritually and health wise?
And why does he say when someone says “No Andy, there is no way i am a leader it’s just not in me?”
Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Andy McDowell.
Show Highlights
During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Andy McDowell such as
Andy shares the difficult relationship he had with his father and why he feels it was a big start to finding himself business wise.
We talk about the reasons why Andy knew that he couldn’t do something on his own, and has to surround himself with others greater than himself.
Why your number one focus is to create the greatest experience for the customer that you possibly can every single time.
And lastly……
Andy believes that you must have faith in something whether its god, family or whatever…belief is what keeps you going.
Return To The Top Of Andy McDowell
If you enjoyed this episode with Andy McDowell, why not check out other inspirational chat with David Kadavy, Alana Hurd, Joshua Spodek, and the amazing Oscar Trimboli
You can also check our extensive podcast archive by clicking here – enjoy
Full Transcription of Andy McDowell Interview
Intro [0:00]
Life shouldn’t be hard life should be a fun filled adventure every day. So now start joining up dots tap into your talents, your skills, your God given gifts and tell your boss, you don’t deserve me. I’m out of here. It’s time for you to smash that alarm clock. And start getting the dream business and wife you will, of course, are dreaming of. Let’s join your host, David route from the back of his garden in the UK, or wherever he might be today with another JAM PACKED episode of the number one hit podcast. Join Up Dots.
David Ralph [0:40]
Yeah, good morning. Good morning, and welcome to the Join Up Dots podcast. Thank you so much for being here and sharing us your ears. But for probably an hour or so I think this podcast interview is gonna be about an hour. Well, today’s guest is a guy who has spent 22 years with the Boeing Company, where we kind of almost felt like a life coach more than a boss. And he’s sort of entrepreneurship journey started in 2002 When When Finn the corporation, he was asked to develop an aerospace design consulting business from scratch that would serve the global government market. Now, at its core, he believes that leadership of your life starts with an evaluation of how you’re generating value in your own life, and how that translates into your business life and relationships. As he says, What a crazy adventure, right? putting yourself out there in the form of a business can be quite frightening to share your thoughts, ideas and creativity and hopes that others have a need for your offerings. Well, we’re all born with a purpose in life, to give this to the world and to bring value to the lives of others and create connections. And that’s what I hope to do with the business is to bring my talents and experience to assist you in what it means to bring value to this world, in your personal and business life. So when is he hoping that this business takes him and how does he structure it? So it really fuels him emotionally, spiritually and health wise. And what does he say when someone says no, Andy, there’s no way I’m a leader. It’s just not in me. What does he actually say to them? Well, let’s find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Andy McDowell. Good morning, Andy. How are you?
Andy McDowell [2:26]
Good morning, David. Greetings from across the pond. Great to be with you today.
David Ralph [2:30]
It’s lovely. You are in Atlanta, Georgia. Are we moving into sunshine? Are we up to our neck in the snow? What what’s the kind of web of buy but is it a positive world to be in?
Well, we got blue skies today. But unfortunately, we have more July weather than we have May weather,
which is good news.
Andy McDowell [2:50]
We’re very hot. Yeah,
David Ralph [2:51]
that’s what you want. You want you want to be out in your fong and you want to be out there hanging out? Don’t you want to sort of just be surfing and doing what you American kids do?
Andy McDowell [3:02]
Yeah, it’s certainly better than the wintertime. But we summertime here in Atlanta, Georgia, we have what I call weather that you wear. From the standpoint of the humidity. As soon as you walk out of the grocery store, you’re wearing the weather,
David Ralph [3:16]
I have a highest pneumonia rate in the world is Arizona, where everyone comes out of their house, freezing cold getting into their car freezing cold, but in the bit in between your body’s going up and down, up and down. They all get pneumonia? Did you know that?
Andy McDowell [3:32]
No, I didn’t know that. But my brother just moved to the Phoenix area. So I have to ask him about that. Yeah,
David Ralph [3:36]
ask about his health every three days just to make sure just start phoning it now, what do you mean Andy about value in your business and personal life? I can understand value in business. But what do you mean about generating value in your own life?
Andy McDowell [3:54]
Well, it’s, it’s really about having a life of service to others, right? Studies have found that you achieve the highest levels of joy, happiness and success in your life when you have a mindset and a life of service to others. So in your personal life, where where do you have the potential ality if you will for service to others, with your spouse, with your children with your close and immediate friends, to the community around you, to your country to the world, you know, sort of expand that if you will, as you go up those levels, but how are you living a life from your mindset, your attitudes, your behaviour and so forth? In your approach to life that’s going to offer value to the world to service needs of the world if you will. Now
David Ralph [4:48]
the majority of people out there will be saying I’ve got nothing to offer the world. I just go to work. I just come home. I munch Doritos while watching Netflix. I’ve got nothing It’s an offer. What do you say to them?
Andy McDowell [5:03]
I say horse hockey.
David Ralph [5:05]
I’ve never heard that before horse hockey. What does that mean?
Andy McDowell [5:08]
Horse hockey? Well, your neck of the woods is probably bollocks.
David Ralph [5:12]
Oh, okay. Yeah, I understand that, yes. From that
Andy McDowell [5:15]
perspective that we as human beings are, for example, all human beings are born with creativity. And the problem that we have as human beings is that we have images of Van Gogh and Picasso and celebrities and musicians, so forth, you know you to that, if I’m going to have creativity, then that’s what I have to achieve. And I have to achieve it in a week. As opposed to saying to yourself, Well, I’m creative. Every day, I go into my kitchen, and I make myself dinner and being creative.
David Ralph [5:53]
You haven’t seen my kids is so handy, you don’t see my kids.
Andy McDowell [5:58]
You want to go out with the friends and have a good time have an experience? Well, that’s an act of creativity to decide where you’re going to do that, and what you’re going to have a conversation about, and things such as that. So creativity, for me is a muscle. But you’ve got to work, in practice, in their easy areas in your life, that you can start with it. And then take a risk through fear out the window and go after it in an area that is creative in nature and something that you think you might enjoy, if you don’t already know that you enjoy it. So
David Ralph [6:38]
and do you think you’re more creative as sort of little people as kids? Do you think when you’re not worried about being judged? That you’re more creative?
Andy McDowell [6:48]
Yeah, those are the things that stop us right? fear, shame. Judgement, is what stops us from being creative.
David Ralph [6:56]
And once you’ve been that, that starts fine, because I you know, we all have little kids bring us pictures back that are absolute rubbish. And we go, Oh, that’s lovely. That’s brilliant. That’s fantastic. I’ll stick it up on my fridge. It’s rare that a kid will bring it back to you. You go, Oh, look at that. What have you been doing that? That’s That’s useless, you still sort of big remap? So when do you think they start to lose it?
Andy McDowell [7:23]
If I were to guess I would say in the preteen or early teenage hood, when we start comparison ourselves to others, right? She’s prettier than I am. He’s more handsome than I am. he or she’s better at painting or playing a guitar or at sports or, you know, chatting it up with the girls or the guys, you know, kinds of things that we feel like we have to match or do better. Because of the comparison that starts enter in our life. At that point, I believe
David Ralph [7:58]
I was terrible. I don’t know. I’m even gonna tell you this. I was terrible at realising that I was chatting people up. I thought I was just being friendly back in the day. And afterwards, my mates used to say, Oh, she was really into you. And I go, Well, she I didn’t know. You know, what? Why didn’t she tell me? I was terrible at that, because I didn’t think it was anything other than just being friendly and sort of engaging and, and interested in the other person. So is that one of the sort of failings, but I was very, I had a super talent, but I couldn’t see it because it was so innate.
Andy McDowell [8:35]
Maybe so I think we always tried to bring in self doubt. I mean, I had a lot of self doubt for myself. I had bad self esteem through high school college in my early 20s.
David Ralph [8:49]
And why was he jumping in? I’m interested, why why did you have sort of low self esteem but you’re now putting yourself out there and sort of being on podcast and running your own podcast and the why, where’s the difference between the young and again now?
Andy McDowell [9:04]
Well, having gone through therapy and self help books and everything else to get myself out of that had a lot to do my relationship with my father. From the standpoint he was a travelling salesman on the road all the time and always looked up to him and what he had been able to achieve in his life and so forth, and wasn’t able to spend a lot of time with them. And when I did, it often felt to me, judgmental and critical and so forth. And I eventually came out of it from a sense of therapy to say he needs to own what his behaviour and I own my behaviour and sort of set the tone for me in my relationships.
David Ralph [9:45]
I’m looking back on that. Did you think he was difficult or was he just being himself and of that generation that they were it’s my job to go out to work? Yeah, so
Andy McDowell [9:56]
this generational and some of it is him right. Okay. Man, his own Fears.
David Ralph [10:01]
Yeah. So that’s that’s the key thing, isn’t it people? You know, I always say to my wife, there’s three sides to every story. There’s your side, there’s my side. And then there’s the truth, you know? And have you ever sat down with him and sort of said, this was how I experienced it. And he said, Well, this is how I experienced it. And when you went, Okay, I can see both sides of the story.
Andy McDowell [10:26]
A little bit, not not probably to the full extent that it probably needs to needs to happen. But enough for me to have some comfort out of it.
David Ralph [10:37]
He’s funny, but it’s because I am my mum is not well, at the moment. And I know, it won’t be long until she passes away. And I’ve started to realise that, as a sort of professional speaker, I will be expected by my brother to stand up and say, a eulogy in the church. I don’t know anything about her. She’s been my mum for like, 50 plus years, but actually, I don’t know anything about her other than she’s Mum, you know, and it’s weird that we don’t have these conversations with the people. But we should, you know, to actually sit down and say, what were your dreams when you were younger? Before life took hold of you? And you know, why did you make this decision? And that decision? Because it would put a lot of it in context for us, wouldn’t it?
Andy McDowell [11:24]
Yeah, well, it takes a sense of vulnerability between the two people in the office to have to read the other person and try and make a judgement as to whether or not you feel like they’re going to be vulnerable. In that type of conversation. I mean, I could easily have that type conversation with my mother, I couldn’t have it with my father.
David Ralph [11:43]
I think I’ll just wait until me but
Andy McDowell [11:45]
because because I don’t think he has a sense of vulnerability, he’d be willing to share some things.
David Ralph [11:50]
Yeah, yeah. So how do you bring that value vulnerability into your business? You know, how do you how I’m interested about is how do you go from that person that you were low self esteem, to actually thinking, Yeah, I can build my own business, I can actually tackle this head on, I can go for this.
Andy McDowell [12:13]
Well, you got to start. From a standpoint of saying, I can’t do it by myself, I’ve got to have some help. I’ve got to surround myself with good people, good vendors, good relationships, to support me in that effort to you know, share your vision of what you want to achieve. And get that from all sides of your life is a good starting point in all that,
David Ralph [12:39]
and you had those people around you, you you, you could easily pick them.
Andy McDowell [12:44]
Yes, because of once again, the mindset of generating, generating your value. I’ve had that mindset all my life, and I have an extremely good network of people in my life, that can help me with that.
David Ralph [12:59]
And people that care or people of a professional nature,
Andy McDowell [13:04]
right, in a sense of giving as well. So it’s, if you’re surrounding yourself with other entrepreneurs, it’s a matter of, you know, givers gain, so how much you’re going to generate value in their life. And in return, they can turn around and do that for you and be supportive of each other in those efforts.
David Ralph [13:23]
But somebody with low self esteem, working from issues, I’m just thinking, from my point of view, I don’t know how you manage to find enough in you to go from such a low point to saying I can offer something to them, I have got value in myself, you know, to me that that’s a hell of a journey you went on.
Andy McDowell [13:44]
Man, it takes I mean, it’s not something overnight, it’s not like a light switch turns on one night, you wake up one morning, and it’s totally, totally there for you. And it has a lot to do with the, you know, that dialogue that goes on inside of your head, about what you’re telling yourself. And so, you know, usually takes two weeks to have a habit form, right? Yeah, longer do something repetitive on a two week basis, that all sudden starts becoming ingrained. And you can get disciplined to doing that. So you know, that’s why I try and work with clients who might have that issue is let’s, let’s look at some affirmations you can say about yourself and say it to yourself every day, at least once if not every minute of your life from that perspective, and let’s get some experience under your feet, so to speak, in living a life where you’re acting in a way that allows that mindset to be reality in the truth in your life. And that’s essentially what I did for myself was it got to a really low point in my life and said, This is not the life I want for myself. I’m going to take ownership and be in charge of my life. I’m going to start doing things to create the life that I want for myself.
David Ralph [14:59]
I was Find it hugely impressive that you have a moment where you go. Enough is enough. I remember on Join Up Dots, I had a lady but she didn’t just hit rock bottom, she hit rock bottom about four times. She got low. And then she went down. I mean, another terrible thing happened. But she still managed to claw herself out. It’s almost like survival instinct. There’s something in you that wants to sort of kick on. It makes me wonder why you had it right. You wanted to go and nap is enough. But a lot of people that are at a better point to start. Don’t you know, you see him in pubs over time on Friday nights? Oh, yeah. Next week, I’ll start this and I’ll start there, and it’s gonna be amazing. And then they you know, they’re in a good position, they’re in a good position, but they still don’t start. Why do you think that is?
Andy McDowell [15:57]
I think they don’t have an abundance mindset. Be able to say that I am not a victim in this world, I have the potentiality to create the world that I want for myself. And I have a mindset of abundance that it’s out there for the taking, so to speak. For myself, all I have to do is sit down and understand what my strengths and weaknesses are about myself, where where I have loves and passion in my life, as well as where do I have fears that stopping me from doing the work necessary to achieve what I want in life, and then sit down with those four things and develop a life strategy for yourself. And that’s what I help my clients do.
David Ralph [16:39]
Let’s hear from Jim Carrey. And we’ll be back with Andy,
Unknown Speaker [16:41]
my father could have been a great comedian, but he didn’t believe that that was possible for him. And so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an accountant. And when I was 12 years old, he was let go from that safe job. And our family had to do whatever we could to survive. I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which was that you can fail at what you don’t want. So you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.
David Ralph [17:07]
Now, what he’s saying there is you’ve got to tap into yourself, you’ve got to understand yourself. And one of the things that you’ve got on your your website as your mission is we believe that all growth especially extraordinary and sustainable growth begins from with in event follow it up to say we believe that business is a means to an end, it is not an end in itself. Now I get a lot of people connect with me. And one of the kinds of things that they ask is, is it better to work on myself to bring success? Or is it better to work on something that then brings success? So is it more important to start building a business? And then think, Oh, I’m actually doing this quite well? And then the competence will sort of foster itself? Or is it better to try to get that competence first, before you head into the task itself? What’s your point of view, sir?
Andy McDowell [18:02]
So the analogy, if you will, that I use involves three words, B do and half. And society in Hollywood and so forth, likes to talk about the model of Do you have be, do these things do do do this, do all this hard work and so forth, achieve success so that you have the Lamborghini and the mansion on the hill and so forth. That’s the half part. So I do all this hard work, I get to have these things. And then I get to be something in this world. You know, I get to be a celebrity celebrity, I get to have the status. And we all know there’s a lot of people that end up being very unhappy with that model. And so what I tried to show people is the model that truly brings you joy, happiness and success in your life is to be do have to work on yourself first to be a certain way to understand yourself. What your why your purposes in life, what are your strengths and your weaknesses? Where are your emotional muscles that you need to work on to be successful as a leader, and then go do things that line up with your loves and passions in life that’s going to help you get out of bed in the morning, every morning. And if you see it as a journey, you’re going to be in a in a state of happiness and joyfulness in that path, because you already started with B and then line yourself with activities and the dues that line up with your the way you want to be in this world. And then guess what? joy, happiness and success shows up for you with the halves. Part of the process of where I stand on it. Yeah,
David Ralph [19:54]
I it’s very similar to the principle of Taoism the Chinese principle where they basically that success isn’t in the end, it’s the journey. And you know, wherever you are, you’re at the most successful part of where you can be at that stage. And there’s an old analogy, but there’s no bad drummers. There’s only ones that started earlier, you know, because you’ve got to pick up the stick you’ve got to hit, then you’ve got to learn to get the ribbon, and other people have to put a bit of a bow. I’ve just done it earlier. But it’s a problem, isn’t it? When people are looking at the show highlights, and they’re looking at what people have achieved, they don’t want to reflect that actually, that person has been slogging away in their basement for the last 10 years. And that’s why it looks like that. Which is why when celebrities do really bizarre things, like Will Smith recently at the Oscars now whenever you’re listening to this podcast, it might be in 100 years time there was this guy called Will Smith actor, and he always seemed very up and happy and personable. And then suddenly, he did the weirdest thing you could ever imagine. Him doing. Not so weird. When other celebrities did it. You know, I could think loads of people I go yeah, I’ve always expected him to do that. But the fact that Will Smith did it it made you wonder what he’s searching for what he was aiming for why he acted in that way. But what do you think? Well, maybe that’s not part of this discussion, but I’m interested
Andy McDowell [21:28]
Well, he didn’t watch the show I saw the tape the following nobody
David Ralph [21:32]
watches the show me it goes on for about 15 hours even the people that don’t want to be there really.
Andy McDowell [21:39]
But when I was watching the tape for the first time what came to mind was he was trying to protect his wife but he was doing it in in such a way that was being very dramatic and hopefully walking away with it with a sense that everyone’s going to say Well good for you Will Smith you protected and defended your your wife and that was the right thing to do and so forth. In chose an act of violence, if you will, to demonstrate that as opposed to waiting to after the show and then maybe making some public statements it’s non violent nature or even better. To sit down with the individual that made the statements on a one on one have a one on one conversation about it. And just kept it a personal matter.
David Ralph [22:33]
So you don’t think you dumping it was a moment of breakdown, no, there was there was a crack waiting, it was like a geezer it had been pointing away for 20 years and then suddenly bang it when could could be it may
Andy McDowell [22:49]
have been appropriate moment to express it even holding it in for other reasons or other situations, but somehow got triggered by the venue, so to speak. And, you know, much like a passive aggressive kind of behaviour is and decide to act on it. Who knows?
David Ralph [23:05]
He knows he knows he’s he knows Yeah,
Andy McDowell [23:08]
he knows. No, he doesn’t.
David Ralph [23:11]
He knows what it’s all about. So So with yourself, Andy, you’re you come across as a very calm, thoughtful, almost subdued kind of person. Is that because you’re on the podcast? Or is that actually how you operate? Are you somebody that is very reflective without being sort of bouncy and Tigger like?
Andy McDowell [23:36]
Yes, I’m an introvert that has learned to be an extrovert. You know, as I got into leadership in a major corporation had to lead teams and do public speaking in front of 1000s of people and so forth. I’ve learned how to, you know, if you will pull out that muscle and be an extrovert but my, my true nature is more of an introvert.
David Ralph [23:57]
So standing in front of 1000s of people, you must have been dying inside where you
Andy McDowell [24:03]
know, I was in the beginning, but as you do it more and more and more. You know, I now sing and play guitar in front of a couple 100 people every Sunday, which is his own creativity story, but it just becomes second nature for me, but it was it was hard work. You know, in the beginning to feel comfortable in doing that, particularly somebody that was trying to escape bad self esteem.
David Ralph [24:28]
And that that effort you put in, was it for the task? Or was it for yourself? When when you decided that you’re going to learn guitar? Obviously, the first thing is, you know, just tried to learn anything and then get a cold and then sort of develop it. Was it that you wanted to play the guitar or did you want to sort of impress people and and have a sort of status boost because it is impressive when somebody sits there and I can sing and play guitar.
Andy McDowell [24:56]
Now I want to expand my music capability. So I’ve been seeing been since I was a teenager, it was, you know, as we discussed, I’m Scottish Irish. And, you know, the Irish heritage of singing and drinking Irish tenor of sorts, and just naturally came from me, I haven’t had a single lesson Singing Lesson. Or I didn’t have one until I was in my mid 50s. From that perspective, and I just wanted to refine a few things, but only picked up the guitar maybe five, six years ago. And with both of those items, we saw it as a journey. And so I just made a commitment to myself, I’m going to go buy an inexpensive guitar, and I’m going to promise to myself, I’m going to spend 10 to 15 minutes every day with it. And I know when I start, I’m not, I’m not going to be an Eddie Van Halen, with a guitar is going to sound like crap from that perspective, but I saw it as a long term journey. And the method to the madness, so to speak, is just to be disciplined and spending the time on the instrument. And now I rarely spend five or 10 or 15 minutes with it every day, it might once or twice a week, and I feel comfortable, just pull it out with a piece of sheet music at church and playing rhythm guitar with a bunch of other wonderful singers and musicians. And it just comes naturally for me now. But it’s, it’s been a journey. It’s been a commitment, it’s required discipline, to do it. And that’s what I was referring to earlier in our conversation about creativity, and it being a muscle, right. I don’t think I was a naturally born guitarist. It’s not something I just automatically picked up as a 567 year old and started playing away with it, you know, had my own little mini journeys with the drums and the piano as a teenager, was very unsuccessful. But it was more for me wanting to generate value in the world to have an expression of a passion of mine, which is music, music always gets me out of a bad mood from that perspective, and I just wanted to expand my repertoire and be able to generate even more value in experience of music in my life.
David Ralph [27:13]
So it wasn’t a case of venue become the sexy person that the because it’s you know, it’s good to be like Marty McFly every now and again in it.
Andy McDowell [27:24]
Well, sure, I mean, we also saw the reactions of teenage girls back in high school, if I could learn how to play guitar and sing, you’d be like, a chick magnet, you know, from that perspective. So I mean, there are benefits out of it. But it’s not the reason why I did it. I did it for my passions and joy and loves that I have in my life. And if nobody ever hears it, so doesn’t matter in me, it’s all about doing it for myself.
David Ralph [27:50]
Is that the same with generate your value? Or was it more about other people in that regard?
Andy McDowell [27:59]
No, it was, it’s more about other people. You know, I had a terrific executive coach that Boeing gave me about halfway to two thirds through my career with Boeing. They helped me in my journey, my self esteem journey and pointed out to me, I was too busy looking in the rearview mirror. And think about what happened in the past, instead of looking out the windshield and creating the future I wanted for myself. And was was was a major help a major change for the positive in my life and generate your value in a lot of ways is about me doing the same for others. Because of the benefits and the joyfulness and happiness I have in my own life right now, having gone through that work and the help of an executive coach to say I want to do that for others, having understood what that experience and journey is like, and I want to provide that for others. And I get something out of it. You know, best way to learn about something is to teach it as they say, so I get something out of it. It’s not to say it’s totally altruistic, but that’s part of why I feel like I was created in this world.
David Ralph [29:21]
Well, we’re talking to Andy McDowell. We’ll be back after these words. would you love to earn a consistent six figures plus all in one of the easiest ways possible? Then join me for a free podcasting masterclass as I go behind the scenes, and we build a secret that have turned Join Up Dots into a multiple six figure earning podcast. Now these are simple business strategies that work time and time again, and you can use to so head over to join up dots.com forward slash podcast secrets and book a time with me and I look forward to showing you how you can have your own business that operates when you want, where you want, and of course, bringing the income you want Do that is join up dots.com forward slash podcast secrets. So we’re talking to Andy McDowell, who is the owner of generate your value impacting businesses throughout the world. Who’s your ideal avatar been? Andy, who’s the kind of people that you want? Is it companies is it individuals?
Andy McDowell [30:24]
I target small business owners. So you can be a solo entrepreneur just by yourself or, you know, company, about 100 employees or less, you know, maybe revenues and the 57 $80 million a year kind of standpoint is where my comfort zone is, because that’s basically where I lived within the Boeing world. And I think where people could use the most help in being successful and growing a thriving business. Because we all know, we’ve heard all the stories of the entrepreneurs who started in the garage, I mean, look at Apple, and Hewlett Packard and Intel, and also major high tech firms, it all started with two or three people sitting in a garage or a home, being an entrepreneur trying to create a product or a service that was going to eventually sell millions in the world.
David Ralph [31:16]
Now I’m, I’m interested with your business, I’m always interested because being totally transparent, you don’t get an awful lot of organic traffic to your site. I’m a great believer in in organic growth. So how are you marketing your business? How are you getting people to find you and know what you’re doing?
Andy McDowell [31:40]
Well, my, my business is heavily based off of trust, reputation in the brand, right. So having been in this business a little over two years, a lot of my activities is about building the brand. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of people in this world that feel like to have a coach is like going to a therapist, that means I am doing something wrong, there’s something wrong about me and ego gets an pride gets in the way, and I just don’t want to go help go hire a coach because it’s going to tell the rest of the world that I’m just not doing things right, and which couldn’t be further from the truth. I mean, a coach can take a very successful business and help you get it to the next level, it’s just because you hired a coach doesn’t mean that you’re not being successful. It just means that you want something more out of that experience, whether it’s more money, more prestige, more, you know, better reputation, brand, whatever it is a coach is there and sort of teach you some tools and things that you can use to help you take it to the next level. And so part of what I try to do is that education piece as well, as you know, who is Andy? And why would you want to trust me? What’s my background? What’s my experience with my approach to life and spirituality and the world and so forth? That might help take you to that, that next level, both in your life and in your business? But
David Ralph [33:07]
how do you get in front of those people? That’s what I’m intrigued about Andy? And how are you actually getting those clients to understand the value that you can provide? Well,
Andy McDowell [33:17]
I have my own pocket podcast show that I do with a co host who is a business owner, we sort of have this coach, business owner, dialogue and conversational type podcast much like your own. From that perspective, it’s getting on shows like yourself, the one that you have, we’re on at the moment with to have people hear me hear my philosophy in life and business and see if that resonates with them and and how that dialogue between a coach and a potential client could be and what kinds of things we might talk about. It’s really about finding all the different channels, you know, I’m in the midst of writing a book that has some of the same information in it. Everybody’s different, right? Some people love podcasts, some people love books, some people like interviews on YouTube, or whatever it is, it’s about just getting yourself out there and talking about the issues and where you stand with him and how it is that you go about your methodology and passions and processes to help somebody achieve joy, happiness and success in their life.
David Ralph [34:23]
And what is the absolute dream customer that you could have? What’s the one that you think? Yeah, this is absolutely the kind of person that I would want to work with.
Andy McDowell [34:34]
Somebody has the right mindset. You know, the example I like to give in my Boeing days. I hired a gentleman who is a master sergeant in the United States Army in a tank battalion, so he was always in a tank with his head stuck out the top of the tank and didn’t know the first thing about aviation other than planes can fly, but he came to the table and Interview in an incredible attitude, whenever asked him to do something, his first response was always too easy. It’s like, Give me something more, something bigger from that perspective. And he worked his way from the bottom of the technical part of our organisation to the very top within five years is this somebody that I had no problem spending 1000s of dollars in training for him, because I knew he was going to take what he learned in the training, and apply it and just bring more value to the team and to himself from that perspective, and those are the type customers that they love. You know, you might not know the first thing about business. You may or may not be in an industry, that’s going to make a lot of money. But if you bring your heart, your passion in the right mindset and attitude to the table, I can help you achieve all kinds of success in your life.
David Ralph [36:00]
And the more success you get others, ven the more comes your way.
Andy McDowell [36:06]
Yes, you know, just like I used to tell my team at Boeing is see the money in it comes in as a byproduct of what you’re doing in terms of the product or service that you’re offering, how you’re conducting it with the customer, how you putting customers number one, and creating a great experience for him that one, they not only want to come back and keep doing more work with you and future projects, but too, they’re also telling their neighbouring countries about the experience that they have and the needs to be working with us. And helping them modernise their airspace, and the money will just come. So let all the focus be about the experience with the customer and what we offer to them. And don’t worry about the money side. That’s my job.
David Ralph [36:51]
Great advice. Well, let’s hear from a guy who had a similar outlook on life. I’m sure he did. Steve Jobs,
Unknown Speaker [36:59]
of course, it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards 10 years later. Again, you can’t connect the dots looking forward, you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something, your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well worn path. And that will make all the difference.
David Ralph [37:34]
And does it does it make all the difference? Andy?
Andy McDowell [37:38]
Absolutely. Absolutely. You got to have faith and trust in yourself. At the very least, you know, I’m a spiritual person, churchgoer every Sunday and have a strong faith and it’s, you know, a faith in co creation with God. That may not be what a person listening to your podcast has the same beliefs. And that’s okay. What matters is that you have a faith and a belief in something and that something should be yourself that you have talents and skills that you were born with, and that you can also develop for yourself, that’s going to enable you to put a great life strategy together and find a life of joy, happiness and success for yourself.
David Ralph [38:23]
I agree with that. I’ve always thought the biggest failure I’ve got is myself. And I always think that if things are going crap, then it’s up to me to sort them out. And it’s become, in many ways a bit of an Achilles heel. And I realised that I can’t sort out everyone’s problems, like I’ve always tried to do, I’ve got to put my own mask on first and some of your biggest talents can also be your kryptonite, can’t they?
Andy McDowell [38:51]
Yes. You know, because a lot of it has to do with how you apply and right you haven’t. You have a talent, and it’s a tool so to speak. And there’s different ways that you could potentially use it. You know, take the internet, for example, you know, allows the, the quick and easy exchange of data, but that data can be used in a positive way it can be used in a negative way. So in a lot of respects, your talents are the same way it can be used for benefit and service and bring a lot of value to the world or it can be used in very negative dramatic way that may get you a lot of attention at the end of the day doesn’t really contribute anything to the world.
David Ralph [39:35]
And so before we move you to the end of the show, and let’s say I’m on on the mic when we’re going to send you back in time to have a one on one with your younger self. What was your what’s your dreams for the rest of 2022. As we’re recording it, it’s May 2022. So what are you aiming for the remaining eight months
Andy McDowell [39:57]
for myself assisted living Continuous Growth of, you know, my exposure to the world and saying, I’m here to here to help and, you know, put my neurology always or the picture I have for my clients is you standing on a mountaintop with holding a light up above your head that shows your why in life, and you’re trying to attract your tribe, people that resonate with your why and your message to the world and how you’re adding value to the world. And that’s what I’m in the midst of is trying to do that and finding who’s in my tribe, and who resonates with that message. And you know, who wants to hang out with me soon? So to speak, from, from my perspective, so 2022 is about looking at things that are going wrong in the world. And how is it that I can generate some value in the world to maybe nudge it or move it in a different direction?
David Ralph [40:54]
Great stuff, great stuff. Okay, so this is the partner we’ve been building up to. And this is the bit that we called a sermon on our mind, when we get to send you back in time to have a one on one little chat with a younger Andy. And if you could go back into a room and see him, what age would you speak to him? What advice would you give him? Well, we’re gonna find out because I’m gonna play the theme. And like magic, you will be transported back in time. And he’s there waiting for you. It’s the Sermon on the mic.
Intro [41:27]
With the best bit of the show, the sermon.
Andy McDowell [41:44]
Hello, Andy, you don’t know who I am, but I know who you are. Because I’m yourself. 50 years from now, this had quite a life journey. And I’m here to tell you, you know, I’ve always told people that I wish in some respects, human beings had a USB port in their head, and I could just download all of my experiences and my children’s head and so forth. So they wouldn’t have to go through the journeys and the pain and the experiences in life. But the reality is that that experience, and that pain is what teaches you and teaches your soul, the lessons that it’s here to learn, while on this time here on Earth. And so what I’m here to tell you is that you have tremendous talents, you have tremendous skills, you have a lot to offer the world. And you just have to have a mindset and a love for yourself, that it’s possible for you and the time to start is now. And believe in yourself, love yourself. If you can do those two things, then the world is your oyster.
David Ralph [43:02]
Perfect stuff. So Andy, what’s the number one best way that our audience can connect with you?
Andy McDowell [43:09]
Probably the best way is through my website at WWW dot generate your value.com. As well as take advantage of our podcasts, which is under the same name, generate your value available on all the platforms, podcast platforms that are out there,
David Ralph [43:24]
we’ll have all the links in the show notes to make it as easy as possible. Andy, thank you so much for spending time with us today, joining up those dots. And please come back again, when you’ve got more dots to join up. Because I do believe that by joining up the dots and connecting our paths is the best way to build our futures. Andy, thank you so much.
Andy McDowell [43:43]
Thank you, David for the invite. And thank you for generating your value in this world.
David Ralph [43:49]
Andy Mack Dow. So he wants to generate value in his business. He wants to provide more value for himself personally to then be able to foster it back to his clients. And he’s doing that. You could hear it. He was quite a subdued guy. And he was open. They had sort of low self esteem issues. But he’s getting out there and he’s creating a podcast and he’s building his business and he’s interacting with people. It’s got to be quite difficult. It’s got to be quite difficult to do that. When you’re starting from a sort of a negative position, really. So for all of you out there listening, if you did listen to the whole of that podcast, you got to think about it. You got to think where am I? Am I level am I at one to five have I got a lot of money I can invest in? Do I actually want it at all. Whatever you want in your life, you can get it, but you’ve got to decide what you want, just like Andy did. Until next time. I’ll see you again. Cheers. See ya. Bye bye.
Outro [44:52]
That’s the end of Join Up Dots. You’ve heard the conversation. Now it’s time for you To start taking massive action, create your future create your life. Izzy only you live God. We’ll be back again real soon. Join Up Dots Join Up Dots Join Up Dots, God’s Jolina Join Up Dots
