The Seven Decisions Guy, Andy Andrews, Talks Teamwork Against Hunger
In a recent keynote to a non-profit organization in the Blue Ridge region, Andy Andrews uses his Seven Decisions to help build-up morale and encourage the fight against hunger in the U. S.
Nashville, TN (PRWEB) March 24, 2006
Andy Andrews, NYT bestselling author and noted TV personality often referred to as "The Seven Decisions Guy", spoke recently at the 2006 Hunger Relief Summit for the members of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, and according to the Winchester Star, he opened his talk with, "It's what you do and what you don’t do. Every single thing you do matters. Every single thing you don’t do matters.”
At 19, the comedian, author, speaker, corporate entertainer, and television celebrity lost his parents and ended up homeless, before “homeless” was even a commonly used term. Andy Andrews candidly mentions a series of bad choices that brought him to the place of homelessness. “Everyone thinks I mean drugs when I say that, but I never took drugs. I mean bad decisions.”
He described his experience of going hungry and sleeping in a variety of places from underneath a pier to garages. Andrews said adults encourage children by telling them they can do anything they put their minds to, but they tell each other not to get their hopes up.
“If people prove each other’s value, a more effective team will result,” he said.
“For example, instead of thinking of a receptionist solely as the person who answers phones, that person should be recognized as the Director of First Impressions for the company.”
“We need to bring people to our way of thinking,” he said. “People should be a lot more concerned (about hunger) than they are.”
Here are some interesting facts about hunger and homelessness in our country:
Of the 288 million people in the United States, 36.3 million live in households experiencing hunger or "food insecurity without hunger," the latter meaning that, for economic reasons, parents are skipping meals so that children have enough to eat, or the family is only getting enough food into the house by using emergency food sources, or the family cannot afford an adequate, healthy diet meeting basic nutritional standards.
Overall, 11 percent of U. S. households (12.6 million households) experienced either food insecurity or hunger. (2003 data: FRAC) These statistics do not include the hungry homeless.
According to statistics from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, up to 600,000 men, women and children go homeless every night in the United States alone.
Children who are homeless are one of the fastest growing segments of the general homeless population as for every four homeless persons, one of them will be a child. Families with children make up 37% of people without homes.
Homelessness and poverty are tightly linked. People who are living in poverty often must choose between food, shelter and other basic needs.
Contrary to popular belief, the homeless are not lazy and dependent exclusively on public welfare. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, on average in the United States, a single worker earning minimum wage would have to work 87 hours each week just to pay for a 2-bedroom apartment with 30% (Federal definition of affordable housing) of his or her income. The rest would be barely sufficient to acquire other necessities such as food and clothing. In fact, up to 40% of the homeless are employed and working.
Another group singled out by homelessness is the elderly. A 1992 Urban Institute study indicated that up to 31% of homeless persons were over the age of 45 and this percentage is growing.
Andy Andrews, as one of the premiere keynote speakers in the country, stands before crowds of people from all walks of life. He has spoken to the heads of Microsoft and for church groups and non-profits, as in the case of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. His message is inherently the same for every group. It comes down to the Seven Decisions outlined in his bestselling book, “The Traveler’s Gift”. These are not just motivational messages that are slogans to be taped to a bathroom mirror. The Seven Decisions moved him from homeless to helper of the homeless, and changed his life and the lives of all the people who apply the decisions. These are proven principles, laws, truths, that work every single time guaranteed.
1. The Buck Stops Here - Taking personal responsibility
2. Seek Wisdom - Search for understanding and discernment
3. Be a Person of Action - Being a courageous leader
4. Have a Decided Heart - Overcoming double-mindedness
5. Choose Happiness - Possessing a grateful spirit
6. Forgive others - The power of grace and mercy
7. Persist - Persevering with faith until the end
Andy Andrews ended his keynote for this organization dedicated to feeding the poor of the Blue Ridge by saying, “I don’t want you to misunderstand the reason I’m here. Don’t think I’m leaving here hoping you do great things with your life, I’m expecting it.”
Andy Andrews’ books, DVDs, and audio books are available at www. AndyAndrews. com, or via most major media retailers.
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