The Truth About How Big Goals Change You

It was 3:08 in the morning. May of last year. I was in my office already a lofty 8 minutes into my day. Headphones on, speaking (uh, reading) into a microphone… and yelling at ducks. Yes, ducks. As I tried to record a passage for The Zebra Code audiobook, those feathered freeloaders on my backyard lake quacked like it was their job. I must’ve sounded like a lunatic, hollering “Come on! I need 75 quiet minutes!” But here’s the truth… I wasn’t just recording an audiobook. I was chasing a big goal that was important to me. Writing a book is one thing. Giving voice to it, putting myself on record, was something else entirely. Big goals aren’t really about the thing you achieve. They’re about who you become in the pursuit. (In this case, hopefully, not a total lunatic. 🤣) They stretch your patience, your creativity, your confidence, and yes… even your relationships with ducks. This week’s video is all about this truth. What really happens to you when you work toward a massive goal (and why the transformation almost never looks the way you expect)? If you’ve ever set an ambitious goal, whether career-related, personal, or financial, you’ll see yourself in this. And if you haven’t yet? It might just give you the push to start. If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings: 1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums. 2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel. 3. Grab any of my four books related to career development, interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page. 4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), TikTok, Threads, and Facebook. 5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here! --Andy

When you walk into an interview, you know the tough ones are coming. 👉 How do you handle problems? 👉 How do you serve customers? 👉 How do you disagree? 👉 How do you influence? 👉 How do you lead? 👉 What are you passionate about? These aren’t just “questions.” They’re tests. Each one is designed to uncover whether you can think critically, collaborate, lead, and actually thrive in their environment. The trouble? Most candidates stumble. They ramble, give generic answers, or miss the chance to actually sell their value. This week’s lesson is on exactly how to answer these six hardest questions. You’ll learn: ✅ A step-by-step formula to keep your answers sharp and structured. ✅ Word-for-word examples you can model. LITERALLY! ✅ Why interviewers ask these questions and how to tailor your reply. If you master these six, the rest of the interview will feel easy. If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings: 1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums. 2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel. 3. Grab any of my four books related to career development, interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page. 4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), TikTok, Threads, and Facebook. 5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here! --Andy

You’ve got the skills. You’ve done the prep. But the moment you walk into the room (or log into Zoom), it’s like you’re playing a different game. Everything seemed fine when you were doing the work and sailing through the projects. But to articulate that to someone who doesn’t know you…ugh. In these cases, your words matter. Your tone matters. And don’t even get me started on your posture, your facial expressions, and even how you listen. If you’ve ever walked away from an interview thinking, I wish they’d seen the real me, this week’s lesson is for you. I’m breaking down the exact verbal and nonverbal moves that top candidates use to win over interviewers both in-person and on-screen. Here’s what you’ll learn: How to project confidence and warmth the second the conversation starts. The posture, gestures, and micro-expressions that build trust. How to use your voice to emphasize your value (without sounding rehearsed). Why “active listening” is your secret weapon in any interview format. Whether you’re across the table or on the other side of the screen, these tactics will help you look, sound, and feel like the top candidate every time. If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings: 1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums. 2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel. 3. Grab any of my four books related to career development, interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page. 4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), TikTok, Threads, and Facebook. 5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here! --Andy

We’ve all been there. You say something. You think it makes sense. But the reaction you get? Confused. Unmoved. Maybe even tuned out. Ugh. Communication isn’t about what you say. It’s about what the other person hears and, more importantly, how they feel and act because of it. If you’re not getting the results you want from your conversations, whether in meetings, emails, presentations, or even casual exchanges, there’s a reason. This week, I’m sharing 2 simple ways to instantly improve your communication skills. These aren’t gimmicks or tricks. They’re straightforward changes you can make right away to: ✅ Be clearer. ✅ Get buy-in faster. ✅ Avoid misinterpretations. ✅ Sound more thoughtful, credible, and composed. Communication is THE SKILL that connects your value to the world. If you want to influence, lead, or be remembered, this is where you start. If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings: 1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums. 2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel. 3. Grab any of my four books related to career development, interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page. 4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), TikTok, Threads, and Facebook. 5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here! --Andy

If you’ve ever thought I want to build wealth, but I’m not sure where to start. You’re not alone. Good news! You don’t need to read 100 finance books. You just need the right ones. In this week’s lesson, I’m sharing 5 powerful books that’ll help you build wealth and maximize your earning power. These aren’t just theory-packed reads. They are the exact books I’d recommend if you asked me, “What should I read to take control of my finances and income?” I run over a great book I think anyone and everyone should read to understand general investment strategy. I hit a (very) surprisingly entertaining (and hugely helpful) guide that breaks down investing in its simplest form. Of course, you know me. I love mindset and psychology, so I tossed in a couple that separate spenders from wealth builders. And, now list regarding wealth-building would be complete if I didn’t toss in the #1 book, IMHO, that’ll help you improve your professional skills. Your skills directly affect your salary and income and overall earning potential. Amiright?!?!? These books are for professionals who want to put together an investment strategy, make smarter financial decisions, and grow their income with purpose. And, don’t worry, you don’t need to be a finance geek to understand these. You just need to be willing to invest a few hours to change your future. Let’s make money make sense so you can grow it! If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings: 1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums. 2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel. 3. Grab any of my four books related to career development, interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page. 4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), TikTok, Threads, and Facebook. 5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here! --Andy

You’ve probably heard the phrase “don’t sweat the small stuff.” Well, I’m here to tell you to do the exact opposite. If you want to perform at the highest level, if you want to grow in your role, get promoted, or become a standout in your field, you better sweat the small stuff.  Because that’s where mastery lives.  This week, I’m sharing one of the most important performance lessons I can give you.  Whether I’m talking about writing emails, managing a team, speaking with clients, or building a long-term financial future, the people who succeed are the ones who obsess (productively) over the right things.  In this talk, I’ll walk you through: Why greatness lives in the details (with stories to prove it). How top performers think differently about their craft. A powerful health and wealth analogy that might just change how you approach your career. You’ll come away with a better approach for how to improve your day-to-day work and make long-term progress in your profession and finances.  Just 8:46 and one of the best mental models I’ve shared…  If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings: 1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums. 2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel. 3. Grab any of my four books related to career development, interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page. 4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), TikTok, Threads, and Facebook. 5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here! --Andy

Do you ever feel like you don’t have much to offer?  Like your experience is ordinary? Obvious? Nothing special? If so, you’re not alone. But you are wrong. Today, I’m sharing one of the most important messages I can give you… Your story has value. It matters. It can help someone. The problem is, most people undervalue their experiences because they’re consider their experiences in terms of what it means to them…as opposed to what those experiences can mean to someone else! They think, Everyone already knows this. But they don’t.  There’s a huge difference between living a story and sharing it in a way that educates, inspires, and connects.  Join me today and you’ll learn:  ✅ Why your personal story is your greatest asset.✅ How to reshape experiences into meaningful, teachable moments.✅ The 7-step structure to turn any experience into a story that resonates.✅ A pivotal story from my own early career.  Let’s do this! If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings: 1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums. 2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel. 3. Grab any of my three books related to interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page. 4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), TikTok, Threads, and Facebook. 5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here! --Andy

There’s a career skill no one taught you in school. It’s not on your resume. It’s rarely on a job description. But it’s the difference between being heard and being trusted. Between managing and truly leading.  Empathy.  And here’s the kicker…  Most people think they have it. But very few understand what it actually is or how to build it.  Today’s lesson is one of my most personal. I’ll walk you through the three types of empathy (yes, there are three), show you how to practice them, and share a story that changed how I live and love (this WILL bring a smile to your face).  If you want to deepen your relationships, earn trust faster, and elevate your career, this one’s for you. If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings: 1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums. 2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel. 3. Grab any of my three books related to interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page. 4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), TikTok, Threads, and Facebook. 5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here! --Andy

This week’s a special one. I’m going back to one of the most important lessons I’ve ever taught.  Self-awareness. Not the generic, “journal your feelings” kind. I’m talking about a powerful, real-world framework that shows you where your life is out of alignment.  Most people define self-awareness as “knowing yourself.”But there are actually two types: Internal self-awareness: How well do you know who you are? External self-awareness: Do you understand how others perceive you?  Both matter. A lot.  And most people aren’t nearly as accurate as they think. That misalignment causes stress. Bad decisions. Unfulfilling jobs. Relationships that drain instead of energize. In today’s lesson, I walk you through the six pillars of self-awareness.  It’s THE practical way to measure whether your life, work, thoughts, goals, and habits are aligned with the person you say you want to be.  This isn’t theory. It’s a diagnostic.And it’s going to help you course-correct in a powerful way.  If your inner and outer life feel even a little out of sync… this one’s for you. If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings: 1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums. 2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel. 3. Grab any of my three books related to interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page. 4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), TikTok, Threads, and Facebook. 5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here! --Andy

Have you ever tried to start your day with the best intentions only to have your attention hijacked by email pings, barking dogs, or that mysterious ice maker noise in the kitchen? Yeah. Same.  In today’s lesson, I’m teaching one of the most underrated (yet powerful) skills for career and life success: how to train your focus like a muscle.  And I’m not talking about downloading some shiny productivity app.  I’m talking about something deeper and more effective… 🧠 Mental warm-ups you can do before the chaos of the day begins.🔥 A simple 10-minute daily ritual to build real focus and willpower.🎯 Why distraction isn’t your fault, but staying distracted is your choice.💡 How to apply focus training to every task (even cleaning your coffee pot).  If you want to stop reacting to your day and start directing it, this one’s for you… (You’ll thank me before your second cup of coffee.) If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings: 1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums. 2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel. 3. Grab any of my three books related to interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page. 4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), TikTok, Threads, and Facebook. 5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here! --Andy