Andy Boyer

Blog

  • The Caffeine Purge Begins

    The Caffeine Purge Begins

    I drink a lot of coffee. Usually a full pot by the end of the day, and sometimes I throw in three or four Cascade Ice caffeine drinks just to round things out. It’s not that I think I need that much. It’s just what I do. Part habit, part coping mechanism.

    But I’ve been feeling the effects lately and I don’t like them. Anxiety, restless sleep, a sense that my nervous system is running slightly off the rails even when nothing’s happening. So I’ve decided to do something about it. Not some dramatic life overhaul. Just one thing: cut back on caffeine with the goal of a total abstinence. Seven to ten days of tapering. Let’s see what happens.

    The plan is to mix decaf into my coffee grounds, tart with half and half, then taper it down. That will remove about 1/3 and gives me a few days to fool myself before things get more difficult. Next, drop the Cascade Ice drinks and try to replace them with pure water and electrolytes. That’s 1/2 of the current state so 2/3 total.

    Then, it’ll just be cutting down the pot to 1/2, then one cup, then none at all. Sounds easy. I mean, I’ve done much harder things.

    Why now? Because I want better sleep. Less edge. More clarity. And I want to see what my face and gut look like without all the hidden water retention and stimulant drag. Ten days without caffeine should be enough to know whether any of that’s real or just a theory I invented while over-caffeinated.

    So this is Day 1. No big declarations. Just an experiment. I’ll check back in if things get interesting.

  • Baseball and Presence

    Baseball and Presence

    An old lecture from Father Hobbs:

    “Baseball is a metaphor for how to practice restraint.You can’t out-hustle the pitcher. You can’t rush the at-bat. You have to wait for the game to come to you. And in that waiting, everything gets quieter.”

    Entrepreneurship, marketing, the tech world – they all teach us how to sprint, to go chase the game. But baseball taught me to stop swinging at bad pitches.

    Now I use that same mindset to handle distractions, deadlines, and overthinking.

    Stay in the box. Watch the ball. Swing when it matters.

  • Your 2% Battery – When Real Work Starts

    Your 2% Battery – When Real Work Starts

    I’ve noticed something. Most of the real progress in life doesn’t happen when you’re rested, focused, and firing on all cylinders. It usually shows up when you’re barely hanging on. When your brain is foggy, your patience is shot, and everything on your to-do list sounds equally annoying. At least that’s how it is for me.

    It’s when the old stories come in. The ones that say, “Screw it, let’s just do this tomorrow” or “This probably isn’t worth it anyway.” And if I can manage to ignore that voice for five minutes and just do the thing, even halfway, it changes something deeper than the task itself.

    I’ve also seen this in fellow friends, athletes, and especially parents. We’re not struggling because we don’t know what to do. We’re struggling because we’ve convinced ourselves that it only counts if it’s done perfectly, at the perfect time, with perfect energy. That’s garbage.

    Sometimes being a dad means cleaning up a mess you already cleaned yesterday. Or setting up an obstacle course in the yard after a long day when you’d rather just lie down, stare at the ceiling and hand parenthood over to the TV. But we do it anyway, because consistency matters more than inspiration.

    Lately I’ve been thinking about that in terms of performance. Not just fitness or business, but the mental side. The part where we’re in the batter’s box and don’t swing, because it’s not the right pitch yet. The discipline isn’t in the swing. It’s in the stillness. It’s in trusting that the next one might be the right one.

    So as I was thinking about what to do with this site as I bring it back to life in a world where no one blogs anymore, I think I’ll use it as an excuse to keep leaning into that space. How to stay focused when my brain wants a nap.

    I might talk about AI. Or parenting. Or playing softball on a sore calf because it feels good to compete again. It’s all part of the same thread. Eventually, it might have an actual point, but for now, this is just about building the muscle to keep going when the battery light comes on.

  • Imagery for Focus

    Imagery for Focus

    Research in psychology and psychiatry suggests that certain types of images or visual stimuli can help individuals improve focus and reduce distractions. These images often leverage principles of attention regulation, mindfulness, and environmental design. Here are a few scientifically-backed approaches:

    1. Nature Scenes

    • Why it works: Studies show that exposure to nature or even viewing images of natural environments can restore attention and reduce mental fatigue. This is based on the concept of Attention Restoration Theory (ART), which suggests that natural environments engage our attention in a gentle, involuntary way, allowing the directed attention system to rest.
    • Example Images: Forests, flowing water, mountains, and greenery.
    • Best Use: Displaying posters, screensavers, or paintings with calming natural scenes.

    2. Abstract Art with Low Complexity

    • Why it works: Complex or cluttered images can overstimulate individuals with ADHD, while simple, abstract designs or patterns can create a calming effect and reduce distractions.
    • Example Images: Geometric patterns, smooth color gradients, or minimalist art with soft tones.
    • Best Use: Use as background art in workspaces or as phone wallpapers.

    3. Mandala Patterns

    • Why it works: Mandalas and other symmetrical designs can promote mindfulness and focus through their repetitive and orderly structure. Some ADHD therapies include coloring mandalas to improve focus and reduce hyperactivity.
    • Best Use: Use as interactive exercises (e.g., coloring apps) or as visual elements for meditation breaks.

    4. Images with Blue and Green Hues

    • Why it works: Blue and green are associated with calmness and focus. Research has shown that these colors can help regulate mood and improve attention span.
    • Example Images: Ocean waves, clear skies, green fields.
    • Best Use: Backgrounds for work environments or calming breaks.

    5. Goal-Oriented Visuals

    • Why it works: Visuals that represent goals, steps of a task, or progress can help individuals with ADHD stay task-oriented. Seeing a visual roadmap of their objectives can reduce the cognitive load and prevent distractions.
    • Example Images: Infographics, step-by-step diagrams, or progress trackers.
    • Best Use: Incorporate into task planning or to-do lists.

    6. Soft Animated Visuals

    • Why it works: Slow, non-distracting animations (like a gentle ocean wave or a flame flickering) can serve as a grounding point for focus. These animations are particularly useful for reducing anxiety and helping individuals stay engaged without overstimulation.
    • Best Use: Display on digital devices or monitors as a background focus tool.

    7. Visual Reminders of Break Spaces

    • Why it works: Seeing a calming visual associated with a planned break (e.g., a peaceful garden or quiet reading corner) can create a mental cue for focused work until the break arrives.
    • Example Images: Personalized images of a favorite relaxation spot or a digital timer with an image of the break area.
    • Best Use: Use as desktop backgrounds or on task management tools.

  • How Vin Scully Would Describe Parenting a 3 Year Old

    How Vin Scully Would Describe Parenting a 3 Year Old

    I have to admit a silly little hobby I’ve developed. I like taking topics relevant to my life, things I may have actually journaled about myself, and then seeing how some of the wordsmiths I admire might describe it. Here’s an example of ChatGPT suggesting how the legendary Vin Scully may have regaled us with the joys and pains of managing a toddler.

    “Ladies and gentlemen, take your seats. The game of parenting a 3-year-old is about to begin. Imagine, if you will, a ballpark not filled with fans, but with toys scattered across the outfield, sippy cups perched precariously on the infield, and a mound that’s just the right height for a tiny pitcher who doesn’t so much throw fastballs as toss Cheerios with wild abandon.

    Ah, the three-year-old, a true double threat! They’re as curious as a rookie stepping onto the diamond for the first time, and as unpredictable as a knuckleball on a breezy day. One moment, they’re the sweetest slugger you’ve ever seen, running full speed into your arms with a grin that could light up Dodger Stadium. The next, they’re a base runner caught in a pickle, wailing about a lost toy as if it were Game 7 of the World Series.

    Let me set the scene for you. The day begins early, as if they’ve got an East Coast road trip schedule to keep. The morning is filled with small victories and dramatic defeats: a successful mission to put on their shoes, followed by a heart-wrenching meltdown because the oatmeal is ‘too lumpy.’ You’ll learn to cheer the wins—‘And he eats all his broccoli! What a clutch performance!’—and let the losses roll off like a foul ball into the stands.

    Now, parenting a three-year-old is not without its strategy. You’ll need the patience of a bullpen coach, the flexibility of a shortstop, and the creativity of a pinch hitter. The ‘why’ questions come fast and furious, like a batting practice session you didn’t sign up for: ‘Why is the sky blue?’ ‘Why can’t I have ice cream for breakfast?’ ‘Why does the dog bark?’ Every answer feels like stepping up to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded.

    But oh, the moments of magic! Watching a 3-year-old discover the world is like witnessing a home run hit deep into the night sky—awe-inspiring and unforgettable. Their laughter rings out like a perfectly struck ball, soaring high and true. They have an uncanny ability to find joy in the smallest things—a dandelion in the grass, a butterfly fluttering by, a cardboard box that becomes a spaceship.

    And let’s not forget, folks, that every day with a 3-year-old is a doubleheader. The afternoon might bring a nap that’s fought harder than any pennant race, and bedtime often feels like extra innings. But as the house finally quiets, and you steal a moment to watch them sleep, you realize you wouldn’t trade this game for anything in the world.

    So here’s to the parents out there, grinding it out day after day, finding the beauty in the chaos and the poetry in the madness. Because, as any baseball fan—or parent—knows, it’s not just about the wins and losses. It’s about the love of the game.”

  • Some sunsets

  • A Modified Pomodoro Hack for Procrastination

    A Modified Pomodoro Hack for Procrastination

    I hate stressing about the easy things I haven’t done because I “don’t have the time.” I know that’s nonsense. I have the 10-20 minutes it will take. I need to momentum and confidence that I can get in and out in those 20 minutes, and not go to bed 2 hours later instead. So I’ve been trying this.

    I took the standard Pomodoro technique which is 25 minutes on, 5 minutes off.

    My version for the short sprint:

    • 20-minute timer, but I’m usually done faster,.
    • Something random from Spotify Music I’ve never heard before (no lyrics).
    • One task. One browser tab, no email, no pretending.

    At the end, I don’t just take a break. I’ll do one physical movement. Walk in the yard, do a few pushups, stretch, whatever. It breaks the trance and resets the brain. Plus, my mind is focused now that one middling thing is done.

  • Comparing Parenting a Toddler to Launching a Startup

  • 2022 Marketing in Review – The world tried to be normal again

    Title: Burnout, Bots, and Brand Trust: The Year Marketing Tried to Be Human Again
    Published: January 2023

    In 2022, marketing stopped trying to win the internet and started trying to win people back.

    After a two-year sprint through pandemic pivots, remote chaos, and digital everything, the mood shifted. Customers were burned out. Teams were burned out. And somewhere in the noise, a quiet message emerged:

    “Don’t try to be everywhere. Try to be real.”

    It was the year of rebuilding brand trust. Of cutting through automation sludge. Of rethinking the funnel. And for many of us—of remembering why we got into this work in the first place.

    Here’s what actually happened.

    Consumer Behavior Changed—And Got More Selective

    • 78% of consumers unfollowed brands in 2022 due to “inauthentic” messaging
      (Source: Stackla, “Bridging the Gap” Report)

    • Trust in social ads dropped for the third straight year—down to 43%, with Gen Z showing the sharpest decline
      (Source: Edelman Trust Barometer)

    • Email open rates held steady at 21.5%, but click-throughs declined by 5%
      People opened out of habit, not curiosity.

    • Reviews, UGC, and peer-led content outperformed branded ads in 73% of A/B tests
      Trust shifted to real people, not stylized creatives.

    We Over-Automated, Then Regretted It

    • Martech stack bloat peaked: the average mid-sized marketing team used 91 tools
      (Source: ChiefMartec 2022)

    • Chatbots replaced contact forms on 62% of B2C websites—but customer satisfaction dropped by 11%
      The human touch was missed more than expected.

    • AI-generated content became trendy—but conversion rates were 37% lower when used without human editing
      You can’t automate authenticity.

    What Did Work? Anything That Felt Human

    • Influencer marketing spend rose 42% year over year
      Especially micro-creators (under 100K followers), who delivered better ROI and engagement.

    • SMS campaigns saw a 35% click-through rate—with 98% open rates
      Text isn’t dead. It’s just underused.

    • Podcast ad revenue jumped to $2 billion, and listener trust remained higher than any digital format
      People still like voices more than headlines.

    • Brands that publicly admitted mistakes saw an 8% brand trust lift
      Honesty scaled.

    So What Do We Do With This?

    The lesson of 2022 wasn’t “be everywhere.” It was:

    Be somewhere real. With something worth saying. To people who might actually care.

    We learned (again) that automation should support communication—not replace it. That being human still scales when done right. That trust still matters more than targeting.

    And that the brands who won last year weren’t louder. They were clearer.

    Five Takeaways From 2022

    For CMOs, marketing leads, and teams who want to make smarter moves in 2023:

    1. Cut your stack. Most teams don’t need 90 tools.

    2. Edit your AI. Machine content is only as good as the human who sharpens it.

    3. Trust is the new KPI. If your customers don’t believe you, your reach is meaningless.

    4. Get personal again. SMS, podcasts, micro-creators—small formats built real engagement.

    5. Real is rare. That’s why it still works.

  • ChatGPT Is Not a Copywriter. It’s a Brutal First Draft Machine.

    Let’s get this out of the way: I like AI. I use it. I even talk to it more than some of my friends. But let’s not pretend it’s Don Draper.

    What AI is great at? Vomiting out a rough idea so you can sharpen it. Rewriting headlines until one of them doesn’t suck. Spitting out 20 variations of something you weren’t even sure how to start.

    But it doesn’t know timing. Or tone. Or how to write a line that makes you pause, not scroll.

    A lot of brands are skipping the human part. They’re posting AI-generated sludge and calling it “content.” That’s not innovation. That’s

    laziness dressed up in automation.

    The good news? If you still have a voice, your own. You can make AI your assistant, not your replacement. But it starts with knowing who you are before you press “generate.”