Andy Boyer

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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.

Read more: Your 2% Battery: When Real Work Starts

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.

Here We Go Again

Well its that time of year. Opening Day. Yay?

Man, I used to love Baseball Opening Day. So much hope. If this falls right, and that goes our way, and if that guy has a great year, then we can win it!

But, I’m jaded now. When your team has a publicly stated goal of going 87-75 every year and maintaining a profit, it’s hard to get more excited than they do.

But its a fun time to look at stats anyway. It is baseball after all. So lets open up to a couple of pages.

Read more: Here We Go Again

1) Championships by Team (MLB, NFL, NBA, MHL, MLS)

Overall Stats:

Total Franchises with titles: 74 (out of 160)

  • Baseball: 23 (out of 30)
  • Football: 20 (out of 32)
  • Basketball: 20 (out of 30)
  • NHL: 19 (out of 32)
  • MLS: 15 (out of 29)

Teams

11 Titles

  • Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)

7 Titles

  • New York Yankees (MLB)

6 Titles

  • Chicago Bulls (NBA)
  • LA Galaxy (MLS)
  • New England Patriots (NFL)
  • Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL)

5 Titles

  • Boston Celtics (NBA)
  • Edmonton Oilers (NHL)
  • Golden State Warriors (NBA)
  • New York Islanders (NHL)
  • Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
  • San Antonio Spurs (NBA)
  • San Francisco 49ers (NFL)

4 Titles

  • Boston Red Sox (MLB)
  • D.C. United (MLS)
  • Dallas Cowboys (NFL)
  • Kansas City Chiefs (NFL)
  • Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB)
  • Montreal Canadiens (NHL)
  • New York Giants (NFL)
  • San Francisco Giants (MLB)

3 Titles

  • Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
  • Columbus Crew (MLS)
  • Denver Broncos (NFL)
  • Detroit Pistons (NBA)
  • Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
  • Las Vegas Raiders (NFL)
  • Miami Heat (NBA)
  • New Jersey Devils (NHL)
  • Philadelphia Phillies (MLB)
  • St. Louis Cardinals (MLB)
  • Washington Commanders (NFL)

2 Titles

  • Atlanta Braves (MLB)
  • Baltimore Ravens (NFL)
  • Colorado Avalanche (NHL)
  • Florida Panthers (NHL)
  • Houston Astros (MLB)
  • Houston Dynamo FC (MLS)
  • Houston Rockets (NBA)
  • Los Angeles Rams (NFL)
  • Miami Marlins (MLB)
  • Minnesota Twins (MLB)
  • Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA)
  • Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)
  • San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
  • Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
  • Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL)
  • Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL)
  • Toronto Blue Jays (MLB)

1 Title

  • Anaheim Angels (MLB)
  • Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
  • Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB)
  • Boston Bruins (NHL)
  • Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
  • Chicago Bears (NFL)
  • Chicago Cubs (MLB)
  • Chicago White Sox (MLB)
  • Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA)
  • Dallas Mavericks (NBA)
  • Dallas Stars (NHL)
  • Denver Nuggets (NBA)
  • Detroit Tigers (MLB)
  • Kansas City Royals (MLB)
  • Milwaukee Bucks (NBA)
  • New Orleans Saints (NFL)
  • New York Mets (MLB)
  • Philadelphia 76ers (NBA)
  • Portland Trail Blazers (NBA)
  • Seattle Seahawks (NFL)
  • Texas Rangers (MLB)
  • Toronto Raptors (NBA)
  • Washington Nationals (MLB)
  • Washington Wizards (NBA)


2) Championships by City

Los Angeles – 26 Titles
Dodgers (MLB) – 6
Lakers (NBA) – 11
Rams (NFL) – 2
Kings (NHL) – 2
Galaxy (MLS) – 5

Boston – 20 Titles
Red Sox (MLB) – 4
Patriots (NFL) – 6
Celtics (NBA) – 8
Bruins (NHL) – 2
Revolution (MLS) – 0

New York – 15 Titles
Yankees (MLB) – 5
Giants (NFL) – 3
Mets (MLB) – 1
Rangers (NHL) – 1
Islanders (NHL) – 4
Knicks (NBA) – 0
NYCFC (MLS) – 1

Chicago – 13 Titles
Bears (NFL) – 1
Bulls (NBA) – 6
Blackhawks (NHL) – 3
White Sox (MLB) – 1
Cubs (MLB) – 1
Fire (MLS) – 1

San Francisco – 12 Titles
49ers (NFL) – 5
Giants (MLB) – 3
Warriors (NBA) – 4

Pittsburgh – 10 Titles
Steelers (NFL) – 4
Penguins (NHL) – 5
Pirates (MLB) – 1

Detroit – 8 Titles
Pistons (NBA) – 3
Red Wings (NHL) – 4
Tigers (MLB) – 1
Lions (NFL) – 0

Washington, D.C. – 8 Titles
Commanders (NFL) – 3
Capitals (NHL) – 1
Nationals (MLB) – 1
D.C. United (MLS) – 3

Denver – 7 Titles
Broncos (NFL) – 3
Avalanche (NHL) – 3
Nuggets (NBA) – 1
Rockies (MLB) – 0

Dallas – 6 Titles
Cowboys (NFL) – 3
Stars (NHL) – 1
Mavericks (NBA) – 1
FC Dallas (MLS) – 0
Rangers (MLB) – 1

Houston – 6 Titles
Astros (MLB) – 2
Rockets (NBA) – 2
Dynamo (MLS) – 2

Kansas City – 5 Titles
Chiefs (NFL) – 3
Royals (MLB) – 2

Miami – 5 Titles
Heat (NBA) – 3
Marlins (MLB) – 2
Dolphins (NFL) – 0
Inter Miami (MLS) – 0

San Antonio – 5 Titles
Spurs (NBA) – 5

Tampa Bay – 5 Titles
Buccaneers (NFL) – 2
Lightning (NHL) – 3

Philadelphia – 4 Titles
Eagles (NFL) – 1
Phillies (MLB) – 2
76ers (NBA) – 1
Flyers (NHL) – 0
Union (MLS) – 0

Seattle – 4 Titles
Seahawks (NFL) – 1
Sounders (MLS) – 2
Supersonics (NBA) – 1

St. Louis – 4 Titles
Cardinals (MLB) – 2
Blues (NHL) – 1
Rams (NFL) – 1

Toronto – 4 Titles
Blue Jays (MLB) – 2
Raptors (NBA) – 1
Toronto FC (MLS) – 1

Atlanta – 3 Titles
Braves (MLB) – 2
United (MLS) – 1

Baltimore – 3 Titles
Ravens (NFL) – 2
Orioles (MLB) – 1

Columbus – 3 Titles
Crew (MLS) – 3

Milwaukee – 2 Titles
Bucks (NBA) – 2

Minneapolis – 2 Titles
Twins (MLB) – 2

Portland – 2 Titles
Timbers (MLS) – 2

Cincinnati – 1 Title
Reds (MLB) – 1

Cleveland – 1 Title
Cavaliers (NBA) – 1

Las Vegas – 1 Title
Golden Knights (NHL) – 1

New Orleans – 1 Title
Saints (NFL) – 1

Oklahoma City – 1 Title
Thunder (NBA) – 1

Phoenix – 1 Title
Diamondbacks (MLB) – 1

Salt Lake City – 1 Title
Real Salt Lake (MLS) – 1

Lunching with Legends – Talking Leadership

Episode 2: Culture, Character, and the Cost of Winning

Welcome back to Legends on the Line, our fictional Zoom call to the great beyond, where some of the most legendary college coaches who ever lived drop in for a candid conversation. Our panel today needs no warmup:

  • Pat Summitt, the unshakable builder of Tennessee women’s basketball.
  • John Wooden, architect of the UCLA dynasty and philosopher in sneakers.
  • Eddie Robinson, Grambling State’s longtime coach, educator, and soul of Black college football.

I’ll step aside after this quick intro—just a coach’s kid turned marketing guy listening in from the sidelines. These three don’t need moderators.

Let’s listen in.

WOODEN: Thank you for the invitation. It’s always good to be in the company of coaches who understood that the scoreboard was never the whole story.

SUMMITT: Speak for yourself, Coach. I liked the scoreboard—but I liked knowing why we won more.

ROBINSON: That’s the key right there. Anybody can get lucky one Saturday. Sustaining it, year after year? That’s culture. That’s character.

WOODEN: Culture is what happens when no one’s watching. You can’t teach discipline on game day. It has to be woven into how you practice, how you behave, how you treat your teammates.

SUMMITT: It’s also how you talk to your players after a loss. Or when they’re struggling off the court. I wasn’t just raising point guards—I was helping raise women.

ROBINSON: We had players come through Grambling who had never been told they mattered. Coaching them meant teaching them how to carry themselves with dignity, how to walk into any room and belong there.

WOODEN: I used to say: “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation.” Your reputation is merely what others think of you. Your character is what you really are.

SUMMITT: That quote made it onto the wall in our locker room, by the way.

ROBINSON: Same.

WOODEN: So let me ask—how do we build character on a team?

SUMMITT: You hold people accountable and you tell the truth. I never sugarcoated anything with my players. I told them, “If you don’t want to hear the truth, you’re in the wrong gym.”

ROBINSON: You also model it. You can’t ask your team to work hard and then come in late or take shortcuts. Coaches forget that players remember everything—especially what you do when the cameras aren’t on.

WOODEN: That’s right. I never once mentioned winning in a pregame talk. But I talked about effort, preparation, self-control. You teach those things and the wins take care of themselves.

SUMMITT: We live in a world where everyone wants results yesterday. But a team’s identity takes time. That’s the real coaching—the part they don’t show in the documentaries.

ROBINSON: Culture is how you respond to adversity. You lose a key player? You’re down 14 in the third? That’s when all the “teamwork” posters on the wall better mean something.

WOODEN: Here’s a thought: The more talented your players, the more important it is to teach unselfishness.

SUMMITT: Amen. At Tennessee, our biggest fights were never about minutes. They were about ego. But we settled those in practice, in film sessions, in long conversations. You can’t just yell “teamwork” and expect magic.

ROBINSON: I had players who wanted to go pro, and I’d say, “Start by being great in this huddle.” You can’t lead 80,000 fans until you can lead 10 of your teammates in the locker room.

WOODEN: “Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” That applied to stardom too.

SUMMITT: We put team before talent every year. If you couldn’t buy into that, you didn’t play. Period.

ROBINSON: Can we talk about how you balance toughness and love?

SUMMITT: You mean how to kick their butts and hug them after?

WOODEN: I believe discipline without love is tyranny. But love without discipline is chaos.

ROBINSON: I told my players: “You may not like how I say it, but you’ll understand why when you leave here.”

SUMMITT: Coaching is a long game. It’s what they say about you ten years later that matters. Not what they say when you sit them on the bench.

WOODEN: Let’s get practical. How did each of you create culture, not just talk about it?

SUMMITT: Daily habits. On time. Practice hard. Sit in the first three rows of class. Say thank you. The little things build the big things.

ROBINSON: We ran the program like a family. That didn’t mean it was soft—it meant it was consistent. If you knew what to expect from me, you could relax and play.

WOODEN: I had a Pyramid of Success, but honestly? It came down to teaching players how to be good men. If they became good men, they’d be good teammates.

SUMMITT: Replace “men” with “women,” and I’m with you 100%.

WOODEN: You know what I miss most?

SUMMITT: The players?

WOODEN: That moment when a kid finally gets it. Not the game plan—the lesson.

ROBINSON: Yes. When they figure out who they are. That’s the championship I remember most.

SUMMITT: There’s a reason we call it “coaching.” It’s a journey, and we’re lucky to ride shotgun.

ME (signing back in): I didn’t want to interrupt. But thank you. This was a masterclass in how to build something that lasts.

Before we close the Zoom tab on the sky, mind if I ask what each of you is doing this weekend?

WOODEN: I’ve got a pickup game with some old Bruins and a long walk planned with Abraham Lincoln. We talk about leadership.

SUMMITT: I’m hosting a chalk talk with Billie Jean King and Maya Angelou. We’re comparing playbooks.

ROBINSON: I’ll be on the sideline at a sandlot game down here. Same spot every weekend. I cheer loud.

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.

Does LinkedIn Still Belong in 2025 Marketing Budgets?

As companies (like my clients) finalize their 2025 marketing strategies, many are asking whether LinkedIn still warrants a dedicated line in the budget. Once a critical space for B2B visibility and thought leadership, the platform now faces new competition, rising costs, and declining returns for some sectors. Plus, it seems like hardly anyone actually works there.

It seems like for every reason to keep it, there’s an equally valid one for abandoning it.

Read more: Does LinkedIn Still Belong in 2025 Marketing Budgets?

Engagement Is Still Strong—But Flattening

For B2B marketers, LinkedIn has historically been unmatched in terms of audience intent. But engagement metrics suggest the platform may be nearing a plateau. According to LinkedIn’s own Benchmark Report, click-through rates on thought leadership posts declined year over year:

  • 2023: 0.55%
  • 2024: 0.49%

Meanwhile, a June 2024 Socialinsider study found carousel posts remained the most engaging format, especially for professional services firms. Short videos, once seen as a growth area, now underperform outside of HR or recruitment content.

The Cost Equation Is Shifting

Advertising on LinkedIn remains expensive—often prohibitively so for performance marketers. Wordstream’s Q3 2024 report shows stark differences in average CPM:

  • LinkedIn: $38.12
  • Meta (Facebook/Instagram): $14.74
  • TikTok: $8.91

For campaigns focused on lead generation or direct conversions, the ROI may be difficult to justify compared to cheaper alternatives.

When LinkedIn Still Delivers

Despite those challenges, LinkedIn still drives value for certain brands—particularly those with high-ticket offerings or a professional audience. Sectors continuing to see returns include:

  • SaaS and enterprise software
  • Management consulting
  • HR technology and recruiting firms
  • Financial services
  • Executive coaching and leadership training

These industries benefit from the trust and credibility that LinkedIn still holds with decision-makers.

For Consumer Brands, Less Justifiable

For lifestyle or direct-to-consumer brands, LinkedIn rarely makes sense. The professional context limits emotional storytelling, and users are less receptive to brand content unless it’s tied to employment, entrepreneurship, or career development.

Even brands experimenting with employer branding and culture posts are seeing limited traction unless the content is truly unique or backed by a hiring initiative.

A Tighter, Smarter Approach

LinkedIn isn’t dead, it just isn’t automatic. Marketers should reevaluate its role based on goals, cost, and audience fit. For brands that use it well, the platform can still offer high-quality engagement. For others, 2025 may be the right year to scale back and reinvest in channels with broader reach and better value.

How Vin Scully Would Describe Parenting a 3 Year Old

I have to admit to 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.

Read more: How Vin Scully Would Describe Parenting a 3 Year Old

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.”

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.

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