Free Agent Underground

Free Agent Underground Show - "Living A Good Story"

Posted by Kevin Miller on August 24, 2010 at 01:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (16) | TrackBack (0)

August 20, 2010

Aug. 29 'Idea' event update: get double attention

Here is the quick bottom line: Every Free Agent Academy 'Intensive' event we've done out here in Colorado has increased in attendance. Here is a picture from the May 2010 event.

Info on this Aug. 29-31, 2010 'Idea Discovery Base Camp' event in Woodland Park, CO

And we've always done them Fri-Sun.

For August, the only slot open at our camp was a Sun-Tue. I didn't like that, but was (over)confident enough in our growth that I just booked it. Even though with this event being 'Idea Discovery Base Camp,' it meant most everyone would have a j-o-b.

Well, bad idea. We had more inquiries than ever. But if I had $1 for every person that said, "I want to come! But I'm out of vacation days after the summer…when is the next one?" (it's March 2011).

Which results in this; we have what I think will be our most in-depth, profound event ever on tap, with incredible leaders…and 50% of our expected attendees. Now, conventional wisdom would say I shouldn't divulge that. In business we're supposed to only showcase what we do right, not what we do wrong, eh?! But if I followed conventional wisdom I'd be sitting in a cubicle and you wouldn't know me.

Someone mentioned the idea of discounting the event to entice more attendance. But the reality is that those coming are going to get double the personal attention, which means double the value.

That's the reality and the pitch.

This morning we had a mother of 7 youngsters from Illinois register, then a single father of 3 kids and 2 grandkids from Washington who is currently unemployed register. I just got a note from a guy here in CO who says he and his wife are coming.

So…what about you? What will change, where will you be…after the holidays…next year…if you don't come?

Info on this Aug. 29-31, 2010 'Idea Discovery Base Camp' event in Woodland Park, CO

Agent K Miller
Off to run the Pikes Peak Ascent in the morning!

Posted by Kevin Miller on August 20, 2010 at 02:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

August 16, 2010

Start a pretend business and 'play'

In 2006 a movie was released titled "Invincible", the story of Vince Papale…a 30-year-old bartender who went from playing backyard football…to a spot in the Philadelphia Eagles pro football team. Great movie that I recommend.

The point here though, is that he began by just…playing. Having fun! Though probably different than most of his backyard buddies, he actually got in good shape and became a backyard star. So when he got a shot to play for real…he was prepared.

How does this pertain to you and your desire to be successfully self-employed…a Free Agent?

Find a product or service or message that you'd love to work at full time. - Don't worry about how it can be a viable, revenue-producing business yet. But don't confuse this with a hobby you enjoy or a game you like just for fun. Frame this within something you can offer to people that you care about and have some skill in (or would love to develop).
Give it a name and a tagline - Even kids who create 'clubs' do this. I used to have the 'Bigfoot' club because my Dad ended up with these big bumper stickers that said 'Bigfoot.' Don't kill yourself, this is play…remember? But give a shot at a viable name for your product or service or message…and a descriptive, fairly compelling tagline. Something that says "Yes!" to your own spirit.
Start a blog website - Today…a 'blog' is a viable website. There are a million teenage girls who have blogs they pay nothing for to discuss their drivel. I use the same platform to generate a nice income and lifestyle for my family. You can start a blog for free on Typepad or Wordpress, or upgrade for a few more options. I pay $14.95 for my Typepad account, and something like that for a Wordpress site we're about to launch as well. The money folks spend on websites is in fancy design and bells and whistles that while important, you don't need yet.
*Note: As Justin Lukasavige said when we did our show on this topic…if the thought of consistently talking about the topic of your product/service/message is tiresome…then you may want to go back up to #1 and rethink your idea. There has to be enough passion in in it.
Play like it's real - Just like Vince in the movie…when he was playing, he was full-out and serious. With a big smile on his face. Which is the POINT of successful free agency…that you are working full time at work that inspires YOU…which enables you to then inspire others. But be serious. Your blog is available for the public to see, even though there is little chance anyone will unless you tell them. Having it 'out there' will help you act serious about it though.
Practice - Blog…write. This is not about good writing. This is just about you communicating about your product or service. Post twice per week, or at least once per week. Use pictures if it relates. Think of this as working-out. Boys in a field playing sports are having fun, but they are also getting faster and stronger and better. And every time you make a deposit here, it will help you hone in on what you really care about and have to offer.
Invite some spectators - I'm not going to say "when ready invite spectators." Don't wait till you are ready…just till you've got 60-90 days under your belt. Invite some folks to see what you've been playing with. Maybe not your spouse or family…God-love-em'. Look for some people who ARE free agents, or at least who you know are open to the concept. Otherwise it's like me going to the local BBQ joint to come out of the closet with my vegetarian diet ideas. Not the right place, I should go down to the Whole Foods store. Likewise, get in the right crowd.
Get reviews - Again, this is play right now, remember? So no big investment or sensitivity…you're just asking for pointers and insight.
Reassess, revise, get real - Now you have something to really look at and work with. Revise, step back, start thinking a big more seriously. You won't get far alone...chances are you'll either talk yourself out of it (fear will win) or you'll go forward in earnest on some faulty ground. Get serious by getting counsel and accountability.

IMPORTANT: What if you do this, and by #8 you just realize that your idea isn't going to fly, or you in fact don't have enough desire for it? Welcome to the club! Now come with us back to #1 and let's do it again. Remember, this wasn't life or death, you didn't mortgage your house or use your retirement up to fund this. You merely stepped out to get started. You've been working out. Your stronger than where you were when you started. Now you can go at it again with another idea, smarter, faster, hopefully with more enthusiasm.

Have you ever known a fisherman to take their boat all the way to the lake, get it off the trailer, go out in the water, throw in some bait and not catch anything? They try different bait, different poles, different depths and locations in the lake. Do you think they leave and say they are never visiting that lake again, or they give up fishing altogether? Heck no! It's part of the process…better be able to deal with it, as continuing in it is the only thing that will ever ensure that eventually you WILL have a dinner table full of fresh fish.

Folks, I seldom cite anything as easy…but the steps above are. Yet most folks go to their grave and never do it. They never get around to it or have the thought of it or they let an effort they 'tried' kill them…and their music dies in them. It's bigger than music though, it's more like medicine. Medicine that YOU and other folks need. Don't die with it. That's a shame.
Folks, this right here is easy, and most folks go to their grave and never do it. They never get around to it or have the thought of it and their music dies in them. It's bigger than music though, it's more like medicine. Medicine that other folks need. Don't die with it. That's a shame.

"It's not our music that dies with us if left unplayed, it's our unique medicine that dies with us and leaves others unattended to. Don't deprive those you love and those who God has intended for you to serve of what only you can offer. Discover it, get it out there and help people."

Now, review above…numbers 1 through 8. Where are you unsure, unclear, scared…? Feel free to drop me a line about it here or comment below.

Free Agent Underground Show

Free Agent Underground Show - "Start a pretend business and 'play'"

Posted by Kevin Miller on August 16, 2010 at 03:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (14) | TrackBack (0)

August 13, 2010

What a biz website is really for today

Saying you need a website for any business endeavor is old news, like saying the real way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you eat. Duh.

But the purpose of a website has changed significantly. It's moved from being a basic online store…to being a living room. Understanding this is key.

Next…getting a website done still has a big discrepancy. To have a fully custom website with all the bells and whistles is costly, $3-$5,000 easy, and you can ramp up much higher.

On the other side you have all the 'easy, do-it-yourself' platforms for only $49.95 (plus a Turnip Twaddler!), if not for free. And you end up wasting lavish amounts of your time to end up with total crap that won't help you sell $100 bills for $1.

There is a big VOID in the middle of that.

In this quick, 7-minute video with Andy Traub, we hit both of these points.

*NOTE: Andy is the Professor of 'Tech & Web' at Free Agent Academy, and a personal friend. So while this is truthful counsel, I also runneth over with personal bias. As the video says, it's an endorsement of him. FAA members get a discount on his services as well!

Posted by Kevin Miller on August 13, 2010 at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

August 11, 2010

News Alert: We're getting high on our own supply

Folks - this is the top headline at USA Today this Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010:

Obama administration provides $3B in aid for unemployed homeowners
- http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2010-08-11-obama--housing-aid_N.htm

Can we agree that:

Nobody is entitled to own a house
99% of homeownders bought a house that they 'qualify' for, meaning…the most house possible with a mortgage payment they can just possibly meet in relation to their income and debt and lifestyle
Paying for that house with an income derived from being an employee…putting all your income faith under a company and employer that can fire you at any moment, is like playing Russian Roulette?

So for all those who did this…that $3 billion dollars of tax money that we pay a ton into…we're helping bail out?

I don't care what you think about Obama or the U.S. government. It's not their fault. It's ours. We have rapidly left our freedom and pioneer roots to become one of the more dependent nations in the world. But we can stop it!

Check this out…here is what has happened, in a nut shell:

Before the Industrial Revolution (IR), we spent time in relationships and community and adventure. We did not buy much more than basic necessities. Ever watch "Little House On the Prairie?" Notice the belongings that the Ingalls had. Very few. They worked to provide basic necessities, and otherwise…spent time out having experiences.
Henry Ford developed the assembly line to mass produce cars so they were more affordable. That started our downfall.
Take a wall-mounted clock for instance. Before the IR, the only way to have a wall-mounted clock was to get one handmade and designed. Very costly! The Ingalls didn't have one.
The assembly line came along, massed produced them and made them available cheap! So what might have cost $50, now costs $5. And everyone went to get one…it became a norm. The Ingalls bought one.
Take that example to every, single item we now all have and think of as a necessity. Look around at your home and see if you can list out even 5 items that are really 'necessities.' The Ingalls cabin is now chock full of every gadget that we all have. So much so…they had to build a storage shed out back to hold all their extra crap.
And of course Pa long ago quit carpentry and farming so he could work for the clock making company, where he sits inside and pulls a lever.
Course he could then 'qualify' for a bigger house, which they needed to hold all their necessary amenities (i.e. crap). So they bought one in town.
Then last year the clock factory bought a new robot to pull that lever so they axed Pa. And he doesn't even have the tools to do carpentry or land to farm, so he's unemployed. And cashing an unemployment check and will now get a handout from the government who can't afford for Pa and hundreds of thousands of other folks to go bankrupt...the economy is dependent on their purchasing!

Do you see that? We've become a slave to our own buying, it's just a vicious cycle that we're imprisoned to. Anyone see Scarface? "Don't get high on your own supply." Even the drug lords know this. Yet that is what we do. We buy and we buy and we buy and we support it by working for the companies that produce the things we buy and buy and buy. And we become...dependent. Junkies.

Now take the 'underground' of Free Agents…the self-employed. They can't be fired. And if they fail in their business, your tax money won't be paying them unemployment or bailing them out cause they own a house…a bigger and nicer house than they NEEEEEED! They'll be left to stand on their own two feet. Just like our original pioneers.

That $3 billion in tax money can go to feeding those who truly can't help themselves…true widows and orphans per se.

We can't keep our tax money from going to unnecessary expenditures. But we can quit being part of the problem, and inspiring others to do the same. We're not called to save the world…just those in front of us who we can!

Can I get an amen?

Posted by Kevin Miller on August 11, 2010 at 01:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (33) | TrackBack (0)

August 09, 2010

2 reasons anyone would buy anything from you

As promised, I've jumped off the rant-laced soapbox on employeedom and our culture from the past few podcasts and blogs, and today bring you a simple truth of getting started in FreeAgency with an idea.

To hear more on this topic, hit the audio below for the full show hosted by myself and Justin Lukasavige.

#1 here is extremely lame, but it is actually true. #2 is the big Kahuna and core hope and opportunity.

The 2 reasons anyone would buy anything…from you are:

1. Just cause you're there

I'm famous for saying that the quote "If you build it they will come" will NOT work. It made for a great, fantastical story about a guy who built a baseball diamond in his corn field, but it doesn't work for business. And overall, I firmly stand on that statement.

But in reality, if you do a mediocre job of branding yourself, a mediocre job of marketing yourself, you have a mediocre product or service…and you just flat out hand your shingle out long enough, you're bound to get some clients. You won't flourish, but you may survive (which may be all you're doing at your current j-o-b anyway!).

Example: We all see this, even in our own cities. There are plenty of dry cleaners and restaurants and boutique shops that aren't all that unique or extraordinary, but have, over time, gathered enough traffic to keep the lights on.

If you make handmade pipes and set up at a flea market, you might get business simply because you are the only one at that flea market. Or because you were the first one somebody in the market for a new pipe found and they don't care to spend the day researching every other vendor at the market. So you benefit just by being present.

The point? In the sea of humanity, there is no product or service that has completely saturated the market. There is plenty of opportunity to be had for anyone who will just flat-out see it through with a product or service that they can offer.

You don't actually…have to be brilliant or the best. You just have to…be.

2. Because of who you are

It's just that simple, with the only caveat being that for this aspect to be true, you must let who you are be KNOWN within and around your chosen product or service.

Example: Back to the handmade pipes at the flea market…even if there are 3 other handmade pipe makers in the same row as you are at the flea market, and low and behold…you've all made the same styles of pipes and have them all at the same price, you are still bound to make a sale.

Because each one of you as the maker, is a unique person. And all of your prospects are unique people. And people are drawn to one another for all varieties of reasons.

They might buy from you because of your smile (you have teeth!), because you look like heck and they have pity on you. Because your spouse is good looking. Because you didn't jump up and get in their face when they approached. Because you had on overalls and their Grandpa wore overalls and it's nostalgic to them. Because you were a woman pipe maker!

Any variety of reasons.

The point is that when people are presented with similar options to choose from, they will primarily buy from whoever they feel a kinship with or offers them some aspect of comfort or trust to align with.

And YOU...can do this.

NOW HEAR THIS - #2 here is where your opportunity to flourish is. If you expound on you and your personality and 'personal brand' you could corner the pipe market at every flea market. Not only that, but online and the world at large!

That's part of 'Branding', which we'll save for another time, or you can read under the 'Branding' category at the FreeAgentUnderground.com website.

So don't get to doubtful when thinking about "Who am I" to be stepping out to offer a product or service as a free agent. Most folks will never try, or never try very hard. There are plenty, I say PLENTY…of spoils that will come your way simply by bringing a product or service to market.

Free Agent Underground Show - "2 reasons anyone would buy anything from you"

Posted by Kevin Miller on August 09, 2010 at 01:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

August 06, 2010

What's the key to figuring out your idea?

*Justin Lukasavige and I recorded a podcast just now on this…so you can use the links at the bottom to listen to it, as we went over much more than is here!

In this blog we're going to give you the foundational root of finding a viable idea for you to pursue, examples of some folks going after it and then give an overview of our Aug. 29-31 'Idea' event for those of you who are thinking about it.

Most people sit down to seek an idea for self-employment like they would picking a color of paint for a room in their house they want to redo.

"Hmmm…that looks nice! That one has too much red in it. That would clash with the leather sofa." Etc.

Folks, seeking a viable idea for you to invest the best hours of your day and days of your life into…is as important as seeking a spouse (granted, too many folks pick a spouse like the color of a room too, but that's another blog…). Maybe more actually. As few things will affect your marriage more than the health of your work and finances.

You can't seek a fitting spouse unless you know yourself. Neither will you find a viable idea to pursue and succeed in for free agency. It that's too deep and touch feely for you, then buckle up for more of what you have now.

Chances are 1000 to 1 you don't know yourself well enough. Cause here is the deal, you can't know yourself…by yourself. We aren't equipped to see ourselves fully, just like with a mirror. We can only see from above or behind or below with the help of someone else.

And not just anyone…someone who:

Is invested in our lives and progress
Can give feedback without a bias or agenda
Knows the right questions to ask

So if you have any true desire to be a free agent, to have a very alternative lifestyle with vast freedoms most of society will never taste…go seek out that personal input, feedback and help.

I say this as the chief sinner! A recovering lone wolf. With the scars to prove it...

I realized this, and built a resource in Free Agent Academy, to fill a void. We come together as a community to help each other see the blind spots in ourselves and our businesses. We do it daily online in our private, paid membership community, but we take folks to a quantum leap at our physical events…'Intensives.' In just over 3 weeks we converge here in Woodland Park, CO, up the pass from Colorado Springs, for our second ever 'Idea Discovery Base Camp.'

Complete info page:
- Aug. 29-31 'Idea Discovery Base Camp' in Colorado

A group of key leaders along with an intimate gathering of idea seekers. We go deep, get real, and get rolling.

It's a big step for someone to take. I'm struggling to write something that doesn't sound cliche' here. But sometimes lots of little steps just never get us there. Not when there is a 3-foot vertical wall as the next step. You either take a big step, or you just…stop.

Here is a sampling of folks who have decided to take a big step…and already registered:

John S.

Hilliard, Ohio
Married 24 years, Son 18, daughter 20
Currently working for a large home improvement retailer, pretty much loathes his job
Wants to work in the remote controlled hobbies industry

Cheryl A.

Louisville, CO
Married 3 years, no kids
Currently helps run her husbands two businesses
Feels personal coaching may be a good fit, but not sure

Wesley C.

Jackson, MI
Married 8 years, son almost 3, son 1
Wholsesale building products salesperson for a nationwide company. "I travel every day. I am good at what I do though it is high stress, and it is not what I want to do with my life."
Wants to become successfully self employed within his passions and abilities!

Rob C.

Strasburg, Ohio
Married with girl 7 and 3 (and lost a daughter at age 3 to an illness)
Self employed florist for 8 years, also has a Coupon website, but
Would love to find the path that he loves as well as nail down his future in something he loves.

Meladie K.

Staten Island, NY (sings in the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir!)
Married with two adult children
Retired military, currently enrolled in an arts appraisal program and pursuing an internship in that field.
To decide once and for all what is the best path for me to follow business-idea wise and reject the rest

At these events we all stay at the camp so we can talk till late in the night, and hit it early in the morning with no wasted time. We eat together…and this is often where the best value comes…sharing ideas and giving feedback while breaking bread together.

We are inspired by our Rocky Mountain surroundings and natural wood lodging. We present material, give time for you to work through it, then come together for Q&A and feedback.

This is the real deal. No hype. No fluff. A bit of theory, then hands on application.

If you have the slightest thought to contemplate this, instead of letting your mind take over with why you CAN'T come (which your mind will naturally do), get out pen and paper and just play a bit with how you COULD make it happen. Just for fun.

Questions? Just comment below.

- Aug. 29-31 'Idea Discovery Base Camp' in Colorado

Free Agent Underground Show

Free Agent Underground Show - "What's the key to figuring out your idea?"

Posted by Kevin Miller on August 06, 2010 at 03:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)

August 04, 2010

Free Agent Underground Show: "Nearly wrecking my marriage"

This was not what I intended to come from the interview on my personal free agent journey…but it's what Justin pulled out of me. I got a flood of feedback on it. Not just from the audience to the live CoachRadio.TV audience, but from folks who found it through Facebook (connect w/me) and Twitter (connect w/me) and Justin's website.

So I'm taking that as evidence that…it matters. Thus I'm posting it here for you.

Justin Lukasavige hosts CoachRadio.TV and in a series called "Your Story" he interviewed me about my journey as a free agent. We covered multiple issues, but what seemed to hit home for most folks was me discussing how my past, unbridled risk with business ideas along with some bad faith theology completely wrecked my finances and even more importantly…my marriage.

I can say I've gone from nearly burning my wife (Teri) off…to having her as my greatest supporter, encourager and believer today. Lately I feel she believes in me even more than I do. And folks…I can not even begin to tell you how massively joyful and empowering that is.

Yesterday's blog "Don't be Dilbert" discussed the realities of how we as a society have settled for less in our work life…how we've let punching a clock that we hate…become our priority and our God. As opposed to wrapping our work around a life and calling we believe in.

This then I guess…covers how so many marriage either come to an end…or go forward settling for less. When on the other hand you can commit and do whatever it takes to not only salvage it…but resurrect and build something of utmost power and worth…a real union.

I can tell you this…if you are married and desiring a free agent life of self-employment and owning your time and priorities and really scheduling your work around your life…there is flat-out no ingredient more foundational than being on the same page, side-by-side and looking forward toward a consequential life…with your spouse.

And I must add a public call-out to my wife Teri. A person who continues to amaze and inspire me…ever more each day. My best friend who I respect more than anyone on the planet. Her devotion to doing life better…I'll NEVER take for granted. She is absolutely God's greatest tool in my life for shaping me into something of value. And to top it off with the fact that she's gorgeous just proves God's ultimate grace and care for me…no way I deserve that. He was just showing off like He did when he turned water into wine...

*NOTE: as she can fit it in between 7 kids and an immensely full life…she has been privately blogging. When she's ready to go live…I'll let you know. We may find out I'm just the opening act for her. She writes and relates about life and relationships and faith and being 'real' in a way that is beyond my abilities.

I'm posting the interview below so it will upload to the Free Agent Underground blog, but you can go straight to it at CoachRadio.TV here:
- http://www.coachradio.tv/05-coach-radio-your-story-kevin-miller

Free Agent Underground Show

Free Agent Underground Show - "Your Story - Kevin Miller

Posted by Kevin Miller on August 04, 2010 at 02:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)

August 03, 2010

Free Agent Underground Show: "Don't be Dilbert"

*Listen via audio recording below

I originally titled this "You can only serve one master" as you'll hear if you listen to the show. But near the end we hit on this title about Dilbert and I like it better. I need more humor in these blogs when I'm hitting on such deep topics.

The topic here is relevant to all, whether Christ follower or not. But Biblically, Matthew 6:24 says “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

As an employee you can not fully serve the end recipient. You must serve first and foremost...your employer. That's not being critical...that's part of the deal and contract, period. But we don't pay much attention to this vital reality in our current world of employeedom. Yet we all complain about:
The service we receive from businesses
The stupidity of priorities and powerlessness and ludicrousness of the workplace

CHECK THIS OUT:

We laugh (painful laughter) at Dilbert cartoons and shows like The Office, because of the truth there is and although they exgaggerate...they don't really. It's stupid. But it's real life.
We glorify epic stories and movies where the main character is not only above authority, but above the law...in their valiant quest to serve the victim or person in need.

So...are you OK being Dilbert, or do you want to be valiant yourself?!

As a free agent, independent contractor, entrepreneur, self-employed person, business owner...you can serve as you feel called and compelled. You can:

Give away your product or service or time
Give a refund
Charge less
Charge more!
Fire a customer or client
Date or marry a customer or client
Spend hours or a day talking about personal issues with a client, and not trying to sell
Ditch work to care for your family or friends or anyone in need
Ditch work because you just need time off!
Share your faith anyway or anytime you like
Whatever you believe is best

We may wrap our work...around the life and lifestyle and
calling and balance that we believe we are called to.

As an employee, you can:
Do what your employer requires. And wrap your calling, duties, responsibilities, relationships and calling in the little margins left after work when you are worn out and too busy with the basic necessities of life such as laundry or dishes or homework or whatever. And chances all you have left is plopping down on the couch to either escape or seek inspiration in a made up story instead of living your own.

That's pretty much it and we all know it. Yes, there are exceptions with some great employers, but nobody can debate that what I state is the norm and average. And we as a society complain about being an employee, and the service we get from other employees.

You can only serve one master...the one who pays you. It's either the direct recipient, or the employer.

I don't mean this to exhort only though. The intent is to validate you in not seeing free agency as a luxury...but a responsibility and give you the support and inspiration to go after it!!

For the sake of brevity, you may hear more in the audio below. It's a 30 minute podcast with Justin Lukasavige and we go deeper into this and include a great first option for you to step in to free agency.

If this inspires your spirit or steps on your toes, feel free to let us know in the comments below. You'll probably be speaking for 20 others reading or hearing this who won't comment publicly.

Free Agent Underground Show

Free Agent Underground Show - "Don't be Dilbert"