What do you think is most healthy?

Let me define what I mean by 'health'...because what you list out will contain the primary opportunity for your free agent (self-employment) success.     

In your life, you have chosen paths and habits for certain reasons. For example, I'm here trying to inspire you to free agency…self-employment. Why? I honestly think it can be best for you life. So why would I keep quiet about that?

Bear with me on this example...

Is self-employment for everyone? I don't really need to answer that question…it's moot. Bringing up the question itself is unfortuate. When we find things that have benefited our lives, we don't share them and shout from the rooftops. Why? We might offend someone. What we have found as truth for us might not be best or possible for someone else. Our message may even be…gasp…unfair toward them!

Pictured - me working at home on a beautiful Rocky Mountain day, getting some typing help from a neighborhood squirrel. I'd wish that opportunity for you. And yes, that's a real picture and a real squirrel.

If you would unabashedly, fervently communicate to others what you believe in, you'd find grand opportunities within your calling and work. More on that below...

Thus we generally say nothing to avoid coming across as unfair or insensitive. We preface any belief and put fine print disclosures below any statement? What is touted as 'intellectual' and 'mature' today is…to stand for nothing. Complete tolerance. What is right for you is only for you and to put it upon anyone else is intolerant and judgmental.

So we sit silent and let others die while protecting ourselves. Folks, gravity is absolute. If you teeter on the edge of a cliff and I don't grab you, shame on me. If you're about to drive across water in the road that I know is 6 foot deep with a driving current in the middle and I don't flag you down, shame on me. If I find something in life that immensely benefits me and I don't share it with you…I'm being as selfish as if I was given the key to all the world's resources and kept it to myself. And what if I believe it's best and you don't? Well, so what? It's not about agreement, it's about caring.

If college radically changed your life for the better and you think everyone would benefit by going, then shout it from the rooftops! Let us know! State your case and impact those with eyes to see and ears to hear YOUR message and experience. Be brave and confident and you'll bless so many people.

I wouldn't hear you myself, because I am actively opposed to college for most people. But why care about me when there are masses who ARE open to you?

Get that?

So in your life…what:

• Do you believe in
• Do you advocate
• Are you a fan of
• Do you wish others would experience
• Do you believe is best for all or most people

Here is the biggie that sabotages needed evangelists for so many things…the issue of 'right and wrong.' Especially amongst religion. We have a lot of pharisitical, pompous, self-righteous, hypocritical folks feeling they are right and others are wrong. I know…I'm by nature a card carrying member of SRAA - Self RighteousAholics Anonymous.

My wife Teri got onto me about this on one specific occasion. As a family we are self-employed, vegetarian, anti-media (no TV or newspapers or radio), home schooling, environmental, Jesus Christ following, fitness pursuing fanatics. We've looked at most areas of life and pursued what we feel is best and truth, and we've committed to following that. Which can make for some tremendously opinionated feelings. And in wanting these things for others where we've experience benefits, Teri would sometimes chafe at the perspective of us being right and them being wrong.

Point taken. So let's rephrase that...and I think you'll like this:

"What do we believe is most healthy?" It's not right or wrong or self-righteous or life or death (maybe) or an issue of eternal salvation. What do you adhere to in your life that you feel is the healthiest choice? And be boldly honest.

For me again, is it an issue of right or wrong to be self-employed? Nope. Is it more spiritual to be self-employed? Again, nope, not in and of itself anymore than it makes you more spiritual to have a Bible. But I've experienced *successful self-employment in my life and thousands of others…and it by far allows for more good fruit to come from your life than the alternatives. So yes, I think it's 'most healthy.'

Is being vegetarian or even just eating healthfully a right or wrong issue? Definitely not! They ate plenty of meat and milk and honey in my Bible! But in comparison to today's cultural diet, do I think it's most healthy to avoid much meat and processed foods? Heck yes. Should I keep it to myself if I see others in sickness and illness caused from, as my buddy Dr. Randy James says, "Giving your body things it doesn't want and denying it of things that it needs." No, I should care enough about you to share what I think would help you, even if it may step on your toes a bit. Which necessitates me showcasing I truly care about you so you'd even respect me enough to listen.

There is tremendous opportunity for you, in pursuing self-employment, in this exercise. If you can't list anything in your list of what you believe to be 'most healthy', it's because you have not led a self-examined life thus far. Which there is no shame in. Just get to examining now! But otherwise, make a list!

Then, order the list from most to least important. Up there at the top will be some key areas where I'll guarantee there is opportunity for you to create a product or service or message that you can pursue and make income from and truly serve others in.

Just to help, here are some ideas of what I know are often topics of 'most healthy' in people's minds:

• Physical fitness
• Financial stewardship (saving, investing, giving)
• Environmental issues - Green living on many levels
• Animal rights
• Politics
• Marriage
• Parenting
• Education
• Sex
• Diversity
• Serving humanity
• Leadership
• Spiritual faith belief (this will be automatically listed first for many folks, but I listed it last on purpose as it's often a crutch for not going further than just this. You can't have a business based just on this, and being a pastor isn't a business)

Try to keep things you are personally frustrated or angry about out of your list and focus on what things you truly pursue for yourself and feel others would benefit from.

Feel free to share below, debate...whatever. If you read the comments in my previous post, you'll see that we're here to have a discussion, not just spout off.

*Successful self-employment is different from mere self-employment, no different than saying I'm IN LOVE with my wife rather than I merely 'love' her. World of difference.

Comments

[Aaron]

Kevin,

Thanks for your post. I am "desperately" seeking successful self-employment right now. At times, I find myself going around in mental circles. This type of post helps me to expand my thoughts into a new context.

I'm at a crossroads with my career and trying to make a decision on the path ahead. I've worked in the IT field, mostly in higher ed, since graduating college 10 years ago.

When I mentally think about the type of list you suggest -- key areas of importance to me and who I am -- the topics of successful finances and meaningful work rank at the top for me. I love to help people find success in their finances. Not as an end in itself; I really love helping people to shape the story of their lives in meaningful, powerful ways. Not just "let's build a budget" but "what outcomes, dreams, and passions do you want to fulfill in life? Now, how can we use a budget and other tools to make those a reality?" But at times, with limited experience, that feels like a tall mountain to climb for career and income.

On the other hand, I do really like technology. I'm totally burnt out doing IT in a large organization. The silly rules, slow pace, and inability to adapt to changing times is driving me a little nuts. But helping entrepreneurs and small businesses use technology effectively is a lot more appealing. I like to help people with solutions so they can focus 80% of their time on the 20% of tasks that are most profitable, meaningful, etc... I may not be quite as "passionate" about technology, but it seems a quicker road to self-sustaining income.

And honestly, either one sounds light years ahead of what I'm doing now. I'm struggling to make this choice and understand it in the context of your post. I definitely see clearly on certain days and feel lost on others.

Aaron

[Anthony Plack]

Wow, a tremendous collection of abstract thinking on a single topic.

Here is what I know:
1. Tolerance is by definition intolerant. It means to subject one's self to ideas with which you don't agree. It is one direction communication and understanding. I would make it a synonym for torture.
2. I have the right to believe employment is slavery redefined and therefore, free agency is the only way to "pursue happiness".
3. Others have the right to their own addictions of a false security. If having a JOB makes you feel safe, great. I will cry with you when that fallacy crashes when you loose your security because your job is eliminated.
4. Self-employement is an equal fallacy by those too proud to be open, share and interact with community. Hermits may live their dreams, but most don't count them successful.
5. Free agency is a team sport.
6. Mental health does not come from worry. How healthy is it to have a fear of survival because your income is subject to someone else's determination of your "worth"?

Lastly, I wish we had squirrels but the pride of 40 feral cats we had in the woods eliminated that option.

[Martin Allan]

http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2010/10/21/dont-bother-with-an-mba/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+BusinessOpportunitiesWeblog+(Business+Opportunities+Weblog)

Found this off another site which I thought may be interesting about college/university particularly MBA courses if you are entrepeneurial like most free agents.

[Rob Dyess]

Good stuff here Kevin.

I just wanted to reiterate a point that you made. I think you are saying- "Take a position and back it up". For example, I have some very strong ideas about diet and exercise. Those ideas do not include being vegan... but does that make them wrong?? No! It just makes them MY ideas. I have experience that makes me feel the way that I feel.

Now as far as voicing my opinion and worrying about "stepping on toes"- you are right. I can't worry about that. It is not going to hurt my feelings if you don't agree. I think I can find plenty of people that will agree with me.

Thanks Kevin for the thought provoking post!!

Rob

WeighDownSouth.com

[Jeff Batson]

Great post Kevin! This is a great way to help people such as myself, who are trying to get back on track with their self employment pursuit and needing to regain focus of the things that are really most important in our lives. Thank you for not giving up on us and for keeping us accountable to one another.

Jeff

[MultiplyLeaders]

Awesome article. J. Collins points out in Built to Last that visionary companies have and stick to a core ideology. That really resonates with your thoughts here, Kevin. So here is my (Mark Jones Jr) list (with commentary):
-Vision (Mine is this: someday I will stand before Christ and give an account of my talents...and I want to hear Him say well done, thou good and faithful servant.)
-Leadership (especially of my family)
-Accountability
-Relationships (this is one of our most valuable talents-especially with my wife, children, and other leaders)
Math and flying (these two of my passions are probably my other two primary talents)
Equipping (transferring my skills and knowledge to serve and help others)

[Carolyne Jimenez]

Communicating to others what you fervently believe in, God is working this one in me pretty intently right now. I fully believe in it, but think most of us are afraid. I usually am, but when God pushes my core belief button I am compelled to shout out. I get excited, my pulse goes up, there's no fear, it is just an undeniable sense of this is really really good and true. Even in the thought that nobody cares or is listening. He gives you that awesome confidence that I wouldn't otherwise have and the ability to raise your shield and deflect any flaming arrows. Ultimately even if you are shoot down or left unheard, if He lead you to speak then you have fulfilled the greatest accomplished of pleasing God,anything from anyone else beyond that is just a bonus. See you got me goin I could write a whole blog in response to your blog-that sounds kinda funny.

[John DiMare]

Kevin,

Several years ago your dad's message changed me and now as I follow you and other FAU folks (Justin L. for example)I find myself asking more questions and feeling a sense of Urgency about Delivering on what you would call our responsibility. (Successful Self Employment).

As a sales professional I could only sell when I believed in the product. Your passion/concern comes through this post. I am great with giving others ideas and holding them accountable but need accountability partners for my ventures. I will be checking out FAA in the weeks to come.

Thank you for not being afraid to speak words of faith and life into "wandering" employees who yearn for freedom and purpose that comes from working within ones calling.

John

[Josh Bulloc]

On the point of offending someone, I think people get offended too easily. For instance, Kevin, I bet some people get offended by your points of view just because you stated them. I personally take time to hear differing points of view and give people opportunity to change my mind. They usually don't but I learn more through the process. I love sharing my point of view and I do offend a lot of people but it works as a weed out mechanism. It keeps me from spending time with people of a closed mind.

Josh Bulloc
Kansas City, MO
How can I help?

[Ashley Logsdon]

Very interesting blog, Kevin. We've butted heads over issues like education and religion in the past so I was eager to read this. The more we both grow in our thinking, the more I see the core principles we actually do agree on. As your sister, I remember Mom saying many times "practice being kind rather than being right." I think that you are right--if you have a strong opinion on something you are passionate about, share it with others. The issue is exactly what you say--that people spend more time not on sharing their passion, but on letting someone know how come THEY are WRONG if they don't do/think/act exactly the same. Maybe we shouldn't necessarily say "tolerance" is the way--but it's kindness. You can share your viewpoints, vehemently disagree, and still be kind and loving in the process. I'd say you and I have done that at certain times--although we may have thought differently, I have no problem telling you I love you and genuinely desiring to spend time with you and your family. I think that's what's important. So yes--shout it from the rooftops, be open to hear what others say, because they may be just as passionate about what they feel, so they deserve to be heard as well. And ultimately, this sharing and debating is all to help each other grow and become more solid in what they DO believe in, no matter what the topic. Share on, and I hope we all can seek to be continual learners so the things we are passionate about become even stronger to us.
Thanks for sharing--great post! And yep, I love you! :-)

[Joanne Miller]

I grew up in a home where I didn't have the freedom to think for myself and be introspective. I have spent a good many years learning more about myself and about other people who differ from me in experience,belief, intellect, social standing, age.....LIFE in general. When I began doing prison ministry I became very convicted about judging others for their differences. Your Dad shared today on Fox News that selling is merely sharing enthusiasm and that is so true. Most of us will quickly say we cannot sell. Yet we do it every day in our relationships just by sharing the things we are most passionate about. But to insist that the listener is wrong to not share the same enthusiasm is just wrong. It is judgmental and critical and immature thinking. But sharing our enthusiasm is not wrong and I commend you on sharing yours, Kevin! In order to truly be an entrepreneur one must continually be willing to learn and to administer grace. Thanks for sharing a good message. love you, Mom

[Nathan Logsdon]

Kevin,

You and I have had discussions very similar to this one a time or two in the past. I have probably aired on the side of caution one too many times in my lifetime in an effort to keep the waters smooth. In my life I have found that I LOVE a passionate debate any day of the week. The challenge occurs when anger or frustration creeps in when your opponent does not take your advice. I tend to express my thoughts and then try to let go of my expectation on what that person does with it. I completely agree with you on making your wisdom known and sharing the good news of your life...however I feel like we have to learn to let go of our advice and give people the freedom to find where they fit and what brings them sincere joy and happiness. There has been a great deal of joy and pain caused by the best of intentions by those that were brave enough to fight and die for what they believe in. When this is done for the good you have figures like Martin Luther King changing a nation. When this is done for the bad you have Adolph Hitler sending hundreds of thousands to their deaths. Both strong men who acted on what they believed in and were not afraid to yell it from the roof tops. The beautiful thing about this blog is you have to have the passion and bravery to share your truth and the fruit of that will be your legacy. Thanks for starting the debate, I look forward to reading other posts.

[ajb]

I don’t know if I agree.

Part of what I fervently believe in, though, is being open to new ideas, so I’ll consider your position.

My thinking is, go ahead, evangelize all you want about what you believe in as it pertains to your business. In Kevin Miller’s case, a lot of what you are selling is your lifestyle, or the ability to live one’s own dream lifestyle, so it makes complete sense to profess your passions about homeschooling, fitness, vegetarianism, etc., in addition to your passion about self-employment. I personally don’t agree with a lot of things you believe in, but it doesn’t offend me because I see how it’s core to your self-employment platform.

Now the counter-example. I am facebook friends with my son’s former vision therapist. I didn’t know her personal views when we were clients. Now I see she is a one-woman liberal Republican-bashing machine. I’m not even a registered Republican, but I am less inclined to do business with them now that I know her personal finger-pointing traits.

In my work, I believe I am providing an important service to business clients, and my opinions on (choose a social issue) shouldn’t cost me business because none of my work is even remotely close to focusing on social issues. I don’t think that’s tiptoeing around issues or trying not to offend anyone; I think it’s focusing on the business at hand. Keeping your personal opinions to yourself isn’t just a practice in the corporate world because we want to be sensitive to everyone; it is the easiest way to comply with EEOC rules. The less one knows about your religious views, sexual orientation, etc., the less chance for them to inadvertently discriminate. The last thing a corporate client wants is controversy, and as a businessperson, I don’t want my clients worrying about doing business with me because they are afraid their name will get associated with the wrong side of a social cause. And yes, some of us need corporate clients!

Sometimes, by being silent, you are protecting others. What good is it if my core business fails because I chose to mouth off about my opinions on a contreversial issue? If I'm broke, I can't help others. I don't think you can successfuly advocate for all causes at once. If you have so many opinions out there that the only people listening are the ones already exactly in line with your thinking, you aren't helping anyone either.

[Anthony Plack]

ajb,
If you cannot stand hunger, and by speaking your mind you go hungry, then don't speak your mind.

Personally, I cannot stand bondage, and by NOT speaking my mind, I am bound. I will therefore proclaim and be who I was created to be, because to live otherwise... for me .... is a negative critique on my creator.

[Craig Adams]

This is my first time on your BLOG. I stumbled on it somehow in my research and very glad I did. I am an entrepreneur through and through. I started my first business when I was 12 years old ( I had a paper route when I was 10) with 5 other kids working for me. by the time I was 25 I owned 3 companies with 75 employees. Although I have not ALWAYS been self-employed, it is my most acceptable choice.

Self-employment can give you time freedom as well as many other benefits not enjoyed in the normal job market. There are of course the issues of self-discipline, passion, and focus. When you find your true passion and are able to SHARE it with others the rest can fall into place.

I agree with you most heartily about self-employment and look forward to following you.

[Craig Adams]

To look at my blog go to www.carehns.goodchocolateblog.com Healthy Chocolate

[Scott M]

AJB, I am in both worlds, corporate Amer (Bank) & entrepeneur (Christian preschool). Being able to shout who I am is a lot more fun (Christian preschool) than having to suppress my beliefs (bank). However, I agree with you on some points. On the other hand, I think it is more rewarding to find customers who also believe in your core beliefs, even though your beliefs/passions may be polarizing. Polarizing people are in good company (how about Jesus?). They really, really make some people angry, but they can change the world at the same time. In Revelation Jesus says "I wish you were either hot or cold". In Corp Amer I feel lukewarm, definitely not world changing. A big diff from doing something where u can shout your message from the mountain top.