Free Agent Underground

Hope sells, but pain changes

*Listen in the audio button at the bottom to Justin Lukasavige
and myself discussing this blog in our Free Agent Underground Show.

This is 100% truth for your business, and your life. You will be well served to conceptualize this right now if you expect your New Year's resolutions to be anything more than a nice little hope list, and your business (or future business) depends on you communicating these points.

First, your business. It can't merely state what the product or service IS and expect anyone to be attracted to it. That would be like you stepping onto a car lot and the salesperson walking over to a nondescript vehicle and announcing, "Here you go, it's a car."

You'll often hear marketers say that you must showcase the benefits, which is true. But often those benefits are in fact…hope. If you buy a Porsche, you don't do so for the horsepower and balance and traction. You do so for prestige. But that is hope. Hope that the prestige will actually translate to you being popular, getting attention and getting that hot date. So in the Porsche ads, you'll often see the surroundings of that hope. Check this Porsche ad out, it's 98% hope, 2% anything about the car: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRbzJ0L1Zn8

With a book title, look at the New York Times bestseller list today. One title out of 35 with a somewhat negative title (see the list here). Hope and positive sells best, it's just been proven. If you've got a doomsday message, better wrap it in a great book cover with a hopeful sounding title or nobody will pick it up.

He's selling the idea before the product is even here

I like to tell the stories of folks you'll never hear about, how they are succeeding in free agency. I steer clear of the 'rock star' stories that the media focuses so much on. But…I'm gonna give in today. A great friend of mine, Jon Dale (jondale.com), just launched a business and it's already received rock star status:

 

 

It's similar to Groupon and LivingSocial in providing us with deep discounts on products and services that we use. Jon sent me something from LivingSocial not long ago that gave me $40 credit for only $20 cost at my favorite restaurant. A no brainer. For referring me, Jon got…nothing except my appreciation.

Which is precisely what makes  Moolala different. It gives us something the others don't…credit for who we refer. For people who register under you, and those under them…down to five levels, YOU get credit for all their purchases. It's pretty darn brilliant and a win-win for everyone. Wish I'd thought of this...

Quit worrying about HOW your idea could work

In prying people open to discover ideas for the self-employment pursuit, many have some inklings. But they never allow those thoughts and ideas much room or thought, as they immediately discount the possibility:

• "I can't see where there is an opportunity to make much money with it."
• "Seems like the complexity of making it a reality would be overwhelming."
• "There is already so much out there in the marketplace, I'd never stand out enough."
• "Maybe someone could make the idea happen, but not me, I don't have the time or discipline or…"

You've nixed the possibility before even letting it out of the cage. Please, please...don't do that! I make a habit of only brainstorming with 'possibility people.' Most of us live in worlds where any new idea or thought is met with 'what could go wrong.'

Folks, any moron can come up with why an idea won't work. The merit goes to folks who shut their mouth on how it might NOT work, and take at least a few moments to consider how it MIGHT work.

Don't be the moron, especially towards yourself and YOUR ideas! We spend our time at Free Agent Academy working on the HOW. I've seldom found a viable interest someone has, and not been able to find a list of five ways that it could come to fruition and produce revenue.

A message for today from 'White Christmas'

*This blog was discussed in our FreeAgentUnderground Show today, you can hear it in entirely by clicking the audio link at the bottom of this post.

"White Christmas" is a classic Christmas movie that I own and watch every Christmas season along with "It's a Wonderful Life" (my favorite). I was watching the other night and keyed in on a quick exchange between the two leading characters, Bob and Phil.

It's a profound banter about putting off what's really important.

In the scene, Phil is irritated at Bob's focus on work and fame and his lack of effort put into relationships. Here's how it goes, and the point culminates in the last line that Phil rattles off:

Are you disciplined enough to be a free agent?

As an employee, it takes an amount of discipline to show up for work on time every day, do the tasks laid out before you, appease managers and bosses and cope with co-workers.

As a free agent, it takes SELF-discipline to wake up in the morning with nobody to direct you but…yourself. Nobody dictates when and where and how for your day. You do.

I know the thought of that is daunting to many people. As much as we want to have command over our own lives and our time, as a culture we aren't used to calling our own shots.

We've spent our lives as children with parents dictating everything from wake time to daily tasks. Then into the school system where we respond to our alarm, get on the bus or in a car, show up at school and go to class and do what we're told from dusk till dawn with extracurricular activities thrown in. On to college which has a bit more flexibility but in essence is the same. Then…on to a j-o-b. And again…we generally have a time to show up, a desk to sit at and tasks to do.

So to wake up one morning and there is nothing set in place for us to respond to can be disconcerting and in reality, strikes fear in many would-be free agents.

Here are 6 ingredients to addressing your free agent self-discipline:

You better invest now, you better not wait…

…you better plan something now so you escape the things you hate (in 2011)

Read that with the melody of 'Santa Claus is coming to town'

What do you hate? Your job? Lack of time to spend on things that inspire and fulfill you so you are a 'whole' person? Not spending enough time on being a quality spouse or parent? Don't have enough margin in your finances or time to really give to…anyone or anything beyond your immediate needs? Just going through the motions and know you're not creating anything worthy of a legacy? General unrest in your soul?

I have my list too, and it's what motivates me to push through.

It's Christmas time now, full swing. I adore Christmas, I truly do. Some of the most meaningful family and relationship and experiential times of the year.

Yet I find myself trying desperately to prepare now for this next year where I want some new realities in my life. I know that in many ways I won't get a ton of work progress done over the next three weeks surrounding Dec. 25. I'm trying to prepare now, and even plan for small deposits to keep the flame of progress lit. To force me to commit. I have some big visions and expectations for 2011 and I'm pulling long hours to set them in place now.

Hope you are as well. Don't let your quest for 'better' go…don't let the slowing momentum of your personal progress come to a stop. The people you'll bless as a result of your progress need you to stand firm.

Here is an opportunity to commit to progress in your free agent pursuit. Something you can put into place now so that when you wake up Jan. 1 from the stupor of the holiday whirlwind you know that a giant leap of progress in your life is at hand:

This Jan. 28th we'll converge for the first event of the year up here in the mountains, for a first ever event: 
Online Foundation & Strategy Workshop

Here is the lead in information on the event page:
Somebody has a need, and they get word that YOU...your product or service, might be what they need. What a tragedy if they visit YourWebsite.com and don't connect with you. They don't subscribe or email or call or click BUY NOW.

The space between what you have that can truly help someone, and them believing it and committing to you (and giving you money!)…is life and death to your business pursuit. This event is about mastering your online presence.

Learn what powerful tools and resources your unique online presence should consist of, and how to implement them so you convert as many prospects as possible into paying customers and raving fans.

We’ll teach you what aspects of the online world fit you and your business, how they work and what it will take to make them work for your personal business.

Check out the full event now: JAN. EVENT PAGE It will not be repeated during the year, so this is your shot. Questions? You can post them here in the comments section or email my assistant directly: email Brenda

Merry Christmas and a more than merely Happy New Year...a New Life Year,
Agent Kevin Miller
My egg nog tonight, I toast to you!

*Pictured at the top, attendees to one of our 2010 events. Folks who put action to their dreams/goals/callings. And who had a blast up here in the mountains.

Your sales will happen from personal touch

This show topic was prompted by an email excerpt from my co-host Justin Lukasavige:

"I have talks with one person at a time.  I have single conversations and it really make people feel needed and cared for.  I don't rely on a newsletter to close (using terminology from the last event), but rather to keep warm.  About the only thing I do to close is to use the phone, email, and dm's on twitter.  Those are all 1-to-1 points of contact."  

That quote was worthy of a show.

I may be more popular (initially) if I promoted what the late night informercials do, "Make money from home, it's easy…just turn on the faucet and collect your money!"

But since I don't like enemies, I can't lie to you. It doesn't work that way. You don't get a date by being a wall flower. You have to fix yourself up, go out, and approach someone with a decent line. For that matter, you don't get children by remaining distant. Some actual contact is required.

Can I claim being the first to equate self-employment to procreation?

If you are marketing commodities on eBay or putting a competing product on Wal-Mart store shelves, you may not have to make personal contact with every sale you make. Though even then, you'll have to sell yourself to someone.

Most of us however, have premium products that sell for more than the average. To do that, you'll often have to step beyond the front page of your website and actually make personal contact with real people.

We live in a world of employeedom where the majority don't ever talk with the end user, they are insulated from that. And many LIKE that reality. Personally, I can't handle it. If I spend the majority of my day working on a product or service, I have to believe in it and actually have contact with the recipient who will benefit from that. It's a responsibility that can be messy. But…so is raising your kids instead of leaving it to daycares and schools, eh?

Justin had a great quote in the show we recorded, "Your product or service or company can't care…only you can."

Want to hear more, click the play button below or log in to iTunes and search for Free Agent Underground.

 

 

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Free Agent Underground Show - Latest, greatest free agent book recommendation: "Smarter, Faster, Cheaper"

 

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Latest, greatest free agent book recommendation: "Smarter, Faster, Cheaper"

See my video interview with the author, direct from his kitchen and my bedroom:

  

This book launched on Dec. 7th and is solely for free agents. As I say in the interview with author David Siteman Garland, it's not a book to merely read, but to study. It's chock full of today's best marketing info for the 'scrappy entrepreneur who wants to beat the big guys.'

David is the founder of The Rise To The Top where he has interviewed over 275 big thinkers and entrepreneurs and has grown a community from 0-100,000 in less than two years. His new book Smarter, Faster, Cheaper: Non-Boring, Fluff-Free Strategies for Marketing and Promoting Your Business teaches you how to become a trusted resource and create your own community of passionate followers.

This is my 4th interview experience with David, as I'd previously interviewed him twice, and he interviewed me once:

August (David's interview of me on his show)
Want To Start A Membership Site? Here Is How Kevin Miller Built Free Agent Academy
- http://blog.therisetothetop.com/2010/08/how-kevin-miller-built-free-agent-academy-membership-site

July 23 (my second interview of David)
Free Agent Underground Show "David Garland's journey to successful Free Agency"
- http://kevinmiller.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/07/davidgarland.html

July 12 (my first interview of David)
Free Agent Underground Show "Become Known Locally"
- http://kevinmiller.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/07/free-agent-underground-show-become-known-locally.html

 

 

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You'll have to sacrifice good for great

Your life has been going along and you've made it as GOOD as you've been able to, up to this point. Though if you were satisfied to just maintain status quo and coast till you die, you wouldn't be here.

You're reading this, because you desire better than just GOOD:

• If given the choice, do you want to see a GOOD movie, or a GREAT! movie?
• At Thanksgiving, was your goal to simply have a GOOD meal and a GOOD time, or did you cook and prepare (drive a long way) with the intent to have a GREAT! meal and a GREAT! visit with loved ones?
• When you hire someone to work on your house or car or teeth, are you hoping they do a GOOD job, or a GREAT! job?
• When you die are you hoping a few people will be at the funeral because you were a pretty GOOD person, or do you want the place full of people there who will sorely miss you because you were a GREAT! impact on their lives?

I have 7 children that will all grow up and probably become parents themselves, and when they realize the immense role that being a parent is, they'll fully be hit with who and what I was as a parent. If they deem I was just "pretty GOOD," I'll be devastated. I want to be GREAT! Not for me, it's what I owe them!

Thus I'm assuming you desire to do truly GREAT! things. To have work and a lifestyle and an impact on your friends, family and world that would be deemed in as GREAT! on many levels.

So your life. If you have a fairly GOOD pattern now, the only way to get to GREAT! is to give up some of the GOOD. Examples:

• Taking my kids to soccer and baseball and dance and every extracurricular activity thrust at them or that they are interested would entail some GOOD things for them. But giving up those GOOD things gives time for us to be together and build relationship and have experiences, teaching and training and loving that are GREAT!
• Same for me; volunteering with the church to feed the homeless, going to the couples dinner gathering, serving on the board of a non-profit…would all be GOOD things. But giving those up to create something from my heart that will inspire me, inspire others and serve humanity, is GREAT!
• Doing house maintenance, catching up on emails, de stressing with a movie, partaking in a hobby are all GOOD. Giving them up to consistently exercise and increase my vitality, energy and good health that will add on years to my life and increase my overall quality of life is GREAT!

Those are just a small sampling of my examples. For you, list out the many, many things that you see as GOOD in your life. Really, good things. Nice things. Fairly worthy things. You will have to let some of them go for the sake of creating and building something truly…GREAT!

I see folks everyday who continually put off the GREAT! things they feel in their heart, as they can't find time amongst all the GOOD. I naturally do it too. Even the GREAT! things I want to do, are hard. And my flesh will look everywhere for distractions and time goes by and…nothing. When I hunker down and discipline myself and shut out all the GOOD things, I create GREAT! things.

If I had to list out the GOOD things I gave up in order to build our dream house before we could afford it in any way, it would be a long list. If I had to list out all the GOOD things that I would have had if I'd taken a healthy 6-figure position with a marketing firm, instead of pursuing my heart into creating a business that is GREAT! in my life, my family's and according to my members and audience…to them, I'd be writing a long time.

It's hard, I understand. It was, and continues to be for me. As a husband, parent, business owner, speaker, leader, servant…

The GOOD things are easier. The GOOD view from my house takes me 2.5 minutes to walk to. The GREAT! view is a 20 minute, arduous run. A GOOD marriage in all honesty, would be so much easier. Striving for a great marriage with my Teri is dadgum hard. Risky, scary, painful. But what's the alternative? To give in to the resistance? Just settle for GOOD? That's not acceptable, even though this world is hell bent on enabling us and convincing us that GOOD…is GOOD enough. Being GREAT! is foolish. "Just stay on your couch and numb and medicate yourself by watching mere stories of greatness, as your soul yearns for GREAT!ness so badly you can't fully deny yourself of tasting it, even as a spectator.

Now the Lord said to Abram:
"I will make you a GREAT! nation; I will bless you and make your name GREAT!; And you shall be a blessing."
Genisis 12:2

Traditional employment will be easier. Paying your bills, building up some savings, buying a house…is GOOD. Discovering your heart, pouring yourself into what inspires you, creating wealth that you can give away and owning your work so you can direct your life will pay off in GREAT!, GREAT! things.

What GOOD things are keeping you from the GREAT! things gnawing at your soul? There will always be a reason to put if off. Are you putting off GREAT! things so you can have a GOOD Christmas? You'll have to start now if you're going to make it in time for Christmas 2011 to be…GREAT!

Don't wait. Let's go.

*I've lined up students for Jan/Feb/Mar in my '90-Day MFA' (Master of Free Agency) program, but still have openings for December. If not even Christmas shopping and stress and expenditures can come between you and starting your quest for GREAT!, you can apply here: 90-Day MFA info page  

 

Pictured above: The GREAT! Pike's Peak view from Manitou Lake during our morning walk at the Oct. 2010 Free Agent Academy Intensive event, taken by FAA Host, Alan Jackson.

It's more about you than your product or service

Correction: For all of you who went to apply for my '90-Day MFA' (Masters of Free Agency) and the 'submit' button was hidden…my apologies. We fixed it early this morning and you can apply now. Thanks to all who alerted us.

Don't take that headline as a mere cliche or you'll miss it. You, as well as most folks…are making your product and service the main focus. I often do it too…we can't hardly help it. What we are offering is what we believe in and are passionate about and we want folks to experience it! And to buy it…so we can get paid.

But no matter what you are selling, you can't lead with the product or service and expect it's merits to sell people. They will buy based on their trust and relationship (or perceived) with you. You have to be the spokesperson for your product or service or industry or message.

I had a recent conversation with one of our fairly new free agent academy members who knows himself to be a good salesman. He enjoys the interaction, is adept at relating to people, and enjoys getting out and shaking hands. So he went looking for something to sell. He found franchises and opportunities where you must buy-in, and finally settled on a service with no up front cost.

In asking him where he existed online, he stated that he wasn't yet, and wasn't sure he needed to, as the company he was in essence being an agent for, had a great site. And he didn't feel he needed to worry about branding personally, as the company had a great brand.

Well, by the end of the conversation I had him beginning our 'Find Your Fit' course in FAA. Why?

Because his perspective was tragically flawed.

Again...we don't trust products or services and companies. We only trust people. If there are 10 seemingly identical blogging platforms with prices ranging from zero to $50 per month, we will all eagerly use the one that Seth Godin recommends, regardless of price. We don't have time to compare and we don't trust the media.

So with your product or service, you have to get folks to trust you. People use the word 'expert' or 'authority' and that makes many of you question your own merit. Just think of it as being a key resource.

Just like in a trial, if there is a murder and a tire mark left on the road, they bring in a guy who knows tires to testify if it's possible that the tire mark could have come from a suspects car.

You need to showcase yourself as a resource, and you can do that. How? Proof. And what is proof today? History and some credibility. Blogs and replies and testimonials. And as soon as anyone cites you as a resource, you really exist.

I've only been publicly blogging on self-employment for 18 months. Now, it comes from a lifetime of experience. But I've only been talking about it for a short time. I have no degrees or certifications, just experience. And I'm far less than a household name. But folks who don't know me need only see that I was a special guest on the Ziglar Success 2.0 Show to talk about self-employment and am a 'Braintrust' member and writer on self-employment for Benzinga.com and have been interviewed by David Garland at The Rise To The Top and some other media sources. Those came from my blogging, and now I'm a designated 'expert.'

What do you know a lot about, and care about? And if you don't have anything, you can gain the knowledge quickly.

Easiest way to become a viable resource...start blogging. Writing about your product or service or message…once per week. Doesn't matter that nobody is reading it. All that matters is when months from now, you get some promotion and lead someone to your site, they see your history. That you have lots to say on the subject and they can read about it.

Anyone can claim to know lots about a subject, but within 10 or more blogs, it will be showcased; how much they know, how much they care, how much they are up to date on current news and info regarding their subject…

So please, don't miss this message. Your product or service is secondary to…you. Make sure your website and communications and overall positioning...reflect that.

Hear more on this topic in yesterday's Free Agent Underground Show, posted below for your listening enjoyment.

*Pictured above: My wife Teri with our 7 children. She knows...parenting. And really has a passion for helping other parents. So...she started a simple blog and has been posting for a short while. Creating history, becoming a resource...and is on her way. Doesn't hurt that she's a far better writer than I am. And good lookin'! If you are a parent, you'll greatly appreciate 'Free Agent Mommy.'

 

 

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This article was also posted at Benzinga.com where I'm a guest columnist