Free Agent Underground

How to know if your business idea will work

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SHOW NOTES:
I just spent 48 hours with a group of aspiring FreeAgents out here in Colorado. The topic at hand was creating a successful online presence for their business ideas. But underneath it all for every attendee was the nagging question of "Will my business really work?"

In today's show Chuck Bowen and I covered...how to know for sure if your business will work. What actions to take and most of all what paradigm you must comprehend and work under. I referenced our work with hordes of aspiring and successful FreeAgents, plus a new report in the latest copy of Inc. Magazine.

This show content will give you peace of mind and the fortitude to endure the journey.

How Anthony found an idea that fit him

In today's show I interview Anthony Plack. An IT consultant who wanted to work at something he really cared about at a core level. So he joined us at Free Agent Academy and starting going through the initial courses. He just graduated from our third course, IDEA. In the show he shares how it went. We were joined by Jonathan Pool, our Professor of IDEA who walked with Anthony to the ultimate discovery.

So no hype or theory, hear how it is happening for one guy and it may help you see how it could possibly happen for you.

 

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Joshua's core answer for why he wants free agency

In today's show we discussed the topic and comments from this blog post:

How to know if you are ready to pursue free agency

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SHOW NOTES:

Chuck Bowen and I discussed the reality that in order to pursue free agency, you should be in a life circumstance that is not dire, where you can do it right. This is not a 'quick fix' or 'bandaid' solution. In getting to the last four questions I posted, number one was:

1. What are you wanting to address in your life through successful free agency?

Joshua Gordon was with us during the live show, but posted this in the blog comments section:

"I think my pursuit of free-agency is fueled by a deep dissatisfaction with the 'template life' that so many of us have grown up in.

I'm tired of missing out on life opportunities because of work. I'm tired of my 'work' and my interests being at odds. I'm tired of exhausting myself doing ultimately pointless 'busy-work' in an office that determines when, where, and how I spend my energy. I'm tired of not really knowing my daughter as closely as my wife does.

I want the freedom to take my daughter out of school for an afternoon for a date. I want the ability to be completely mobile - to work from anywhere. I want the ability to have a life where work and passion are seamlessly integrated... and where the glass ceiling doesn't exist.

Does all this make sense?"

YES Joshua...absolutely and amen.

What do you think?

How to know if you are ready to pursue free agency

We covered last Monday that in truth, none of us wake up WANTING to change our behavior, we just want changed results. Unfortunately to get different results, we must change our behavior. For us to pony up and change our behavior, we typical won't take action until:

1. The pain is excruciating (boss or management or job duties are driving us to serious anger, depression or despair that is manifesting itself in our life)
2. The circumstances are unavoidable and probably forced on us (you got fired or laid off from your job or you are in financial distress)
3. We must answer to someone else for the results (a spouse demands you make more money, stop traveling, be at home more)

I've lived some of this out. Not so much in work, but other areas of my life.

And here is the truth; Whenever we wait for one of those three realities to finally hit us, the problem is 100% harder to address and overcome. There is no margin to do what's best, you must quickly react just to plug the dam, and you find yourself right back in a different, but still leaky reality. You know the truth of what I write here, as we've all done it. We continue to do it.

And we must stop.

Here is the big, ugly kicker. If you allow yourself to be in one of those three realities, your chances of solving them with SELF-EMPLOYMENT are very, very slim. The stakes are against you and probability is high you'll need to just tuck tail and get another job. Pursuing successful free agency takes some time, patience and margin of time and money. Exactly like losing weight, getting out of debt and creating lasting relationships. We just can't do those things when we are in survival mode.

I'm experiencing the first time in my life where I'm working on building my marriage stronger, even as it's pretty darn good. It's assuring me of growth and health and joy that I'd never experience if I just waited till it's in dire ill health and then try to 'fix' it.

I think of it in terms of my faith. I generally turn to God, crying out for His aid, when I hit rock bottom. I think of spiritual giants as those who wake up every morning, even when things are OK, and depend on God with as much fervor as if tragedy had struck.

I want that maturity. I desperately desire to quit being lazy and complacent and instead pursue better 'health' before I'm sick!

So in your work, is it all you want? Are you working at what you truly care about at your core? Are you working where you are truly gifted so the time flies by unnoticed and you are flourishing in your sweet spot? Do you control your life and time and priorities, or does work come first…before family, personal health and wellness, relationships and your core values? Are you creating wealth and abundance, or just scraping by month to month?

If you answer here is "No, it's not all I want," then you're saying that your LIFE is not all you believe it should be either, as we can't spend the immense amount of time working that we do, without it's impact greatly affecting our LIVES in significant, altering ways.

The question then is…will we wait till things get critical before we step out to change our behaviors and actions? When it's nearly impossible to pursue the best option, as all we have time for is a quick fix?

Or, will we take action now? Even if it's just to start on a path of consistent baby steps?

Let's talk about it together. Literally. Join me on the FreeAgentUnderground Show Monday, Jan. 24th at 9:30am Mountain Time. Talk with us live about it:

• What are you wanting to address in your life through successful free agency?
• Are you in a relevant place to go after this now?
• Is your desire enough to get you to act and change your behaviors?
• What behaviors need to change - what actions do you need to take?

I'm going to briefly reference what I've laid out above, then spend the rest of the Show addressing questions and comments. You can submit one of two ways:

1. Post your question or comment or revelation in the 'Comment's section below (do this if you know you can't make the live show)
2. Be with us live and post your question in the chat room

NOTE: Mark your calendar for Wednesday, Jan. 26th at 12pm MT when we'll be interviewing FreeAgentAcademy member Tony Plack who just graduated from our IDEA course with an incredible idea. Hear the real, unadulterated journey.

Can you count on God or is it all up to you?

This was a lively show with lots of commentary. Catch the full replay here:

 

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Brief recap, these are show notes:

First, this was about work and self-employment, and not just theory, we wrapped it up with what actions you can take. This topic comes from so many people who are listening and reading, attesting to be inspired, but not doing anything about it, and I can't handle it.

Second: I know this is a big theological headline, and the point is not that so much as it is, why and if we take action.

Third, I don't have it all figured out. I sit here as a result of more failures than I hope any of you have to face, and I still have plenty of challenges in my own life.

*If you don't believe in God or any higher power, this will still be interesting.

I shared some personal stories, and read from the book of James in my Bible. Specifically James 1:5, 1:22 and 2:14.

Proverbs is primarily a call to seek wisdom. And the number one way is through seeking out and truly listening to God, second is seeking counsel. OTHER people. People who have had success in an area you desire it.

THEN WHAT?
If God imparts revelation, what do you do then? Say thanks…and look to God to make it happen? Or is the happening part up to you?

If he reveals that eating whole foods, more veggies and fiber and exercising will help your health, do you say "thanks for the revelation" and then wait for him to make you healthy? Or…must you buy the food and get your butt out the door?

Anyone ever had a food garden that God tilled, fertilized, weeded and watered? Or did you do it? Grateful that God revealed to you the benefits of fresh food? But you still had work to do...

I'm so grateful for wisdom, that God revealed to me through His people. THAT…is the miracle! But I must do the doing.

God revealed so much to so many people in the Bible, but then prodded them to do the doing. He provides the task, YOU…do it:

• Moses led the people, why not just God?
• Jonah was told to go to Nineveh to prophesy, why didn't God just throw down a tablet?
• Noah had to build an ark, why?

So, pray and seek wisdom, then you do!

Walking along with you,
Agent Kevin Miller

The results on what makes people actually change

None of us pursue something different without having to change in some way. And as humans, we don't desire to change, not really. We'd like our circumstances to change, but we'd be happy to not change our personal behavior, habits and comfortable way of life.

We all love surveys because it tells the agragate truth on a topic. A week ago I posted a blog asking "What HAS caused you to take action and change and grow". Many of you responded to that blog, as well as on Facebook. Today, nearly 150 total tuned in to our live Ustream feed to discuss the feedback and what it equated to. It was insightful and convicting, to say the least. Again, this isn't my theory, but real testimonies from many people.

I read through over 20 responses that were incredibly eye opening. I invite you to listen here. You can hit the play button below, or the download link...or if you are an iTunes listener, catch us in there. Enjoy.

This will be inspiring, convicting or challenging. Actually, would be great if you'd tell me how it impacted you.  Please comment below if you will.

 

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You don't want to make the effort to come, but probably should. True?

On Monday we'll be hosting our Show at 9:30am Mountain time to discuss all the replies to my post titled, "What HAS caused you to take action and change and grow." If you haven't yet, I'm asking you to share. It will really help us share the combined truth, I'm as eager to know as you are. Read and comment here "What HAS caused you to take action and change and grow."

But in discussing the subject of 'change' the other day with my two great friends Scott Stearman and Todd Zeller, we admitted that in truth, we (as a people) don't really WANT to change ourselves. We just want a different/better result. If we could get it without personally changing, great! I'd rather my wife just fawned all over me without me making any effort to change my habits of being a donkey towards her. Doesn't work that way. You do reap what you sow for the most part, though thank the Lord for grace.

That's my preface to the following enticement. You don't really want to make the effort to come to this free agent event in 14 days, but you want to be a successful free agent. I guarantee the value you'll get here. You just have to want the benefit enough to say to yourself (and probably your spouse), "Shoot. I really want to stay home and chill, but this is an opportunity that I know will catapult me ahead in really becoming free." That's me at least. I'm usually seeking a reason why NOT to take a big step, like attending a profoundly impacting event. Dumb, but true. I have to really, REALLY feel like I'll be missing out and nearly shooting myself in the foot to let it pass. Almost to the point of feeling guilty for my inaction, procrastination and laziness towards bettering myself. My flesh would rather watch a movie and eat pizza like I want to do EVERY weekend.

In two weeks, I'll be spending 48 hours with a group of people to intimately get to know them, their dreams and business ideas. And give counsel on how to make their efforts pay off, specifically online. We all know that most business transactions are decided upon and acted upon, online. Yet most people seeking to succeed in business, miss the mark. The ultimate point at this event is making sure your idea and business converts to a sale by what you do with your website and online presence.

But even aside from the content of the event, you won't have many opportunities to get so much, for so little relationally. It's not what you know, it's who you know, remember? Lots of truth in that. I don't think you CAN know much, if you don't know the right folks. Wisdom comes from counsel. The event is a decent cost, but aside from a bit of sleeping at the camp, you'll get 48 hours straight in a small group of other aspiring free agents, alongside the following leaders:

• Andy Traub bio / personal website
• Jimi Gibson bio / personal website
• Justin Lukasavige bio / personal website
• Chuck Bowen bio / personal website
• Me bio / personal website

You can't get a single hour with any one of them for less than $200. With 28 hours of scheduled, interactive time all together, that would equal $28,000. Now true, it's not one-on-one, 100% focused time on you, I won't claim apples to apples. But in reality I think the combined brain trust and other attendees equate to better value than one-on-one. Your true cost for the class time is about $45 per hour.

You come, and we'll all be invested in you and your business…long term. We all specialize, in launching people in successful businesses. Our relationship with you is as much or more value than the event itself. It's events like these that got myself and the guys listed above to become successful free agents, hands down. Our most successful students are those that make the effort to take action and show up.

There it is. Think deeply about it. Any questions you have for more clarity? Email me personally right now.

(click this banner for the event info page)

Why did we do what we did...at these two websites

We continue our discussion from last week on what ingredients a website needs to convert people to sales in today's marketplace. If that mere sentence makes you feel uncomfortable...like everyone communicating online merely has the ulterior motive to get your money...then I must admit...YES!

Come on folks. Even if we feel like our product or service is pure ministry, can you afford to devote yourself to it without making a dollar? I can't. And further, if you have anything that can fill a want or need for someone else...if it has any value, then people can and should pay for it. Have you ever taken on a job and been willing to work out of the goodness of your heart? Doubtful.

Justin Lukasavige just launched his revised website here: http://www.coachradio.tv and I just launched our new website for the Academy at http://www.freeagentacademy.com.

Join us to hear why we did what we did, why our sites are pretty different, but how they are the same. The point? To better understand what you need to do to make your online efforts pay off. Otherwise, it's just a lot of busy work, isn't it?

We had about 40 people in the live chat and answered some of their direct questions, including a quick review of another site. Due to the questions, the show went to an hour...finally stopping when my wife came to pull me to lunch. She just rebranded her blog on parenting and marriage to www.StumblingAroundInTheLight.com.

The audio for the show is below.

This is behind the scenes folks, it's what we all end up wondering with anyone attempting to 'speak' and 'lead' us.

Agent Kevin Miller
I like my 'busy work' to pay off...so does my family who likes to have food to eat.

 

 

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What HAS caused you to take action and change and grow?

My blog on Ted Williams, the homeless man with the golden voice, being inspirational or not, got a lot of response. I wasn't trying to be a downer (as one reader labeled me, and it's OK), but was pushing for what we fill our lives with under the label 'inspiring.' A lot of listeners joined Chuck Bowen and me on the live call and chat room, here is a snippet of the thread:

Anthonyplack:  Can a person say they are inspired, without actually doing anything because of the story?
Justhughes:  how can we claim everyone is a winner if some choose not to race?
Ninanelson:  I struggle with this so much, "you were uniquely and wonderfully created to have something unique to offer."
Terissamichele:  HOW do WE find our amazing BREAK...when we are just a regular person, with some nice talents, have made some mistakes...but have HOPE for greatness??????
CarolyneJ:  I differentiate it as I am born a woman like any other woman, I am ordinary in most every way. The difference is I know He has created in me something so unique it is only for me. I AM ordinary, but I can to choose to BE exceedingly extraordianry in HIM!
Justhughes:  Personally , I've had a really hard time understanding that the point is not the end of the race, but the race itself
Anthonyplack:  I think there is a a logic problem here... If everyone is special, then no one is special (Incredibles quote).  I don't believe everyone IS special, but I do believe everyone CAN BE special.  It is just most people don't choose to be special.

Chuck finally hit the nail on the head with what I was pushing for on the topic of 'inspiration,' and Tony Plack in the above chat hit it as well. The point of INSPIRING should be to INFLUENCE and EQUIP others to take positive action in their lives.

And I'll go further to submit that if 'inspiration' does not do that...then it's merely entertainment. Which is fine, let's just not kid ourselves into thinking we are adding to our personal development and enriching our lives by watching Rudy or Rocky or a Hallmark movie.

So now I'm now asking for you to share what has caused you to take action in your life and actually change and grow? Literally, what motivation or circumstance caused you to change yourself, your life, your habits...in a positive direction? What...influenced you?!

Please post it below and we'll be back here to discuss it live on Monday, January 17th at 9:30am Mountain time at the 'Live Show' link above.

'The homeless man with the golden voice' is NOT inspiring!

1-11-10 Update: Here is the show we did to follow up on this blog:

 

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The media is awash with warm and fuzzy stories about the inspiration of "The homeless man with a golden voice."

Folks, it's not inspiring! It's despairing. People report crying when they saw the video. I cry at the Humane Shelter at neglected puppies, but it doesn't inspire me.

Let me explain:
Chances are you saw the video (here it is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6kI_u3ho_c), which is absolutely entertaining. Homeless guy with an unreal radio voice. And now he's gotten a job and it's this Cinderella story. People ran to it because it was interesting, just like the rubber neckers on the interstate with a car wreck.

Now, I will give some credence to the story of grace. A guy who declined with alcohol and drugs, now gets a second chance. That really is good for him, and a neat story of grace.

But what did it leave YOU with? Millions of folks got entertained, but how is it inspiring for your life? The root definition of the word 'inspire' is:
To influence with an idea or purpose

What idea or purpose were you influence with? All we got is that there was some regular guy who went to school to develop his voice, and was good at it. He let drugs and alcohol wreck his life and he's been alone and homeless. For years he was alone and bereft from his family, serving no one.

Now maybe he will, and again…wonderful for him and for those he can now bless with his good fortune.

But you. Chances are if you're reading this, you're not a drug addict or alcoholic. You're paying your bills and hopefully serving humanity in some way. But you probably don't feel you have some amazing talent like this guy.

So where does that leave you? How are you inspired.

You're not.

Let me give it a shot though.

You've GOT to dispel the belief that some people have great talents, and you don't. That does not mean that anyone can train enough to have a great radio voice like Ted the formerly homeless guy. You may not have been created with the vocal chords for that. I wasn't. But you were created with something else. If you can take the leap of faith to believe that, you've just made 80% of the necessary progression. Whatever Ted did not have in self-discipline or personal image value...he at least believed enough in the quality of his voice to write on a scrap of cardboard that his voice was a 'God given talent.' Now that...I like.

Once you can believe that you have some great talent and gift within you...you need to discover what that is. And that's not easy. You probably won't figure it out alone, but will need help. It can be done though. My good friend Jonathan Pool is a master at doing this for people.

Then, you grow that inherent ability. I'm naturally a good athlete. Good coordination, natural muscle development, high pain threshold. I excelled as a pro cyclist because of that. But I probably haven't ridden a bike more than 100 miles total in the past few years. I couldn't keep up with your basic weekend warrior cycling hobbyist today. The great talents on American Idol haven't been dormant, but they've been working their skills for a long time. The show is just giving them a format to showcase what they have discovered and developed within them.

So, we've got to figure out what you have, get you to work refining and growing it to something of true merit, then finding an opportunity will be much easier and sensible than waiting till you're an old man with a cardboard sign on a street corner in Ohio.

Ready to discover and hone the gifting that you have in you (and help you even believe you have anything?)??

Tell you what, let's do a survey. Not some slick little button submission though, tell us and be real…share a bit. Let's see what we've got. Choose one of the five options below and leave a comment. We'll discuss it live on Monday's 'Free Agent Underground Show' at 9:30am MT here on our LIVE page: http://kevinmiller.typepad.com/my_weblog/live.html

1. Honestly, I don't really believe I have some 'great talent' within me (state it, let's talk. It's an honest feeling and you are in good company…it's OK. But let's talk)
2. OK, I can believe that, but I have zero idea what it might be (good, belief is the most important part)
3. I think I may know what mine is, though I've not developed it much (tell us what you think it is)
4. I know my gifting and am actively working to grow it (tell us what it is)
5. I'm living my talent (tell us what it is)

Nailing your online presence and discussing our Jan. 28 'Online' workshop

In this Free Agent Underground Show, we had 111 people join us in the live chat while Justin Lukasavige and I discussed the necessary, personal strategy everyone must have for their online presence to convert to sales, and specifically covered the curriculum for our Jan. 28, 2011 "Online Foundation & Strategy Workshop" in Colorado.

If you have anything online now, or expect to...this info, and this event is the absolute best resource I can offer you for making it produce. And this is the only time we are hosting this event this year...next time will be 2012. Listen to the audio below and check out the event info here (click the logo):

 

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Self-employment is not a way of work, it's a way of life

It's the start of a new year and hordes of people have resolved to lose weight. The knowledge and resources for any and all to succeed are readily available. Yet we all know fully well that the vast majority will fail miserably. Why? I think we can agree it will all add up in a survey to…lack of commitment. Losing weight is not a have to.

Making enough money to pay the electric bill is a have to or we can't heat our homes or cook our food. And seldom does anyone fail at this, because…they are committed. It's a have to.

Most anyone would like to be self-employed, just as they'd like to lose weight and be fit and trim, looking good and energetic. Regarding self-employment, they'd like to have control over their time, work at what they care about and believe in, make decisions based on what they believe is best and right, and have the opportunity to create real wealth for themselves.

But when it's not viewed as a 'have to,' the majority of people fail. I've heard it quoted that "There is no such thing as trying. You do it or not." That is a stupid saying, all in all. Though regarding some things we believe in, it has merit. Folks who 'try' weight loss fail. Folks who 'try' self-employment fail.

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Chuck Bowen joined me in discussing this topic, along with 86 live listeners on Monday morning, Jan. 3, 2011. Here it at the audio button at the bottom of this page. It was the kickoff of us doing these shows live via Ustream, every Monday and Wednesday. Some great comments were made by listeners in the live chat box. Tune in and join us here: Free Agent Underground Show - LIVE

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It's the people who are in such pain with handing over their leash to an employer who rules their world and realize it will be their death…that commit to self-employment and succeed. It's the person who realizes that work should not be the God of their life, but their proof of their life shows that their j-p-b takes absolute precedence over anything else in their world, who makes it happen.

Just as it's the obese person who has a heart attach that finally commits and changes.

But does the overweight person change? Just their eating habits…or their lives? We know the answer, it's their entire lives. Their entire day and priorities. They get their eyes set on a new life. I have an overweight friend who has put forth a mental image of herself and even a quote, to be "A pint size powerhouse" in her speaking business.

Self-employment is not just an option on a way of work, it's deciding on a new way of life. And you must list out the fullness of this, then commit to it.

 

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