You're missing half the self-employment equation

If I could give one, overall message to would-be free agents…those that want to accept the call and responsibility of self-employment... If I could tell you why relatively few people actually do it… this would be the core message:

Your success won't come as a result of a great idea or opportunity or 'secret' business strategy or revolutionary marketing technique, social media, a great business plan or…one all-knowing expert. It won't come from anything like what you see in 99.9% of the sea of media on self-employment.

All the nuts and bolts of self-employment are mere ingredients. The bowl you mix them in, and the pan you bake them in…is YOU. And the spatula and spoon and mixer and ancillary utensils are…other people to help and guide you.

That's it. YOU are the key. The hope and the problem. So here is a new statistic that I'm authoring:

Successful self-employment is 50% idea development, business strategy and know-how...and 50% personal development.

That's not very profound, but the world is missing it. Everyone wants to be a free agent, but they are missing half the equation.

I'll stand behind that statistic and statement; debate it, argue it and fight for it. I've walked with more free agents than nearly anyone I've known. Read that again…I've 'walked with.' That is very different than I've spoken to or written to. Walking side by side with someone is to come alongside and deal with business and personal. It's understanding the real threat to self-employment which is society, personal circumstances and the biggie…personal image/faith/belief.

I just spent *three days face to face with 35 folks who are full and part-time free agents. What I claim, is truth.

You can learn how to do business. But to go after that without equally focusing on YOU is like making dinner with only the food. No bowls, no pans, no cutting board, no spoon, etc…

And most people fail. They gain the biz knowledge and can't apply it.

So…paradigm shift for you = Reading all the info you can find on how to be self-employed, how to understand and use all the latest and greatest business strategies…is good. But fully half the equation is knowing and dealing with you, and finding people to help guide you.

The great truth though…is that if you adequately focus on YOU…it can happen. I witness it daily.

"Therefore my people have gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge."
Isaiah 5:13

Now you know. Go forth and get out of exile. Be abundant. Multiply.

*Pictured are two pics from this past weekends Free Agent Academy 'Intensive' event in Woodland Park, CO. The top pic...classroom and biz strategy. The bottom pic...bonfire and personal. You gotta hit both.

Comments

[Bluecollarcoach]

Kevin, this is such a great post. In my opinion your best ever.

I see this a lot. I have a friend. He understands his product better than anyone. He works hard to be great at his product.

He does not work on himself, ever. His business keeps trying to grow but it can't because he isn't growing.

I'm getting ready to start podcasting. I think you've helped me realize that I need to combine my two different podcasts into one feed.

Podcast one is going to be called Blue Collar Business Podcast. It's all about business of course. The second one is going to be Blue Collar Living and it's all about personal growth. I was going to release them as two separate podcasts but you have helped me understand that they are both important parts of one podcast.

[Randy Cantrell]

Well said.

[Kent Julian]

Kevin,

This has a ton to do with you and I talked about yesterday. Personal leadership...taking 100% responsibility for your life...being intentionally focused on what to do and then being proactive enough to do it...these are the things that lead to success as a Free Agent.

I constantly feel like I'm living proof of this. I'm not super talented, I definitely haven't done everything right...but I have been focused, intentional, and proactive.

Great post Kevin!

Kent

[[email protected]]

Kevin, I agree. This is your BEST post yet! Getting past the "I can't", to "How can I". I have been working on multiple on-line projects to create an additional $1,000 a month income streams, and am passionate about three concrete plans. I have been studying how to, and have reached out to other people I believe are smarter and knowelegable in areas I am not. Each time I get the nerve to run to the ocean and meet the incoming waves, at the very inch of where the ocean wave meets the sand, I retreat back to captivity as in Isaih 5:13 Thank you for your encouragement to work on myself and to go back to who is going to make it happen.

[Kevin Miller]

Hey, thanks for this. I like your quote about running to the ocean to
meet the oncoming waves. Made me think about the beauty and calm and
adventure when you paddle out beyond the waves. Heres to you...and the
exciting world past the waves.

[Kevin Miller]

Kent - totally brother! Youve been one of the few who just stinkin did
it. You were hungry for the payoff, which you are now reveling in! Im
so eager and honored to have you officially preaching this to our folks
at FreeAgentAcademy soon.

[Kevin Miller]

James - His business isnt growing because he isnt. There. You said it. Bingo.

[Peggy Reeves]

Great post Kevin, I definitely needed to be reminded of this. God is SO more concerned with our personal success anchored in Him than in our business success. Unfortunately it is usually our personal emotional crashing that sabotages our business success.

"CONTINUE to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his GOOD PURPOSE." Phil. 2:12-13

Workin on fixen me, Peggy

[Kevin Miller]

Peggy - Amen. The blessing in our biz comes from fulfilling our purpose
within it. And thats much larger than making a buck. Though...I do like
a few bucks as well, but that comes with the territory of doing what
you were meant to do!

[Lance Snow]

Kevin,
This is a great post and hits home with me. I feel like I am on the verge of free agency and am learning all I can, but I need to work on me as well. I realize that I need to continue working on my personal development and my confidence. I definitely need to seek people to help guide me. I've been listening to your podcasts and I have that tendency to do what you say you used to do which is go to the basement alone, develop some (in my mind) awesome idea and emerge to share it with the world... and it sinks. This post helps make it clear. I need to seek to understand me and my tendencies and seek guidance. Thank you.

PS. I love Johns_143's "ocean" analogy. That is exactly what I do too.

[Kevin Miller]

Lance - nothing blesses me more than to know I helped you make forward
progress. Im preaching...what I learn about myself and view in so many
others as they strive for purpose in their lives...and the lives of
others. Heres to improving our usefulness to the world!

[Ken Porter2]

Kevin - I got to thinking through this post over the last couple of days and had a couple of revelations that I thought I would share with you here. I think we frequently get this process backwards by thinking that we should focus on our business first and our own personal development second. I believe the order should probably be in the reverse. As we develop, our business develops.

Case in point, I spent some time as an assistant in a nursing home and got to hear the chaplains talk to the caretakers. In every instance, they were strongly encouraged to make sure that they were taking care of themselves first.

Another example, I have been to two of FAA's intensive events now which means that I have been on 8 different flights. In every instance, I was instructed that in the event of an emergency I should take care to put on my oxygen mask first before I help anyone else put on theirs. If you can't breathe, you can't help anyone else either.

Just thought I'd share.

Ken Porter

[Kevin Miller]

Ken - man...great insight, and I am with you...fully. Help me spread the word brother.

[Guy Madison]

Hey Kevin...I know this comment is really late in the game from when you first posted this and I'm not sure you will even get it...I just found your FAU site. Your comments are right on. Heck, it is way easier to teach people how to go into business for themselves, but much more challenging to get them to actually do it. They have to overcome self! Half the battle is believing that you can do it...an absolute walk of faith. A kind of "Sun stand still" kind of faith that Joshua had in the Bible when the Israelites were under attack and he remembered that God had promised him victory...the same victory we have through Him. "Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel" and surely he is fighting for us...but we gotta believe! I love your site and what you are doing for the cause of "going solo"! Hope to meet you some day.
Guy

[Kevin Miller]

Guy - thanks so much for this, I'm honored that you are checking past
posts. I looked at your site, wonderful to see what you are doing as
well! Eager to stay in touch.