Free Agent Underground

You'll need to simplify to make room for the free agent pursuit

In today's show I discussed the book I gave away a few weeks ago, Henry And The Great Society (get it free via PDF here). 

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Opening notes at the top of the show:

• Congrats to all the graduates of our Idea event in Colorado this past weekend (pictured at the right)
• Congrats to new Free Agent Academy member Thomas MacDermut from Cary,  North Carolina who registered with us just this morning,
• The replay of the interview with myself and my wife Teri Miller by a Michigan radio station was posted yesterday here
• Asking all those who listen to our shows via itunes to please leave a review.

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Most of you reading and listening were going along in your life, only to get hit with, "I feel little meaning or purpose, I spend all day toiling for nothing of worth other than money". But you have no margin in your time and money and are handcuffed. You're best option is to simplify. Do you want purpose and fulfillment and meaning and a legacy, or nice, unnecessary stuff?

Points from the book, covered in the show:

1. Fulfillment in work comes from being invested in it all, from beginning to end.
- today in traditional employment, we seldom get to participate from beginning to end and are disconnected from purpose and responsibility.
2. Relationship focused
- 'Henry' in the book was fully engaged with family, again, from beginning to end.
3. Henry and his family were Community focused (much more relational)
- They had to be, as they relied on those close by cause of geographic boundaries
4. Simple life
- They just had much, much less, which led to much margin!
5. Longterm view
- Henry was focused on building the assets of his farm, not accumulating amenities
- He expected his work to add up to something that could be handed down

Ultimate, Henry gave it all up for EASE and 'MORE'
When did we as a culture abandon purpose for comfort?
- We work to afford our stuff, and we only buy 'stuff' due to comparison
- Until we know the next gadget, we're stoked with what we have. Cooking on an open fire was fine. But along came the wood stove, and soon we couldn't fathom cooking by the fire. Then the gas and  electric stove. Then the microwave.

Listen, and give your feedback:

 

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Giving you one of my foundational, heretical 'free agent' books

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In today's FreeAgentUnderground Show I gave away a book that has been foundational to my family's life. Literally, it sits on the shelf with a handful of others that are cornerstones to how we live.

The interesting part however, is that I've never met another soul who has read it. And of those that I've given it to, and we've given away an entire case, I've had no one really testify to book's perspective in the way I have.

How is that for a sales lead in? I'm giving away a book that I adore and nobody else does.

Why is it not more popular and widely accepted? Because it condemns our modern way of life, almost completely. Then why do I and my family, who have nearly every amenity known to man, cherish this book? Listen at the link above and find out.

The book is titled "Henry and the Great Society," authored by H.L. Roush. "Henry" was a farmer with a simple life. Progress came in and life became...less simple. By the end, you'll find most of us are where he ended up.  For those who can handle this book, I'll be talking about it again with you in the coming days.

Download here:
Henry and the Great Society

*This book was originally made available by the http://www.jesuslovesme.org organization

Show replay: "Your continued reading and listening is a sin"

Here is the Free Agent Underground Show replay following our live discussion of this blog post,"Your continued reading and listening is a sin."

There were some insightful comments at that blog link, worth checking out. Here then is the full replay:

 

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Your continued reading and listening is a sin

We'll be discussing this in our 12pm MT, live Free Agent Underground Show this afternoon. You can join us here.

If you are reading this blog, you probably read other blogs. If you listen to my podcasts, you probably listen to other podcasts. Chances are you may get some business magazines, or you frequently purchase nonfiction, 'self-help' books.

Yes? Me too.

I read, and often get inspired. Which is nice! That's better than letting negative input come into my head for sure. I'd rather we all filled up with this type of input than listen to Black Sabbath and read Stephen King novels for sure.

But let's be honest, we are primarily being ENTERTAINED.

Our lives are what they are today. If they are perfect, then we wouldn't be seeking other input for the most part. Agreed? So, we want something better. We generally want:

• More money
• More time
• More purpose
• More peace
• Less stress
• Less struggle
• Less conflict

So we again, read blogs, listen to podcasts, read magazines and books, watch videos, even catch 'self-help' shows on TV (I assume, though I haven't had any type of TV for over a decade).

But, when did we last make a significant change that got us closer to the above seven goals? When did we last ACT ON and APPLY what we learned?!

Folks, I'm preaching to myself here. I sicken myself, actually. I am not a man full of grace and compassion. I'm just naturally NOT. It infects my entire life. I've been well aware of that for years. So why did I read so many other books on so many other topics? Finally, I picked up "What's So Amazing About Grace." Unbelievable, revelatory, life changing book. I read it. Blew me away. Then…I put it down and picked up another great book.

Guess what? I'm still a jerk. I'm just as James 1:22 talks about. I'm a 'hearer of the word and not a doer.' I wasted my time and money on that book if I don't APPLY it.

So, I talked to my core guys about it to help get accountability. Then, started reading it again and put away the other books I wanted to read.

Guess what? I'm still a jerk. But it's coming to mind more. It's needling me more, my reactions are more acute to me. They anger me. I'm starting to temper my reactions and adjust my actions.

How many times should I read that book and how long should I study it and seek to apply it in order to actually change? What if it took me a year, and after a year I was a new man? It would be worth the world to my wife and children.

So leaving that book behind and picking up 'another great book' would be a sin in my life. Spending an hour today reading blogs, listening to podcasts and investing my time elsewhere is in essence saying, "I don't care enough about changing to stay on task. I'd rather be entertained."

I hear so many people that brag about how many 'great' blogs and podcasts and videocasts and books they voraciously read. And yet I see them make no significant change or progress in their lives, year in and year out. They are being entertained. 'Positive entertainment' no doubt, which is better than negative. But it's still entertainment. Let's not kid ourselves or expect much from our time invested in these things, nor lament that our circumstances don't change. I won't impress my wife by reading 20 books on marriage. I'll impress her by changing.

Our primary change does NOT occur by osmosis. It occurs from radical action. Period. Have you ever lost weight by surrounding yourself with diet books  and skinny people? Or by throwing out the Twinkies, putting duct tape over your mouth and going for a run?

The average adult reads 10 books per year. The average peer of mine probably reads at least a couple good self-help books per month, and many read one or two a week.

If we truly desire to change, I believe we'd be good to stick with one book per year that we read, study, outline, apply, review, apply, review, apply. And maybe at the end of a year we'll have actually achieved a positive outcome.

You want to be successfully self-employed? Quit taking in loads of content and 'surrounding yourself' with it. It won't help. Act and apply. Our upcoming IDEA event on March 25th is a great place to start.

P.S. Regarding my use of the word 'sin' in the headline. I truly believe that failing to address areas in my life that I know are harming me or others, falls under the definition of 'sin.' Which is...'missing the mark.'

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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Is enjoying your work optional?

Hear the show we did today on this topic by scrolling to the bottom of this page

This topic has been needling me a lot lately. We as a society are accepting more and more bad realities as normal. And bottom line, it's a fact…we view NOT enjoying our work as 'normal' and OK. We have come to a place where we breed our kids to get a formal education and a job that provides a nice paycheck to afford what we deem the necessities of the American dream:

• Car
• House
• Major appliances
• Brand clothing
• Computer and cell phones
• Cable TV

Once upon a time people sought valor, legacy, adventure, inspiration and serving humanity. We've traded that for comfort.

You have 7 days in a week. For at least 5 of those days, you spend the primary hours of your day and energy of your mind and body working for provision. The evenings are spent on the necessities of home life and family and basic personal maintenance. Saturday is usually a day to catch up on home maintenance, kids sports events, dealing with car issues and such. Sunday may have half the day spent at church, then the rest of the day watching sports for some inspiration, excitement and entertainment.

Where is there time for…valor, legacy, adventure, inspiration and serving humanity? There isn't any. Folks, in the above expenditure of your week, the only shot you have is your work.

Please don't think that you can work 40-60 or more hours per week at something you are uninspired and unfulfilled and underutilized in…and then bounce back during the off times to be an inspired, whole person. You can't.You can be 'normal.' Which I don't think you'll be proud to have written on your tombstone:

"Here lies John Doe. He made it through life and was comfortably normal."

Which means it's flat-out VITAL that you become whole in your work.

Your work MUST be enjoyable. It MUST be fulfilling your core skills, abilities, passions and heart. It must be fully inspiring for you.

It's NOT an option. It's a responsibility.

If you are in financial survival, sure…get a job doing anything to keep food on the table. You can't cop out on that. But it must be short term. A year is TOPS. Meanwhile you are seeking your calling. The work in which you come alive in!

Otherwise, you are a thief.

• You are robbing someone of a position that is their vocational calling. You're hijacking it from them.
• You are robbing humanity from fulfilling your vocational calling, your unique gift.
• You are robbing your family and friends from being a wholly alive person, all they are getting is a diluted, numbed version of yourself.

Get that last one? I'm going to step on toes here. I know someone closely (I'll let them remain anonymous) who is overweight and had a heart attack. Afterwards, they still weren't readily accepting the need for a healthier lifestyle. So family members intervened and pleaded that it was the person's responsibility to the family to pursue health. Otherwise, the family would get the burden of caring for them later, after the next truly debilitating heart attack or stroke. It was selfish for them not to pursue health.

Folks, if you are working for a mere paycheck and not fervently pursuing your ultimate vocational calling, you are harming your friends and family and humanity. We don't know the real you, we only know a dumbed down version. You could be replaced by a monthly stipend of money and a house maid or handyman. You owe it to us to be inspired and 'whole.' You owe it to your Creator who uniquely and wonderfully made you.

To deny that is…selfish.

Here is the cool thing though…what you get for stepping up…is glorious. It's a huge payoff. It's life…in the form of inspiration, excitement, joy, time, usually wealth and more.

It's doing the right thing and reaping the benefits. Having your cake and eating it too.

Feel like justifying work that you don't like? Leave a comment.

Are you involved in work that you are enthralled with? Share how it happened with us.

If you accept this and are ready to start…where will you take action? The best option I know of is what I helped create…my baby…Free Agent Academy. Check out our new landing page, you can click on the image to go there:

Come on…step up to your legacy,
Agent K Miller

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Just reading these 3 books is not enough

Quick tip: we are all missing it by merely 'reading' great self-help books, newsletters, blogs, magazines and more. Throw listening to podcasts in the mix. Seriously, quit going through so much stuff. This hit me while reading 'Trust Agents' by Chris Brogan and Julian Smith. The book is really, really good.

Here is the deal...Chris and Julian for instance...have been blogging for a LONG time. Built themselves up to the top end of business blogging. They're on the cutting edge of social media and the new platforms of business and marketing. They wrote this book and have relatively hit the big time...best seller list, in high demand, tons of followers and subscribers, etc...

And this book is the culmination of all they've learned. Get that? They took all that made them successful and wrote it down for us to digest. Yet our tendency (at least mine) is to just...read it. Maybe it's so good I read it in an evening or a couple days. I may rave about it and get some great ideas. Then I move on to the next book.

But WAIT! That's where we are missing it. What if...instead of reading 5 or 10 or 20 books, along with reading all the relative blogs and magazines...we just read and mastered...3 books this year? Literally.

I talk with a lot of folks who read and listen voraciously. But at the end of the year, they've progressed very little.

You know, we don't get any points for quantity of input. Only for...results.

Again, I'm speaking to myself. I can fly through a book and just use it for entertainment. Good stories, interesting ideas, great points. But I didn't digest and let it CHANGE me. Ever do this with the Bible? I can read a passage and at page end have thought through the errands I'm going to do for the day. Um...again, God's not giving me points for the nice gesture. It's there for me, not Him. To change ME.

Back to books. As a solopreneur, here is what I prescribe for you:
'Tribes' by Seth Godin
'Crush It' by Gary Vaynerchuk
'Trust Agents' by Chris Brogan & Julian Smith

Get them in that order. Study them. Chapter by chapter. Take notes. Be by your computer and look things up as they discuss them. Implement what they say to do. Master the actions.

*Add to that another vital ingredient for success...wise counsel and feedback. Then you're ready to conquer!

Show me someone who reads and listens voraciously and I'll show you someone with lots of ideas.

Show me someone who reads and listens selectively - then studies, implements and masters the message - and I'll show you someone who can turn ideas into successful reality.

Let's be the latter. With me?

Free Agent Academy show: Priority #1 in self-employment is to sell your trust...we'll review a 'Trust Test'

This 23-min show aired live at 3:30pm MT, Thursday Dec. 3rd
via Ustream, you can watch it right here, join Kevin & Jon:
*Note: the audio failed until we get to the 7-min mark, so just skip forward
 

First off...3 Big Questions Regarding Self-Employment and successfully selling whatever you're offering:

1. When was the last time you actually gave your credit card number to anyone marketing their stuff online?
2. If you're selling something, are people lined up to buy? Is your bank account overflowing?
3. Not yet in business for yourself, and your main fear is that nobody will buy what you end up selling?

The marketplace has changed. Everyone is now naked and the gimmicks, hype, tactics and claims are in the trash. Which in all honestly, simplifies the heck out of it all. You can breath a sigh of relief...as now you'll quit being beat by all the slick salesfolks, as your true worth, honesty and trustworthiness 'can' shine through.

Notice I said it 'can' shine through. Not 'it will shine through.' You still have to prove your trustworthiness ...and doing so will take hard work and consistent intentionality.

Trust is the only thing left to sell. Chris Brogan has a best selling book on the topic, 'Trust Agents.' My great friend and social media guru Jon Dale and I are going to use the book as a reference to discuss how this is THE key for self-employment success in today's market, and how to do it effectively. Specifically we'll be looking at page 79 in the book, 'Trust Test.' There are four key areas of trust that we need to look at, you'll see right off why some folks have your trust, and some don't.

Date: Thursday, Dec. 3
Time: 3:30pm Mountain / 5pm Eastern
Hosts: Kevin Miller & Jon Dale
Duration: about 15 minutes on the live video, then we cut out and go to our Free Agent Academy members and a live Q&A session with them.

Invitation to a live webcast with Zig Ziglar on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009

This is a literal invitation to listen in live with Zig Ziglar, his son Tom and daughter Julie on the message of Zig's new book, Embrace The Struggle - "Living Life on Life's Terms". It deals with his accident, brain injury and the resulting short-term memory loss, and how he's overcome. And the point...how YOU can overcome your trials.

I'm sending this because it's Zig! And...Tom asked me to. He contacted folks who he knew were true advocates of Zig and who had large audiences to promote to.

> Embrace The Struggle webcast
> 7:00pm - 8:15pm CST on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

Zig is one of the world's greatest motivational personalities, and to me...the real deal. I've got him up there with Billy Graham as being truly authentic. Zig's a brilliant businessman, but above that, a true champion for bringing out the best in people. And...a real man of God.

What sealed the deal with me on who Zig is...was developing a friendship with his son Tom. I measure the true character of a man by the testimony of those closest to them...their spouse and children. Zig's kids honestly adore him, plain and simple. I don't know of a better testimony than that.

And it's for that reason that I invite and implore you to attend this webcast. At the least, watch the intro video...it just flat-out inspired me. I'll be on the webcast listening with you.

Is there a catch on it not costing anything? Not at all, though of course Zig and company get exposure. I mean...here I am giving a 10% endorsement to you. That's what they get. Maybe you'll buy a book or join their Success 2.0 membership. It's a true offering with no strings, but they know it will lead to great overall exposure. You get the whole value for nothing. That's just good business.

Take the time to watch the video, then do yourself a favor and register for the live webcast. Don't wait for the replay, be there live. It's just a better energy.

> Embrace The Struggle webcast with Zig Ziglar
> 7:00pm - 8:15pm CST on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009