Free Agent Underground

In the show I shared about how Dave Ramsey built his business while still working out of debt. Dan Miller did the same with 48 Days. If those guys had waited till they had all their ducks in a row, we wouldn't have all benefited from what they felt convicted to do.

My story is very much the same. I'm just nearing the end of the hole I dug for myself with past business and financial failures. I'm grateful I didn't wait, as my kids are getting older fast and the lifestyle that I felt convicted to provide for them...is now or never.

Is this a call to throw caution to the wind, not count the costs, risk everything and go after your dreams?

NO.

Have caution. Count the costs. Seek counsel. Repeat.

But going after what you you truly believe is best WILL have risks. It WILL be overwhelming. It WILL take much sacrifice. You WILL work harder than every before. The only way to avoid those realities is to do...nothing. Try to stay safe and under the radar.

Do you really think life will subside and the time will ever be right?

May 17, 2011 10:29:14 PM | Calling, Faith, Podcast

April 26, 2011

Not letting life happen

Today I interviewed a guy I admire a lot. Brian Tuten lives in Pheonix, AZ and is a husband and father to five kids. He's got a 'good job and pretty much everything that people in today's culture aspire to.

Trouble is, he has bigger aspirations.

Some 'cliff notes' highlights here are thus:

Brian wants more from his life, and more for his family.
He and his family have lived on much less than he makes for quite a while, sacrificing 'status' for margin to invest in more meaningful things than late model cars, a big house and all the meaningless consumer items that society normally devotes itself to affording.
Brian pursued knowing himself better, to therefore understand what he believed he was to devote himself to.
Now he and his family are embarking on a great adventure.

Down below are some notes Brian shared with me, and I promise you...there are some quotes that will dramatically inspire you, convict you and make you stop and think about your own life. If you've never fully paid attention to my blogs before, please...read what Brian has to say. If you're more of an audio person, here is the replay of the live show:

Free Agent Underground Show - "Not letting life happen"

Kevin: What was your college focus, what you thought your interest was?
Brian: My older brother, by five years, loved computers. I grew up watching him take computers apart and put them back together. He also liked to write a lot of simple computer programs. I did not have the same passion for computers that he did, but I wanted to be like him. We both graduated from college with majors in computer science. My parents were happy because with a computer science degree I could get a good job and computer programming was something I could do well.

So, that is the profession I choose, but while in college I discovered what I was truly passionate about. I have always loved adventure from an early age, but in college I had the privilege of being the outdoor eduction director's assistant. In this position I learned how to teach and lead numerous adventure sports. I fell in love with outdoor adventure and it is still a big part of my life today.

Kevin: What is your quick job history leading to now?
Brian:
15-17yrs – Assistant Manager Little Caesars Pizza
17-18yrs – Assistant Manager Entertainment Tonight Video
18-20yrs – Berry College Outdoor Education Department Director's Assistant
21-27yrs – AG Communication Systems/Lucent Technology (telecommunication software)
28-35yrs – Performance Software (avionics software)

Kevin: How/when did your family came into focus...marriage, kids?
Brian: A couple of months before I graduated from college, it was my job to train my replacement. Jodi was eager to learn and we spent a lot of time together getting her familiar her new responsibilities. Our first date was teaching her how to kayak on a rain swollen river. I had never met a girl who loved adventure as much as me. So, we started dating (long distance) after I graduated and moved from Georgia to Arizona. Jodi baby sat for a couple who were marriage counselors in our college town and we went through premarital counseling with them (Battlefield Ministries). Our dear friends, Nathan and Jane are the most amazing example and counselors we know. Jodi and I have avoided the majority of the typical marriage issues because we sought and still seek good counsel. We are passionate about growing together and making sure others have the same tools we've had to strengthen our marriage.

After five years of marriage, we were blessed with our first child. A week before Kendall was born, I was laid off as part of a corporate takeover by Lucent Technologies. It was such an amazing experience. I got the opportunity to spend the next six months bonding with my wife and our new daughter. During that time I worked part time as an office manager in our friend's chiropractic office to cover our expenses. When the baby was six months, as a family we started adventuring together. By the time she was eleven months we were able to do canyoneering trips to Zion. One of my favorite memories/pictures is our eleven month old daughter, in her pool floaty ring, swimming through a four foot wide slot canyon with the walls towering high above her. Kids are such a gift and we are only given a moment to enjoy them, so we better make it count.

Kevin: Where/how did your unrest/desire start to manifest for...more and better
Brian: Over the last five years I have taken on more responsibility at work and our family has grown from two to five kids. As a family, we have gotten outdoors less and less as my energy has been divided between my job and family. I have felt torn because my heart is to spend more time investing in my family, but my kids are not able to see that, when I spend the majority of my time working. I have been searching for a way to incorporate family, work, and play. I've found that when I do not get enough family time and outdoor adventure in my life, I become restless, irritable, and in general am not much fun to be around. Hope deferred makes the heart sick. If there is an adventure on the horizon or even the possibility of it and hope returns. That is one of the things I love about Free Agent Academy, it creates hope.

Kevin: How did you came to your current idea?
Brian: I got the opportunity to attend the Free Agent Academy intensive event in March 2011 to focus on my Idea. As Jonathan Pool walked us through the life of 'hypothetical guy', I learned how the whole picture of our life (the good, the bad, our strengths, our personalities, and our heart) have shaped us into who we are. Then we got to create our wall of perspective and it was such a powerful and revealing journey for me. I found freedom in the transparency, as I got so much out of having others walk through my life with me to point out the common threads that I was not able to see.

Since reading 'A Million Miles In A Thousand Years' by Donald Miller, I have been searching for a story larger than myself to invite my family to join me in. Well, I really didn't know enough about myself to create that story. The Free Agen Academy Idea intensive event gave me the idea filter and through it I found our story.

Kevin: So, what is your idea?
Brian: The Funhog Family 50 State Challenge:

As a family, visit each of the 50 states
Experience an adventure per state
Interview ministries (as a family) that have impacted our family
Raise money for marriage and family
Make family the adventure and relationship the journey, showing that a family of seven on the road is not only possible, but only a stepping stone to the adventures to come.
Through our simple yet adventurous life, we desire to inspire the world to seek Christ and to invest in what matters most.

Kevin: What is the hope doing in your soul and spirit?
Brian: C.S. Lewis said, “We are made for something greater, but it takes a journey to discover what that is.“
As we have started taking steps towards making this journey a reality, I have started to come alive. The excitement is contagious too as the whole family is coming together to make things happen. I have a thankful heart as this story is just beginning.

Kevin: What are your next action steps?
Brian: I have asked for a three month sabbatical from work in order to complete the first stage of our journey (states east of Arizona), starting July 2nd. I am getting tons of ideas for blog content, but I need to create a blog site and get it online. I need to complete the branding->online courses in Free Agent Academy. Then, I need to finish the adventure prep.

- See a map of Brian's first leg of adventure: The Funhog Family 50 State Challenge
- You can contact Brian through his current website (not the ultimate site for this adventure): www.adventureonpurpose.com

Apr 26, 2011 4:17:24 PM | Calling, Podcast, Self-Employment

April 12, 2011

Daycare for grown ups

Your life is being wasted by your j-o-b. What we accept as normal, is not. Nor are your feelings about work.

You're life is out of control, every second is filled. You feel stuck in Groundhog Day and truth be told, you don't see a viable way out.

Listen to this show here if you prefer audio over reading!

Free Agent Underground Show - "Daycare for grown ups"

It's all you can do to survive the day and keep everything afloat. Making just enough money every month to make ends meet, spend just enough time with your kids to keep them marginally content, not much time for you to invest in what inspires you, gives you health and makes the days contain any true joy.

You're not OK with this and feel imprisoned. The primary culprit? The amount of time your j-o-b consumes.

You are paid to fulfill certain tasks, but in the corporate world of managing large amounts of business and people, they are wasting your time. They can't help it. Here is an analogy:

We all know that the public school system requires on average eight hours of a kids time in order to facilitate about four hours of actual class learning. Nobody's fault, just the nature of the beast. Then the kids spend another hour or two pursuing extracurricular actives such as sports or drama.

I see that as wasting my kid's time. With the other four hours they save homeschooling, they can study the Bible, learn to cook, enjoy the outdoors, pursue personal hobbies. Then as a family we have time to interact.

It's the same with self-employment, or for that matter telecommuting to a degree. The time spent

Commuting
In required meetings that for every hour spent you get 10 min of value
Watercooler chit chat
Lunch
Busy work that has no real application
Working on misplaced priorities or flat-out meaningless work

...is saved.

Now on one hand, it's amazing you can get paid for wasting so much time. But the costs are your lack of time to:

Be involved in your kid's lives
Be in full union with your spouse
Be available to serve others when needed
Invest in your health and wellness - exercise, cooking good foods
Pursue your spiritual life
Build a legacy
(add in your own hot buttons here, of things you don't have time for but desire)

This is where free agency steps far beyond a luxury or 'that would be nice,' and into a responsibility.

Here are what a couple folks shared about this:

"At least 40% of everyday is wasted in meetings and another 10% to busywork, so at least half of every day. After 25 years in the corporate space, I've found that the further you move up the ladder, the higher percentage of the day is wasted. Having started in the trenches and progressed to the C-level, I've seen my waste time go from < 10% to over 50%. A lot of it is determined by your supervisor's expectations i.e. "you will sit in all these meetings that I want you in, or I will be forced to conclude that you don't care about what I care about."
- Scott K.

"Out of the 47 hours spent away from home, at least 10-15 of them could be reclaimed."
- Justin H.

Can you really afford for so much of your time to be wasted? Aside from wanting your actual work to have purpose, what things of value in your life, are you not having the time to invest in?

Apr 12, 2011 12:46:53 PM | Calling, Podcast

March 22, 2011

Discussing "What if God told you to be self-employed"

Today I discussed the blog that got so many great comments, "What if God told you to be self-employed?" I gave the primary concept of the post, read some of the comments, and answered questions and comments from the live audience. Some bullet points:

Your responsibility is to discover what your calling is and go after it, not just give full focus to maintaining or increasing your current status of living,
Do you discount your decisions if there is hardship?
The best way to discern the validity of your decisions is to have wise counsel,
Do you have full confirmation and assurance that being where you are now…staying where you are now…is God's will?

Enjoy,
Kevin

Free Agent Underground Show - "What if God told you to be self-employed"

Mar 22, 2011 2:04:24 PM | Calling, Faith, Podcast

March 18, 2011

What if God told you to be self-employed?

Imagine if you would, a knock on your door one day. As you approach, the light shines from outside. You open, and behold…Jesus Christ in the flesh is on your doorstep.

And He says, "My dear child, I have a path for you, and it's free from the shackles of a job that demands it must be your priority. I have a calling for you that you must take on and build and lead. So yes, the desire I've been building in your heart for something more, and the distaste and pain you have for your current circumstances…are my doing. Now go forth."

The point here is having certainty and dealing with the faith or lack thereof that we have in our own desires and decisions. Most of us pursue what we understand and what is expected of us:

Children of doctors and lawyers often become doctors and lawyers
Children of parents who worked 30 years at a factory generally end up working in a similar type of job
Children of athletes or celebrities generally pursue that
Children of entrepreneurs often pursue self-employment (this is me)

Do you see that? It's not an issue of IQ or brilliance or luck or odds, but of mere exposure.

Most of you reading here, are children of parents who worked at jobs. And we're in a society where this is the cultural norm. Familiarity and expectation rule!

But now back to the opening analogy here. Wouldn't you love to have that bold faced confirmation of the desires in your heart or the pain in your soul? A stone tablet of ten commandments from the sky?

You're probably NOT going to get that. But if you did, what else can we assume will still happen:

You'd still have hardship and trial
You'd probably have an overwhelming, seemingly fatal reality to deter you (think Moses and the Red Sea and no food and no water)
You'd encounter risk
You would make bad decisions and choices along the way
You'd be persecuted for what you believed you should do

We instinctively and inherently expect that if God (or anyone we esteem) confirms a decision we are contemplating, that things should just 'work out.'

They don't. For you believers, go read your Bible and find anyone that God called who just had easy sailing. In truth, if we pay attention to those who DID answer God's call, it scares us. Easier to stay put and accept what the world says...work all day, pay your bills, stay safe, stay under the radar and...exist.

The fact that you have pain in your circumstances, and desires in your heart…demand that you pay attention to them.

Most of your fears and concerns about addressing the pains and/or desires you feel are based around how it may affect your comfort and security. Be honest.

Letting that rule is letting our culture be your God. Jesus Christ (or any leader of historical worth if you believe otherwise) said be responsible about your duties here on earth. I don't want anyone quitting their job, defaulting on their bills and harming their family. God has specific callings for His people that has little to do with avoiding risk, and everything to do with fulfilling His purpose.

Which just leaves the question to you. Do you believe you are right where you're supposed to be, living purposefully and intentionally and paying attention to the stirrings within you? If not, quit finding reasons to stay put. That...will never end. Nothing and no one will show up on your doorstep and give you all the confirmation and confidence and certainty you'd like to have.

And if you are quick to question those 'stirrings', the way to filter their merit is through other people. Not people with agendas and biases toward you either. Think 'mentors' and not 'family.' Wise counsel is Biblical wisdom, and even cultural wisdom. No man is an island unto himself.

I should know. I tried and drowned. Thank goodness for resurrection.

Your thoughts?

Mar 18, 2011 6:05:28 PM | Calling, Faith, Personal Development

March 14, 2011

Your only hope is knowing yourself

This is the easiest truth to discount, the hardest to tackle and the one you'll subconsciously avoid at all costs. Even now, the title alone probably has you a fingernail away from hitting the 'delete' button.

Mainly because the mere term of 'knowing yourself' seems unrealistic. Can we ever really, fully know ourselves. No, I don't think so. And the constant pursuit is ultimately just self-focused and keeps us from serving others.

But in seeking a vocational pursuit that fits us, there is absolutely a level of knowing oneself that can and must be achieved in a rather short period of time, guaranteed. I'm seeing folks do it every week.

People understand that investing in things your passionate about is a key to self-employment success and a joy filled life. The best stories of people loving what they do, and as a result creating wealth and abundance all around them, consist of folks who dove into something they just loved.

But the primary stumbling block is people don't know what they are really 'passionate' about. The definition of passionate is:
- having, compelled by, or ruled by intense emotion or strong feeling

If you feel a void here, you are in good, but regretful company. We're in an age where people are less and less aware of, and encouraged in - personal calling, purpose and life meaning.

We're culturally raised up to conform to the norm and pursue safety and security. That is a fact.

The rub is that we are naturally predisposed to desiring calling, purpose, meaning and passion. It rages through our blood. How do we medicate this? We pursue passion voyeuristically. If we aren't truly engaged in it in our real lives, we seek it out vicariously through:

Sports viewing
TV & Movie stories of romance and adventure
Food overconsumption
Sex, drugs and rock and roll

...to name some of the front runners.

Think about it, what rules our media and spare time? Chances are 95% you're engaging in passion vicariously through some outlet. OR…there is one more primary culprit…BUSYNESS. You've filled every spare second with busyness and thus avoid passions altogether.

Thus, when you get an inkling for more in your life, such as being self-employed in something you truly care about…you're faced with…nothing. You can't tap into all the talk of pursuing your passions, because you don't have any that you're much aware of or participating in (viewing is NOT participating).

This is why pursuing more knowledge on careers and businesses and getting more education and certifications is folly. More busyness. Until you discover yourself, the best you can do is just pad your security and comfort.

Discovering the passions that are wired into your heart, and then pursuing them…is your responsibility. It's not about weighing risk or waiting for the right time or letting circumstances get in the way.

Achieving anything of value will include risk, it will infringe on your comfort, time will not open up for it and something WILL 'come up.'

You can and must do it...anyway.

Here is a 1:39 minute video excerpt from Gary Barkalow, founder of The Noble Heart, author of "It's Your Call" and our Professor of 'Calling' at Free Agent Academy. This is straight out of the very first session that you begin with as a member in FAA when you join, it's called 'Alert & Oriented X 3':

If you want to get started, you can check out all our courses here and register here.

So...do you know what you are passionate about? Do you believe you can and should be working at what you're passionate about (be honest, I can handle it)?

Before you answer, let me qualify the questions by asking that you comment within the perameters of something you can offer to the marketplace. I'm passionate about God and my family, but those aren't things I offer to others. In the marketplace, I'm passionate about helping people communicate value they have to offer (marketing and branding) and I'm passionate about helping people become self-employed.

Please...share.

Mar 14, 2011 3:49:00 PM | Calling, Personal Development

January 07, 2011

'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:

Free Agent Underground Show

Free Agent Underground Show - "'The homeless man with the golden voice' is NOT inspiring!"

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)

Jan 7, 2011 4:26:31 PM | Calling, Idea, Personal Development, Podcast

December 03, 2010

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.

Dec 3, 2010 4:03:43 PM | Calling, Faith, Marriage, Self-Employment

October 19, 2010

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

Free Agent Underground Show

Free Agent Underground Show - Is enjoying your work optional?

Oct 19, 2010 3:26:57 PM | Books, Calling, Podcast

September 30, 2010

Did God make you to be a spectator…really?

Another post on the dire necessity for you to be...self-employed

"If at the end of your life, you were with a room full of people that watched a movie of your life, how would you feel if...as the final credits were rolling, people looked at each other and said, 'What was that all about?'"

This was a questioned posed by Donald Miller at his Storyline Conference in Portland two days ago. I was privileged to be there in the audience.

*Pictured: Justin Lukasavige and myself recording a podcast in Portland, listen below

Let me take it a step further. Most of society unconsciously thinks that
- making it through life
- maybe getting married
- maybe raising some kids
…is what they are supposed to do. That it's sufficient and 'normal.'

Well, it is normal, but it is not sufficient and I'm posing here that it's thwarting God's purpose for creating you.

Completing the above bullet points is called mere existence. Survival really. Do you honestly believe that is what you were created for? Seriously…just pause and think about it for a moment. Could that really be your purpose…just to exist? I think you'd consciously say "No," but I bet your life story thus far would prove otherwise. And the lives of nearly everyone you know. Which is exactly why it's so hard to even consider that something is in reality…dreadfully wrong.

I'm gonna get blatantly spiritual here. If you don't believe in the whole God/Jesus/Satan bit, then don't bother reading further. Otherwise…

Folks, pick up your Bible. Who has dominium over this earth? Who get's free reign to manipulate society to it's will? News flash…it's not God. He gave that to Satan. Adam and Eve had it and messed it up.

So today, who created our society that:
- Sends kids off to school
- Has us spending all day working for pay
- Has us spending all night watching blue screens
- Makes our life focus the accumulation of 'stuff'

It isn't God. And it isn't neutral.

We accept it as normal because it's all we know. The flow of this life is to just spectate and watch actors on a screen act out stories, or athletes fight for meaningless achievements. So it's not our fault. Or at least it hasn't been till now.

God created you to serve and love Him in a very unique and important way. You can't say you believe in Him and deny it. To fulfill His purpose in creating you will require you to live a radically different lifestyle. And right there is your personal Red Sea. Insurmountable. Because you live in a world and among nearly all people who are hellbent on you maintaining the status quo so you don't disrupt their quest for comfort and ease.

But God has a plan. He is waiting for you to step out of the norm. To be radical. To showcase your faith in Him (or not) by fighting the flow.

Paulo Coelho said in the much used quote, "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." With all due respect, that's absolutely false. The universe will NOT conspire to help you, it will fight you to the death. You however, can choose to win anyway and see the positive and opportunity in every trial. You must find real people who will conspire with you on your behalf.
You were created to live an inspiring story. YOU…WERE. Period, no argument. You either accept that or deny it, but you can't be ignorant of it any longer or say it isn't true. And the story isn't about YOU. It's about God.

To walk it out, you must break apart from the massively forceful flow and current of life as you know it. The most supporting action I know of is…free agency. Self-employment. You MUST own your time and your days and your priorities. Satan's greatest desire is not really to turn you against God, as He knows he's going to lose in the end. So he settles for making you useless. For getting you to replace your story with a job and a TV remote.

Here is a recording I did with Justin Lukasavige Tuesday afternoon in a downtown park in Portland. You'll hear the noise of the city as we share some of what we learned at this Storyline Conference. If you can, take a moment to listen to a bit of it. I think you'll hear some new things.

Free Agent Underground Show

Free Agent Underground Show - "Did God make you to be a spectator…really?"

Sep 30, 2010 11:30:16 AM | Calling, Personal Development, Podcast

June 30, 2010

Last call for…Your Calling Class - Thur night

You either feel confident that you know your calling, you don't know it and just aren't concerned about it right now (you may still not believe you have one - if so, watch the video at the bottom of this page) or you're like me and you wait till the deadline to commit.

Well, this is the deadline for joining our series on 'Calling' with Gary Barkalow. If you're going to do it, you need to register now so you can download the session notes and listen to the audio…and join us tomorrow night for the live, intimate session with Gary and myself to answer your questions and start working with you personally on the process.

The Glory of Your Life; Revealing & Releasing Your Calling
Session 1: June 24, 2010 "Alert & Oriented x3" Replay open to the public here
Session 2: June 24, 2010 "Mystery" Replay open to the public here
Session 3: July 1, 2010 "Glory" REGISTER NOW TO JOIN US
Session 4: July 22, 2010 "Assault"
Session 5: August 5, 2010 "Discovery"
Session 6: August 19, 2010 "Development" & "Journey"

*Optional: LIVE Event: August 29-31 Free Agent Academy Intensive Event, "Idea Discovery Base Camp" in Woodland Park, CO - Gary will be kicking off with a Calling workshop. Details to be posted June 30th!

Last week we kicked off the series with an overview and live Q&A on the first two sessions hear it here.
This Thursday evening we hit Session #3 'Glory' (again, watch the video below) and we'll be hosting a personal, live Q&A just with those registered, then have daily availability to walk with you personally, answering your questions as you work through the materials and talk with the Gary and me and the group about revealing your calling.

And of course in doing this, you become a member with us in FreeAgentAcademy overall. Speaking of that, do you realize that with the $50 registration for this series, "The Glory of Your Life; Revealing & Releasing Your Calling" - you also get membership with FAA at the Discovery level for only $1 for 30 days? Some people missed that part. It would normally cost you $10 for the first 15 days, then on day 16 if you continue, $45 for the next month.

I know…life is screaming at you and trying it's best to keep you enslaved.

Scream back for once!...and DO something to combat it. It's either that, or submission.

Agent K Miller
Listening intently for screams...

P.S. Watch this video. Let's unveil your glory.

Jun 30, 2010 2:25:03 PM | Calling

June 23, 2010

Who benefits from your work?

Meaning..who are you serving and to what purpose. You spend the majority of your day, the best of your energy…at work. Who is the end recipient of your efforts? No matter what you do, ultimately a sale is made and somebody forks over money for the product or service you are a part of.

Who is that person and how are YOU serving them? Do you ever get to meet them? Build a relationship with them? If you disappeared tomorrow, would they miss you? How quickly could you be replaced and everything just moves on? Can you serve them fully...as you see fit...with autonomy to make decisions based on your heart to do what's best for them?

If you know the answer to these questions and are avidly serving and inspiring the

end user of your work...post it below? Share with us? It will bless me, and others!

However, if these questions left you blank or even feeling depressed and despairing, then let me give you the news that is bad or glorious. Which...is dependent solely on your actions (or lack thereof).

Within a mere 1-mile radius of where you are right now, there are a bunch of folks with

lower IQs,
less raw talent,
marginal competence and
questionable morals

who have discovered

Something they care about or enjoy,
People who want what they have to give,
How to make money at it

If you continue as is…be depressed. Medicate with TV and overeating at the end of your day today.

Or, simply realize you are in fact capable and called to more and take a second step toward doing something about it. You already accomplished step one…it was reading this blog.

Possible 2nd steps:

Read "A Million Miles In A Thousand Years" by Donald Miller. If I haven't adequately made you believe in the need to 'live a good story' Don will.
Read "In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day" by Mark Batterson. If I haven't fully motivated you to take a little risk in your life, Mark will. And he'll back it up Biblically.
Plan out 60-90 minutes within the next 30 hours to dwell on what your work adds up to, and what you want it to add up to. What consequence your life is shaping up to have. And again, just making money and paying bills isn't enough, you can do that making money in crime. Your work must be worthwhile.
Join me tomorrow, Thursday June 24 at 6pm Mountain / 8pm Eastern as Gary Barkalow, the galaxy's guide to discovering your calling, kicks off Session 1&2 in his "Glory of Your Life: Revealing and Releasing Your Calling" workshop. Tomorrow's sessions are titled 'Alert & Oriented x 3' and 'Story' and we'll go for about 90-minutes. You can attend at no cost and post questions during the live class. Gary gets paid well to travel the world factiliting this seminar, and this is the first time EVER it's been offered online like this.

To merely attend this first session, here is the page where you can listen via the web or phone and post questions and chat with us, no cost or commitment:
- Attend: http://attendthisevent.com/?eventid=13353573

If you want more details, or know you are ready to fully commit, this page has all info and you can go ahead and register for the whole deal:
- Register: http://kevinmiller.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/06/discpurpose.html

Act Fast, or…otherwise…you won't. I could tell you this has 'Limited space' but it doesn't. We could easily have 2,000 folks attend via phone and web and be fine. I could offer 'Bonuses worth a zillion dollars!' But I think you see through that stuff.

If it takes a gimmick to cause you to pursue your calling
and a more consequential life…you'll never stick.

Thursday, June 24th at 6pm Mountain / 8pm Eastern you can be with us and get an amazing start toward discovering your calling. I can say...this opportunity has never been available unless you've been in a town that's hosted one of Gary's live events, and you've been invited. It's a special opportunity.

Will you finally get lucky? [luck: when preparation meets opportunity]

Agent K Miller
Feelin' lucky today...

P.S. Understanding human nature that often doesn't commit till the last moment, I'll be sending out a reminder tomorrow morning, and 90-minutes before the class starts. This will cause some subscribers to 'unsubscribe' because they get irritated at the number of emails. But it will cause many more to act. So I'll ask for your graciousness beforehand. This is part of marketing that we teach in FreeAgentAcademy as we help you create your own business opportunity.

Jun 23, 2010 10:23:25 AM | Calling

June 18, 2010

Free Agent Underground Show - "Thread of Desire" by Gary Barkalow

Free Agent Underground Show

Free Agent Underground Show - "Thread of Desire" by Gary Barkalow of 'The Noble Heart'

This show actually comes from Gary Barkalow, founder of The Noble Heart Ministries. For his recent show he interviewed two guys...your's truly...Kevin Miller of Free Agent Underground and Jon Dale of Dale Interactive Group - social media consultant to the stars (check him out here recently with Martha Stewart, he's the first guy on the right, schooling them on using Twitter).

There are three points for you in this podcast, and why I bring it to you:

YOUR CALLING - What is your calling? If you don't know, then join us next week, June 24th as we kick off a 4-part series with Gary. You can attend the first session for free to check it out, details here.
THE JOURNEY - Gary goes through Kevin's and Jon's personal journeys that led them to living out their callings today. It's not a Cinderalla story by any means. It's real life. But if these two yahoos can do it, so can you. And if you'll seek counsel and not go it alone, you'll do it quicker and easier than they did (helping you do so is MY (Kevin) calling!)
FRIENDSHIP - A primary aspect of the call is the reality of Kevin and Jon's friendship and mutual admiration for each other. As Gary will hit upon, you need advocates like this in your life. More on that, you've gotta read this blog, just written, by Justin Lukasavige...our weekly co-host here at the FAU Show: Real Friends Hurt Your Feelings

If you don't know of Gary Barkalow...he's known by people worldwide (especially men) from his leadership at Ransomed Heart Ministries with bestselling author of "Wild At Heart", John Eldredge. Gary's calling in life is to lead people in discovering...their calling. He travels the world holding three day events, "Calling Retreats" and "Calling Intensives." He's currently in Australia doing this.

He is the leading authority...by far...on discovering your calling. Not just ABOUT calling...but discovering yours. And he's the most recent, new 'Professor' with us at Free Agent Academy. You need his message in your life. Don't pass up this moment to get involved with him. Mark your calendar for next Thursday, June 4th at 6pm Mountain / 8pm Eastern. Full details here.