Free Agent Underground

Seeking a couple with kids to work with me

I really tried to think of a title that wouldn't be misleading, as I'm NOT looking to hire anyone. I'm looking for a couple of…couples…who want more for their lives and desire to pursue free agency in earnest. Couples who have (or will) sit down and get real with where they want to be in 5-years. And...who they want to be for their kids and the world. Couples who put 'leaving a legacy' and living a life of consequence ahead of getting a new leather couch.

*Also, couples with a couple grand, as that's how much it will cost, just to be fully open and up front at the outset.

Why a couple? The stakes are higher and urgent enough to make you do the work. 'Crap or get off the pot' so to speak.

I'm sure you've heard the quote, "If you want something done, ask a busy person." I think it's absolutely true. And couples with kids are busy. No time or money to waste. You gotta be efficient, get the most bang for your buck and get results...fast.

Most of my focus is on getting people to join Free Agent Academy and go through our online school and curriculum. From discovering your calling, to discovering your idea, to discovering your brand, to building your online storefront and launching, to having an abundant business and life!

Occasionally though, I like to work one-on-one with folks as well. I have a '90-Day MFA' (Master of Free Agency) program where I join you personally in our courses. Working directly with me can accelerate the process, thus the '90-Day' reference. But more important than the time, I get to join you and take you deeper. Especially in the areas of personal life that make or break this journey to successful free agency and lifestyle design.

My heart is ultimately for couples, as is my wife Teri's (you can read her amazing blog at www.StumblingAroundInTheLight.com). The family lifestyle is what we know. We know the struggles, the overwhelmedness, the yearning to do and be better and have more purpose and meaning…

So…if this is you, apply here. Let's see if you're ready and we're the right fit. This page will tell you a bit more about the process and the form to fill out is at the bottom of the page. Please though, only fill it out if you are honestly interested in doing this now, not far off in the future.
- 90-Day MFA with Kevin: Couples

I'll attempt to respond back to you within just a couple hours of your submission.

Kevin

P.S. This is my crew at Christmas 2010, the last decent all-family pic I have! Our oldest is 15, youngest is 15 months. We know family life, and we DON'T have it all under control! But, we live a very, very countercultural lifestyle. Teri and I are both home full-time, we have a growing business that pays our bills, the kids are homeschooled. It's not easy, but that's not the point, is it?! It's what we believe is best for our family. What lifestyle design and reality do you believe would truly be best for your family?

I'm tired of 'busy' and I'm not that damn important

For the few of you who aren't mortally wounded that I used the word 'damn', this life-reality is burdening me greatly. Hordes of people are dying from their life circumstances, but feel unable to act and achieve a different reality.

They, we…are all too busy.

I'm sick of everyone being 'busy', myself included. It's disease, much like obesity, that we have inflicted upon ourselves. And it's robbing us (again, me too) of the longings of our heart.

And it's the most socially acceptable disease of them all. Bottom line, being busy gives us status. Having free time means we aren't important or successful. That's just the real perspective of our culture.

And it IS true, we ARE busy. Because we fill, or allow to be filled, every minute of our existence.

I know of absolutely NO ONE who has any free time. Nobody. I know people who are single, married, zero kids and 12 kids. Self-employed, traditionally employed and unemployed. Good health, bad health. Rich and poor. Who did I leave out?

And everybody is wanting for better, lacking peace and fulfillment, and taking on a victim or status role of "I'm so busy cause I'm so unfortunate", or "I'm busy cause I'm so damn important to the world."

Honestly, where did our faith go? I'm father to seven kids. I 'lead' or at least have influence over a core couple thousand folks (10k on the fringes). Guess what? If I get hit by a truck tomorrow and disappear, THEY WILL ALL SURVIVE. I'm not their savior. I may be being used, but my God is a big God who can accomplish His will without me. I'm an available tool. Worthy for sure! But I pull my pants on like everyone else and at best am one of many pawns in a big story that will happen regardless.

My only chance in even being used…is being available.

Being busy and 'so important' is a disease of our culture, nothing more. Nobody is a victim, and no one is that stinkin' important. Can we just get honest?

• I am married.
• I have a growing business.
• I have seven children ranging in age from 1 to 15 years old.
• I have a big house with six bedrooms and 5 potties and 5.6 acres.
• I have 3 vehicles.
• I'm involved in my church and community.
• I own another house that we rent.
• I am NOT debt free or making so much money I can just spend at leisure (i.e. gross profit vs net profit!), though I'm not deprived of anything.
• I have a growing audience of people I have influence over. Interviews, classes. By the world's perspective, I'm 'important.'
• I don't just have a book I want to write, but that people are ASKING me to write.
• I get testimonials giving me more credit than most pastors receive.

I can make a heck of a case for being busy. For "I can't" and "I have to." But it would be a lie.

Give me a break. There are people dying of starvation. My God states I must lead my kids in knowing Him. And I washed my car. Where is the Biblical or governmental dictate that 'thou shalt have a clean car?!' I spent time on that so I look better in the church parking lot and I don't get dirt on my clean clothes. That's it. It's not wrong, but it's sure as heck not necessary.

There are hordes of people with more on their plate, more in their lives, giving more value to mankind in massive ways, that have more time than I usually admit to.

We simply fill our time because we believe and accept that we must. There is no one reading here who doesn't participate in unnecessary activities.

And you know what…it's OK! It's OK for me to waste some time. I honestly believe that Jesus Christ, during his three years of core ministry, spent some time chillin' out and shooting the breeze. Yes, the Savior of mankind who had to save us all. He laughed, drank wine, enjoyed this creation of earth, and had to call his dandy tribe of disciples to get away and rest and recuperate and rejuvenate. Can you imagine? "We have three years to save the world, it's all on us, we can't rest, we're BUSY!"

Can we just check ourselves and call a spade a spade?

Call me. Email me. If I say "OH, I can't" or "OH wow, sorry but I have to…" you can call me a liar. I can do whatever I please. And I don't HAVE to do...much of what I do. It's a choice. And to save what's most important and the right priority, it's a good decision if I don't do many things, to preserve what's best.

Ever notice that folks living in the projects have cable TV, cell phones, microwaves, cars and probably newer clothes than I do? That's not judging or a lack of compassion, it's just truth. We afford time and money for what we value and choose.

Sure…there are victims. Single mothers left by their husbands. Widows. Orphans. And they deserve our help.

For the other 99.99% of us, we have few real "have tos" or relevant "can'ts" that keep us from being available. We just have an overwhelming list of what we believe we SHOULD do. We watch plenty of TV and movies. We surf the news online and are well aware of our sports teams and show's status. We know plenty of gossip. We read nonfiction books and interesting magazines and publications. We attend shows and concerts. We read the paper. We putter around the house on relatively unimportant things. We spend an inordinant amount of time working for and maintaining a level of western, social acceptance. We invest in things that feed our ego and social standings and aren't serving mankind in the least.

WE ARE NOT VICTIMS.

WE ARE NOT THAT IMPORTANT.

We make time for what we choose.

And most of our longings are within our reach. We just have to decide what we truly want is worth reaching for, more than what we normally reach for.

What do you know you really need? Righteously need?! Meaning, purpose, servitude, inspiration, legacy?
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Or…maybe it's just me. Next time you see me irritable and angry and complaining that "I can't" or "I have to", feel free to sucker punch me back to the truth.

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?

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.

Discussing idea discovery with idea guru Jonathan Pool

Today we had an enlightening show with guest Jonathan Pool on the steps to discovering your idea for self-employment. 

To boil it down, it's a process of knowing yourself and bubbling up to finding an idea that is uniquely from you and fills a need or desire in the marketplace.

The reason 'work' is a necessary evil or down right dirty word in our culture is because

1. Vocational focus is based on security and comfort instead of meaning,
2. We've literally bought into the myth that we are not really SUPPOSED to enjoy our work,
3. Even if we believed in having purpose in our work, we don't know ourselves well enough to know what direction to go.

The few people who do attest to liking their work, often do so as a result of attaching their personal identieis to their positions. Without the money or acclaim, they wouldn't be there.

Truth be told, the vast majority of information out there on self-employment tends to focus on making the most money with the least effort. No different than growing up and seeking out a j-o-b that pays the most, has the best benefits and takes the least personal investment.

Honestly, isn't that the focus? College kids have a goal of finding a 'cushy job.' People brag about big salaries, great benefits, vacation time, company perks...and showcase it by buying lots of stuff to communicate to others their financial affluence. Or by goofing off to showcase their time and financial freedom.

But what does that have to do with PURPOSE?

Name an epic movie that was about padding your comfort, security and social stature. Yet most would have to admit that the story of their life showcases these things as priority.

Of course we have many who are working their fingers to the bone just to survive. They work long hours merely to retain the crappy job they have cause they desparately need the money.

So you want work that has purpose? Work that you WANT to devote yourself to? And as a result of that purpose and devotion, you also create wealth that you can have security in and bless others with?

It won't find you, you'll have to go after it with knowledge and help and commitment. Listen to this interview with Jonathan and you can list out the necessary steps.

NOTE: Jonathan is our lead guide at the March 25-26 'Idea Discovery & Application' Workshop here in Colorado. It's not too late to take a giant step in radically changing your life and achieving free agency. Click the link or email me with questions about attending.

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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.'

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

 

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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)

Hope sells, but pain changes

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

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

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

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

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

Why you don't really feel thankful

Rule number one in writing, don't lead off with negative headlines. Well, if I was a rule follower, you wouldn't be reading this anyway. So here goes…



The Point of This Post: You're not really thankful on this Thanksgiving. But you can be next year. I'll tell you how.

Thanksgiving is in two days, and the truth of the matter is…we don't naturally feel thankful. Sure, if we step back and count our blessings, we'll cite stuff like, "I'm grateful for my spouse, my kids, my health (if you're healthy), my job (even if I hate it, it at least pays me), etc…"

But that's not really feeling 'thankful.' Not in the sense it's intended to be. Think about it, there is an entire day, the 2nd most popular and participated day of the year, set aside because some folks long, long ago felt so dang thankful they just couldn't contain themselves!

So let's put it into that context. What are you so immensely thankful for that you can't contain yourself?

Unlike possibly any Thanksgiving message you've ever read, I'm going to suggest that you DO NOT look at what you have, and manifest exaggerated joy for it. What if the reality is that there isn't much for you to feel that dramatically grateful for?

Go with me a minute…I'll redeem this downer.

Great, authentic thankfulness ultimately comes from knowing great pain and hardship and challenge and lack…and surviving it. Even more, overcoming it.

Life as we know it today, is completely aimed at ridding ourselves of any:

• Pain
• Hardship
• Challenge
• Lack

I'm not dissing the great wealth and amenities we have as 20th century westerners. I own every amenity you have. I'm not about to give them up either!

But the reality is that our basic day to day existence dwells on affording what we have or getting more. And we pretty much all have everything that the ultra rich have. We lack for nothing. They may have a big house, but we have a house too. They may have a Ferrari, but we have a car. They may have 15 bathrooms, but we have two. They may have a $10,000 watch, but we have one that tells the correct time for years on end.

Consumerism is built on making sure there is no single, solitary item that we cannot afford and possess. We may have a bit cheaper model, but we have one. Makes me think of dishwashers. I know folks with a $1,000 Bosch that can clean concrete off your dishes and do it without a sound. I have two cheap dishwashers that sound like a 747 taking off, and if you haven't nearly cleaned the dishes to perfection, there will be food on them afterwards. But geez, we have two. Literally, dual dishwashers.

I digress…

So, we as a society don't lack for much. We have little to fear or desire or struggle with. We have clothe's, homes, cars, running water, medicines, safety from danger. We appreciate it if we have to, but heck, everybody has all those things. Big whoop. It's expected and we feel entitled to it.

Here is the kicker. A few days ago I posted a blog about the legacy of my free agent Grandpa - A true free agent legacy, Ray Miller 1913-2010.  I got about as many comments as I've ever received on that post. If you didn't read the blog, you should at least read the comments, as they contain great wisdom and insight.

One of them was from Jason Garey, someone I've never communicated with before, he's a subscriber I assume. He referenced his two Grandfathers, who also lived into their 90s. He said, and I quote, "Both men took little for granted and, in the end, wisely understood that faith, family and freedom were, above all, the most important things in life."

I'm not going to focus on taking things for granted. Instead, let's look at faith, family and freedom. If in this next year you made those three things your priority focus, literally, instead of maintaining what you have or working to afford more, you WILL encounter:

• Pain
• Hardship
• Challenge
• Lack

- If you live out and speak and endeavor to share your faith,
- If you in truth make the priority of your time and attention your family,
- If you place the highest premium and value the reality of owning your life and having true and real freedom...

...you will no doubt, realize:

• Pain
• Hardship
• Challenge
• Lack

And as a result, as you cope and strive and overcome in your own, true ADVENTURE - you will feel, possibly for the first time, genuine, heartfelt, uncontainable THANKFULNESS.

I'll end with a question:

Do you believe that in the workplace today (traditional employment), companies and stockholders and employers…have in their mission statements, to ensure that YOUR personal faith, family and freedoms come first? Or second, or fifteenth?

Want to have an unprecedented Thanksgiving in 2011? Make the pursuit of faith, family and freedom as your top priorities a resolute commitment. And start by endeavoring to own your life. To own your time. To own your work. To be free to place your faith and family first. You'll start living a true adventure, and you'll find true…thankfulness.

I raise my eggnog and spiced rum to you this Thanksgiving!

Cheers, and a blessed Thanksgiving to you,
The Free Agent Family of Kevin, Teri, Caleb, Autumn, Eliza, Ian, Canyon, Serene & Nekoda Miller

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.

 

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

 

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Zig Ziglar on...life. The excerpts

Most of you are aware of my appearance July 8, 2010 on the Ziglar Success 2.0 Show. A huge honor…I'm quite a small-fry in relation to their normal celebrity guests. But my topic of 'free agency' (self-employment) is very viable for their audience, and Tom Ziglar (Zig's son and CEO of Ziglar) has become a friend.

20 pictures from my time with Zig are here on the FreeAgentUnderground Facebook fanpage:
-http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=185165&id=175999913196

In keeping with my belief in community, I was accompanied by my dear friend and partner Chuck Bowen, as well as Dave, Jonathan and Trish Munson. Dave owns Saddleback Leather Co. and Jonathan and Trish work with him there. We all went to lunch together, then Chuck and Dave actually sat in the studio for the show.
 
The time was a pure gift. Zig amazed me. He's 83 and showing his age, yet full of heart and encouragement and exhortation to play big! He impacted all of us in a significant way…on multiple levels. He shared openly with us, and held our feet to the fire to encourage others and achieve more.

I could write a novel on the rich experience I had with Zig and Tom Ziglar and everyone involved. But you are here for…you. As you should be. So I'm going to list out the highlights out of my notebook that I had on hand…literally as they happened. As it turns out…this almost is a novel:

Will, Skill & Refill
This actually came from Tom first, then Zig repeated it later. These are the necessary ingredients to achieve more: 'Will' is your attitude, heart and passion. 'Skill' is the how-to and technique. 'Refill' is what makes you sustain success. I really appreciated this because it's the 'REFILL' I think most folks miss. You don't just get new knowledge and make it happen. It's got to be daily deposits and steps. Thus why we created Free Agent Academy where we are talking 24/7 together.

Know what you're talking about
Literally, right out of Zig's mouth. That's it regarding success in work. Know what you are talking about, and here I'll ad lib…that you need to stick to what you know and don't talk much outside of that. Everyone tries to showcase knowledge in too many things. Know one subject, know it well, and speak on that. As a piece of that he also said, "The truth is always in vogue." So speak truth. Speak what you know.

Encouragement is the fuel of hope
Ultimately that was Zig's main charge…to encourage others. That encouragement is missing for most folks and it's our responsibility to give it voraciously. Think about it…who really encourages you? Supports you and gives credence to your hopes? And who do you do this for? Look at that title again regarding hope. You have a hope…which is void without 'fuel', which is encouragement! Not just generic pats on the back…but real world encouragement that validates and equips that hope?!

This…is the heart of Free Agent Academy, so was a dramatic confirmation to me in what we are doing here.

Courting your spouse
Zig came back time and time again to his marriage and his love and admiration for his wife Jean (aka 'The Redhead' or 'Sugar Baby'). His platform here is "If everyone courted their spouse AFTER the wedding like they do BEFORE…the divorce rate would plummet 90%. So…there you go. Deal with THAT in your marriage. How did you treat and pursue and serve your spouse before you married? How are you doing now? I bet you stink in relation. And I bet like me, you have a list of reasons. Work, kids and other circumstances. Well, tough. We'll always be busy. We've got to do it anyway.

Sharing your faith
Right off the bat in Zig's speaking career he was cautioned not to openly share his faith…which is a Christian faith. Upon hearing that, he immediately felt God told him that was some of the worst advice EVER. And he of course shared his faith publicly from the get go…and the rest is history. He's arguably one of the most influential men of the past century. We're in a society today that is less and less tolerant of stances of faith, especially Christian. Yeah, well…Christ and His disciples were martyred for their professions of faith. I'm sure your persecution will not be so severe. Speak it with boldness and compassion and don't back down. If you hide your faith…I'd argue you don't really have much of any.

Read to teach
Zig reads 3 hours per day, always. And always non-fiction…his intent is to read information that he can then teach. So if we look at him as an example…then we need to get to reading good info so we can pass on great counsel!

How to be the best parent…
…make sure your marriage is healthy and the best example it can be. When he once asked Tom as a child what he most liked about his Dad…Tom's response was "I most like how he loves my Mom." That pretty much says it all eh? So what are you more focused on…being a good parent or a good spouse? Ditch the former and focus on the latter. Our society cops out on being a good spouse by hiding behind our parenting. If we really have our kid's best interest in mind...love your spouse well. See the bit on 'courting' again above.

Sex before marriage
Dave Munson asked Zig at lunch, as Zig was talking about his wife, when was the first time he'd held Jean's hand. Zig replied…on their wedding day! And went on to say that the only thing he wanted from her prior to their marriage was for her to say "Yes!" How does that relay to today…where folks feel they must fully 'test drive' their spouse first?

Work early
Due to his father dying early, he worked full time from the age of 12. And he didn't complain. Look how it paid off. What is your 12 year old doing? I came home with a more concrete plan for my kids to get to work. Next week they'll have a booth at our local Farmer's Market, selling their Aspen wood furniture and home roasted coffee and African beads.

Be polarizing
In your work and your message (and your work should BE and HAVE a message at the core)…be polarizing. Be bold. Make a stand. Amen!

Don't worry
He states often that he never worries. I'm not going to define that, it's an aspect of faith. And I…don't have it figured out. Something to aspire to for sure.

God don't make no junk
People sell themselves short and limit their potential. This is a big one for me…as the primary problem folks deal with is not a lack of ideas or abilities, but just faith in themselves. The world will fight to pull you down and keep you in it's system. Your friends and family will caution you against stepping out to pursue anything more and different. You've got to come to the point of believing in yourself…in who God made you to be and what He's enabled you to do and be capable of. And take action. This takes us back to...'faith.'

The key is asking for help
That's it. He says he owes his success to asking for help. Nix your pride or fear or insecurity and just ask. I'm a product of this. In my past, I didn't ask, I went it alone. Today I'm flourishing and spend half my days asking for help and counsel and advice. And I see those who are really succeeding and overcoming being the biggest students and 'askers.'

This is the key benefit to Free Agent Academy. Community. Counsel. Guidance. Encouragement.

Write a book
Zig is adamant that everyone does it. No excuses. Doesn't have to be published or even sold. Write a book. Write about what you care about, or write your story. I'm in the process of doing both. And I've got to share this…

Long ago he did a 3-hour workshop for the Mary Kay organization. She (Mary Kay Ashe) asked him to do a 6-hour seminar. So he created new content. That content became 'See You At The Top' which has sold millions.

In prep for my appearance on the Ziglar Success 2.0 Show I finally created the outline to the book I've been writing content for. So Zig is now part of my story…!

Credit others
Right away in Zig's offices is his 'Wall of Fame.' Literal pictures of all the folks in his life who have benefited his life in significant ways. This was funny, and poignant...he said there were two folks on there who he didn't really even like much. But they gave great value to his life and he's grateful to them! He implored us to create our own list of people who have given value to our lives. I'm making my list...

It's never too late
This wasn't a quote from Zig, I'm saying it in response to a reality about him. The Ziglar we all know…the speaker and motivator and inspiration…didn't really start till after he was 45 years old. That is when he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior and his speaking career really started in earnest. Look what he's done in almost 40 years since then. I just finished his autobiography. It's amazing what he did in the first decade alone. So if you are reading this and you are 73…you can still knock it outta the park by the time you are Zig's age. He's writing two books right now!

Encourage…regardless
I'll end with this, because he did. He said, "Find something that encourages others and do it regardless." So in your pursuit for free agency, find what you care about and can offer value to others with…and use it as a platform to inspire and encourage others. REGARDLESS!! Regardless of your:

• Age
• Circumstances
• Discomfort
• Finances

…anything!

This journey to knowing your calling, finding a viable work opportunity within that, owning your work (self-employment) and using it all to inspire yourself and in turn inspire others…is your responsibility. Not for your own good, but for others! Do it…regardless. Don't get caught up in our world's agenda of all efforts being to pad our own comfort and security. You can be comforted and secure in eternity when you die. Till then, do what you are supposed to do…regardless.

My immense thanks to Tom Ziglar, his sisters and staff, and of course Zig...for giving me this opportunity and experience. For enriching my life and hopefully through me…enriching the lives of others. Of you.

Be blessed today.

20 pictures from my time with Zig are here on the FreeAgentUnderground Facebook fanpage:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=185165&id=175999913196

Zig Ziglar 'Self-Employment Exposed' July 8

Exposed...revealed...understood. Isn't this what you want to know about Free-Agency? Where do folks go wrong and how can you avoid it and ensure your success?

One of the most successful free agents of all time…and a guy who has inspired a legion of free agents…is Zig Ziglar. I'll assume you know well who he is. If not, you either haven't been in the business world long, or you are well under 30 years of age. I went to my first Zig Ziglar seminar at the age of 10 with my Dad. I still have the leather bound 'Goals Binder', autographed by Zig after waiting a long time for him in a line at the front of the room.

Zig is an absolute pillar in the business world, and beyond. Honestly, I put him next to Billy Graham as far as influential, inspirational and authentic. He's not just touched millions of lives, he's changed them. I'd venture to say he's the most quoted business and motivational personality of the past half century.

Next Thursday, July 8th I'll be in Dallas, TX to spend a day with Zig and his son Tom. Tom is the CEO of Ziglar, and he and I developed a friendship over the past couple of years.

We'll just be spending some personal time together, but then I'm going to be conducting an interview with Zig himself on his personal life as a free agent. Why did he pursue self-employment…why does he believe in it so, how did it impact his family?

I'll be eager to bring that to you.

Then...at 7pm Central on July 8th Tom will be interviewing me on the Ziglar Success 2.0 show, titled 'Self-Employment Exposed'. It's broadcast live over the web so you can tune in. You must register to attend, but no cost unless you desire to become a member with them.
- Register here

OK...yeah...I'm beyond flattered. Recent presenters have been the likes of Tom Hopkins and Peter Lowe. I grew up going to these guys' seminars. To speak from the same platform as them...I'd be lying if I tried to be nonchalant about it.

Ultimately I'm stoked to bring this modern day message and reality of Free Agency to the Ziglar audience, which is well over 100,000 folks. they are actually limiting the Success 2.0 show to 3,000 registrants.

And between you and me, this is the kind of exposure and credibility you dream of for your business. There is a method to nurturing and networking to get these opportunities. It's a key point we work with our Free Agent Academy members on. It's called 'finding your Golden Goose.'

Join me on this show? There is a live chat going on during the show...come say hi! Ask a question. Make me look good...

Here is the invitation that went out, just click the Register button to attend the live webcast (the replay is only available to Success 2.0 members, which is $17 a month, and yes...I'm a member)

Pre-step for purpose…get inspired

On Monday I'm going to announce Step 1 for finding your purpose, as we've been discussing this week.

In preparation, I give you this…sent to me by a friend earlier this week:

Last night, Betty and I were talking and I said to her, "I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug." She then got up, turned off the tv, hid the remote, unplugged the computer, threw out my beer and told me to clean the kitchen...

Don't just exist through this weekend. Do something that inspires you. And activity that wakes up your spirit that may normally be dull and dormant while you put in the 9-5 amidst life's chaos and demands.

Only you know what may revive you:

• Paint a picture
• Go bowling
• Take a hike
• Go dancing
• Take a date with your spouse or significant other
• __________(you fill in the blank)

Participate in something that get's your engines going.

Then tune in Monday for a first step in your journey of discovering…your purpose.

*Picture is of me on a hike last week…the outdoors inspires me. What does' it for you?! Let us know...it might help give someone else an idea.

The only way to achieve 'purpose' in your life…

That is not just a headline and this isn't just a blog post. I'm laying out the crux of my mission here. It's what I was made to do and what I most care about.

After some prayer and devotions this morning I went straight inside my house (I was sitting outside) and presented it to my wife and mainly…kids. My two oldest are Caleb (14) and Autumn (13) and I directed it at them.

As they are nearing the time when they'll go out and fly under the strength of their own wings, I told them that my desire for them was not to get a job or go to college or anything…but this:

Find your purpose
This is deep. Purpose lasts forever. Granted, the roles in which you fulfill your purpose can weave and flow, but your purpose will run straight and true. What is it you were uniquely made to care about and do and fulfill?

Inspire people
In doing what you were made to do, you must inspire people. And you can inspire folks from a pulpit, or from a burger stand (if you own it!) or from creating and selling a new frisbee. You inspire people by inviting and enticing them in to what gives you joy. But you must share that joy. Can you express true, pure joy in what you spend your days doing now?

Build a community
If you are inspiring people, you will gather people. It can be selling hand carved pipes at a fair. If you love that and express your joy and inspire people, you will draw people to you. You'll have their attention. And then, and only then…can you do the next step...

Serve them
To really serve people you must actually engage with them. Face to face. In a way that fits you and is authentic to you. And comes directly from your personal gifting. You can't serve anyone and everyone.

From the hordes of people I've known in business over the past decade, the folks who have true joy and purpose are those that have achieved these things. The rest are just putting in their time.

I want you to be the former. I desperately want this for you. Why? The world needs you serving where you are uniquely gifted. Your family and friends and all those who come in contact with you…need you to be living an inspired life.

And how does self-employment fit in to all this? In my experience…you can't fully live out your purpose when you spend the majority of your time and energy subservient to an employer. You must answer directly to the end user. The customer. The client. The person who you can uniquely serve.

And you must dictate your priorities and time in order to have a balanced life. The industrial revolution and employers created the 9-5, Mon-Fri schedule. That wasn't dictated by God you know. I think God would have you available for your family and friends.

Work is to fit around your life. And guess what…work is NOT life. Our society has just been duped into thinking so.

So where do you start? Finding your purpose. Ready? You with me?!

*Pictured is my son Nekoda, 4 months. He's our 7th child. Funny pic in a cereal box. But my charge as his Daddy is to help him find and fulfill his purpose. So that he is a 'Great Value' to humanity.

The #1 way to fix yourself

I got feedback to last Friday's post, "You're missing half the self-employment equation" that it might have been my best post to date. If you didn't read it, please do. It's about YOU being a key component to your self-employment success…not just a good idea and viable business know-how.

Now…this post assumes you do in fact know you need fixing. If you don't, then I'm here to tell you…you need fixin'. We both do. If you don't believe this…here are your links to mensa and BeautifulPeople. Have fun.

For the rest of us, how do we in fact fix ourselves? Better ourselves? EQUIP ourselves to improve our lives beyond where we are today?

My Teri      

Ready?

Don't miss this.

This came straight from my wife Teri after reading the aforementioned blog post:

"You…can't…better yourself…in…a…vacuum."

You wake up with yourself everyday. You live with yourself everyday. Your eyes point outwards and you can't look at yourself. Sure, a mirror. It is a one sided reflection of your physical image, that's it. Worthless for anything other than fixing your hair.

We were born and bred for community. We only function on all cylinders when we are living in community.

HEY, I am the most natural born lone wolf, hermit, go-it-aloner there is. If we were discussing smoking I'd be the guy who smoked 10 packs a day, testifying to the disease and dangers.

Someone recently asked me what I attributed all the recent success in my business to. I stopped and thought. The only thing that had changed was…I had appointed more leaders and fostered more community discussion. Meaning, I shut up and let others speak. I'm also getting more input into my life than ever before. It's not always easy (seldom) or comfortable. But I'm not here for comfort. I'm here for purpose. Aren't you?!

So, do you want to progress? Do you want to know your blind spots? Get help. From real people. Not a book or podcast or even…this blog. It won't help give feedback on you personally. I'm not going to answer where exactly you should get help, but here are some ideas. And remember, the point is to get real feedback on your strengths and weaknesses and beliefs:

• Spouse - only if you have a really healthy, open relationship. Even then, this is not enough.
• Family - even more scary. Might work for some of you, but not most.
• Friends - possible, depending again on how intimate, invested and honest and healthy those relationships are.
• Therapist - shrink, counselor, whatever you want to call it. I'm so-so on this. I've used marriage counselors multiple times to help me get past obstacles in my marriage relationship. So I do believe in this, especially for acute issues.
• Coaches - I have more belief here. You pay coaches for results. "Here is where I am (I think) and here is where I want to be. What am I doing to sabotage myself?"
• Communities - this is broad, but I'm talking about invested groups around a shared interest that you are all striving for. Toastmasters does this for speaking. You get up and speak and they tell it like it is.
• Spiritual leader - a church can be a great place to get counsel. A pastor or leader is often available. But they do need to know you well for it to be relevant.
• Co-workers, Managers or Bosses - can be dangerous to open yourself up, I realize. But they often spend the most time with you, see all your junk, and are very aware of your...junk. Your strengths too. 
• Prayer - seeking the Lord...truly and honestly...being in the Word and getting real with yourself...can be profound. However, few folks can really do this. And it can be an easy cop-out with little answers. Do it, but also seek out people. God does most of his work through his people.

If you have resources that have really helped you, it would benefit us all if you shared in the comments below.

I'll follow this post up with areas that you probably need to shore up.

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.

Why it's not about your idea - and my apologies

The quest for self-employment is usually focused on an idea you have, or are seeking. But let me clue you in on a reality that comes from walking with so many aspiring free agents. And I write this after just emailing a guy who is fully focused on his 'great idea' for a product he sees a need for. That's great, but...

Your idea is the easy part to make happen. It's your personal context that is the core issue.

When you apply for a job, usually you are one of many applicants. Most of the applicants can do the work. They have similar knowledge of the job. So whomever is hiring is doing what…looking for each person's context.

"Do they seem easy to get along with, will they be reliable, will they take initiative" and on and on.

No different here in the free agent pursuit. My personal skill is in taking an idea and turning it into a legitimate, revenue producing venture. If that's all there was to it we'd be turning out free agents like Apple is turning out iPads.

It's your personal context that is the key issue. Think of it like the fruit of the tree. Your idea is the fruit. To get there is the roots and trunk and bark and branches and watering and sunshine.

And all those things…you won't create in a vacuum. By yourself.

For you personally...what are your current circumstances and realities, what are your personal strengths and weaknesses, what is your background, what are your passions.

For your idea, what is already in the marketplace, what is the niche, who is the target market, how do the financial numbers line up…

Context. Just like the Bible. It's not a book of quotes and promises. It's to be taken in full context or it's null and void.

- - - - - - - -

An apology: In Feb. I put out a blog motivating folks…many of you…to just pony up and submit an idea (Step up and write ONE idea (even a bad one)). I even pushed it more by making a second call out. The response was…now well over 200. I dove in to responding and made it to maybe 70 replies. I met some incredible folks, heard neat ideas, but more than that just heard some amazing personal stories. Many joined FreeAgentAcademy and we are walking together today. Some came to the March 'Idea Discovery' event and a few of those truly established their ideas and are now coming to the May event to put the building blocks together.

However…well over 100 of you have never gotten a reply. You stepped up and submitted an idea. And I didn't follow through. And I feel terrible about it. I still have your idea in the inquiry form. I'm still eager to contact you. But I apologize for the delay…I so want to honor your effort, and more than that…just get to know you.

Commitment with consequences

We all have things we'd like to achieve or solve or aspire to. And to get there, hard work and often risk and sacrifice are required.

At the heart of it...we'd rather have the magic pill or the silver bullet. 

If there was a magic pill for successful self-employment...or in reality...success with any goal, dream, desire or solution you have, I believe it to be this:

Commitment with consequences

When there is a very painful or incredibly desirable and tangible consequence on the line, things happen and happen fast. It shortcuts all the issues that normally deter us...like procrastination, fear, lack of discipline and faith...everything. A fear of water is instantaneously overcome when your child is drowning.

When it's not dire, we generally quit before we realize the desired goal. That's human nature and reality.

So if you truly have something you'd like to achieve...create a consequence. If you don't, you'll likely quit.

Examples?

First, I'll tell you that this is not just some random strategy...it's the primary strategy I use on myself. I live and die by it. My mantra is "Aim, Fire...Ready?!" I constantly commit to things where there is no plan B and quitting will hurt me or others to a degree that I can't live with. Without this strategy I would still be the penniless dreamer that my wife married almost 17 years ago (and God bless her for having faith and sticking with me till I finally delivered).

Would you like a body that looks good in a bathing suit? Then plan a trip to the beach with friends who are in good shape...who you'd be morbidly embarrassed to have see you in a bathing suit of any type looking like you do now. Do it for late fall, 2010. Now. Go buy airline tickets and book the hotel. Everything else will fall in to place...the gym membership, personal trainer, putting down that godforsaken twinkie...

Want to get out of debt? Get with an accountability partner and together go through every expenditure you make per month and list out all the non necessities like eating out, cable TV, clothing purchases, movies, Starbucks, etc... Take that amount, let's say it's $300, and go to your pastor or a person in need or a humanitarian organization and commit that amount to them for the next 3 months. Make sure some expenditure or new investment on their part is made and contingent upon your $300. Now you can't back out. After 3 months you'll realize you don't need all those non necessities and you can now put that $300 per month towards debt till it's gone.

Want to be successfully self-employed or if you are self-employed, want to increase your business?

For the former (not yet self-employed) I wish I could say "Quit your job." But that won't work, as being in survival mode is not a good recipe success. But commit to a step. Make an investment that costs you something. We have 15 people traveling out here to Colorado this week to attend our "Idea Discovery Camp." They paid $1,200 for registration, plus lodging, plus airfare. Probably close to $2k a piece. With such a big investment, most can't afford not to see this thing through. And before you think it is just folks who can easily afford this...they include TWO single mothers.

For those of you who are self-employed and want/need to grow, you need to commit to some events that will hold your feet to the fire. Announce a live show or event to your audience that you will then have to fulfill. Host a networking event. Start an ad campaign.

The point, commit to something so that the consequence of quitting is too painful.

What is a way you can create a consequence that will ensure you become self-employed?

P.S. Membership with us in FreeAgentAcademy is one of the best options I know of. A small investment (only $10 to see what we are about) that gives you immediate attention, wise counsel and accountability. You can view membership options and benefits on the JOIN page here. We've graciously welcomed in 21 new members in the last 13 days alone.

FreeAgentAcademy Show: "My Personality & Self-Employment"

Most folks have a perspective of who a self-employed person is...what they are like. And it's pretty false overall. We're going to discuss this with Deb Ingino, founder of MyWiredStyle.com. Here are some key points:

- Can any personality type be successfully self-employed? (yes, but...)
- Do I have to become someone who I am not? (no, but...)
- Doesn't eCommerce allow us to have a business and be anonymous? (nope)
- So then do I have to be super promotional, outgoing and salesy? (nope)

Download: You and Your Wiring - The Basics

Watch The Replay Here:

Deb Ingino               

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

Get fit, rich and holy merely by osmosis

That's not just a catchy title, it's really true.

It's a cliche' quote, "You become the average of the people you hang around."

But it's just totally true. Chances are most of your friends, family, and coworkers are functioning at the same level you are in regards to:
- Faith
- Relationships
- Income level
- Health and fitness
- Happiness

And if you all of the sudden were consistently around people who were at a higher level, over time, you'd
begin functioning at their level. It's human nature.

Your personal expectations rise and fall in relation to your environment. We can't stop it.

Oh, and it's just as bad if you spend most of your time alone. One divided by one is one. As a self-employed person this can be my personal downfall.

But...how do you change that?

If nothing else, two sources are:

Inspirational movies
- NO: the news, sitcoms, latenight TV...or any TV
- YES: Stories that inspire you. "The Notebook" will inspire you to be a more passionate and committed spouse.

Topical magazines and books
- NO: 'People' magazine or the newspaper or Stephen King novels
- YES: any mag surrounding topics you care about. I like 'Runners World,' 'Fast Company,' and 'Outside.' And with books, look at bestselling non-fiction under your topic of interest.

Real People, Mentors
This is the goal, and the hardest to achieve.

But it will drastically alter your life forever. Few, few people, ever make the effort to spend time with people 'above' them. They feel insecure, or bitter or unclear how to achieve it.

So what. Suck it up and make it happen. Or...stay where you are forever. Success won't just happen to you. Progressing beyond where you are won't just happen to you.

And you can kill yourself trying to do it alone. I know, I still fall in to this rut over and over. But I fight the tendency. The picture at the top shows a group of guys I just spent a couple of days with. And it wasn't because they were vying for my personal attention. I was just the guy that introduced them to each other! Just being with them immensely increases my level of thought and belief and expectation.

Starting at the top right and going clockwise (click on their names to view their websites):

• Scott Stearman Self-employed sculptor with a rapidly growing business. A tremendous encourager
• Chuck Bowen Self-employed business coach with a rapidly growing business. A tremendous strategist
• Dave Munson Self-employed owner of Saddleback Leather, Co. with a rapidly growing business. A tremendous idea guy
• Jon Dale Self-employed business consultant with a rapidly growing business. A tremendous business 'best practices' mind

After two days of communing with these guys, I'm at an entirely higher level of expectation in my business...and life. I know they are too. Scott and Jon live here in my town. Chuck and Dave live in San Antonio. But we are planning on making this a habit. It's that beneficial to us.

You'll be amazed at how many folks will be honored to give of their time if you ask. Just make sure you are asking for their counsel and wisdom and not hitting them up for a hand-up in some way.

In fact, find any way you can serve them.

Here is some quick content for each of the areas I listed:

Faith
- Find someone you know who you see 'fruit' in their lives regarding their faith. Ask to buy them breakfast
or lunch. Do it again and again. You can get a life changing autobiography face-to-face. Also find a few striving peers to meet with regularly.

Relationships
- Find a passionately married couple and ask them how they do it. Be with them as much as you can and clue in on how they mesh.

Income level
- Find folks who make good money doing what they love. Do anything you can to be around them and glean. Find something they want and provide it to them.

Health & Fitness
- This can be as easy as joining (and actually going) to a gym. Pay for a year so you have to keep going
or feel you're wasting money. Or join a running club.  Hire a personal trainer.

Happiness
- Know someone who is happy? Not just Pollyanna, but truly joyful regardless of circumstances. Someone who is encouraging. Commune with them.

And last, don't just be exposed to these people.
1. Question the heck out of them, like they are a treasure map and you just have to ask enough
questions and be around them enough.
2. Do it consistently, for life. You'll really benefit by OSMOSIS. Cause it will affect your actions.
Just like the people you hang around now do.

Have anyone or any resource in your life who inspires you to strive for an expect more?

Tell me about it.