The Kevin Miller Podcast

#939: Mastermind groups are very popular, but so is dissatisfaction with them. The benefit is peers coming together to provide support and counsel to each other and to do so effectively requires trust, structure, and some deft facilitating. Diana Pavlac Glyer has intimately researched one of the most successful and well known mastermind groups of all time, which interestingly did not at all call and maybe didn’t even consider itself as such; The Inklings. The Inklings are an infamous group of authors who came together in the 1930s, headlined by C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. At face value they had informal gatherings over 14 years at Magdalen College in Oxford, and a local pub. But as Diana uncovers in her book, Bandersnatch, what you’ll see is these men were intrinsically involved in each other's work and not only spurred each other on, but actually sparred with each other. Diana greatly dispels what she refers to as, “the myth of the solitary genius.” The charge and takeaway from this conversation is the opportunity and great benefit we can derive from investing in other’s pursuits, but not simply for their reciprocity, but what we directly receive from devoting attention to the endeavors of our peers. I was so convicted by Diana’s research and the benefit, I’ve put together my own, new mastermind, called the Driven Counsel, you can find it at drivencounsel.com, and the point is coming together to help each other on what we are most striving to progress in with our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#938: Tom Ziglar recently quipped during a recording, “Do my core beliefs limit or unleash my potential?” It stopped me, as the question itself flips our paradigm. We inherently think our beliefs are simply based on facts. That’s what a belief is, right? And yet what we find in the following conversation is our beliefs can be held in a way that as Tom said, limits us, or unleashes our potential. And it’s not mere semantics, if you are willing to consider our beliefs are not based on proven fact, but on decided choice. That does not negate an absolute truth like gravity, and for those of you who are thinking spiritually, this is why it’s called having a faith, not having a proof. This show has the potential to jack up your doctrine, but elevate your capability. If this episode sparks questions you want to dig in further on and take the topic from hearing to truly learning and applying, come join my new community at driventolive.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#937: I’m back with neuroscientist Dr Amishi Jha who schooled us on the power of our attention and what we give it to, in episode 935. This time we talk through her personal habits for success. As you heard in the intro from her, we got into meta awareness, which to me brought me back to something comedian Michael Jr said to me in our recent show together, where he referenced “thinking about what he’s thinking about.” Being aware. Being present in the moment but realizing our reality is moment by moment and not to get so hung up on any one point. It speaks to me of holding things lightly, which is a current focal point of mine. You’ll find this and other powerful nuggets in this short episode. Find Amishi’s book, Peak Mind, wherever you get your books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#936: I asked the Ziglar audience this question, “If I asked you to tell me the positive attributes of someone in your life whom you like and respect, you'd easily do it. However, if I asked you to rattle off the positive attributes of yourself, how does it initially feel? Can you readily conceive of it or does it set you back a bit?” The responses were compelling. Almost everyone said it caused them to pause. Tom Ziglar and I talked through the comments and I feel the episode turns things upside down with how we view humility and egotism. Following the recording of this show we talked about this issue of why we struggle to speak to our own attributes in my Driven To Live community, which you haven’t heard about yet because I haven’t publicly launched it… But what occurred to me is we spend our lives being quote, humble, so as to not seem egotistical. We generally go further and make a habit of minimizing ourselves and we can’t even take a compliment. But when it’s time to get a job or start a business and appeal to a bank or investor, or try to sell ourselves as a coach, we are flush with long lists of our accomplishments and attributes. But aside from that, we diminish and deny what we know we are good at. Why? I’m going to que up a :50 second clip from Zig Ziglar on the issue, then Tom Ziglar and I will walk you through the convicting comments. We’d love your comments as well, just find me on Facebook at agentkmiller. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#935: Dr. Amish Jha is a professor of psychology at the University of Miami. She serves as the Director of Contemplative Neuroscience for the Mindfulness Research and Practice Initiative. Dr. Jha’s work has been featured at NATO, the World Economic Forum, The Dalai Lama's Vision Summit, and The Pentagon. She has received coverage in The New York Times, NPR, TIME, Forbes and more. She is the author of Peak Mind, which we discuss in this show. She has spent the last 25 years researching the science of attention through extensive work with the US Military, medical professionals, elite sports teams, and more to answer this question. Her TED Talk on "How to Tame Your Wandering Mind" has over 5 million views Here’s the deal...think of the world of business and marketing, but then the role of parents and teachers, and you readily hear the phrase of, “How can I get their attention?!” Today we spend everyday tuned in to screens whose sole purpose is to get our attention, to the degree we now must make a focus on, “How do I get my own attention?” Our attention is in many ways, the only power we have. The only thing we have an influence and impact on, the only thing we can help or find success in or enjoy, is what we give out attention to. We all know the concept of budgeting our money, and our time. Now we’re faced with budgeting our attention, and if we can’t control our attention, all hope is lost toward much progress in our lives. Find Amishi’s book, Peak Mind, wherever you get your books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#943: Zig shares with us that while earthquakes and hurricanes get all the press, much more damage is done overall by termites, who take such small bites we can’t even detect it with the human eye. But take enough over time and they can completely destroy a home. Now take that on a positive spin and it’s the small, consistent, and sometimes seemingly innocuous things we do everyday that lead to our greatest successes. As a past pro cyclist you will benefit far more from spreading your allotted training time over the week and do some every day, than to do one or two monster sessions on the weekends. I asked the Ziglar audience, “What is a tiny step or deposit you take nearly every day that pays great dividends in the long term?” Tom Ziglar and I talked through the comments to shed light on what small, daily steps people like you and me are doing to revolutionize their lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#933: I bring you the habits of former Chipotle co-CEO, Monty Moran. As you hear in the intro, he provides a significant perspective on the concept of what we’d say is doing the right thing, but relating it to our very tangible self interest. If flies in the face of authoritative leadership and management principles the corporate world was originally based on. Which of course is why his story of taking Chipotle from its humble beginnings to it’s meteoric success is so intriguing. Also in this episode you’ll hear him discuss his habits for mental health. He said he often wakes, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders, and like a failure. Which is interesting for a guy who seems so successful, don’t you think? Would you feel like a failure if you were worth three or four hundred million dollars? Monty shares how he strives to practice compassion on himself. He says he tries to make friends with his feelings, and when he wakes with foreboding, to, “Hold my own troubles in a kind and accepting way.” Here is an offering from Monty, if you go to loveisfree.com you can buy his book, Love Is Free, Guac Is Extra,” and he’ll write whatever you want in it and send it to you. Coming up next...I bring you Monty Moran.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#932: Look at all the people you follow and let influence you. They are known for something specific, but so often in our business and personal pursuits, we miss this point. It doesn’t mean that thing is all you can offer, but it gives people a needed reference point if you’re to stand out from the crowd at all. Examples from guests on my podcasts: - Dave Ramsey is known for guidance to financial peace and health - James Clear for developing good Habits - Dan Miller, for finding work you love - Pete Vargas, for mastering and leveraging the stage - John O’Leary, for overcoming adversity I asked the Ziglar audience, “Vocationally, what area(s) of expertise would you like to be known for?” It is a powerful exercise and Tom Ziglar and I read through comments and discussed this important topic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#931: In this episode I’m joined by Monty Moran, former Co-CEO of Chipotle. He joined them when they had 8 stores and left after there were over 2,500 and their valuation grew from a few million to $23 billion over his decade with the company. What is interesting is what he cites as the key to the success, and it came from one-on-one conversations with employees, and connecting the company mission, to theirs. He did this 20,000 times. It sounds altruistic, but look at Chipotle’s ridiculous success. In our businesses we are told to have a mission. A “why” as Simon Sinek teaches. Then communicate it to the employees. But do they really care? They care about their personal mission, and that is what Monty connected to. And this is what we discuss in this episode. It’s the crux of his book, with one of my favorite titles ever, “Love Is Free, Guac Is Extra,” which, this is cool, go to Loveisfree.com and buy the book and he’ll write whatever you want in it and send it to you. Monty lives up in Boulder Colorado and a few weeks ago while I was in Leadville on a getaway, he flew over and we had a 3.5 hour breakfast talking about ideas to change the world. He’s just a quality, enthusiastic, insightful guy and I’m so glad to bring his message to you right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#930: Even with the best intent we often find ourselves “telling and selling” to influence others. Whether it's to get someone interested in our product or service, trying to express our opinion and perspective on social media, or striving to get employees, coworkers, or our kids to do something. We convince and convince and convince and get frustrated with our lack of influence. In this episode I play a clip from Zig Ziglar where he schools us on giving up the convincing and instead, persuading. And how do you best persuade? By asking questions that help the listener lead themselves to the desired conclusion. This gives them ownership. I asked our audience, “What is a primary question you can ask people that lets them, and you, know if they are a relevant candidate for your product or service?” Tom Ziglar and I talk through the comments to further unveil the power of asking relevant questions to serve both you and whoever you are looking to...persuade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices