The Kevin Miller Podcast

Are you able to concentrate? Focus? Think critically and creatively? In episode #767 I brought you John Mark Comer and we discussed the profound message in his book, “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry.” An issue we discussed was the scattered attention caused by the massive distractions of today’s world. What with our electronic devices and social media, our attention spans are at an all time low. The consequences are, as John Mark cites, we are chipping away at our capacity for concentration and contemplation. This is our Habits show and I walked through the seven spokes on the Ziglar Wheel of life with John Mark. In the Career spoke he said a priority is fighting for deep work blocks. He is a pastor and writer, so that may not come as a shock to you. My question for us all is, who does NOT need deep work blocks? Or just blocks of deep time in general? Deep time to be at peace. To think critically and creatively. How much would your life benefit to stop and think deeply about any aspect of it? This and more in this show. You can find John Mark’s book at https://johnmarkcomer.com/ or wherever you buy books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Encouragement. Especially in a time of crisis, it is simply the difference between success and failure. Are you feeling encouraged? Are the “facts”, “reality”, and the latest statistics from the media directing your attitude and anxiety or are you holding fast to faith and truth and inspiration? This is a special edition episode with Tom Ziglar sharing a message straight from the heart of everything Ziglar stands for. Encouragement. Not pollyanna platitudes, but the true belief of those who will overcome. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As of this episode publishing in March, 2020, we are amidst the coronavirus epidemic. Much will be lost in small business during these coming weeks and possibly months. Not all will be salvaged. The greatest value will likely be how to insulate ourselves from future calamity and not taking the status quo for granted. I posted this question on Facebook, “Is your business being negatively impacted by the coronavirus?” Droves of responses from small business owners who are seeing a slight challenge, a decent decline, or full out catastrophe. I brought one of the best and brightest minds in small business on to co-host with me, Dan Miller of 48 Days To The Work You Love fame. Yes, my very own father. Brainstorming alternative solutions for business is an area of mastery for him. This was a very frank and candid conversation. As you will hear, with some businesses, the best bet is hunker down and wait it out right now. With others, we found options to diversify. Others have options to actually maximize offerings. For all of us however, the show and discussion highlighted how we can all prepare ourselves to withstand nearly any downturn.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Being positive instead of negative, we’ve all heard plenty about. But then we go about our days and our lives being...what? Are we really changing ourselves? As I often seek to do, I want to know the root. If we are dealing with any negativity, why? Where is it coming from? I’m not going to tell you, instead, I’m asking. I did ask, actually. I posted this question on Facebook, “Which of these are you most prone to struggle with? 1. Complaining, 2. Criticizing, 3. Gossiping, 4. Sarcasm. And about which? a. Other people, b. Circumstances, c. Yourself. Then, what do you think is the root cause? The responses are still coming in. The question was prompted by my recent show, #763, with Will Bowen, titled “Complaining is poisoning our success.” We’ve gotten great feedback on that show, I really encourage you to listen to it if you haven’t. Actually, it’s a great one to share with those you are closest with, as their complaining helps fuel your own. I had Tom Ziglar join me and we talked through many of your comments with the intent of helping us all understand why we have these feelings, so we can be aware and take steps to curb it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are all busy and we’re all in a hurry. Who just loves it? Who feels they are producing their best work while in such a harried state? Yet, who feels trapped by it? So now I’m going to give you some miracle, “seven steps” formula that sounds nice and shiny, but we all know...nothing is going to change, right?” But alas, there is no formula. It comes down to awareness of what is really driving us, and what we believe. I’m part of a prayer group of about a dozen men, all business owners with big audiences. One of them said we all had to get this book he was reading, titled, “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry.” I got the book. I read it. I contacted the publisher and said I wanted the author on The Ziglar Show with me. That...is what I bring you today. John Mark Comer. John's story is this...he was pastoring a successful megachurch in Portland, OR with six services each Sunday and a marathon lifestyle which left him feeling burnt out and detached from those around him. In a moment of desperation, he asked a mentor for advice. The response he received was this, “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life. There is nothing else.” From that was born John's new book, "In The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: Staying Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in Our Current Chaos." In this show we unpack the concept and what I found was this; an amazing case for me to change my paradigm and limit the hurry of my life. Why? Personal peace, for sure. But also...better production. I don't want to do a ton of good work. I want to do a smaller amount of truly great work. Just today I got word from someone else that they had read the book and it had significantly disrupted their life with this new perspective. But we go deeper too. I’d tell you we talked about the lifestyle of Jesus, except I’m concerned you’d discount it as I used to, in regards to...Jesus wasn’t married. He didn’t have kids or a mortgage. A 9-5 job. But then...he did have a scant three years to save the world before he was assassinated. It might be worth considering… This is a big show folks. You can connect with John at his website johnmarkcomer.com/ and of course find “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” wherever you buy books.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For all of you with a product or service: 1) Who is your specific customer, 2) What problem do you solve for them, and 3) How do you stand out from your competition? I’m sure you’ve heard messages around these topics before. But listen again. There is very little chance you are communicating these things well, as it’s very counterintuitive to how we think as business owners. We think of the benefit there is for people. Fulfilling a desire. I recently attended a business event with Pete Vargas’ Advance Your Reach organization and they pounded on this issue, “Who is your target market and what problem do you solve for them?” We often have products and services we feel can benefit people and we want to lead with a desire; look better, feel better, save time, save money, get a new home or car, and on and on. Yet people are much more led by and prone to respond to problem solving. Tom Ziglar has shared with us a study that 80% of the populace relates more to problem solving than goal setting, yet 95% of our marketing is goal oriented. So what I have for you in this show is a two minute clip from Zig Ziglar on this issue. We’ll listen to that, then I posted this question on Facebook, “For those with a product or service - who is your target customer and what specific problem do you solve for them?” We had a load of responses and Tom and I got through maybe half, and they were wonderful case studies. You’ll gain much from this! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So often in business start ups, and even in well established businesses, we make huge investments in giving people what we think and believe they want. We know we can help solve a problem or fulfill a desire. Over 20 years ago I invested over $50,000 in a business I knew solved a big problem. It legitimately did. It was not till the money was spent and the business fully launched that I found out, it wasn’t a solution people wanted. Today the problem still exists! But human nature and habit triumphs. In today’s show I bring back Will Bowen, my guest from show 763 where we discussed the psychology and power of...not complaining. And how pervasive this poisonous habit is in all of us. In this show we walk through Will’s personal habits, going through the seven spokes on the Ziglar Wheel of Life. In the career spoke Will cited his secret to success is simply finding out what people want and giving it to them! He listens to his fans and followers and gives them what they want. It’s obviously working. Will’s organization has handed out over 11 million purple, Complaint Free World bracelets, and over 3 million copies of his book, A Complaint Free World, have sold. You will enjoy this behind the scenes look at the daily habits Will employes to give him the success in life he’s experienced. I encourage you to take Will’s Complaint Free Challenge. You can engage like I have by going to acomplaintfreeworld.org and also find his book, A Complaint Free World, there or wherever you buy books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nothing changes till something changes. An oft quoted saying. But if you sit down right now and look at your life and where you want to progress or where you are dissatisfied, and take out pen and paper and ask yourself, “What needs to change?”, it really is profound. It’s always convicting to me to consider the cost if I don’t change something. Am I ok if nothing in my life changes over the next six month? This time next year, am I ok with the status quo? And yes, I do believe it’s healthy to find contentment in our present circumstances, this isn’t an exercise in ingratitude. But I think most people listening and surely for myself, feel the responsibility to be continually growing and refining ourselves. So what I have for you in this show is a two minute clip from Zig Ziglar on just this, making life changes for the better. From his message I posted this question on Facebook, “What is the most recent change you've made in your daily routine that has produced positive results in your life or the lives of others around you?” Many responses which we grouped in categories, I believe you’ll be inspired as you hear Tom Ziglar and I read and talk through them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You want more success and better fruition for your life. What you are about to have revealed is possibly your greatest, most detrimental bad habit. As English is the international business language, complaining is the international language we use in relationships with other humans. In this show I bring you Will Bowen, the founder and purveyor of an initiative called A Complaint Free World. You will hear why his fans include Maya Angelo and Oprah Winfrey and he’s been featured on The Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning, ABC Evening News and much more. 12 million of his purple “Complaint Free World” bracelets have been sent to people in over 106 countries. Your mind will be blown to realize how prevalent this divisive and destructive habit is in our culture, and in your own mouth. Following this revelation we will cover exactly why we and others complain so, so often. It is disheartening, but also convicting and something you can start reversing immediately. Not easily, mind you. But when you understand how your complaining is undermining your life you’ll understand why I now feel it’s quite possibly the number one thing we can address for our overall peace, joy, fulfillment, and life success. Will provides us with a methodology to decrease our complaining with a Complaint Free Challenge. You can engage like I have by going to acomplaintfreeworld.org and find his book, A Complaint Free World, there or wherever you buy books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I did not intend for this to be a show, it was just an honest question. But 52 comments later, it became a show. I simply asked this question on Facebook (agentkmiller), “I often ponder the spirit of my own industry of self-help and motivation. It seems the most popular style these days is someone who went from zero to hero and is full of self-confidence, trying to fervently appeal to their audience to adopt the self-confidence they have found and believe you should be able to tap into. Does it compel you? Does hearing someone adamantly and boldly appeal to you about how you can and should find your own confidence and power and success, as they have, inspire you?” Many cited other people’s stories of struggle and overcoming in fact, do, inspire them. But the spirit and tactic matters much. They want to hear “Here is where I was”, “Here is what I did”, and “Here is where I am now.” However an often missing part people care about is the struggle amidst it. The real, day-to-day ups and downs. Tom Ziglar joined me and we discussed how important it is to find a voice and guide you really resonate with and relate to. Not every success path is the right path for you. Along with this and just as important, this show will guide you in how you can best be portraying your story to those you desire to influence.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices