If this isn’t the big question…then what is, eh? And the answer IS…nobody can say but you. But today Gary Barkalow and I unpacked quite a few of the primary issues surrounding the question. Such as:

• When all your ducks are in a row. You have everything you need! So there is no need for faith and risk doesn’t exist.
• When God moves and makes it all happen for you. Then you get absolute certainty and again, no faith or risk.
• When you have no choice, such as getting fired. Then you can be reactive instead of proactive. There may be faith and risk but at least you aren’t liable for the decision to take them on, you’re just a victim…right?
• When your friends and family give you the green light! Hey, it could happen. And…monkeys could fly out of my…

We’re in a culture that is very averse to risk, stepping out on faith and…making big decisions. So your only safe bet is to stay put. But….

Questions:

1. Is where you are now sustainable? Will it be OK if it continues infinitely? If so, either submit to that, OR, look hard at why ‘bad’ and ‘mediocre’ is OK with you.
2. Is it more risky to change, or stay where you are? Can you afford NOT to change? Most folks look at any ‘change’ or decision and contemplate the risk. But they don’t ascertain the cost and risk of staying where they are.

Reality:

We often want all the resources and strength and understanding BEFORE we embark on the journey. Yet as my wise wife pointed out recently…it’s usually only DURING the journey that we are strengthened and equipped. Which means…you start off lacking. Truth or fiction?!

Gary gave a killer analogy of tunnels. The journey to ‘change’ is like a tunnel. We must leave the normal, the safe, the light we know…and go forth into the dark. And at some point we’ll leave the light we know and there will be dark behind, and in front of us. We must persever. Ultimately we’ll see a faint glow. Then light again…and it will get brighter as we leave the dark behind, and get immersed in more light than we’ve ever know.

So what will you do? Remain in your current, dim light? Or risk the dark for a brighter light? Sounds trite, but it’s truth.

For you readers…give your thoughts below.

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I posted this on the Free Agent Academy Facebook discussion page and received some incredible replies. You can see them below. If you want to hear the live show, the audio is at the bottom. But do yourself a favor and read the replies.

My experience in dealing with scores of people every day who are in traditional employment and want out, is the main differentiating factor and obstacle…is this:

When you are traditionally employed, much the same as when you are in the traditional school system, you

• Follow directions,
• Fulfill requests,
• Primarily do your part and aren’t liable for the end result
• Do…what you’re told,
• RESPOND to rules, requirements and expectations, if not downright demands and policy

Very conversly, when you are SELF-employed, you

Are fully responsible

THAT…is something most people have never encountered before. We go from school to j-o-b and just followed the directives. To think about waking up one morning and it’s all on us? THIS…is what most folks find overwhelming. It’s like having a baby at the hospital. They direct you for 24 or 48 hours and then send you home. You get in your car, strap the new baby in, and drive away. Then it hits you…”Oh crap…this kids is totally ours, totally in our care, we are 100% responsible! Isn’t there a manual or anything…?” And none of us are born as naturally perfect parents. We have to learn a ton.

On relevant thing to point out is before the Industrial Revolution the majority of the culture was primarily self-employed. They knew a trade that they offered to others. It was after the assembly line and big business that we became a primarily ‘employed’ society. Our grandparents or at least great-grandparents understood full responsibility for providing a product or service and being responsible for the primary decisions and responsibilities to the end user.

So…what do you do now? Transition. Find your viable idea and start it on the side and transition slowly. It’s like getting off life support so you can breath on your own. You were MADE to do it, it’s just gotta be relearned.

Here are the Facebook discussion page comments:

• Eric Haselhorst Being an employee, I can say there is a bit of comfort (albeit misguided) in being told what to do.

  February 15 at 2:03pm · Like

• 

  Thesa Bryant slavery and living out someone elses dream vs. free and living out your own dream. However, both have a variety of responsibilities that if you fail to be responsible as an employee; you are fired. If you fail in your responsibilities as an owner; your business potentially falls apart. Good choices reap success in both … typically you go farther in a self-employed situation (more sustainable).

  February 15 at 2:06pm · Like

• 

  Dallon Christensen The biggest difference is having the freedom to choose the projects you want to do instead of having the projects-and related deadlines, no matter how unreasonable-thrust upon you.

  February 15 at 2:08pm · Like

• 

  Peter Brissette Employees believe that they can just show up everyday and punch the clock and get a check. Someone who is self employed (whether that is full time on their own, or working for another company) recognizes that the opportunity to succeed or not is up to them. they realize that the “job” they have is there because they are the ones responsible to make it there. It is not given to them, they earn it, every single day. The only way to do that is to provide value to their customers (real customers, managers, fellow employees, etc.) But what most employee’s dont realize that they can most likely not realize their full potential until the leave the “protective and stable” environment of a job.

  February 15 at 2:19pm · Like

• 

  Marta Goertzen Sometimes there isn’t much of a difference! I am self-employed but have ended up creating a business where I am my own employee (working on changing that!). The main differences for me are 1) Who I report to, 2) What I am responsible for now, and the biggie 3) I also have the freedom to make changes, change direction and even change my mind, couldn’t ever do that as an employee in the corporate world.

  The desire for self-employment has been a desire for freedom and the doors it can open up. As a corp employee I was trapped and that freedom was elusive.

  February 15 at 2:27pm · Like ·  1

• 

  Jack Lynady For better and for worse, there’s more skin in the game when you are self-employed. It’s the difference between living on the frontier verses living in the city.

  February 15 at 2:31pm · Like ·  1

• 

  Tom Labuzienski Self employed are risk takers and leaders. Employees are followers with often times a false sense of security.

  February 15 at 2:33pm · Like

• 
  

  Free Agent Academy these are great…perfect…I’ll be reading them on the show in a moment

  February 15 at 2:48pm · Like

• 

  Will Laohoo I think it depends on the company culture and feel, but generally I agree with people’s comments on employees. There are some companies, though, that I think do a great job of empowering their employees to live out their callings. I’ve never worked for Dave Ramsey, but I’d imagine it’d be pretty awesome to work for his company.

  February 15 at 3:09pm · Like

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Today we talked with Joshua & Sarah Gordon of The NonConformist Family. They have just celebrated their 1-year anniversary of full-time free agency.

How did they get there…from traditional employment and doing the grind, to self-employment and living out their convictions for their family?

How did their marriage fare along the way? I’ll give you 3 hints on the culmination of the show:

• Invest in yourself
• Make sure you and your spouse are on the same page
• Commit…be ruthless on anything that is holding you back

Listen in as my bride Teri and I interview them on this splendid Valentines day.

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I’m not talking Swahili or Chinese. I mean a certain demographic of people who you know well. You know their lingo and the secret handshake and have understanding that only those who are kindred spirits would know.

I shared this on Facebook and got a lot of great comments. Some people shared areas of interest that really didn’t equate to our topic here, while some nailed it.

Examples: I have 7 kids, so I can speak the language of big families. I was a pro endurance athlete for over a decade, so I can speak their language. I built my house (general contracting and much of the actual labor) so I can talk shop with other homeowners who did so. Get the idea?

Example #2: I can’t connect well with folks in the big corporate world, I’ve never been in that. I can’t talk formal education, never spent a minute in it.

SO AGAIN: “Whose language can you speak fluently?”

The point…you may have a product or service that in an of itself is not dramatically unique or remarkable or new. But you can provide it to a target market whose language you speak, and THAT makes your offering remarkable.

Listen in for a lively show that involved nearly 50 people between the live audience and Facebook postings:

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So you have a great idea that you are passionate about, discovered how it’s valid in the marketplace and built a storefront to provide it to the world.

You’re ready for business!

But wait…where does that business come from? It comes from people who are listening to you. Who care about what you have to offer. Your ‘following’.

How do you get…a following?

My friend, professor at Free Agent Academy and founder of CoachRadio.tv, Justin Lukasavige and I tackled this topic with what we’ve found to be the most viable and efficient methods.

I’ll give you a big hint though…

If you’re looking for ‘list building’, this is not the show for you. That verbiage never crossed our lips. If you are comfortable with ‘relationship building’ however, listen on!

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This is the show recording from this blog “My boldest claim yet: This…is the biggest cause of failure”

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This may be my boldest claim to date, I’m either on to something, or I’m a fool. You judge.

Folks, if you are a washer and dryer repairman, then you probably have a good handle on the #1 reason for what causes failure in those machines.

I can’t claim much, but I do get to experience and participate in a LOT of people’s stories. Stories where they are trying to achieve something better, greater and of more worth. So in that…this is my observance of the #1 reason for failure. The #1 obstacle. The #1 hurdle and far too often, the #1 cause of abandonment.

I’m being so bold here with my claim, that I’m risking being a fool. That someone else will come along with a differing claim and prove me wrong. But you know, at worst, I still believe this vies for the top position, and has to be top 3.

This was hard, as I presented it to the attendees at the Free Agent Academy ‘Accelerator’ event this past weekend. To state a number one reason…was daunting. My first gut reaction was to say ‘faith’. That people didn’t have enough faith in themselves. True…but is that really it? I’ve seen lots of folks full of faith who never act on it. I finally bubbled up to…this.

So here goes…ready? First, watch this video. It was made to be funny…but it’s not:

Without further ado…my experience with people quitting and abandoning the pursuit of…well…anything counter-cultural, is:
PEER PRESSURE

That’s it, in my experience. The number one reason people to not follow through on their beliefs, values, convictions, desires, pains, faith…is peer pressure.

Over and over, even as people have stark revelations on themselves and what they really believe to be true and best and what should really be priority for their lives and even for their families, they most often abandon the effort due to the intense pressure they feel from a society that has accepted safety, security, comfort, comformity and convenience as the norm and the expected, responsible pursuit of life.

The flow of culture, the norm and accepted, is overpowering. I think it’s lost…it will never be corrected overall. Fast and processed food is here to stay. Obesity, illness and disease won’t curb it. Mass consumerism is here to stay, debt and enslavement to work to pay the bills won’t stop it. Lack of community is probably here to stay. Ultra-connectedness lacking intimacy, loneliness and isolation are here to stay.

Overall. Any individual can reject such things and lay claim to an alternative reality.

But few will. Why? Peer pressure. Two primary reasons make up the pull of peer pressure I believe:

1. We subconsciously believe in fellow man. We want to! I do to. But our ‘fellow man’  which establishes and comprises the ‘norm’. And what most people accept, we inherently will also. We want to trust. We want to follow. We want to do what’s easiest. We want to have faith in our leaders. We desperately desire to believe our personal care and wellness is a priority to others. I don’t want to be a downer, but I’m afraid the reality is…and your experience is…this isn’t the case.
2. We want to be accepted. Going against the flow is hard. It’s unpopular. We can find kindred spirits to bond together with, but we’ll still have a majority of people around us that are going and believing in a different direction. In most social gatherings where someone has made a feast and joyfully offers it, I end up saying, “OH…I’m so sorry. I’m one of those weird vegetarians.” I feel bad, and they often feel bad. That just…isn’t fun. It doesn’t make me feel proud or righteous, it feels like a pain in the butt. But…it’s my personal conviction (aside from the fact that though everyone else in my country seems to love meat, I didn’t even like it when I was a kid!).

These are not bad reasons, and they are human nature. But they just aren’t working. We have a culture run by big government and big corporations and big media that we have given over power too. It’s lost. It’s not a conspiracy I don’t believe (don’t want to believe!), just again, human nature to want, and want more. So profits and bottom lines have the power. We ALL complain and shake our fist at these big bullies, but we end up trusting the norm that they create and don’t put two and two together. The culture is and will continue to be in the grip of government, corporations and media.

But you are still free NOT to be in that grip. Most all those you know however, will be. And that…is what is hard.

So, what’s my point then? What do you do about it?

Just realize it. Don’t be upset by it. But don’t be ruled by it.

Want to be debt free? Then do as Ramsey says and “Live like nobody else, so you can live like nobody else”, which in his focus means “Don’t spend like everybody else, don’t be a consumer like everybody else, limit your spending like nobody else.”

Want to be fit and trim and vibrant? “Then eat and exercise like nobody else do you look and feel better than everybody else.”

Want to be free to live out your calling and be free to live out the priorities and values that you believe are best and true? “Then you must make some peace with being a freak. You must accept that you are choosing a different path than 99% of anyone you do, or ever will…know.”

Sounds harsh. And it may be exaggerated…I just don’t want to paint a rosy picture. The reality for me is that the majority of my relationships ARE with kindred freaks, but maybe I’m lucky. We enjoy a very alternative lifestyle together. But we work hard for it. We invest and sacrifice a lot. And we’ve made some peace with being out of place in this world. Much of it is glorious. Much of it is laborious.

But for you faith based folks, the concept of “Being in this world, but not of it.” Wouldn’t that relate to such things?

So, what do you think? Does this ring true for you?

Today I posted an offer on the Facebook discussion page to answer a few free agent questions. My bride Teri joined me and 40 folks in the live chatroom and video and we covered a lot of ground. Here are some of the questions:

“We are essentially running two businesses in one. A consignment clothing store and a silk-screening and embroidery shop all in one. I need to find a way to get some help with out hiring a full time person. Mainly because I can’t afford to hire a full time person. Any thoughts there? In all reality, if I had someone that I could send out artwork to, to be processed into silhouettes for making the silk screens, that would free up a lot of my time. I’m not that good of a graphic artist and doing any kind of editing/layering takes me forever. I enjoy it, I’m just not that good at it yet.”
- Chris Puckett

“How do you stand out amid all the clutter on the internet? And, along those same lines, how do you differentiate yourself from your influences? With my budding business (www.TheCallofMen.com), I am so passionate about those who have influenced me but I don’t want to just parrot them. How do I stand out?”
- Scott Moore

“I have an idea for a DVD to create. Others have products out there. I think that mine can be different, and I believe that I would bring community and a connection with the audience. Should I still move forward? (training / educational DVD on small business for children aged ~10 to 16)”
- Jason Vandehey

“Question for the show- didn’t want to post it on FB. How do you maintain hope for a future free agent life as you slosh through the present trying to get all the mundane things done? Would you leave my last name out of the show?”
-EG

Listen to the answers here!

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Some people get the perspective that I think the reality of self-employment is some kind of spiritual mecca. Those that are self-employed are ‘better’ or more worthy and righteous, or get closer to the right-hand of God himself!

And that those who are working jobs and traditionally employed are lessor.

That would be similar to saying a man is better because he has a pair of hiking boots and that the guy with flip-flops is inferior. That’s stupid. It really has little to do with the person.

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One shoe just enables you to get where the other won’t, and to more places. It’s that simple. Want to hike the Barr Trail to the top of Pikes Peak? 12 miles and 7,000 up with chance of snow any time of the year? Someone might be able to do it in flip flops. It will be slower, you might get frostbite, and you’ll definitely get some bloody toes.

The truth however is this – if all you have is flip flops, you’ll likely never even attempt the climb.

Self-employment is merely a vehicle, and in my opinion and experience, it’s the best vehicle to walk out your calling fully. It gives the necessary freedoms and flexibilities that enable you to live out your values and God-given desires of your heart. your convictions.

In this culture we live in today, the biggest circumstantial limiter I see is the J-O-B. It’s not marriage, kids, money or even health (thought that’s a close runner up).

The J-O-B takes up the most time, has the least flexibility and the most demands. Ultimately it just commands your primary time and attention. People’s main complaints seem to include limitations and infringements around:

• Time availability
• Creativity
• Responsibility
• Giftings and Talents
• Self-worth (either they feel squashed or they feel important due to the job. Both are limiting)
• Wealth
• Inspiration
• Priorities

Not every job, there are always exceptions. But most.

When you unpack the giftings/talents/skills/abilities/passions/values/beliefs that God created you with and that make up your personal calling, people generally testify that they must limit much of them due to their J-O-B.

I was fortunate to grow up in a free agent home where I got to see these things lived out fully. Unrestrained. The question is whether you believe that to be a luxury or a necessity.

After Teri and I had our first kids we did the 10 million dollar question (what would we do/how would we live/what would we live for, if money were not an issue), what did we believe in, how should life be, what and who did we want to be and for our kids…and saw, even in financial stress, that a job of any type would limit what we believed in, just as eating the average american diet limited our wellness and performance and ability. Just as living in an area that wasn’t big on our lifestyle limited us. Could have still done it, but not as fully.

Why do we readily limit ourselves? Why do we pawn off our core beliefs and convictions as narcissism and so easily accept a life of going through the motions? I think it’s a tool of the enemy to keep us down.

What do you think? Can you accept it or do you think it’s just an attempt to justify doing what we want?

That’s it, no punchline. Though I’ll say that pretty much anything of great value that you commit to will require you to be culturally unreasonable. Even…gasp…irresponsible (by society’s standards).

So my primary point is that you just accept this reality. Your charge is to find what you feel is right and true and best for your life. To seek God for your calling. And He won’t call you to anything reasonable that you can do alone. It won’t make sense to others.

Accept that. When you share what you are convicted in and committing to and you get disapproval and comments that you are being unreasonable and irresponsible and dreaming and a loon, just say…”Yeah, you’re right” And bid them adiu as they leave to go home to their conformist, mediocre and ‘reasonable’ lives hell-bent on safety, security and comfort. While you’re being unreasonable, they will be on their couches or in theater seats watching with rapt interest and emotion…people on a screen doing amazingly unreasonable things.

You can do the unreasonable, or spectate the unreasonable. Either way, our very souls can’t stomach a life of reason.

I’m preparing for this weekend’s Free Agent Academy ‘Accelerator’ event where we’ll have 30 very unreasonable people, making plans, creating strategies and next steps to achieve unreasonable lives of purpose and meaning and conviction.

I’m secretly hoping that one more person out there will have a fit of gigantic unreasonability and register in the next day or two. That person…will be my kind of person who I want to commune with (details by clicking the graphic on the right).

Teri and I unpacked this topic in today’s show, listen in here:

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This is a question I don’t enjoy. I understand the premise, but it doesn’t matter what the ‘best’ business opportunity is if it isn’t a good fit for you and who you are.

Be that as it may, as I see the array of business being started today and which are succeeding, and what the marketplace is demanding…this is what I see doing best and most in demand. Thanks to “Jason” in the live chat room I changed the title from ‘best’ to ‘most in demand’.

Is it product, franchise, service, something new, something better, technology, health & wellness?

Listen in for today’s show, and you only need listen for a few minutes to get the answer.

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Could your calling be totally out of the blue, totally out of context of who you are? Requiring you to be who you are NOT naturally?

OR…should it be the fullness of exactly who you are?

That’s the question I posed in our show that Calling guru Gary Barkalow and I discussed with the live audience.

Before you think you know the answer…what’s more important is regardless of what you think you know, how do you really act upon it?

I’ll cut to the chase and you can read more context below if you need it. Gary summed it up during the show with these truthful statements (I’ve paraphrased a tad, I’m not a great transcriptionist…):

“What the world needs is who you are…really. Fully. You calling does not involve becoming someone you’re not, but becoming more of who you really are!” Gary Barkalow

So then how about a formula for discovering your ‘Calling’ and applying it to your life? Cause just having an inkling or certainty of your calling is moot if you can’t apply it. And this is an epidemic. People seeking to understand their heart and calling and purpose…but not knowing how to tangibly apply it to their lives. What good does it do to discover your heart at a weekend conference, then go home and Monday morning your back to the same dead job? Nothing changes circumstantially. It sounds all grand and holy to change your attitude and perspective and be happy while you continue to wallow around in a pile of shite, but we’re generally called to also get out of the stuff!

Here is the magic formula…ready? In all seriousness:

Calling = Your God-given, inherent skills/abilities/giftings/talents + Your God-inspired desires of the heart/passions/convictions

Do you see that? It’s the convergence of your skills/abilities/giftings/talents and the desires of your  heart. To see a direct analogy, see the bullet point list on Moses down below.

So the idea that God may call you to something that nearly nauseates you to do, is totally incorrect. Now he will no doubt give you more than you can handle so you’re forced to rely on him, but he won’t call a duck to run or a horse to fly. He’ll call us to the FULLNESS of exactly how he made us.

On one hand that should be a breath of fresh air for many, as you’ve felt impassioned for a long time to pursue certain things, but you’ve questioned and doubted them because they are in your ‘self-interest’. I ultimately make my living doing this…writing. Inspiring. Communicating. Inciting to action and faith. And guess what I can’t help but do in most any situation? Seek to inspire, communicate, incite folks to act. Though for a long time I did not want to be the ‘main guy’ on stage. I did resist that. Not that I hate it, but I didn’t want to work that hard. I finally relented as I felt God’s urging. And in my work, there is plenty of it that I don’t get thrilled by. All the tech crap I have to deal with, finances…

Now there are also folks hearing this who it doesn’t help much, and it might be you. Why? Because you are not aware of your inherent skills/abilities/giftings/talents. You may know some TASKS that you are good at, but that’s missing it. My oldest son has a natural adeptness and joy with math. He hates to read. My oldest daughter can’t get her nose out of books, is incredibly intuitive and loathes anything to do with numbers. These are big manifestations of how God uniquely made them and my job is to encourage them where they are strongest.

Also, when we speak of ‘desires of the heart’, how many of you feel…empty? You don’t know. All you can come up with is some things that are fun? Golfing, watching movies, eating chocolate. These are pleasures, not God-inspired desires of the heart, which will ultimately come to helping and serving mankind in some way.

If you are feeling a void in some of these areas…you just have more work to do in pressing in to uncover what has been lost or never discovered. You. But that can be done.

Last…does everyone’s calling culminate in some grand, spiritual, humanitarian endeavor at the forefront? You must become a pastor, missionary, doctor, politician, teacher, etc…?

NO.

I shared on the show about a friend who owns a local restaurant. Most every other restaurant in town is run by a ‘business person’ who is involved at various levels and focused on gererating a profit by providing food. My buddy however, has his home across the parking lot from the restaurant. The place is doing well, it doesn’t need his involvement so much. However, you’ll rarely go in when he’s not there. And every time the door opens and that little bell jingles, he looks up to see who it is, and walks over to greet them. Most he greets by name and immediately engages them in conversation. If he doesn’t know them, he introduces himself and gets to know them. Why? It’s who he is. He loves hosting and serving people and making them feel comfortable, welcomed and cared for. If you’re feeling down, just visit the place and you’ll leave feeling like you matter.

THAT…is a calling. He makes a great living, but he’s there to care for people and feels grateful and honored to earn money at the same time. It’s still work, but he is in his ‘glory’ as Gary would say. Wouldn’t you rather eat there than somewhere where you are merely a dollar?

What could you work at that would engage you full time in your glory? Folks, this is not a luxury, it’s your responsibility. Want more on that…read the story of Moses below. Here then is the show replay:

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Do we see a theme of ability and desire of the heart here?

So when God ‘calls’ Moses to approach Pharaoh and lead the Israelites to freedom, is it out of the blue and out of context to Moses? Or did God look down and pick out the one person on the planet best equipped (by God) in physical and intellectual ability and hearts desire?

It doesn’t mean Moses had a dream to be leader of the Israelites, or that he longed to be a speaker. But the calling fit his conviction and ability tremendously.

The question again then is…would your calling be some out of the blue, out of context directive? Or simply the sum of, or an opportunity where your inherent skills, abilities, gifting and talents meet the desires of your heart? As with Moses?

When we get more clarity on both, we’ll likely find an opportunity and ‘calling’. Furthermore, if you don’t have clarity on your natural abilities and heart, and haven’t spent time honing and strengthening them, would God even reveal your calling? Or if He does reveal it early on, are you automatically equipped to tackle it, or must you grow yourself first?

And last, what happened when Moses questioned God in this calling? Ex. 4:14 God got angry.

Uh…nope.

But you could firmly establish a new path that would. Over time and with hard work. And if…you have people who will help guide you and encourage you and keep you accountable. Imaging joining a health club where not only did they have all the needed equipment and a bevy of specialized, personal trainers…but you got to know the other members and they participated in encouraging, helping and spurring you on?

I don’t know a health club like that, but I know a community focused on discovering your personal calling and living it out in a thriving business that you own.

The hardest part is you believing you really should attempt this and that you could really do it. The best I can offer is that I can help point you to someone with less ability and harder circumstances that HAS made it happen. That’s not to shame you, but to empower you. I tell myself that a lot when I have doubts. “Somebody else who had it harder, did it. Buck up buddy.”

The reason all the hype promised by programs and conferences and seminars is so hard to believe, is because…it’s not true. Nobody or nothing can “Change their life!” in a day or a weekend. It takes time. And at anything else you’ve experienced, whatever great equipping you might get, you’re left on your own to implement it. That seldom works either. You need ongoing help.

The questions that are probably haunting you are,

• “When will be the right time?”
• “When will there be extra time and/or money availability to pursue something?”
• “What will give me confidence that it’s the right decision to go after?”
• “Do I have a right to expect or want more?”

The answers do not really exist. It’s like trying to come to grips with jumping off a high cliff into a lake. Other folks, young and old are doing it, so you know you won’t die. But it’s still scary. You can’t come to a point of absolute peace and confidence. And you won’t. You just ultimately do it. Or not.

The best resource I can offer you for discovering and walking out your calling through a business idea is our event that happens in 14 days. Jason G. from Oregon just registered today for the event and membership in Free Agent Academy. I don’t know him, but he was referred by a past member.

This event is not in an easy airport hub city.

It’s 45 minutes west of Colorado Springs, up past Pikes Peak at 8,500′ above sea level. Most attendees carpool together to share car rental fees. I just bought a passenger van, I might have someone pick a bunch of you up in it.

It’s winter here. Could be sunny and near short sleeves weather, could be a blizzard and zero degrees.

You just spent too much money over Christmas, as well as wearing yourself out and still feel like you’re in recovery mode.

It’s not cheap to attend. You’ll have the personal attention of 9 Professors for 3 days, each of whom charges upwards of $200 per hour for consulting. That costs.

You won’t be pampered. Granted, we have really great food, fresh roasted coffee (by my daughter Autumn!), nice wine, raging fireplaces and the setting is all woods and natural logs. But it’s a lodge with the basics, not the Hilton with a $1,000 bedspread and pillow set up. Bring your long johns.

What that adds up to though, is a killer group of committed people. Nobody just trying. They are in. All in. It’s what makes our Professors so committed, they know they are investing in a die hard crew and we’ll get to know each other deeply and possibly become friends for life.

As of today, out of all the attendees registered, we have eight couples, an all-time high!

So there you have it. Travel options will start costing more in the ensuing days unless your driving.

Review the event info page. Watch my quick intro video at the top and some of the others on the right side.

I’d love to see you face to face, embrace you and become a part of your story.

- Jan. 27-29, 2012 Free Agent Academy ‘Accelerator’ Event in Colorado

Is it hard? Yes. Will you have to think and dig deep into yourself? Absolutely. Will everyone rally around and support you? Definitely. If you are up to it, it is the best way to find out who you are from people who have gone before. All the leaders have made mistakes, had successes, and are there to help you succeed in what you want to accomplish.

David T., September 2011 Event Attendee

Leading up to today’s show, I struggled with what to focus on. I am never at a loss for relevant content, that wasn’t the problem. It was just getting to brass tacks on what mattered.

Here’s the deal. We all spend most of our time reacting to our schedule and it’s demands:

• work
• family
• home

Basically, the ‘have to’ things of our lives. Much, maybe most of it…is good stuff! But the point is our lives are filled with these ‘have to’ tasks. That’s what commands our time. Not a lot of decisions to be made, just things to take care of, right?

Then there is this ‘other world’ of things we know would be good to do. Things that would make like better, healthier, more meaningful. Maybe even…epic.

The problem is those things will NEVER be literal ‘have tos’ or musts. They will forever be optional, in the face of what HAS to happen to exist. I have to pay the electric bill. I have to get new brakes for the car. I have to change a diaper and school the kids and make dinner.

So you have a whole sea of people that includes me, pastors, speakers, authors, oaches/counselors/consultants and various other guides (I prefer guides over leaders, just a personal thing).

They they (we) are trying to get you to do something that is not, and never will be, a ‘have to’. Things like:

• losing weight or getting fit
• deepening your faith
• making your marriage a romance instead of a partnership
• having a true, worthwhile adventure
• making lifetime memories
• becoming self-employed, creating wealth, living a legacy

And what I believe, is that we can’t really sell you on committing to those things. You’re going to buy toilet paper no matter what. It’s an absolute have to. So if I have a brand to offer, I surely might be able to sell you on it.

But membership in a school to discover your personal calling and create a revenue generating business that gives you freedom to walk out that calling? I can’t sell you on that. You’ll ultimately sell yourself, or not. You’ll only do it, or any of those great, but non-have-to endeavors I listed above, when you get to the point of believing you should.

Until then, I and all the other purveyors can only fan your flame.

We can drone on and on. Seldom does any one message just strike the heart of the audience and make them take action in droves on a non-have-to. We just keep in touch to fan the flame and keep your attention until you do one of two things:

1. Ditch it
2. Finally believe you should and you can

Now I’m not going to dive further into this issue, but we discussed it in the show below. With the ‘have to’ items, there is a tangible, and often harsh consequence if you don’t do them. Don’t work? You don’t make money. No money, you can’t pay your electric bill and your family freezes to death. So, you commit no matter what.

But with these non-have-to issues? If you don’t do them, or start and quit…no real tangible consequence. Sure, you don’t get the benefit. But that’s a longterm, ‘softer’ consequence. At least next to no electricity.

So my point? I’m not sure I can make one. Maybe just to state that I have little power here. I’ll try to convince you that you in fact, CAN do this. I’ll brick by brick try to take down the walls that you see keeping you from this better thing, but a non-have-to thing.

When you decide to believe you should commit, is in your court. Till then, I’m here for you.

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In today’s show, my bride Teri joined me (www.StumblingAroundInTheLight.com). She’s seen the worst and best of free agency. From my main critic, to my main supporter.

We kicked the show off talking about yesterday’s blog, and the immense power of what those closest to us think about us. How their lack of encouragement, if not outright criticism, can cripple us. How do you, must you…deal with it.

Then of course we hit the biggie, your spouse. It’s a different game there. So check out the video, or the audio, whatever your flavor. If both are too long, then just read the blog, “Why your friends and family can’t support your free agency”

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This was posted just a bit ago in our Free Agent Academy member’s community:

“While visiting family over Christmas, I found that even though my father ran his own, very successful business until he retired, most of my family is not that supportive of free agency.  When I talked about this community and class [FAA], I got “that look” – like I was crazy for thinking of going down “that road”. I need encouragement that “that road” doesn’t end in disaster. Any one else face that kind of “helpful comments” from family?” – Eric G.

Here then, is the bottom line reason “Why your friends and family can’t support your free agency”:

Because you’re a threat. Everyone’s going along in the flow, and here you are having the audacity to try and jump out. If you actually achieve something substantial, those closest to you can NOT discount you like they can someone they aren’t closely associated with.

And actually, you don’t even have to arrive at any success to be a threat. Just the very fact that you 1) Desire something more, and 2) Start going after it, is threat enough.

If someone who isn’t close to them goes after and achieves something substantial, they can subconsciously (if not blatantly) discount them and escape feeling inadequate for not doing it themselves. They can assume the person had a lucky break, a leg-up that is not realistic for most, or something that adequately discounts their efforts and achievement in comparison with themselves.

But YOU. You are one of them. They may love you and desire good for you. But it’s not about you, it’s about THEM. They know you and can’t discount you. If you do something extraordinary, it leaves them nowhere to go but realizing and facing their own inadequacies and/or failure to act. Not that they are any less competent (they aren’t), but they aren’t doing anything, and you are. What gall you have! Guilt and admitted apathy are now looking them square in the face.

So what do you do? First, realize that their lack of support and discouragement are not about you. It’s about them, and it’s very emotional and serious. Nobody wants to face the truth of their weakness or lack. Have compassion for them.

But second and more importantly, realize the above reality so you can rise above it. Today, for 99.9% of you, what those closest to you say about you, you believe more than what others not as close may say. If I tell you “You can do it!” you may smile and be thankful, but you can easily discount me too. I don’t know you. And when friends and family say, “Hey, watch out. Don’t get your hopes up. Think about your responsibilities…” it hits you hard. Because…they know you. Or they think they do, and you think they do.

People like me, who may not be as close to you, don’t easily say “You can do it!” because we don’t know you. We say it because we know we’re nothing special. And we see other yahoos who don’t know crap from Shinola, achieving substantial things, partially cause they don’t know any better than to think they CAN do it. And they don’t listen to, or even share, with unwise counsel (read more on this below).

Want to lose weight? Don’t share and seek counsel from your fat friends and family. Go get it from someone who was fat, and is now thin.

Want to get out of debt? Don’t talk to your high-consumer, debt ridden friends and family. Go talk with someone who was in debt, and now is debt free.

Want to escape from the shackles of traditional employment so you are free live out your personal calling and convictions and values? Don’t talk about it with your friends and family who have no concept, care or mind to, and are enslaved to the flow. Get counsel from those that have done it and are actively doing it.

As a matter of fact, part of your responsibility is to achieve free agency for the sake of…your friends and family. As you grow in inspiration and purpose and freedom, you will draw and inspire them to it. Those who rebuked you, will become your fans and followers. Or, they will distance themselves from you because they can’t swallow their own weaknesses staring them in the face. You’ll have to weather that, and I’m sorry.

The only way to stay safe though…is to stay put. And listen to the naysayers. Make your choice.

You’re here reading this because your Creator has put certain desires on your heart. Trust Him. Obey him by doing this, “A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.” (Proverbs 1:5). If you have any friends and family members who are radically striving for God’s purpose in their lives and are successfully self-employed doing something they believe in and are passionate about, then by all means, seek them for wise counsel on pursuing your calling and free agency. If not however, love them. But don’t go to them for ‘wise counsel’ on something they know nothing of.

Knowing you and what is possible, is not knowing your normal and the world’s normal. It’s knowing the world’s truthful possibilities and your truthful possibilities.

If you needed brain surgery, would you consult your friends and family for wise counsel on treatment? Or a brain surgeon?

You are discontent with your vocational life, which shapes your life overall. What is going to change it? Will ‘something happen’, or will it drone on until you are forced to react? I keep saying this cause I keep seeing it, “The great outcomes don’t come to those who are gifted or lucky. Just those who do the work.” It would be like seeing some muscled up guy and saying, “Wow! How lucky you are to have such a naturally good physique.” He’d look at you like freak and say, “Uh…I just go to the gym everyday and lift weights and watch what I eat.”

Application form is back up!

Looks like we had about 40 hours where our questionnaire/application was down and we didn’t know it. Michael M. from TX finally called this afternoon and let us know (thank you!) and it’s fixed. My apologies…here I am telling everyone to go there to inquire about FAA membership or the event, and it wasn’t working. I wondered why we had a lull when it had been so busy:

http://freeagentacademy.com/apply

If anything is going to change, you’ll…just…have…to…do…something. And you know what, it’s not really 1) taking action that is the issue. Taking action is just the result of 2) making a decision‘. And making a decision is a result of either 3) confidence or motivation. Meaning, we make a decision to DO based on confidence that it’s best and right and will work, or on motivation for a result, which can often override confidence or logic (falling in love is not a product of ‘logic’).

September 2011 Event Group

On Jan. 27-29 we’ll be gathering at 8’500 above sea level in the Rocky Mountains to work on personal calling and self-employment. All 8 of our professors will be there, plus myself and the world’s best biz coach, Chuck Bowen, who has coached most of our professors! There will be very little in the way of presentations and teaching. You can get that in our online membership. Heck, you can watch presentations all you want from your couch online. This event is about guided work. Progress. Hands-on. What you can’t do alone or remotely.

Still, if you’re like me, the first thing you’re mind will do is discount it. There are no doubt huge reasons that it doesn’t make sense. Not enough time, not enough money are at the top. But it’s really not true. If you had a close family member die and the funeral was cross country in three days, chances are you’d do what it took to be there. You’ll think that an unfair comparison, but the point is that we make it happen when something is of value enough.

So not considering this event (or even membership in Free Agent Academy) boils down to you not having enough faith in it. Not enough confidence to make a decision and thus…act. Or not enough motivation in changing your life. You’ve probably been to conferences and seminars, or heard from others who have. Lots of excitement and fun and inspiration and motivation…that weeks or months later, really didn’t change things all that much. True? Same with me. And all the notes and materials collect dust on the shelf. I recently helped start a big bonfire on our property with old conference materials.

Which is why our event wouldn’t work for you either…if it was a stand alone event like others. Nothing significant happens from a one-shot deal. Here is the deal, with this event:

• Personal Audit: You do a personal audit and submit it to us before the event so we know your status and you can hit the ground running when you get here.
• Workshop: You are working here. But the guru guides are with you, as are your peers. Working together, answering questions, giving insight.
• Intimacy: See the picture, we keep events to about 30 folks. That’s the only way we can get to really know you, you get to know us, and you make some deep relationships with others.
• Inspiration: We don’t host the event high up in the Rockies just cause it’s convenient for me (7 miles from my home, which IS handy), but because it’s inspiring and memorable. It will lift you and stick with you. Much more than a hotel conference room, 1,000 people and pyrotechnics. Nice show, little longterm impact.
• then the biggie - Continuing Together: This is what makes our events unlike any other. You don’t leave and get left alone to do it all. You go right into your course work in Free Agent Academy, continuing to work with the same Professors and fellow members that you were at the event now. The event is merely what it says…and Accelerator and catalyst. It also takes the pressure off of you to have some unrealistic, supernatural, arrival by event in…you keep your momentum and continue in the following days and weeks and months. Many attendees are still fervently working and corresponding together in our member’s community from the airport as they prepare to fly out!

On that note, we of course always guarantee the results. If you did not get the value you expected for your registration fee, simply state what it was worth, and we’ll refund the difference…down to zero.

So does this help your confidence? If so, are you really motivated enough? Or are you OK with things continuing as they are indefinitely?

1. Big decision and investment: Free Agent Academy “Accelerator” event, January 27-29, 2012 in Colorado
2. Lesser decision and investment: Free Agent Academy membership – Registration / Application

Meet our most recent registrants and new members since the first of the year. You may find something in common:

• Sid L., Englewood, CO – quit his job in corporate America to pursue free agency, business idea is a slow food related business bringing local Colorado farmers and ranchers together in one location (sort of a virtual farmer’s market), married with 2 sons.
• Bruce V. (Registered for the ‘Accelerator’ even too!), Findlay, OH – private care provider for mom and brother, wants to start life coaching.
• William M., Greeley, CO – currently unemployed and ‘no idea’ what biz to pursue. Married with one daughter.
• Angela B., Naples, FL – works as an Accounts Payable clerk for Habitat for Humanity, would like to work with teens, maybe something with home schooling or an adventure experience, serious boyfriend
• Jarrod N., Woodland Park, CO, has a traditional job and ‘can’t stand it anymore’. “All I am is a number and my employer could care less about me or my family. I don’t have a solid idea yet and am hoping to have FAA help me narrow that down.” Married with 2 kids
• Kimberly A., Leavenworth, KS – rejoined! Single Parent Entreprenuers, Single Mom ministry….and a few other ideas I am mulling around.
• Christine K., Lincoln, NE (Registered for the ‘Accelerator’ even too! w/husband) – Married
• Karena K., Jacksonville, FL - Currently doing web and graphic design. Idea is to build on that with a community based website/blog focused on living full receptive lives.” Married.
• Corina M., Pittsboro, IN - Doesn’t have a specific idea at this time. “I may be interested in something which involves nutrition, fitness, and children/teens and how they can live a healthy lifestyle.”

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It really just depends what we want in the end. What our goal is.

If it’s a nice job, great money, good perks, nice people, interesting projects…then Deb Ingino arrived long ago. $500 million dollar company, executive position, New York City…all the trappings.

The American Dream! What’s not to like?

Well, that’s the point then, isn’t it? Is the goal of our life to get everything to where we ‘like’ it? Comfort, security, safety, happiness and money to afford anything you want?

Or is there something else? Notice I didn’t say ‘something more’, as I don’t think those things have much value. If you get them, good for you.

But where is:

• Purpose
• Calling
• Meaning
• Value
• Conviction
• Heart
• Fervor
• Service
• Devotion

Just stuff we watch in movies with pretending actors? Or stuff we read in history before seeking our own kingdoms overcame seeking THE Kingdom and saving others? Just optional luxuries for the lucky and the rest of us are just filler in the world? Peasants? That doesn’t quite line up with my Bible…

You don’t have to listen to guess what happens. Deb walked away. Jan. 1, 2012 she announced her full-time free agency. She’s now devoting herself completely to the calling she can’t escape.

Listen and let your faith and conviction grow that you’re settling for second best.

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Of course you’ll expect us to say yes…but there is more to it than that. I was joined by planning guru James Woosley, a professor of our 5th course in Free Agent Academy, “Roadmap”, founder of Woosley Coaching and a guy I’m proud to call…friend.

We talked about the reality of how and why we must plan if we’re going to realize anything of value. But it differs significantly based on your personal style, with James and I being very different…he plans to much, I plan to little.

Over 30  folks joined us in the live chat and video and gave some great feedback on the realities of ‘planning’. Listen in below for a show what will help and convict you to know what you’re going after and take action.

*At the outset of the show I got to announce 7 new members to Free Agent Academy, two of whom signed up for the January 27-29 ‘Accelerator’ event out here in Colorado. Time is ticking down to get a slot at the event, and get decent travel rates. James will be there in person to help you plan out your steps!

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A new member recently emailed me, sharing some frustration and doubt. One line was the foundation, here it is:

It’s probably man’s universal question, “Do I have it within me to do this?” I am hoping Free Agent Academy will help me answer this.

I replied that yes, FAA can help. In all humility, I don’t know of a better resource. The main key is ‘help’ though. It can’t do it for you. We inherently know that nothing can “do it for us”, but in many ways, that’s what we all want. A zillion folks will join health clubs after Jan. 1, hoping the latest strategy will help make it happen for them. The common phrase is “I hope this works!” But of course that perspective is doomed for failure. The core issue is, “I hope I work!”

The question of “Do you have what it takes” is absolutely the biggie.  I can’t minimize this one. The thing is…you do. In all honesty. It’s possible within your intellect and ability, IF you commit to it. Make sacrifices and take risks. Read that again…commit, make sacrifices and take risks.

No different than running a marathon in less than 4 hours. Losing 100lbs over 2 years. Gaining 10lbs of muscle in a year. Climbing Mt. Everest. Radically changing your diet. Revamping your marital relationship. All big things, all possible. But all very, very hard. Only a small percentage of people accomplish such things.

Do we chalk such people up as “having what it takes”, and therefore saying others do NOT have what it takes? Or did those folks of average ability merely commit/sacrifice/risk and…DO what it takes?

If you haven’t read Malcolm Gladwell’s book “Outliers”, you might check it out. Ultimately it dispels the myth that those of great fame and fortune and expertise were made of anything special. Bottom line, they just stuck with something and did the work. 10,000 hours approximately. So again, they didn’t ‘have’ what it takes. They just ‘did’ what it takes.

I actually haven’t read the book, but I saw Frans Johansson, author of The Medici Effect, speak. His premise was very similar, stating that successful entrepreneurs just “tried more things.”

We are all drawn to the supernatural and the amazing. We love movies where, for no specific reason, someone has a special power. Nice story, but totally make believe. It just feeds our desire for the easy way out. A magic pill instead of hard work. We want to stumble upon some massive skill we possess that was hidden, and all of the sudden we are capable of gargantuan deeds.

I’m so sorry, but it just doesn’t happen. You find where you have some natural gifting and talents, then work your butt completely off to grow  them to a point where you are fairly remarkable in them.

You know, you can look at it a few ways:

1. Motivational – “Everyone has a special power within them!”
2. Faithful – “All things are possible through God who strengthens us.”
3. Realist – “Everyone’s basically the same and some commit and do the work, some don’t.”

As faithful as I am toward my God and Creator, we’re not talking rocket science and miracles here with self-employment. You’re simply finding something you can do to provide value to others, that you enjoy, and making money at it.

It’s basically just hard work. It’s harder to make decisions than take orders, and that’s the primary difference between being traditionally employed and being self-employed. But ultimately the tide shifts. Once you have a business launched, making money and sustainable, you realize that it would be far, far harder to submit your freedoms and values to an employer than having control over them yourself.

True story, yesterday during devotions with my three oldest kids, we got on the topic of earning money, as my oldest son wants more in order to buy some things. He’s made money so far by creating aspen wood candles, lamps, coasters, bird houses and lately, just art. He said at some point, “It would be easier to just do something hourly and have someone pay me.” Not what I would want to hear of course, but I understand. He’s 16 and would rather not work at all! So we talked about options. To make a long story short, he wants to do something he enjoys, on his own time table, making far more than minimum wage like his peers flipping burgers, and really just wants to do it from home.

I didn’t have to say much. He quickly surmised that he’d better start wood working and asked me to help him get his website finished. Hard work, but he sees it would be much harder to give up his freedoms and joys. (pictured is a ‘cross’ he gave to my wife and me for Christmas. I posted it on Facebook and my buddy John Bergquist recognized it as a ‘river tooth’. See the conversation here)

Please realize that being self-employed isn’t magic or for the brilliant or gifted. It’s what most people used to be! We’ve simply left the time of making decisions on our own and being fully responsible for the results we do or don’t produce. We take orders and follow the rules in grade school and get a report card. We take orders and follow the rules in college and get a degree. We take orders and follow the rules in a job and get a check. None of it is based on getting real world results. NONE OF IT.

You can do it. All you have to do is work hard. Harder than ever at first. Sacrifice many of your comforts, at least at first (later you’ll get to enjoy more than you ever would being traditionally employed). Take some risks (blasphemy in today’s culture).

And employ something else that is entirely rare. True faith. Faith in your values and convictions and the desires that God uniquely placed within you.

On this New Years…here’s to you. My gift. You…have what it takes. Now, go DO what it takes.

Kevin

Friends,

So I can be a bit intense and serious about life, and that side of me is what I most often showcase in my communications. But my family and those who know me closely will testify that I can be plenty Merry. But probably not enough.

And here is what I’ve learned from my blessed wife and seven dear children when it comes to memorable events -they’d most like me to chill out, don’t always be so deep, don’t worry about big presents, let go of ‘teachable moments’ and just BE…Merry!

Definition of Merry

1. : giving pleasure : delightful
2. : full of gaiety or high spirits : mirthful
3. : marked by festivity or gaiety

We’ll be celebrating advent. Focusing on the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ in a big way. Downplaying presents for the most part.

But…my quest will be to embody Merriment. THAT is the gift my family wants. Food, drink, games, play, laughter, hugs, sledding.

Join me? We’ll be accountable to each other.

So on that note, I wish you a truly, blessed, abundant, peaceful and extravagantly MERRY Christmas with those you love.

Yours,
(from left to right) Eliza, Canyon, Ian, Serene, Teri, Autumn, Kevin, Caleb, Nekoda

There are two types of people:

1. Those who don’t question life and just go with the flow, accepting whatever they are given,
2. Those who DO question life, and make attempts to get out the flow and struggle with accepting what’s offered.

If you are listening or reading this, I assume you are the later.

Our primary premise here is free agency. The seeking of one’s personal calling, and a vocational opportunity that engages you full time in that calling. Further, a vocation that you own, so as to have control of your time, freedom heart, beliefs and values.

I’ll come back to that.

But while I’ve got you now, and Christmas is neigh, I want to showcase another area where the flow has taken us away…

First, I adore Christmas. Music, festivities, fun. I think Jesus would have fun at my house like he did with the other sinners, enjoying food and drink.

But I do care about realities, and what doesn’t seem to be working.

I know lots of people who like the idea of Christmas, but in truth, it’s just a burden an already overloaded schedule and budget.

Let’s look at two focal points:

Christmas – It’s about the birth of Christ, check it out on Wikipedia

St. Nicholas – This is the one that was of interest to me here. So I read a short story on the show. You can hear it in the audio below. But the point ultimately, is that a guy gave presents to the poor and inspired others to. Then somewhere along the way, we just started giving gifts to each other and slowly forgot the point.

So here we are killing ourselves to buy a bunch of stuff nobody needs. Staying up late nights buying stuff online, burning gas to run all over creation and shop, and maxing out our finances and probably going into debt.

Isn’t it amazing how over time, we get so skewed?

I’m not harping on the fact that we miss the reason for the season, Christ. Or even that we gloss over the poor and just trade affluence with each other. I’m mainly looking at the fruit…or lack thereof. We do all this stuff and there is little joy, if not outright loathing.

Reminds me of work and culture.

We used to live in community. Sharing, serving, being. What mattered is who you WERE. What you did to make money or raise your own sustenance was not all that relevant. What mattered is who you were in the community. How you served and loved. And seeking new horizons, seeking God, seeking truth, seeking adventure and new territory were lauded.

Somewhere along the way (the industrial revolution had a lot to do with it) we traded who we were, for what we did.  Or we traded both for what we could have.

Nothing against Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple who recently died. I’m sure he was a good guy and had some humanitarian interests. But he’s been revered in our culture like Martin Luther King. Jobs seemed to have devoted his life primarily to providing us tech gadgets. I enjoy them plenty! But to revere him like Martin Luther King who devoted his entire being to people’s freedom, and was even martyred for it. Nothing against Steve Jobs, but I cringe when our heros are now business men and no longer epic humanitarians. Can anyone name a marquee, life long humanitarian in the past decade? Someone who truly fought for truth and goodness? Someone like…Saint Nicholas?

So here we are. Here I am. Am I what I do? Am I what I have? Or am I…who I am to others? How about you? Are you giving to the poor, the needy? Or are you just trading affluence and abundance around with others? Are you devoting your life to people, or to your own small world, status and comfort?

I’m surely not a saint. And my ego and flesh runneth over. Here in my home we’ll enjoy some non-necessary presents. And I haven’t gone to bed before midnight for many days. We’ll overeat. It’s not all bad. Jesus turned the water into wine, eh? Not healthy, herbal tea.

But how far do we go? Something to think about.

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2011 is ending. If 2012 is really, truly going to be any different, big change will have to happen. Which means…big decisions on your part.

What will you add, what will you subtract? What investment will you have to make? What sacrifice will have to happen? What risk and faith must you accept?

What will you have to intentionally take action on?

Listen in to today’s show, it’s only 20 minutes. This topic comes right from what my wife Teri and I are discussing (sometimes heatedly) right now in our lives.

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A classic Christmas movie, “Scrooge.” My favorite was given to me by my great friend Scott Stearman (check out his amazing bronze sculptures here). It’s the one starring Albert Finney.

Here is the line that most impacts me. It’s said by his girlfriend, when he was young, and she was falling OUT of love with him, ”All your nobler dreams that I loved I’ve seen die off, one by one, until only the desire for gain is left.”

The story of Scrooge is not that he didn’t like Christmas and came to love it. It’s that he didn’t like life, and came to love it.

You may think you’re not Scrooge because you actually like Christmas. But what about life? Are you like he is at the end of the movie? Full of joy, happiness, exuberance, gratefulness, giving and sharing wildly from your abundance?

If not…why? Have you let your nobler dreams die? You may not feel you did so out of a pure desire for gain…for money. But it’s probably not too far removed. The passions of your heart that you’ve set aside or never fully even realized, are probably superceded by work. Paying the mortgage and car payments and the latest iPhone.

What would your life show if you were videotaped for a month, that you’re most devoted to? Your noble dreams (desires of the heart, convictions, hopes, values, legacies, caring for others, your faith), or…the desire for gain (money, security, possessions, safety, comfort, investments, savings).

So what do you do about it? Honestly, WHAT is the wrong question. What will just lead you to some tasks that you won’t follow through with because you haven’t gotten concrete on the WHY.

The why, is the biggie. The foundation. The rudder. The fuel. And it is…having faith in your ‘nobler dreams.’ Which I like to define as ‘convictions’ and ‘values’ and ‘core beliefs.’

And here is the deal, you will likely never be able to put enough faith into those nobler dreams, unless you start running with a different crowd.

My wife and I didn’t fully have faith we could build a house. That we could design it, be the general contractors and literally pound in nails and lift joists. But when we surrounded ourselves with homeowners who had done it and various subcontractors who could do it, we were able to fully commit. And that’s what made it come to be (that’s it on the right, our straw bale cabin in the woods).

So right now. There you are. Feeling called to more. Better. Truer. But alone. It’s hard to believe and make big decisions based on just your own head and heart.

What’s going to change that? You’ll have to step out and join like-minded individuals. Kindred spirits. People who have DONE it, people doing it, and guides who can give you every necessary resource.

The people that makes up our community of peers and guides at Free Agent Academy are more valuable than our curriculum and guidance. Not for their wise counsel even, but just for the environment that makes pursuing and achieving your ‘nobler dreams’ an absolute reality. A very alternative reality than what you’re in now.

It’s not weakness to realize and admit that you can’t do it alone. It’s a myth that we believe we’re even supposed to. It’s a great strength to accept that we are very limited on our own, but capable of greatness when we link arms with others. Others, who have strong arms.

Two ways to join us, and two reasons to do it now:

Free Agent Academy Membership

• We have a new website and new pricing coming out Jan. 1. And the new pricing…won’t get less!
• Info, inquiry form and registration all on this page

Free Agent Academy ‘Accelerator’ Event

• Join us in the mountains of Colorado on Jan. 27-29 and work with us face-to-face and hand-to-hand.
• NEW today: From Dec. 14th until Dec. 29th you can register for the event and make two payments. That should help with your Christmas cashflow. You’ll pay half up front, the second half on Jan. 26th.
• Info, questions and registration here

- – - -

REPLAY OF TODAY’S SHOW:

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QUESTION:

What ‘nobler dreams’ have you given up, that you believe are, or might be…worthy?

In today’s Free Agent Underground Show I talked with Love 41 founder Suzette Munson, also wife to Saddleback Leather Co. founder Dave Munson. Suzette has devote herself to work that not only would she do for free…she is. Why? She felt called to it. Convicted. She saw a need and knew God was calling her to fill it. So she sat back and asked herself, where am I strong or gifted?

Love 41 came from this. The audio replay is down below, but as you scroll down, contemplate ‘devotion with me a bit more…

When we think of the word devotion, we generally think of what someone gives the majority of themselves to. So for most people alive, especially the western culture, if we took an inventory…we’d have to agree that their primary devotion is to work.

de·vote verb
1)  to give up or appropriate to or concentrate on a particular pursuit, occupation, purpose, cause, etc.: to devote one’s time to reading. 2) to appropriate by or as if by a vow; set apart or dedicate by a solemn or formal act; consecrate:
de·vo·tion noun
1) profound dedication; consecration.2) earnest attachment to a cause, person, etc. 3) an assignment or appropriation to any purpose, cause, etc.

Now most would argue that they merely work in order to earn money for their family and that their true devotion is to their family, not work.
That may be true in core intent. But if we simply say, “What does my life show, that the majority of my time…is devoted to?” For most, it would be work.

So if your work is selling cars, then you are in essence devoting yourself to…selling cars. Now, if you have a personal passion for helping people own a reliable automobile so they can expand their opportunities in life, that could be honorable! If it’s just a way to make a buck, then it seems odd to devote yourself to it. Agreed?

The question then is…are you working at something that is worthy of your primary devotion in life?

If you can say yes to that, will you let us know below? And if not, how is it affecting you?

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Folks,
So sorry, I posted the wrong audio yesterday. Instead of the show on “Who has a biz or idea and is trying to grow it?” I posted an audio of a call I did with the Free Agent Academy Professors. Sorry for the confusion, and thanks to all who let me know of my mistake!

Here is the correct one:

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Today I invited anyone who has a biz or idea and is struggling to grow it, to show up for the live Free Agent Underground Show. We had a good number show up, and we had time to address the five submissions shown below. Here my replies and the conversation in the audio posted at the bottom:

George Frye
“Ok, I want to start a coaching business for kids. I want to teach them about entrepreneurship and also proper business etiquette. I want to teach them how to start a business and as a project break the kids into groups and have them start a business and get it up and running. I also want to have a problem solvers program where the kids form a rountable group and they take one problem and discuss on how to solve that problem on three different levels.”

Kimberly Jones-Anthony
“Still kicking around the idea of something teen related to help parents in my situation with very active teens find employment that can work around their schedules. My son plays sports year round (fall – Football; winter – basketball; spring – baseball) I can’t (nor do I really want) see him fitting into a fast food resturant/grocery store and keeping his 92.5 GPA.”

Jason H. Garey
“Mine is www.buzzmarketeer.com. It is the result of an attempt to win a contest and has been buzzing around in my skull and chest for four years. I’m blogging to gain some forward momentum and get my bearings. I believe it’s a great platform, but almost too many ideas to pick from. My heart is in encouraging others to think for themselves, seek the Creator for purpose and passion.”

Jason Vandehey
“Many ideas for this – Portrait photography business. Homeschool photography training website / curriculum. (private website, subscription). Couple of podcasts (one for family discipleship, one for photography portrait stories / technical).”

Ron Olsen
“Currently trying to pull together information for a new project I want to call “The Time is Now” a call to end procrastination and to become more accountable for action or lack of action.”

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OK, I’m gonna take some fairly big, Biblical liberties, and mix them with some truths. Please go with the analogy, I’m not a scholar, and my book smarts aren’t the point (thank goodness).

In Genesis, the Israelites were held captive in Egypt. Slaves. They were given shelter, food and work. Maybe a beating here and there, but ‘it was a living’.

But, God told Moses to lead them out. Where? To the Promised Land.

As soon as things got hard on the journey, the Israelites, being led OUT OF SLAVERY, complained to Moses and God that they’d be better off back in Egypt where at least they were fed a solid meal three times a day.

So, this journey and escape didn’t seem like a ‘have to’ to them? Hmmm…

Then get this, the Promised Land was said by God to be a ‘land of milk and honey.’ I think that is a big, huge deal. Why? Cause neither are a necessity. Contrary to the American Dairy Association’s efforts to brainwash us, milk and dairy is 100% unnecessary to the human diet. Many cultures around the globe eat no dairy, nor any other animal’s milk products, and they are in far better health and having less disease than us who have been duped in the western culture. And honey? It’s sugar. Again, totally unnecessary. Milk and honey together…freeze it and you have ice cream.

So the Israelites are thinking…”This incredibly long, arduous journey when things weren’t horrible, to a ‘nicer’ place that has lots of ice cream. We like ice cream, but it’s not like it’s a necessity like whole wheat and spring water. Do we really have to do this?

YOU. God has put desires on your heart. Earthly, tangible desires. A Promised Land could be a place for you to live. Milk & honey may be some things that inspire you. Remember, doesn’t have to qualify as an absolute necessity.

What arguably non-necessary, desires-of-the-heart do you have? Things that keep haunting you, pricking you, keeping you up at night, interrupting your attempt to just exist?

My request:

Post them below. A few words, a few sentences, a bullet point list, a novel.

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“And I in my home office, and JP at Micky D’s, brainstormed a bunch of poss-i-bil-i-ties…” (say to the poem of ‘The night before Christmas’)

Today, Idea guru Jonathan Pool and I discussed idea possibilities for three Free Agent Academy members who are nearing the end of our IDEA course:

LOU
Still pretty vague on a specific idea, though he has a good many interests and there is a strong thread of desiring to influence people. ‘Coaching’ was high on the list.

JACOB
His greatest desire is to free people from poor health. He’s currently a programmer, and it doesn’t fit him at all. His view of options for pursuing health advocacy was narrow, but we actually didn’t help widen it too much, as we saw the need for him to further hone in on what his heart for health really is.

CHRIS
Chris is a dog lover, and appreciates a well trained dog. But his personal joy is hiking with his dogs, and feels they often make him accountable to ‘getting off his butt and out the door.’ He’s got a solid idea for focusing on runners and hikers who would like their dogs by their sides…and staying at their sides, not going nuts.

I was in my home office, Jonathan Pool joined me from Boulder where he picked up internet at McNasties. Join us in some real world business development!

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A pastor ‘serves people’, agreed? And in that role, is paid a salary and supports his family. He uses that revenue to pay his electric bill, buy new clothes, eat out for dinner, buy a car, Christmas toys for the kids, and so on.

A fireman or policeman ‘serves people’ also. They are paid, and support their family. Same with someone in the military. They fulfill a duty and are paid for it and support their family with that pay. Even a donor supported missionary fits in here. Doctors as well for the most part.

But in their ‘jobs’ we would all say they are truly serving mankind. And we’d assume, for the most part, that those people (pastors, firemen, policemen, military, missionaries) felt called or responsible or convicted to pursue those professions.

The majority of the world however, is working at j-o-b-s where they have no connection to who or how they are serving anyone. It’s nothing they felt ‘called to’ or convicted in, just a task they could fulfill and be paid for. Hopefully the job has some perks and decent people to work with.

What justifies devotion to comparably meaningless work? Well, we’re supporting our families with the revenue! Right?

But wait…back to the folks I mentioned above. They’re supporting their families too, but also doing work that directly serves humanity, often to a sacrificial degree. It’s work they believe in, and we do too!

Which begs the question then, of… “Is it OK to devote our work to tasks that we don’t feel called to and don’t sincerely serve humanity in a profound way? Should we expect less from ourselves than pastors, firemen, policemen, military, missionaries, doctors and many more in similar worthy work?”

Before you comment, let me try to define ‘serving humanity’. A crack dealer serves something people want, and he/she may do it with a smile and help old ladies across the street in the process. Maybe even tithe and give to a charity. A nutritionist in a store across the street from the crack dealer is also serving people, but I think we’d agree that one actually helps people, the other hurts. And in between are products and services that may not immensely help or hurt people…they are somewhat neutral.

We can go to great lengths to try and justify about anything, but let’s try to stick with the fairly obvious.

What do you think? Are only the select few allowed and able to serve humanity and their families jointly?

What if we judged work, not by how ‘cush’ the job was or how much money was made or how much free time you had, but by how it helped serve and better the world?

What if that…was the new status symbol? What if we paid premium prices for services-to-humanity that mattered and not for junk we want that’s a non-necessity?

HEAR THE LIVE SHOW WE DID ON THIS POST!

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The amount of relevant questions and comments in the live chat around this topic and show, prompted us to continue the discussion the next day. This was rich…and deep:

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Our feed got interrupted, so here is the continuation of the initial show:

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OK, here is where this came from. My friend and brother Gary Barkalow leads events across the globe on discovering and engaging in your CALLING. Yes, your God inspired and created calling. The meaning and purpose in life that is NOT an option for you to pursue, but your God-given responsibility to pursue.

Isn’t that utopia? Not to ‘chase your dreams’ but to commit to your destiny?

So people who have attended one of Gary’s Calling ‘Retreats’ or ‘Intensives’ are invited into his member’s community, called ‘Base Camp.’

Last week in ‘Base Camp’ they discussed WORK. Gary and I talked soon after and he said that ‘Why people hate their work’ came up as a primary topic.

So I said…”Let’s do a show on that!”

Here we are. It was lively. Over 40 people joined the live chat to discuss it.

About 20 minutes in, we lost the live feed and had to restart. So the continuation of this chat is in the following post. I promise…it will be intriguing.

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Folks, it’s around 6:15pm Mountain Time on Tuesday, November 15th. I don’t have TV or get the paper or subscribe to any news source. As I’ve found that the only news that really relates to my life, generally, is the weather, which I pull up at the national weather service site.

But I do pop up USA Today most days just to see the headlines. Mainly to get a pulse of the culture. It’s usually depressing, but I feel it’s my responsibility.

SO TODAY…two primary headlines caught my attention. I’ve posted them below. But it leaves me with a question for you. First a premise…my children were born to me. I’m their Daddy (that’s them in the pic, minus the baby). They are stuck with me. They didn’t pick me, it was beyond their control. If I am an uncaring, abusive jerk, they have every right to be upset and complain. Agreed?

If you were drafted into the military against your personal choice and suffered at the hand of uncaring leadership, I guess you have right to complain and claim victimization.

But what about your J-O-B? Were you born into or drafted into the business or company you work for? Or did you voluntary apply, ask for the opportunity and do you willingly take the pay offered?

Read the articles below to understand where my question originated. Then help me understand where anyone has the right to complain about a manager, boss, pay, treatment…as showcased in these articles. Does corporate America or the government owe us jobs, and then a level of care and treatment? Are we, or are we not, dependent on them?

Some frustrated workers quit in weird ways
- http://www.usatoday.com/money/workplace/story/2011-11-14/quitting-with-fanfare/51202392/1

Black Friday backlash as stores add to Thanksgiving hours
- http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/story/2011-11-14/black-friday-backlash/51205118/1

Seriously, let me know your thoughts. If you think it’s easy for me to judge because I’m self-employed, and I don’t understand the realities for most people…share. Or if you agree…?

“Which of your freedoms are legit?”
It’s a very relevant question that few fully ponder, yet it significantly affects the trajectory of our lives and decisions. The truth is that you desire to be free from some circumstances in your life, but you really only have faith in certain ones. The rest you subconsciously believe are optional. And thus, you’ll probably never achieve them. I want to get you committed, or let you off the hook.

You see, I am self-employed because I honestly believe I must. There is no way I can walk in the freedoms I’m convicted in as an employee. Let’s see how it adds up for you…

This morning I flipped open to Galatians 5 in my Bible, it’s a chapter I really relate to. It starts off thus, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled with a yoke of bondage.”

You’ll have to read before it to get the full context, but Paul is referring to being under the ‘yoke’ of earthly law as opposed to freedom in Christ. And hey, not a believer in Christianity? Interestingly for you Americans, you’re Declaration of Independence is best known for this line, “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Most other countries have something very similar.

So it hit me…”What freedoms do we really believe in?” And additionally, “What bondages do we honestly accept?” Because that dictates our faith and commitment to what we do or don’t pursue. You want to be self-employed? You’ve got to know what freedoms and bondages you believe in.

An example that’s relevant for belief in freedom or bondage is financial debt. Most Christians (especially Dave Ramsey fans) will cite that debt is bad. Being under it’s ‘yoke of bondage’ is not only wrong, but bad stewardship and the big word…sin! And they’ll quote scripture backing it up. Yet there is just as much scripture about your body being a temple. I see as many people imprisoned by self-induced bad health and immobility as from financial debt, but for some reason we believe in freedom regarding money but accept bondage in regards to bad health.

So again, be honest with yourself, what to you believe in? Here are some relevant focal points:

I could list more. But these are things I DO NOT BELIEVE ARE OPTIONS FOR MY LIFE. And in today’s day and age, I see self-employment as the best (not the only, just the overall best) vehicle for accommodating these beliefs.

Let me say loud and clear, this is not a ‘salvation’ issue. This isn’t a plaform to judge. Nobody is going to hell or is a lessor saint because they may have consumer debt, or are in ill health, or are an employee. I’ve been in bondage to debt all my adult life until two months ago! I got out of it however, due to my belief that doing so, was a must. It’s about personal convictions that you may or may not feel called to. But those you do…how best to achieve them?

Ponder these things. What you have accepted, should you continue to?

And please be FREE…to post your feelings below. You may speak for and bless many others.

Listen to the show replay on this post, includes commentary on the previous post, ‘God speaks through asses‘:

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I’m typing from a cabin down by a stream as the snow starts to fall, on this Monday afternoon. I’m on a ‘family sabbatical’ that I’ll talk about more later. I brought my Bible, and one new book that I’m interested in reading. It’s this book that prompted the post you read now.

You see, though I don’t personally know the author, I know some other folks who know him intimately. And the honest truth is, these people that I know and respect, have had some hurtful experiences with the author.

So does that invalidate his book? Can he still write an anointed message? Should I disdainfully throw the book out?

It’s an important question for you to consider.

To go into business today, is to have a voice. Unless you are selling a commodity on the shelves of Walmart and competing basically on price alone, you’ll have to be comfortable communicating with people what the value and core message of your product or service is.

You’ll need to be open and authentic and known, and speak what you believe…your convictions.

So…who the heck are YOU to speak to anyone? To guide and lead us anywhere? To claim expertise or authority that equips you to influence ME? I bet you have…problems.

That right there…is what keeps many a good man and woman down. We marginalize ourselves. We doubt ourselves. We second-guess ourselves.

What I’ve learned over time is that the most ‘intellectual’ and ‘self-aware’ someone is, the quicker they are to discount themselves.

Yet we spend so much time reading and listening to ‘wisdom’ from others. You assume…YES YOU DO…that they ‘have it all together’. That they’ve arrived to some degree that qualifies them to speak, and you haven’t. That they’ve climbed to the top of a mountain you can only dream of, or must spend a long time ascending before you are worthy.

Now granted, most good and true messages come from some degree of overcoming or understanding. But surely, surely not from perfection. And while you can have some success in one area, you can still be struggling mightily in another.

Back to the author I started talking about here. I honestly think God will speak to me through the book. I’ve been fortunate to know some big name authors and speakers and experts and seen ‘behind the curtains’ of their stage presence and into their real lives. They are regular, flawed people. Many of the very sages you revere, you would NOT like if you spent a day one-on-one with them. And you’d be sorely surprised at areas in their lives that are less than successful, respectful or worthy of your reverence.

Yet what they wrote or spoke that helped you, is VALID!

I view God as looking down on Earth for someone to do a task, and saying to Himself, “Let me see, who has it together enough to do this for me?” He scans and scans…then lets out a sigh. And says, “Oh well, then who is at least willing?” And He gets a few takers.

In my Bible, Numbers 22:28, the Lord speaks through an ass. Literally, “And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam…”

That was literal. A talking donkey. God…spoke…through an ass. Go read it in your Bible.

Figuratively, most of the life-changing wisdom you are gleaning from all the wise sages in your life, is very similar to this verse in Numbers.

That’s not to diss anyone. It’s to motivate YOU. If God can speak through a donkey, if He can speak through the authors and speakers and leaders that you think are so great but are really…NOT, then there is great hope for you.

DO NOT WAIT TO BECOME PERFECT. DO NOT WAIT TO ARRIVE. SPEAK NOW, WHILE YOU’RE AN ASS.

Because folks, you always will be, to a great degree.

Just like with the author whose book I’m reading now. I’m am grateful he didn’t wait till he was not an ass, to write it. Cause I need the message, and he gets kudos for being willing to hear and communicate it.

I hope you’re glad I didn’t wait either, cause if you’re reading this, then your listening to an ass. Hee haw.

Come on. Speak. Step out. Now.

On Wednesdays live Free Agent Underground Show (live every Tue & Wed at 3pm MT) we reviewed idea possibilities for two Academy members, Cindy Thomas and Lance Snow. It was a lively and revelatory show. Joining me was idea guru Jonathan Pool and about 30 people in the live audience.

We took Cindy’s ideas surrounding advocacy of family camping and drilled down during an inspiring session to what her HEART’S message really was.

With Lance’s ideas for an adventure show, we expanded on ideas but narrowed down on who his audience might be and what the marketplace viability is.

Tune in to hear brainstorming, community and the essence of what we do at Free Agent Academy in action:

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Free Agent Underground Show – “Idea possibilities for camping, adventure, cooking and troubled teens”

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I’m not dissing anyones info on ‘business start up,’ just changing your paradigm so you’ll understand why it isn’t helpful for you right now (unless you’re already in business).

If you search the main reasons business start ups fail, you’ll get a laundry list of viable issues. But they are only relevant if…you’ve fully launch a business.

Most of you who read my blogs and listen to my podcasts are not there yet. You are considering and contemplating free agency. Those lists are moot for you.

Right now the only point for you to focus on is the why and how. Why you want free agency, enough to commit to it and go after it. Then how you are going to take action amidst your current life and circumstances.

Making a business work is not easy, but it’s not the hardest part. Getting YOU to work is the hardest part.

That’s what makes Free Agent Academy unique, we focus on you as much or more as your ultimate business. Regardless of joining us, make sure you’re spending your time addressing the right issues for where you are in the journey.

On that note, in the show today, as I normally do, I welcomed new members. I never post that in these blogs and show notes, but decided to do so today. These are two members who joined since last Wednesday’s show:

Jim Land – Pine, Colorado
“I’m currently full time managing the service dept. of a fairly new company in the auto-body equipment industry. I have a wonderful wife (Suzy) who supports me. 3 kids, 2 boys and a girl and 3 grandchildren.”

Julie Caswell - Calgary, AB, Canada
“Currently I am a full time project manager in a traditional j-o-b and single.”

HERE IS TODAY’S SHOW ON THIS TOPIC:

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The deep conversations regarding the post “How to know if your ‘desires’ are valid” led me to leading a live, open discussion on the topic today. We discussed the realities of moving forward on what seems ‘crucial’ to you, but you just can’t see HOW it would really happen. This is from a direct post in the chartroom yesterday. So if you feel that you believe in more for your life and work, but just don’t see how it can really come to pass, this show will be helpful.

• The original post
• The audio and video from the show on the original post

TODAY’S OPEN Q&A SHOW

AUDIO

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Free Agent Underground Show – “Part 3: Questions on “How to know if your ‘desires’ are valid”

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VIDEO

Watch live video from Free Agent Underground on Justin.tv

Today I discussed this post “How to know if your ‘desires’ are valid and should be acted upon” with over 30 people on live, and in just a handful of hours another 30+ have watched the video replay.

If you are really…serious…about wanting to go after anything better in your life, I commit that this message is worth your time and will give you motivation and some faith to move. Or…give up. Either is better than limbo.

Here again is the blog post to READ:
“How to know if your ‘desires’ are valid and should be acted upon”

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