The Kevin Miller Podcast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We would all agree to that statement, “Success doesn’t happen by accident.” But the reality is, most people subconsciously feel it will either happen to them or not. Our culture today takes less responsibility than ever for the realities of life. Chronic illness and disease is on a radically high growth curve and while we know most of it is a result of poor lifestyle choices, the average person believes it’s genetics and the luck of the draw. But you know better, which is why you are here listening to The Ziglar Show. In this show I bring you again, Howard Partridge, my guest from show 759 where we discussed why we do and don’t implement. Howard came from a poverty stricken family with seven kids and was kicked out at 18. In this show you will hear him tell more of his story and how he simply worked. He worked hard and he worked a lot. Today he’s a self-acclaimed beach bum and while he still works a lot, it’s out of joy in his work and providing great employment for others, as he no longer needs to work for his personal income. You will gain much by this walk through Howard’s story and habits that have helped him attain a lifestyle he adores and the abundance to bless so many people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Check this out, I asked Ziglar listeners this question, “Throughout a given day, do you generally behave as you intend to? If/when you don’t, what tends to derail you?” As responses started pouring in, a very common thread was “people”. So I gave a follow up question, “When you get upset with people, does your emotion come from Fear or Pride? Fear = abandonment, rejection, loss. Pride = justice, fairness, enabling. I asked Stephen & Mara Klemich to join me, they were my recent guests in show 753 where we discussed how our behavior is explained by four principles, the message in their new book, “Above The Line.” As we went through many of the responses, what we came out with was this; what derails people most from the behavior they would wish to exemplify is, lack of control. Whether it is people or circumstances, lack of control is the main culprit. Why is this? Listen in as Stephen and Mara deftly guide us in understanding the root issue. And friends, if you have not yet taken their Heartstyles Indicator assessment, normally only available to if you buy their book. But for Ziglar listeners, I asked them to make it available immediately and at no cost. They are doing so until March 15, 2020. Go to heartstyles.com/ziglar and follow the instructions. Use the access code ZIGLAR2020 to get access to the Indicator/assessment. Again, heartstyles.com/ziglar and use the access code ZIGLAR2020. If you hear this after...get the book! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Would you like to know just why you do what you do, and don’t do much of what you’d wish yourself to do? Like implementing the plans that would progress your life? This is the focus my guest in this episode brings us. Howard Partridge’s new book is titled, FTI, Failure to Implement. He walks us through 10 Principles for business and life success. But what jumped out at me is looking at these 10 areas and realizing they were a great business and personal audit. Meaning, we can take each area and audit ourselves. If we are lacking, then we have exceptional insight into why we are or are not getting the results we want in our personal aspirations and goals. Why we are not implementing and taking action toward what we want. I encourage you to be listening as we walk through these principles and thinking about yourself. Do you have any intentional plans for each area? You will likely walk away with a handful of the areas where you realize you have a void. Which is wonderful! Awareness! Now you can tangibly address something and get a step closer toward what you want and believe in. And as you’ll hear us start off with, the issue and necessity of belief itself. Howard is not just a wildly successful businessman and business coach, he is a fellow student, devotee, and purveyor of the Ziglar legacy. Howard has been the exclusive business coach for Ziglar for many years and works with Tom Ziglar on running the overall Ziglar corporation. Howard has authored eight books, one which you’ll hear us reference, The Power of Community, was our focus in past Ziglar Show episode #533. You can get FTI, Failure To Implement at howardpartridge.com or wherever you buy books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every system is perfectly designed to get the results it gets, said W Edwards Deming. Right now your system, your habits and routines, are designed to produce the results you are getting. Same with me. If we want to change the results, we must change the system. No secret or brilliance in that statement, you’ve heard the concept before. The problem, and opportunity, is us. I believe we are all simply living up to our expectations. What is interesting is how we would reshape our living based upon a change in expectations. Here is a question I posted to the Ziglar audience, “If you were given one million dollars today, to be in top shape mentally and physically in 12 months, at which time you would then get a high paying role or job you loved, how would you start preparing, training, and caring for yourself?” I’m about to read a bunch of replies. And I’m imploring you not to discount this. Your first reaction will likely be to scoff and say, “Well sure, its’ much easier to make the needed changes with a guaranteed payday ahead of you.” But then that implies you are not currently making changes you’d like to make, because you don’t believe they’ll pay off. Isn’t that pretty telling? So we have a crisis of faith. Of belief. Think on that as you hear how people responded. And please know, I’m in this boat with you too. This speaks to me just as much as you and has me looking to make some changes, right away! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this show I am appealing to your logic, not your emotion. Your intellect, not your inspiration. Chances are you are living under a false assumption about your vocational role in life. If not false, at least minimized. You see yourself a certain way and thus expect a level of performance from yourself. I am not vying for you to increase the amount of your performance as much as the caliber. And to a great degree, simply the way you hold, conduct and care for yourself. I’m going to play a two minute clip from Zig to help set the perspective. The story has to do with IQ. Following Zig’s message we will not be talking about your IQ, however. But rather your actual role and viable credibility in your job. Your work. And we all have a job. I can’t stress the strength of the case I’m going to make and the relevance it has in your life. I’m going to share some great products and services with you, then play Zig’s quick, 2-minute message, then hit you with a reality of your life you are very likely missing and not rightfully leveraging. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How we treat people has a direct, immediate, and long term impact on us just as much as what we eat. Live on fast food and you will end up looking and feeling like a milkshake. Treating difficult people like they deserve and how you treat random people you come into contact with in life can be slowly poisoning you, depending on your attitude. Most people will testify to treating all people well, all the time, no matter what. Few of us truly do, and minimizing the issue is a disservice to us. Which is why we bring the issue up here. Now. In this episode I play a 4.5 minute clip from Zig Ziglar about what how we treat people says about us and does to us. Then I posted this question to the Ziglar audience, “Are there people in your life who you struggle to treat as you would want to be treated? Whether close relationships or even people you infrequently encounter and have to interact with?” Most of the responses addressed difficult people in our lives, but I brought Tom Ziglar on the show to talk through the comments with me and we start off discussing the “insignificant” people that Zig references. If you think you treat everyone well and are not affected by this issue...I greatly, greatly encourage you to listen in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your time, especially your personal time, has three components. The time you give to “I”, yourself, is vitally necessary. “We” time would be working together or parenting or the duties of life, even social engagements. “Us” is intentional, focused time on the relationship, like “date night”. This highlights the Relationship spoke on the Ziglar Wheel of life for Stephen & Mara Klemich, my guests from show 753 where we talked about the four principles of behavior that rule our lives, from their book, “Above The Line”. This is my first time going the Habits show with a couple and it was valuable to hear how they make room to accommodate differing habits to cater to their differing personalities. We also discussed Mara’s three bouts with cancer, the challenge of living up to their own message, and the reality that these authors and speakers are, as they say, “dreadful introverts.” I think you will enjoy and get much value from auditing this couple’s habits. To quickly reference show 753 with the Klemichs where we talked about their revolutionary Heartstyles Indicator assessment, it is only available to those who purchase the Klemich’s new book, “Above The Line”. But for Ziglar listeners, I asked them to make it available immediately and at no cost. They are doing so for a month, from Jan. 25, 2020, to Feb. 25, 2020. Go to heartstyles.com/ziglar and follow the instructions. Use the access code ZIGLAR2020 to get access to the Indicator/assessment. Again, heartstyles.com/ziglar and use the access code ZIGLAR2020 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recognizing who has helped you is vitally important, as it fosters the reality of how valuable help is. How much you need it and benefit from it. Or what if you haven’t received much positive help from others? How do you get it? In this episode we listen to a clip from Zig Ziglar on the dramatic influence of others investing in you, and you in them. Then I posted this question to the Ziglar audience, “: Name or tag someone who truly made a positive difference in your life, and please explain how they specifically helped you.” Many, many responses and Tom Ziglar and I talked through as many as we could, and really expanded on the value and need in our lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do we do the things we do? Especially, why do we so often not do the things we want to do, and do what we don’t want to do? Why do we intend to act one way, then get derailed and sabotage ourselves or a situation or a relationship? I generally go to the weakness and appetite of my mind and flesh, but today I bring two guests whose research shows it is deeper than this and we can get to the root and literally change our behaviors. Stephen Klemich is a corporate consultant and his wife Mara Klemich is a clinical psychologist. After years of extensive research and data collection they landed on four principles that explain the why behind our behaviors and that they all boil down to issues of humility, love, pride, and fear. From this they have released their new book, Above the Line, Living and Leading with Heart, with a core message of understanding what motivators are happening in our heart, so we can make effective choices to build our character and become the person we were designed to be. I took their Heartstyles Indicator, and online assessment, and got my personal report. We very candidly walked through it to showcase where my personal values are, and where my natural behaviors actually lie, and the gulf between the two. They showcased why I often tire of performing to cover the span between what I want to do and what I actually feel. This is literal awareness AND equipping. And here is a great opportunity for the first people who hear this episode. The Heartstyles Indicator is only available to those who purchase the Klemich’s new book,. But for Ziglar listeners, I asked them to make it available immediately and at no cost. They are doing so for a month, from Jan. 25 2020, to Feb. 25, 2020. Go to heartstyles.com/ziglar and follow the instructions. Use the access code ZIGLAR2020 to get access to the Indicator/assessment. Again, heartstyles.com/ziglar and use the access code ZIGLAR2020 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people listening to this show have an idea what their personality style is, from one of the many personality profiles out there. But what we uncover in this Q&A episode is you can know your personality style and be wholly ignorant of your literal, tangible, working style in the main roles and duties of your life. Along with that you can know your spouse’s personality type, your co-worker’s, kid’s, and more, and completely miss and bang up against their styles, again, in the main roles and actions of life. I posted this question to the Ziglar audience, “How self-aware do you feel you are in regards to “your style” in key areas of your life, such as finances, decision making, work, parenting, spirituality, learning, leadership, and more?” Then I asked Rick McDaniel, my guest from show 749 where we discussed the message in his new book, “You Got Style”, to join me. As always, a brilliant, live-coaching session as Rick talked through the real world applications and realities of being more self aware. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Key word is, "learners". But let us clarify that word. The definition is, "gain or acquire knowledge of or skill in (something) by study, experience, or being taught." We hear a lot of things that we don't actually learn. If you have heard the health value of not eating fast food and eating more home cooked vegetables, but you are still eating fast food and your stove wouldn't recognize a real vegetable, then you heard about it. You didn't learn it. So leaders are gaining knowledge and actually applying it to their life. This was a key habit my guest, Rick McDaniel shared here in our Habits episode. Rick was my guest in episode 749 where he revealed personal styles in 12 categories of life. His book, "You Got Style" I know have my family working through so we can better understand each other. I'm also doing it with my close business associates. Rick is the founder and senior pastor of the Richmond Community Church in Richmond, Virginia, and highimpactchurch.tv. He is a regular contributor for FoxNews.com and is a well known speaker for Fortune 500 companies and faith audiences alike. You can find him at rickmcdaniel.com. I know will gain much by walking through the seven spokes on The Ziglar Wheel of life and hearing Rick's personal habits for success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Love and affection I think we would all say have value, but how much, in what way, and why? How important is it? What place does it have in our home, our work, and in all our relationships? Zig Ziglar brings us a short message on the issue, then I posted this question to the Ziglar Show audience, “In your home and close relationships, how do you communicate love and affection and how often? And how important do you believe it is?” As responses quickly came in, I posted this follow up question, “Who experienced a LACK of love and affection in their upbringing or marriage and how has it affected you or how are you dealing with it?” Tom Ziglar and I went through as many of your comments as we could and from them, received some incredible insight into this issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who you are is good to know but how you are is even better. Meaning, if you’ve done a personality profile to help understand who you are, the only relevance is utilizing the information to better guide your behavior and performance, but often the profiles do not help to this level. Today I bring you a guest who has done the research to clarify personal styles in 12 key areas of life. It reveals how you behave with finances, decision making, work, parenting, spiritually, learning, leadership, and more. I think it is profoundly valuable and has me feeling it is paramount to clarify and understand the styles of my wife, kids, business partners, employees...everyone I do life with. Rick McDaniel is my guest in this episode and his message is in a new book titled, You Got Style: How Discovering Your Personal Style Impacts Your Faith, Family, Finances & Much More. Rick is the founder and senior pastor of the Richmond Community Church in Richmond, Virginia, and highimpactchurch.tv. He is a regular contributor for FoxNews.com and is a well known speaker for Fortune 500 companies and faith audiences alike. Rick says, “Discovering your individual style can help you understand why you do certain things, why you react in a particular way to something, and why others act the way they do. These styles involve the most important aspects of our lives, including our relationships, our family, our faith, our finances and our work. As you’ll hear in the show, I went through all 12 categories and listed out my style in each area, and what I felt my wife’s style is. I’m going to have her do the same and compare notes and talk about it. But there are some specific areas where we are different that I’m eager to discuss and figure out how we can better honor each other’s styles instead of being at odds. Then again, same with my kids and those who I work closely with in my businesses and initiatives. You are going to get a ton from this show. You can connect more with Rick at rickmcdaniel.com and you can find his new book, You Got Style, wherever you get books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

That headline itself is rife with controversy, but I think to any sane person it is a fully legitimate question we have all pondered. It is one thing to have faith and a belief. It is another to expect that faith and belief to change some of the hard circumstances of life. This show is going to acutely dig up this subject in real life circumstances. As I do every week, I posted a question on Facebook. You can join these weekly discussions and help me by sharing your personal experience and opinion, just find and friend me at agentkmiller. This week I asked this question, “Everyone has experienced some level of trauma in their life. Amidst it, how much did your personal faith tangibly help, if it did at all?” Oh my, so many intimate responses. I asked Dr. Lee Warren to join me and talk through your comments. Dr. Warren was my guest in show 743, he is a renowned neurosurgeon who deals directly with faith amongst trauma and tragedy, every day. Grappling with faith and real world outcomes was the focus of his new book, “I’ve Seen The End of You.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a lifetime in personal development and five years investigating and talking with the top leaders in personal development, I believe we are, all of us, so often missing the root issues of our own personal growth and progress. The following show is an overview of a larger initiative I am working on. I am not a patient man and in this episode I talk you through the highlights I believe will help you better address the root issues of you and vastly increase your progress. I’ll give you the punchline right here as well. I’m going to start by explaining what I mean by “symptomatic self help” and walk you in to these five points, 1) What do you want?, 2) What do you want to want?, 3) What do you not actually even want, you just think you should want?, 4) What do you believe and have faith in?, 5) And last, what will you decide to believe and have faith in, because as you'll hear, I staunchly believe they are just that...decisions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a New Year and weight loss, exercise, and eating better are the the most searched for New Year’s Resolution topics. This show is about personal development, growth, change, and success, and this special episode is about the engine of you. You are your power source. I don’t mean spiritually, I’m just talking about your physical body which houses your brain and your overall capacity. As you seek to go about your life, you will do so at the mercy and capability of your body. As you look at your health and wellness, who are you going to listen to? What resource or program or so-called "hack" are you going to try? As my friend Angelo Poli of the company Metpro said, and I paraphrase, "Every methodology has worked. Sometimes for some people." So it's a crap shoot at best. Which begs the holy grail question, what should you do to best address your health and wellness needs and goals? In this show I'm going to give you what I claim to be the irrefutable answer. But the caveat is that it's not a final answer, it is a framework. If you wanted to live in a custom home, nobody can just hand you the blueprint. They'd have to know your desires and where you want to build. That said, every home built will have the same aspects of what I'm calling a framework. It will have a foundation and sewage system and electricity and all the necessities of any other house. This is what I will provide for you today, the framework for the house of you to be at its best. The show is about 45 minutes, then at my conclusion, I'm going to give you a Facebook live recording from Tom Ziglar on a physical transformation he experienced in 2019 at the hands of personal trainer Angelo Poli. I interviewed Angelo in episode 683 where we really talked about body metabolism. For disclosure, I became a client and today, after years of plateau, I have put on and have more muscle than ever in my lifetime. Tom as you will hear, wanted to lose weight which he did. In this show I believe you’ll find a comprehensive understanding as to how to address your health and wellness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a license to invest in ourselves, not an admonishment. If you woke up to a brand new car in your driveway and a notecard that said, "From God", you would be ecstatic and you would take care of that baby. What about your body? After letting his health go, Dr. Lee Warren committed to caring for himself and here in our habits show he stated, "Our body is a gift to us from the Creator." He's lost weight and increased his energy. It was a reminder that self-care is a priority instead of something to left to last after you try to care for everyone else. Dr. Warren was my guest in show 743 where we talked about the massive value and necessity of hope, something he knows well as a renowned neurosurgeon dealing daily with trauma and tragedy. Along with health we walk through the other six spokes on the Ziglar Wheel of Life and you will be inspired by what a top doctor and author does to keep himself as well as possible. I highly encourage you to check out Dr. Warren's new book, "I’ve Seen the End of You", wherever you get books, you can pre-order now, as it comes out January 7, 2019. You can also connect with Dr. Warren at wleewarrenmd.com. And make sure you check out the ‘Dr. Lee Warren’ podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should your work truly interest you? What are you missing if it does not? Though as you will hear in the show, maybe interest in your work is not the absolute end all. Here is the question I posed to the Ziglar audience, “Do you find your work to be interesting? Yes or no,and how much weight on your work fulfillment does this have?” The question came from a short message we will hear from Zig Ziglar where he cited a survey conducted about the workplace asking what employees wanted. Managers surveyed said, Good wages, Job security, Promotions. The workers however responded..and number one was, Interesting work. There is no commentary I could give that would be as valuable as hearing what you, the audience, responded with. Tom Ziglar joined me and we talked through your comments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you have hope in? Real hope based on actual expectations? Do have hope that drives you to get out of bed, make progress toward your desires, and withstand the hardships of life? In this show I bring you a guest who is a neurosurgeon. Yes, a brain surgeon, the top guns amongst medical doctors. Dr. Lee Warren brings us stories of terminal patients and brain tumors with a near 100% fatality rate. Yet he cites from his daily experiences walking through the traumas and tragedies of humanity that hopelessness is far more deadly. Which sounds preposterous. How can one even have hope amongst certain death? In this show, you will hear how and why hope is so vital, necessary, and possible for all of us, no matter our circumstances. Let me forewarn you, this is not remotely a formulaic show. This is deep and vulnerable and filled with as much recognition of mystery and heartbreak as it is, hope and help. Dr. Warren is an Iraq war veteran who performed more than 200 surgeries in a tent hospital. From then and till this day he performs surgeries on everything from tumors to head wounds. He’s daily amongst despair and death, and hope and healing. Family tragedies and triumphs. Amongst it all he lost his own 19 year old son and had to deal with his own grief and faith. His new book, “I’ve Seen the End of You” chronicles the stories of patients who rocked his faith. And let me say this, I study the books of each guest I have on the show, but I seldom read them word for word to the end. This one was like a novel that I kept wondering what would happen next and I read it cover to cover. I’ve shared it with my friends and family and now I share it with you. If you have ever, ever pondered your faith, please listen to this show. And if you want a book that will keep you enthralled, and quite possibly give you a new perspective on your personal faith...go check out ‘I’ve Seen the End of You’ wherever you get books, you can pre-order now, as it comes out January 7, 2019. You can also connect with Dr. Warren at wleewarrenmd.com. And make sure you check out the ‘Dr. Lee Warren’ podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two of my favorite movie scenes ask this. In the Notebook, the character Noah asks Allie over and over, “What do you want? What do you want?” Then in It’s a Good Year, George Bailey gallantly asks, “Mary, what do you want? You want the moon, I’ll lasso it for you.” But the beauty of the scene is when she closes her eyes and thinks on what she really wants and makes a true wish, that later comes to pass. In episode 734 I did a special edition show where I walked through the seven spokes on the Ziglar Wheel of Life and ultimately encouraged everyone just to list something out they wanted, in each spoke. For my recent birthday, I asked my four oldest kids to gift me by going through and doing the exercise. So for this show, I posted a question on Facebook for the Ziglar audience, and a reminder you can join these conversations by finding and friending me on Facebook at agentkmiller. The question was simply, “Do have any tangible ideas of what more you want in the near future in these areas: 1) Health, 2) Relationships, 3) Mental growth, 4) Finances, 5) Spiritual, 6) Career, 7) Personal Incredible responses came back! Tom Ziglar joined me to talk through your candid comments. For some, this show was the impetus for them to actually think through...what they want. I hope it is for you too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An FBI special agent whose job was gaining trust and catching and recruiting spies, shares his relational strategy at home to win his family’s hearts. Now that is intriguing. Robin Dreeke was my guest in show 739 and we talked about the specific truths and methodologies he employed as a master in behavioral analysis. Robin’s testimony of family relationships based upon never judging or criticising is one of the most inspiring things I’ve heard, period. It is giving others what we all long for, but you are going to want to hear the details. He shares this and more in this Habits show where I walk Robin through the seven spokes in the Ziglar wheel of life. Robin is a sought after speaker at live events and working with business owners doing internal leadership, customer relations and sales. You can connect with Robin at www.peopleformula.com where he offers training, and find his book The Code of Trust wherever you get books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How would you rate your communication skills when presenting something to a group of people at the dinner table, a meeting at work or on stage? Do you feel understood and heard? This is the question I posed to the Ziglar audience. Interestingly, many people cited they felt more adept at communicating to groups, whether personally or professionally, than to individuals. Like their family members. I asked my guest from episode 731 and 733 to join me, cognitive neuroscientist and communication expert Jared Cooney Horvath. Jared got his doctorate from the University of Melbourne and you can get a veritable doctorate in communicating...from this show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In any conversation you can become a constant dopamine hit for the other person. How? By making them the topic, not you. But can you do it? Can you resist the temptation to talk about yourself and express your opinion and getting your own dopamine hit? Second, can you skillfully keep the focus on them with authenticity? This was a necessary skill for Robin Dreeke as a Special Agent in the FBI. To catch and recruit spies he became a master in behavioral analysis and applied his expertise in interpersonal communication, relationship building and Trust. These skills are used every day in leadership, sales, human resources, and all aspects of life, both business and personal. This is what we dig into in this episode, from Robin’s role with spies, right into his home and how it impacts his role as husband and father. Robin however is not just skillful of mind however, I asked about very personal and heart level issues and I think this brought out the most valuable issues of our conversation. Issues that are relevant to us all and that we can all apply right away. It’s convicting to hear methodologies verified by the gravity of life and death. I think what you will hear in this conversation will make massive sense to you, you’ll find yourself thinking, “Of course!” And inspired about how you can take advantage of these core, relational strategies. Robin does a lot of speaking at live events and working with business owners doing internal leadership, customer relations and sales. You can connect with Robin at www.peopleformula.com where he offers training, and find his book The Code of Trust wherever you get books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if you were diagnosed with a small, benign brain tumor that you’d had all your life and it had been limiting your cognitive ability. Once removed, you were 10% smarter! You have a personal story that, if you know and understand it well, will help the entire context of your life. You may not have a very flashy or seemingly monumental story, but it’s your story and along the way there have been events that matter and have influenced who and how you are. It is the foundation of your personal context. Zig Ziglar had the tragic deaths of his father and sister as a young boy and had to go to work at a very early age. But he had a solid upbringing and has written his own story in a way where he sees the positives. He used his story find his own place in the world and he used it very successfully to help others relate to him, and vice versa. In this show I’m going to let you hear, Zig’s story. From birth till he got married. This is his formative life span. I know you’ll appreciate hearing him, and then you’ll have context for clarifying, if you haven’t, your own story. I asked the Ziglar audience this question, “Do you feel your personal story is relevant for how you relate to your own life and the lives of others?” Then had Tom Ziglar join me to talk through the responses and this very necessary ingredient for our success of understanding and leveraging our stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’ve always felt to know the true measure of a man, audit how his wife and kids and doing. So it stood out to me when Mark Batterson said a primary goal for his life was to be famous in his home, and to do so, he needed to be at home! Mark was my guest in show 735 where we discussed, “How to position yourself for blessings” from his new book, Double Blessing. He’s a best selling author and pastor of one of our country’s most influential churches, the National Community Church in Washington, D.C.. Mark also aspires to have those who know him best to respect him most. This sharing came from the “Family & Friends” spoke of The Ziglar Wheel of Life, as this is our habits show. Something else that resonated with me came from Mark’s sharing in the “Physical” spoke, that he staunchly believes the physical and spiritual disciplines foster each other. And I almost titled the show “The Holy Spirit plus caffeine equals awesome!”, another of Mark’s quotes. You’ll get great inspiration and ideas as always from this audit of the habits of one of our cultures big influencers. You can connect with Mark at markbatterson.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a listener of The Ziglar Show I know you are a more “aspiring” person than the norm, as are our other listeners. So how do we all rate ourselves in our endeavors? In show 727 I talked with Neil Pasricha whose latest book, “You Are Awesome” just debuted as the #1 international bestseller. He asks why in our culture today where we have more conveniences and amenities than ever, are we playing it safe. It was from this I asked the Ziglar audience, “In your job or business, on a scale from 1-10, how would you rate yourself for playing it safe (1) or totally going for the gusto (10), and why?” Let me tell you this, we only had two people rate themselves as a 10, and we had plenty of threes and fours. I had Neil join me to co-host this Q&A and as usual, the comments and my guest’s responses were just profound. You’ll come away with a better understanding of your own propensities and why you may be going after things in one area of your life, and not others. He explains the very real role of “cognitive entrenchment” I believe you will very much resonate with. Neil also expounded on the issue of following our passions and made this brilliant comment that flies in the face of having work that is all fun and play, he said the point is finding work “You love so much you’ll endure the pain and punishment.” Absolutely. This was as solid a show as I’ve ever done regarding relevant issues we are all dealing with today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Blessings” is right there with the word “success” as far as having a lot of baggage connected to it, and I don’t bring the term to the show lightly. But right now, do you feel more or less, blessed? And before you think, “Well of course. My family, I have a job, I’m in decent health, of course I’m blessed…” This isn’t a count-your-blessings pitch. I mean right now in your day to day life. Are your relationships all you desire them to be? How are feeling financially? Do you feel purposeful and hopeful? How about just your level of ongoing joy? How is your stress level? How is your self-talk? Do you feel things generally work out for you and fall in your favor? Do you really feel like you are living within a flow of blessing? Then the question is...to have blessings and if I can say, “favor”, are there any requirements from you? I know, this is a slippery slope issue because the idea of “do this and get that” regarding God and blessings has really been misused. So I have someone for you today, and we’ll hit it head on. Back in 2006 I got ahold of a book with a crazy title, “In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day,” by a guy named Mark Batterson. He was pastor of a church in D.C. Today, he is still that pastor, but now a prolific, best selling author and speaker. He has a new book titled, “Double Blessing - How to Get It. How to Give It.” Right off the bat in our talk together he hits on the “prosperity gospel” issue and actually cites, “The blessings of God will complicate your life”. I feel I brought the tough questions up and this show will open up some new perspectives for you on how you tangibly orient your life. If you don’t know Mark, he is the author of 15 books including the USA Today bestseller "Chase the Lion," which inspired the recently published "Chase the Lion Weekly Planner" and the New York Times best-seller "The Circle Maker." Mark is the founder and lead pastor of National Community Church (NCC), one church with 7 campuses throughout Washington D.C. National Community Church, known as one of the most innovative and influential churches in America, also owns and operates Ebenezers Coffeehouse, the Miracle Theatre, and the DC Dream Center. Connect with him at https://www.markbatterson.com/ and find his books...everywhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is about how you are arranging your life. Your days are not neutral, they are constantly forming you into the person you will be tomorrow and ongoing. As much as I and my peers in personal development would like to offer you the one, true holy grail of what will establish your life for the better, it doesn’t exist. But there are some fundamental and foundational awarenesses you must have for your greatest, personal success. Hearing them in this show won’t solve anything if you don’t do something about them. However, being aware, is truly, the start. There is very little chance you’ve thought out what you want in the primary areas of your life. Few have and as you’ll hear in the show, I never did really did either. I was brought up on goal planning and planning out your year and investing for the future. I didn’t do it. None of it. I wish I had and the reason for this ‘Special Edition’ show is due to a poignant event in my own life, which I’ll share in this show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A key to a great story plot or comedy routine is to take people along a predictive path and then disrupt it. Our human nature loves this because it ignites pleasurable feelings in our brain, in our mind. A master of communication who led us through some of the ways to leverage prediction is Jared Cooney Harvath, our main guest in episode 731. This is our Habits show and in the mental spoke, Jared shared a common tactic he uses is to break his own predictive patterns so as to foster new programming for his brain. What a simple and effective tactic. We generally want to find a routine we like and take the ease of sticking to it. In some regards this is good, as our mind can be on autopilot and freed up for other thinking and tasks. But if we completely routinize our lives we can become stagnant and complacent. I once had a friend dealing with OCD who was charged by her therapist to drive a different way home each day from work. She about blew a gasket not taking her tried and true, routine path, but it helped do the trick...to wake her mind up to other possibilities. This and the other spokes of Jared’s habits, in this show. You can find Jared’s book, "Stop Talking, Start Influencing: 12 Messages from Brain Science to Make Your Message Stick" on Amazon or wherever you buy books! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, this is interesting. In the episode I play a clip from Zig Ziglar on the power of words we speak with and about other people. Then I posted a question on Facebook that went a different direction. I asked, “If you were daily being recorded in secret, what would you be proud of, and what would you be embarrassed by?” I was literally thinking about our spoken words, what we say out loud, to others or in private. Many of the replies addressed this, but the common thread also included thoughts and behaviors and unfolded into what people are proud and ashamed of regarding their personal character. Another testimony to richness of these Q&A episodes being due to audience testimonies than my leading. I had Tom Ziglar co-host with me as we talked through the very candid and vulnerable testimonies that I know you will relate to. I think this show will give you both grace for your shame while increasing your conviction to pursue what you are proud of in your personal character. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even if they are listening, are they really hearing? Meetings. PowerPoint presentations. On stage talks, whether you are a pastor, presenter, or teacher. Selling. Anytime you are speaking and want people to really listen and be engaged. Chances are, you’re doing it wrong. Or, you could do it better. Jared Cooney Horvath is a cognitive neuroscientist with a master's degree from Harvard University and his doctorate from the University of Melbourne. His muse however, is the workplace. It’s selling and communicating and he walks us through what is normally done and why it’s so ineffective. He brilliantly lays out what the brain does when we talk while showing text, and we can only follow one, not both. He tells us why images add so much, but how many? Truly folks, this will resonate with you right off the bat and give you tremendous tips on what to do and what not to do in your next presentation of any type. It’s why he’s been featured in The New York Times, PBS, BBC, The Economist, New Scientist and ABC’s Catalyst. I shared this Jared’s book with a doctor and she responded that she stayed up late and totally reworked the presentation she was doing at a conference the next day. I’m prepping for a keynote speaking engagement overseas and following along with Jared’s counsel to structure the entire talk. The book is "Stop Talking, Start Influencing: 12 Messages from Brain Science to Make Your Message Stick" and it’s our focus of this episode. Find it on Amazon or wherever you buy books! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We generally approach conversations like we approach walking, you just do it. You don’t think much about it. While we aren’t judged too much on our walking, unless you’re a runway model, we are definitely judged, or maybe I should say responded to according to...how we do conversations. That reality is dramatically maximized when we have an agenda...when we are trying to influence someone to do something. Whether that doing is go on a date with us, getting kids to do homework or chores, or the big one...sell our product, service, or idea. Most everyone listening is at some point trying to sell someone, especially in our work, businesses, and careers. We are directly selling a product or service or idea and we are always along with it, selling ourselves. You may be trying to sell someone on giving you a raise or a promotion. So again, how do you go about it? Do you have any strategy at all? We talked with Phil Jones in episode 723 and some of what we covered was from his book, “Exactly What To Say”. With this topic in mind, I asked the Ziglar audience this question, “If I was really interested in your product or service and you had the chance to pitch me on it, right now, do you have any strategy for what you would say and how you would say it?” Ziglar’s roots are in sales, so I had Tom Ziglar join me in this show where we’ll work to cover this topic and help you understand a strategy you want for yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Boom. You wake in the morning and often the first, conscious thought is a worry, concern or anxiety. It sounds negative, but it may just be how our minds work, to first deal with any threat. But it’s not an optimal way to start the day and if we hold on to the worry it will likely taint the whole day. Neil Pasricha’s tactic is to take that thought captive in the first seconds of his day, and “let it go”. He writes it down in his journal to get it out of his head. Then he also writes down something he is grateful for and what he will focus on. He calls it his Two Minute Morning and actually sells a journal by that name that is a bestseller. Neil was my guest in show 727 where the topic was, quit living your fragile life. I encourage you to visit Neil.blog and subscribe to his podcast, 3 books with Neil Pasricha. And you can get his just released new book, “You Are Awesome” at neil.blog or wherever you buy books. This is our habits episode and it was the mental spoke where he shared his waking routine that kick-starts his day. Hear more about it and his habits in the other spokes on the Ziglar Wheel of Life, in this show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You daily, if not hourly, speak a series of words that take away your personal power. That steal your opportunity for power and control of your life. You may think it’s benign, but it absolutely is not. I brought on a special guest to discuss the issue. In this episode I have a dramatic mind hack for you. I’m actually not a fan of the whole “hack” terminology, as I don’t believe they exist...everything is a process. But this is one is hard not to give the “hack” label to, as it’s a very significant mind and life bender. The premise is, in many ways we’ve become a culture of victims. We justify and blame at an alarming rate. If right away you think, “Hey, that’s not me!” I did too, as I am not prone to place blame on others and I take full responsibility for myself. But wait, what about the circumstances? Even there, I thought…”I don’t make excuses!” Then I started listening to what I say and how often I make statements starting with, "I have to _____", "I've got to _____", "I need to _____". It’s just human nature, no different than when we see someone and say, “How are you doing?!” We aren’t actually asking how they are doing, it’s just a cliche’ way to say hi in America. Likewise, we habitually say things like, “Well ok, I’ve got to go to work now!” And, “Hey, I’ve gotta go pick up my kids.” Or, “Oh my gosh, I need to clean the house.” These are all, in truth, victim statements. They place blame on an object or circumstance or task and it takes us away from personal responsibility and the reality that pretty much 100% of all we do are things we want and choose to do. So I asked the question to the Ziglar audience, “Do you think it would be possible for you to replace all of these statements: "I have to _____", "I've got to _____", "I need to _____" - With: "I want to _____" ???? The very first response said, “Yes!” and the second said, “ If you want to lie to yourself”. The discussion went on from there. I brought on a special guest Dan Miller. My Dad. The reason why, I divulge right up front. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We live in a time of more conveniences, automation, safety, knowledge, and creature comforts than ever. In all reality most of us have a buffet of resources that should make our lives today easier than ever. Yet we seem to be sicker and sadder than ever. As a matter of fact, in regards to personal growth, health, and wellness it’s difficult to find any stat where we are improving. This is astounding. In this episode, renowned author, speaker and podcaster Neil Pasricha believes a root issue is our lack of resilience. The official definition of resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. But instead of pushing for anything great and invariably failing here and there, and learning and getting tougher on the journey to success (being resilient), more and more we are just striving to play it safe. Get it right the first time. Neil showcases the tragedy of this and schools us on having a “failure budget”. It’s a very needed and freeing message that Neil delivers in a beautiful paradigm. Neil Pasricha thinks, writes, and speaks about intentional living and is the New York Times bestselling author of five books, including his latest, You Are Awesome. His book, The Book of Awesome and The Happiness Equation, have together spent over 200 weeks on bestseller lists and have sold over 1,000,000 copies. He hosts the Apple 'Best of 2018' award-winning podcast 3 Books which features live conversations with guests such as Malcolm Gladwell, Judy Blume, David Sedaris, and Chris Anderson of TED. I encourage you to visit Neil.blog and subscribe to his podcast, 3 books with Neil Pasricha. And you can get his just released new book, “You Are Awesome” at neil.blog or wherever you buy books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we continue to breach the hard questions, this one is a doozy that massively affects our relationships. In this episode we hear a six minute message from Zig Ziglar where he shares a story and from it poses the question, “Why don’t we treat everyone like they are a VIP in our lives?” He cites the impact our perspective of another holds in our relationships. From his message I asked The Ziglar Show audience this question, “How much responsibility do you feel you should take for the relationships in your life, from spouse to parent to coworkers and beyond.” And boom...the responses came in. Right away the majority were either 100% or 50%. But differentiations were made between relationships, especially regarding work or parenting and positions of authority. I’ll preface the show by saying this is not a black and white issue. But knowing what our belief is will greatly influence the health of your relationships. It is a foundational topic we would all be best served to make a decision upon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you do to keep your mental edge sharp? This is the answer from Phil M Jones, our guest in show 723, “In my permanent quest for better, I follow every major activity I do with what I call the four Rs, my process is pretty structured; Reflect, review, refine and reschedule. First, I reflect. Then I review, ‘What did I like best?’ Then I refine, ‘Next time, what would I do different?’ Last I reschedule, ‘When will I utilize what I learned’?” That is a structure worth adopting. I also appreciated a primary ingredient for his mental wellness was great music appropriate to the mood he wanted to foster, as this is key on my personal list. He bookends his days with no devices which is something we discussed in my True Life Show podcast, episode six. Regarding financial, Phil says he knows what a day of his time is worth, even down to a wholesale cost any activity must equate to. And this is interesting, in his career spoke right now his most challenging issue is he's already outperformed any expectation he had for himself. That's surely not the norm. Those and more interesting and inspiring habits from Phil M Jones, in this episode. Look for Phil’s books at Amazon or where you get your books, "Exactly What to Say", "Exactly How to Sell" and "Exactly Where to Start" just type in Phil Jones Exactly and there you’ll have it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

That show title is a volatile question that will ultimately shape your life trajectory. All of us have made good and bad decisions that have resulted in making our circumstances better or worse. Hopefully we take responsibility for these decisions we know we made. Then there are the circumstances in our lives we did not choose and can not control. They happened to us; a hard childhood, abuse, car wrecks, toxic people, job loss, handicap, and much more. They were not our fault and we are not to blame. But how do we let those issues affect the rest of our lives? That...is a decision we all get to make. So for this episode I posted this question to the Ziglar audience, “Do you honestly believe that your current circumstances are a result of your personal choices?” What followed was 54 of possibly the most lengthy comments we’ve ever had, and some healthy debate. You may receive more freedom and empowerment from this show and topic than anything else we’ve ever covered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The worst time to think about the thing you are going to say is in the moment you are saying it,” says Phil M Jones, my guest in this show. Though we all know it is incredibly common to not think at all when we speak, we just blurt out whatever we think. Success comes from intentionality and training. As Zig Ziglar says, we are all in sales. Selling is influence and when it is done from love it is truly caring and connecting and serving someone. A speaker on stage with the most profound message ever will utterly fail the audience if they are not proficient in how to keep a crowd’s attention and adeptly get a point across. Likewise in any conversation you can utterly fail if you do not know some basic strategies of communication. But the great news is you can almost always succeed...if you are aware and prepared. This show will do this. Phil is the author of “Exactly What To Say” and we also get into the message from his new book, “Exactly When To Start.” He’s actually the author of five international best-selling books and has done over 2,000 presentations in over 50 countries across five continents. He’s an incredibly quote worthy individual, some quips I noted down included, “Change your words, change your world,” and “If you do now know why you are doing it, then why are you doing it?” We talked a good bit on that one. And from a literal sales tactic, the chapter on this lead in is incredible, “I’m not sure if it’s for you, but…” As you will hear in the show, I literally edited a promotion of mine after getting this from Phil. Look for Phil’s books at Amazon or where you get your books, "Exactly What to Say", "Exactly How to Sell" and "Exactly Where to Start" just type in Phil Jones Exactly and there you’ll have it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you have a product or service? Are you good at selling it? Between those two things is marketing. Getting interested parties in front of you. Key in on “interested”. Most of today’s marketing casts a very broad blanket out into the digital world and hopes to find the right people. Zig Ziglar referred to that as pursuing “suspects”. He was fond of “prospecting”, where you pursue people you know are interested in what you have to offer, based on three measurements or as Tom Ziglar says, “qualified” people. In this show we listen to a four minute message from Zig on prospecting, then I asked this question, “What type of marketing works best for your business?” (and what is your business?) Tons of responses. Tom Ziglar and I talked through a bunch of them to bring you a great crash course in what you can be doing to appropriately prospect and have more or the RIGHT people to sell to. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all know having a plan is the most secure way to ensure something happens. When was the last time you set out for a long road trip without directions to follow? Probably never. In this show we hear the daily routine of Tom Ziglar. This is a guy who has never known anything but planning for a positive, successful day. It doesn’t mean he’s perfect, but just like his father Zig, he has a tremendously solid plan for his day. This is our habits show and we walk through the seven spokes on the Ziglar Wheel of Life with Tom, I think you’ll appreciate hearing what the master himself does to procure his personal success! And if you haven’t already, go check out Tom’s new book, “Choose To Win”, wherever you buy your books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices