Meet John Miller of QBQ.com in Northern Denver suburbs

Today we’d like to introduce you to John Miller.

Thanks for sharing your story with us John. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born in 1958 in Ithaca, N.Y. My dad was the Cornell University wrestling coach and a small-town pastor. This is probably why I love to coach and teach.

At 22, I married a 19-year-old named Karen, in June 1980 I was hired by Cargill off the Cornell campus to be a “grain trader.” We lived in three states in five years, finally settling in Minneapolis, MN. In early 1986, I began a new career providing leadership and sales management training to Twin Cities, MN corporations from all industries.

This is how and when I created the concept of “QBQ! The Question Behind the Question.” Throughout a decade of selling and facilitating training for executives and managers, I discovered the incredible need for personal accountability. In 1995, I chose to become a keynote speaker, titling my sessions “Personal Accountability and the QBQ!”—even though some people told me that “personal accountability isn’t a topic.” When my speaking career took off, I began writing books, gaining the new title of “author.”

In late 1997, the Millers left Minnesota for Denver, Colorado, where the sun shines 300 days each year. We have seven “Millennial” children, six girls and one son. Four of them came “the homemade way” and in 2000 we gained three more through adoption. We now have 11 grandchildren. 🙂

Karen and I together authored the “Raising Accountable Kids” book.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The most difficult part of being a salesperson is finding new clients. I was trained as a twentysomething to cold call by phone, calling executives asking for an appointment. I then would go to their offices to hold face-to-face sales calls.

Initially selling management training, I learned that “training” is a discretionary product. Few corporations see training as necessary. So, persuasiveness was a skill I needed to develop. This ability served me well as I moved into keynote speaking and writing books.

When these careers took off, traveling became a burden for our family, but we managed it well. To this day, Karen and I have no regrets.

Please tell us about your work.
I speak on and write about the powerful and life-changing principle of Personal Accountability. The QBQ! book has sold 1.5 million copies and is translated into more than 25 languages. The content is all about how to eliminate victim/entitlement thinking, blame and finger-pointing, and procrastination.

QBQ! is purchased by corporations but also by individuals. The material aids in building marriages, parenting skills, emotional health, and teamwork. QBQ! also helps people reduce stress and take greater ownership of their lives.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is always determined and measured by each person. However, a definition of “Excellence” we employ is this: “Setting and achieving personally worthy goals while celebrating each step of success along the way.”

Contact Info:

• Website: QBQ.com
• Phone: 303-286-9900
• Email: john@qbq.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qbqjohn/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheQBQ
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/QBQGuy

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