Mental health is a tabu subject. And that is exactly why Cory Miller is sharing his story. He went through a divorce, and one of the effects was depression. It affected his ability to lead his team and make decisions in his business. Fortunately, he had an attorney who recognized the symptoms and suggested he see a counselor. Now, on the other side personal tragedy, Cory is telling entrepreneurs to pay attention to their mental health. He has done what few people would ever do. He was interviewed for Inc. magazine about his experience and is speaking openly at WordCamps across the country about the danger of poor mental health to your business and family.
Podcast: Download
Get to Know Your Customer
- What is the most important thing you can share about pricing?
- Pricing is a part of a larger negotiation between the buyer and seller.
- When you offer significant value, price does not matter; it is just a formality to pay it.
- Price is the start of a negotiation.
- It is bigger than a negotiation over a number.
- It is a negotiation of value between buyer and seller.
- What is the foremost pricing lesson you have learned at iThemes?
- Know your customer to the core.
- Provide exceptional value for the community to make their lives awesome.
- Think of the core thing that you are trying to solve.
- iThemes tries to save money, prevent loss of data and offer peace of mind.
- What are the customers‘ obstacles, and challenges?
- What is the customer's journey?
- What obstacles that arise could our products solve?
- Those answers direct product development, the sales page, and technical support.
[clickToTweet tweet=”When you offer significant value, price does not matter; it is just a formality to pay it.” quote=”When you offer significant value, price does not matter; it is just a formality to pay it.”]
Understand Value Like the Customer
- What is the value conversation for a risk management product like backup or security?
- BackupBuddy was created because a dedicated server crashed, without a backup.
- Cory personally lost photos and blog content that he can never get back.
- There is no number that he could assign to that loss.
- He asks his customers, how much do you value your online work: website, e-commerce data, blog posts, comments?
- iThemes Security was created because one of his websites was getting nailed with spam and bad login attempts.
- Cory did not even understand how bad his site was being attacked.
- These products are like insurance.
- Empathize with the customer's journey.
- It helps if you have your personal stories to relate.
- BackupBuddy was created because a dedicated server crashed, without a backup.
- What is the correct balance between gathering and implementing feedback?
- The vocal minority tells you what is critical and what they want.
- The majority is silent.
- Customer empathy and understanding their journey is the key.
- A translator between the customer and the developer is important to avoid disconnects.
- You do not want the customer to talk directly to the developer becasue they speak different languages.
- The technician and the customer perceive value in different ways.
- What is the advantage of having a “customer advocate” on your team?
- You have to step your game up to know and serve your customers better than the competition.
- You want the customer to feel an empty void if you are to leave.
- He is conducting his own iPhone vs. Android comparison to make sure he understands his customer's perception of value.
- Get as close to the customer's experience as possible.
- Understand whatever affects your customer and then think through the future and lead them.
- iTheme's purpose is to take customers from transactional to transformational.
- They want to go from making a profit to transforming lives, by making sure their customers are in the best place possible.
[clickToTweet tweet=”When employees know their leader is maintaining his health and happiness, they are more confident.” quote=”When employees know their leader is maintaining his health and happiness, they are more confident.”]
Your Mental Health Is Important
- Why is mental health important to an entrepreneur?
- Cory was interviewed for an article in Inc. magazine, Why This Entrepreneur Is Talking to the Tech World About Mental Health.
- He is a voracious reader and shares articles with team members to increase their quality of life.
- Entrepreneurism is a tough sport; most family and friends do not understand.
- He shared his story publicly, including his mental health and divorce, and most people had no idea.
- He wanted others to understand that they are not alone.
- He was helped greatly by some experiences, and if he did not share them, it would be a tragedy.
- The key is empathizing with your fellow human being; just care about people.
- He chooses to use his time, talent and treasure to serve other human beings by making their lives awesome.
- He was divorced and suffered low-grade depression.
- The statistics for entrepreneurs shows he is not alone.
- His attorney suggested he go to see a counselor.
- His biggest fear was feeling vulnerable; he uses a digital journal to help.
- Building intricate, healthy, loving, reciprocal relationships around you is important.
- Four times a year, he calls his counselor to get a professional opinion, where he can unload his baggage and leave it at the door.
- He sets time alone with his family and team to pour into each others' lives.
- It makes you happier and healthier when you decide what you will and will not allow into your life.
- What is the impact of good and poor mental health in your business?
- At one point, his team was concerned.
- He realized he had a responsibility to the people in the families supported by the business.
- He had tried to skate by on his ego and pride, but he has committed never to try to do it alone again.
- Healthy relationships and a professional counselor have made a big difference.
- Being mentally healthy as the leader of the company makes his team better.
- When they know their leader is working to maintain his own health and happiness, they are more confident in what the business is doing.
- You have to be responsible for your happiness.
- That responsibility applies to your team members too – you cannot carry them.
- Six Pillars of Self-Esteem is a great book that he wished he had read as a child.
- It helped him take responsibility of just being himself.
- “Show up filled up” (Kary Oberbrunner) to take care of yourself, your family, your team and your customers.
- Your health and happiness have to come first, or you are no good for your spouse, your kids, your team, etc.
- Your customers and team, deep down, can see that things are not fully right.
- What is one of the best books you have read about mental health?
- He bought The Happiness Advantage for his team.
- Share around your dinner table with your family 3 things that you are thankful for every night.
- His favorite book is Six Pillars of Self-Esteem, about leading cautiously and accepting your feelings.
- He has recommended reading on his site.
- Books are a very cheap way to gain amazing wisdom.
- By putting them on your Kindle, you can take them with you anywhere.
- He has over 300 books on his iPhone so he can carry the wisdom with him.
- What is one of your best stories about creating value for a customer?
- Three years ago, he was at a WordCamp in New York City meeting with customers.
- His wife asked him to share a story about how a customer's life was changed.
- You can treasure the stories about how you are a part of a life transformation.
About Cory Miller
Cory Miller founded iThemes in 2008. iThemes was one of the first commercial companies in the WordPress space. Its mission is to make people's lives awesome. They have a core suite of products including BackupBuddy, iThemes Security, and Exchange. Before founding iThemes, Cory was the communication director of a church with a staff of zero.
- Cory on Twitter: @corymiller303
- Cory's Blog: corymiller.com
Leave a Reply