'Tis the season for holiday celebrations, miracles, and inspiration. Our Entrepreneur's Story this month was many years in the making. Our Entrepreneur this month, Jeff Miller, survived one of our nation's worst airline disasters in commercial aviation history. During this season of miracles, it makes one wonder if his survival was his good fortune or a "Divine Sign." This life changing event helped him understand the meaning of his life and eventually led him to quit his job and start his own business.
I have the feeling that this business is just the beginning in Jeff's new career path and that there's still more to come. Jeff, welcome to the world of entrepreneurship and may it be a long and safe ride.
I have the feeling that this business is just the beginning in Jeff's new career path and that there's still more to come. Jeff, welcome to the world of entrepreneurship and may it be a long and safe ride.
Jeff Miller
Jeff Miller of Schaumberg, IL is alive today and perhaps a business owner, because of a series of chance events and insignificant choices. Perhaps the man upstairs had a bigger plan for him.
In the summer of 1989 at the age of 29, Jeff boarded Flight 232 because his grandfather had died and he needed to return home for the funeral. He was 1000 miles from home on a family vacation with his pregnant wife, two toddlers and the family dog when he got the news. Being the oldest surviving male member of the family, he needed to return home to deliver his grandfather's eulogy.
Miller's job in the wireless data industry required a lot of travel, so he was a seasoned flyer. Jeff wasn't supposed to be on Flight 232. It so happened that his tiny commuter flight was delayed, and that caused him to miss his connecting flight from Denver to Chicago. When he got to Denver, there were two flights leaving at nearly the same time for Chicago. Jeff chose the DC-10 jumbo jet because of its reputation for serving better in-flight meals. He also asked for a seat change moving up several rows to be more comfortable.
The first 67 minutes of the flight were uneventful. Jeff relaxed, ate lunch and thumbed through his Bible for passages he could use for his grandfather's eulogy. Suddenly the jet's tail engine exploded like a loud bomb and the fragments shredded all three hydraulic systems, making it near impossible to steer. Although the plane could fly with the remaining two engines, landing safely would be nearly impossible.
You can just imagine what went on in the cabin after the senior flight attendance announced to the passengers that they were going to have to prepare for a crash landing. Thoughts ran through Jeff's mind. "We're going to crash. I'm going to be OK. I'm going to blow up or be cut in half." One cannot prepare for an event like this.
The plane was diverted away from populated areas. The plane dropped at a rate of 1,600 feet per minute in the last 15 seconds. The right wing hit the ground first and the plane burst into flames. The plane split into three main sections and flipped three times before coming to rest in an Iowa cornfield. Still buckled in his seat, Jeff opened his eyes and found himself hanging from what was now the ceiling. "I was still cognizant internally. I knew I was upside down. I knew I had to get out of there before I burned to death..."
112 passengers died on Flight 232. Another 46 suffered serious injuries and another 125 suffered minor injuries. Miller was one of just 13 passengers completed unscathed. Most of the people in the row where he was initially assigned were killed. "I walked off without a scratch, with no scars - physically, emotionally or mentally," Miller said. "I've been able to package this up as a positive experience."
There were many life lessons Jeff learned that day. "When you grab your ankles at 30,000 feet you realize what's important and what's not." He resolved not to let this experience traumatize him, but instead to use the crash as motivation to inspire others and to go after his own dreams. He truly believes that it was meant for him to survive the crash and that life had a greater purpose.
Jeff knew there was a bigger plan for him and that he would eventually need to explore his options and take control of his future. He always had the ambition to do something on this own. He just didn't know what that was or how to go about finding it. He was making good money as the VP of World Wide Sales for a wireless data company. He had started business units for his company and was helping others get rich. He was tired of the responsibility without the authority. The crash, Miller believes, gave him the courage to quit his corporate job and start his own business.
Through his church, Jeff made friends with a colleague of mine, Mike Waller. Jeff discussed his entrepreneurial aspirations with Mike and the many ideas he and his wife had discussed over the years. Jeff was a sales and marketing guy and he just didn't know what kind of business would be the right fit. Mike guided him through our process of Discovery. He helped Jeff build a picture of what the business would look like and what he would be doing in the business. He introduced him to several business models so that Jeff could compare and contrast and experience the business from the owner's point of view.
One of the businesses was a sign business. Jeff's initial reaction was, "no way!" But the validation of the business helped him realize that his customer relations and customer service skills along with his creativity would be a big asset in this type of business. He was going to be in the business of making signs and providing graphic solutions. He wasn't going to be the sign maker. In Jeff's own words, "my E-Source coach, Mike Waller, took my nebulous dream and made it a reality."
Jeff has been in business for over 5 years and has recently moved into a new and larger facility. He didn't buy a franchise, but a structured business opportunity. The parent company, Signworld, provided all the training, equipment and support without the ongoing royalties. Jeff's business is a full service sign and graphic manufacturer. He provides banners, event signs, exterior and interior signage along with vehicle graphics and window lettering. It is a "divine" business for Jeff and his wife Michelle. It has allowed him to give back to his community of Schaumburg with a custom designed product and outstanding customer service. It has also served as the vehicle to the life he wants to lead.
Jeff Miller uses the control and flexibility that business ownership has provided as the conduit for making hundreds of public speeches emphasizing the importance of positive thinking and letting go of old wounds. Unlike many of the survivors, Jeff never sued the airlines. He knew there was a greater calling. Perhaps it was a "divine" calling.
Did I forget to mention that Jeff named his business "Divine Signs"? Can you think about anything more appropriate?
Divine Signs is located at 735 Estes Ave, Schaumburg, IL. If you're in the need for any type of sign or graphic, please give Jeff a call at 847-380-3072 or e-mail him at jmiller@divinesignsinc.com. He'll be happy to share the rest of the story.
In the summer of 1989 at the age of 29, Jeff boarded Flight 232 because his grandfather had died and he needed to return home for the funeral. He was 1000 miles from home on a family vacation with his pregnant wife, two toddlers and the family dog when he got the news. Being the oldest surviving male member of the family, he needed to return home to deliver his grandfather's eulogy.
Miller's job in the wireless data industry required a lot of travel, so he was a seasoned flyer. Jeff wasn't supposed to be on Flight 232. It so happened that his tiny commuter flight was delayed, and that caused him to miss his connecting flight from Denver to Chicago. When he got to Denver, there were two flights leaving at nearly the same time for Chicago. Jeff chose the DC-10 jumbo jet because of its reputation for serving better in-flight meals. He also asked for a seat change moving up several rows to be more comfortable.
The first 67 minutes of the flight were uneventful. Jeff relaxed, ate lunch and thumbed through his Bible for passages he could use for his grandfather's eulogy. Suddenly the jet's tail engine exploded like a loud bomb and the fragments shredded all three hydraulic systems, making it near impossible to steer. Although the plane could fly with the remaining two engines, landing safely would be nearly impossible.
You can just imagine what went on in the cabin after the senior flight attendance announced to the passengers that they were going to have to prepare for a crash landing. Thoughts ran through Jeff's mind. "We're going to crash. I'm going to be OK. I'm going to blow up or be cut in half." One cannot prepare for an event like this.
The plane was diverted away from populated areas. The plane dropped at a rate of 1,600 feet per minute in the last 15 seconds. The right wing hit the ground first and the plane burst into flames. The plane split into three main sections and flipped three times before coming to rest in an Iowa cornfield. Still buckled in his seat, Jeff opened his eyes and found himself hanging from what was now the ceiling. "I was still cognizant internally. I knew I was upside down. I knew I had to get out of there before I burned to death..."
112 passengers died on Flight 232. Another 46 suffered serious injuries and another 125 suffered minor injuries. Miller was one of just 13 passengers completed unscathed. Most of the people in the row where he was initially assigned were killed. "I walked off without a scratch, with no scars - physically, emotionally or mentally," Miller said. "I've been able to package this up as a positive experience."
There were many life lessons Jeff learned that day. "When you grab your ankles at 30,000 feet you realize what's important and what's not." He resolved not to let this experience traumatize him, but instead to use the crash as motivation to inspire others and to go after his own dreams. He truly believes that it was meant for him to survive the crash and that life had a greater purpose.
Jeff knew there was a bigger plan for him and that he would eventually need to explore his options and take control of his future. He always had the ambition to do something on this own. He just didn't know what that was or how to go about finding it. He was making good money as the VP of World Wide Sales for a wireless data company. He had started business units for his company and was helping others get rich. He was tired of the responsibility without the authority. The crash, Miller believes, gave him the courage to quit his corporate job and start his own business.
Through his church, Jeff made friends with a colleague of mine, Mike Waller. Jeff discussed his entrepreneurial aspirations with Mike and the many ideas he and his wife had discussed over the years. Jeff was a sales and marketing guy and he just didn't know what kind of business would be the right fit. Mike guided him through our process of Discovery. He helped Jeff build a picture of what the business would look like and what he would be doing in the business. He introduced him to several business models so that Jeff could compare and contrast and experience the business from the owner's point of view.
One of the businesses was a sign business. Jeff's initial reaction was, "no way!" But the validation of the business helped him realize that his customer relations and customer service skills along with his creativity would be a big asset in this type of business. He was going to be in the business of making signs and providing graphic solutions. He wasn't going to be the sign maker. In Jeff's own words, "my E-Source coach, Mike Waller, took my nebulous dream and made it a reality."
Jeff has been in business for over 5 years and has recently moved into a new and larger facility. He didn't buy a franchise, but a structured business opportunity. The parent company, Signworld, provided all the training, equipment and support without the ongoing royalties. Jeff's business is a full service sign and graphic manufacturer. He provides banners, event signs, exterior and interior signage along with vehicle graphics and window lettering. It is a "divine" business for Jeff and his wife Michelle. It has allowed him to give back to his community of Schaumburg with a custom designed product and outstanding customer service. It has also served as the vehicle to the life he wants to lead.
Jeff Miller uses the control and flexibility that business ownership has provided as the conduit for making hundreds of public speeches emphasizing the importance of positive thinking and letting go of old wounds. Unlike many of the survivors, Jeff never sued the airlines. He knew there was a greater calling. Perhaps it was a "divine" calling.
Did I forget to mention that Jeff named his business "Divine Signs"? Can you think about anything more appropriate?
Divine Signs is located at 735 Estes Ave, Schaumburg, IL. If you're in the need for any type of sign or graphic, please give Jeff a call at 847-380-3072 or e-mail him at jmiller@divinesignsinc.com. He'll be happy to share the rest of the story.
Jeff utilized the tragic experience of an airline disaster as an inspiration and to take contol of his future and to inspire others.
During this holiday season, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a joyous holiday season and happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.
For many, New Year is a symbol of new beginnings. You don't have to wait for a life changing event to go after your dreams. If you think that business owner is something you'd like to learn about in the new year, please give me a call. I'll be happy to help you explore your options and possibilities. The experience of learning is "divine". |
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