Meet Kyle Miller

We were lucky to catch up with Kyle Miller recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kyle, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

It’s a very challenging question to answer, because I think that can change over the years. I believe there are two types of purposes: long-term and short-term (and you could call those goals :)). My long-term purpose is to first and foremost share the Gospel with other people. Throughout my life I’ve come to learn how that is implemented in either subtle or overt ways. The short-term purpose (or goal) I have now is to continue to pursue art as both a passion and as a career. It is wonderful getting to know people and understanding how to interact with others. I grew up shy, so I wasn’t very good with being communicative. I am also learning not to be a pushover. It’s tough, but it feels empowering and relieving putting my foot down – knowing that I actually have control over my own life, and not everything is my business. I have heard countless times that “God wants you to use that gift/talent you have.” I actually ended up hating hearing that.
I actually just had a photographer tell me his story and how his kids are worried about what they’ll do for the rest of their lives. He told me he was wondering the same thing even after he got married. I’ve heard similar stories from other adults that have more years under their belts. When I asked my pastor for some guidance, his advice was, “Kyle, I think you’ve got the key in the ignition; now it’s time to drive.”
I continued to love drawing and pursuing other avenues of art, but it wasn’t until recently that I came closer to God and saw how I fit into society and how I could be helping my community. I realized there was a whole world waiting for me to connect with. The church that I work with has asked me to make videos for their LEAP program each year. Someone gave me some of the most priceless insight that I’ll never forget: that the work I did in one week could be used for people to remember for years to come. I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself, and to share stories, ideas, or messages with others through art, video, or photo.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I work primarily as a videographer, and I work on almost anything I can get my hands on. I have also gotten into real-estate photography, and already I have some interesting stories. In addition, I’d love to start taking pictures of food-related products, if my time allows. Probably my two most favorite types of video projects I’ve worked on are concerts and interviews. The LEAP interviews are some of my favorite works, as I like slower, long-form videos over short-form. Watching the interviewees’ eyes light up when I ask a certain question is always a highlight of the process. Most recently I’ve been working on illustrations that I have seen in my dreams. They’re not perfect, but I got tired of drawing Spider-Man and Team Fortress 2 characters. That will be what my portfolio primarily consists of for the foreseeable future.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The biggest piece of advice I’ve heard and personally experienced was that culture trumps competency. I hate that because it’s true! Sometimes you’re right about something, but no one else in the group is willing to be open-minded. When looking at it from a more positive perspective, this means that we should be kind, respectful, and professional on the job if we want to earn a place in the group. Some groups, however, can prove to be detrimental to our lives.

The second would be another piece of knowledge, and that is that kindness is priceless.

The third is taking advantage of good companionship. It’s okay if you fall out of touch with some people. They have their own lives and I have my own. If there is someone I want to stick around with in my life it is my responsibility and theirs to keep that relationship alive and well. It’s a difficult balancing act, but if you like someone enough, it won’t be hard.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

The first piece of advice would be to ask a question: did you have enough time for this beforehand? Unfortunately, I can procrastinate on projects and become overwhelmed as a result. I now keep a calendar in my room to remind me when something is due or if I have an event planned. I also use my phone’s calendar so I have events on-hand.

The other is to breathe. Breathing helps bring oxygen to the prefrontal cortex, which is important in making rational decisions.

The third is to pray. Sometimes I don’t actually stop and think about what I’m worried about – I just feel worried. Sometimes God will ask me things like: “Where are you going?” or, “What are you doing?” for me to better understand myself.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photo credits to Drew Miller for pioneerday0005.JPG and Aaron Nelson for Portland00087.jpeg

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