Episode 397 - Leaving the CEO Chair for a $500M Mission | Scott Miller

Scott Miller (0:00)

John Searcy founded the business in 1952 They planted the seeds that have made the trees that are the shade that we sit under. There was a little bit of a don't drop the meat in the dirt kind of thinking. How can we build on the foundation that he and the other folks laid? Getting to see and build on what he had done that was completely rooted in biblical principles. Gods were just straight up obedience, generosity, a joyful, fun spirit. So we got to take what again wasn't necessarily codified and create a purpose statement.

SPEAKER_2 (0:41)

Bold visionaries, faithful disruptors. Some call them crazy, but they are called to create under his power for his glory. The Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast.

Our guest today is Scott Miller, who stepped into the CEO chair after 25 years serving inside the business. Now, after serving as CEO for 10 years, he steps out of the seat and leading his family's largest investment ever. A half a billion dollar effort to train pastors in 3.7 million churches.

Scott Miller is leading with conviction. Let's have a talk with Scott Miller.

Justin Forman (1:20)

Hey, one of the things I love about Faith Driven Entrepreneur is we get to see people in all different walks, all different perspectives of where God has them. And Scott, you've got a unique story here. Being a part of something that with your dad for so many years, and I think it's the proverbial question. Maybe we think about it in sports terms. Is it easier or is it harder to follow in the footsteps of a legendary leader? What's been your experience following up with your dad's legacy?

Scott Miller (1:48)

Great question. I would say, gosh, I'd say easier.

He and the folks that were around him did so much laying of the foundation.

They built the paths for us.

A friend of mine has said this. He said, they planted the trees. They planted the seeds that have made the trees that are the shade that we sit under today. I think he said it better than I just said it, but you get the idea. So when I got to come in and be a part of the business, and specifically when I had the opportunity to lead the business, it was a huge blessing that so much of that work had been done leading up to my opportunity. So there was a little bit of don't drop the meat in the dirt kind of thinking. There was some of that there. And then also, of course, was like, wow, okay, so what can we do? How can we build on the foundation that he and the other folks laid? But I think without a doubt, getting to see and build on what he had done, that was completely rooted in Biblical principles, God's word, other believers coming alongside him, offering counsel and perspective, a mindset of just straight up obedience, a mindset of generosity, a joyful, fun spirit. These things existed. They weren't necessarily articulated, codified at the time, but they existed. And so when our team took the reins, one of the things that we did from the very outset was say, okay, listen, this place is beautiful and wonderful, and God has been with us.

How can we take what's been done and make sure that it's perfectly clear to ourselves and others why we are here and how we want to be with one another? So we got to take what, again, wasn't necessarily codified and create a purpose statement. And then we got to take what we felt living amongst the people and within the walls. And through nine months of going through a stakeholder interview process, we were able to codify our values at the same time. So without them, him really leading the way, that would have been a much more challenging process to go through. I'm confident we would have got there. But man, at that point, it just came down to us really kind of describing what existed and then making sure that everybody had clarity about it. And it makes decision making so much easier when the hash marks, the ground rules are defined.

Justin Forman (5:13)

I love that you're talking about seasons. A venture goes through, first you just do it, then it's there and then you need to really kind of take those steps to codify it. So contrast you and your dad for me. Personality, background, he's a founder blazing the trail and early stages versus the different skill set that you've brought to the table.

Scott Miller (5:33)

My dad is immensely creative, constant generator of ideas. He had a very strong marketing mindset, a creative mindset, brand building, a salesman at heart. If you look at the first, gosh, three decades of Interstate, we were a sales organization, and he was our four-star general, and he was, is a fantastic communicator, and he was able to rally troops to go attack the market with a value proposition that didn't exist until we brought it to the table in our sector.