Whether you’re aiming to take your business to new heights, increase sales and productivity, or raise confident, responsible kids—you’re exactly where you need to be.

What’s the secret? It’s the power of personal accountability — and it all starts with the bestselling book QBQ! The Question Behind the Question.

If you haven’t read it yet, we highly recommend picking up a copy. It’s packed with practical wisdom that can transform how you lead at work, grow as a parent, and succeed in life.

Every episode of our podcast, hosted by Kristin and John, dives into these powerful concepts, showing how personal accountability is the foundation of success in all areas of life.

No blame. No excuses. Just ownership — it’s really that simple.

Ready to take that next step? Tune in to our latest episodes and start asking better questions today.

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“Where did QBQ come from?”

It all started with 10,000 hours — hours spent listening to managers, leading workshops, and asking: “What’s the better question?”
From the back of training rooms to a moment on a treadmill in 1994, John Miller saw it clearly: organizations thrive when people take personal accountability. The Question Behind the Question (QBQ!) was born — not in theory, but in real-life stories of people pointing fingers, complaining, and waiting for “them” to fix it.

In 1995, John took the leap: he left a secure career, invested his own money, and stepped onto stages nationwide to share QBQ. With no website, no email, just phone calls and cassette tapes, he built a national speaking career — one question at a time.

The first book — simple, blue, and silver — sold 50,000 copies when most books never crack 5,000. It turned the QBQ idea into a movement that’s still changing lives today.

The message?
Ask better questions. Stop blaming, complaining, and procrastinating. Practice personal accountability — in work, leadership, parenting, and life.

QBQ remains as practical and powerful as ever — and now, the legacy continues in new ways, like this podcast.

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What happens when one bold piece of advice changes everything?

In Part 2 of the Story of QBQ! series, we dive into the pivotal moment when a friend challenged John Miller with seven powerful words:
 "If you don't like your life, change it!"

That spark led John to walk away from his safe desk job and take a leap into sales—a world he knew nothing about. Guided by a mentor who let him fail his way forward, John built the foundation that would eventually launch his successful speaking career and the creation of QBQ! The Question Behind the Question®.

🎙️ In this episode:

• The courage to leave comfort behind
• Learning through failure (and why that’s a good thing)
• How mentorship and accountability shaped John’s future
• The early seeds of the QBQ message

🔑 A story about risk, responsibility, and the power of owning your choices.

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In this episode, we take a step back in time to explore the early life and beginnings of John G. Miller — long before he became the author of QBQ! and a leading voice on personal accountability. From growing up in a large family in Upstate New York to navigating his first jobs and early career challenges, John shares the moments and influences that shaped his values, work ethic, and eventual path as a speaker and writer. Interviewed by his eldest daughter and co-speaker, Kristin Lindeen, it’s a personal, down-to-earth look at the man behind the message.

Whether you're a longtime fan or just getting to know John, this episode offers a fresh perspective on where it all began.

#JohnGMiller #QBQPodcast #OriginStory #Leadership #PersonalAccountability #SelfDevelopment #QBQpodcastseries

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When HR leads with accountability, everyone wins.

How Liberty Hospital’s HR leader turned one simple book into a movement of personal accountability.

Liberty Hospital’s VP of HR, Thomas Murphy, joins Kristin Lindeen to share how QBQ! transformed leadership and culture from the inside out. Discover how personal accountability—not policy—creates stronger teams, better communication, and lasting organizational change.
From shifting mindsets to building consistency across every level of leadership, this conversation shows what happens when people stop asking “Who’s to blame?” and start asking “What can I do?”

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Managers shape culture more than any perk or policy. In this episode, John G. Miller and Kristin Lindeen explore why people often leave managers—not companies—and how personal accountability, humility, and the lessons from Outstanding! can help leaders become truly effective.

Resources: 

13 Fatal Errors Managers Make and How to Avoid Them by W. Steven Brown

Outstanding! 47 Ways to Make Your Organization Exceptional by John G. Miller

Manager Training using the Outstanding! material, with Kristin Lindeen

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What happens when entitlement and blame meet a culture of accountability? In this episode of the QBQ! Podcast, Kristin Lindeen sits down with Steve Chamberlin, Chief Revenue Officer of Momentum Textiles and Wallcovering, to explore how QBQ has shaped his leadership across multiple organizations since 2007.

From transforming Husqvarna’s culture with “Believe or Leave,” to modeling accountability in new roles, to handing out QBQ books to anyone who needs the message—Steve shares stories of how personal accountability isn’t just a corporate tool, it’s a life principle.

You’ll hear:

• Why negative thinking spreads faster than positivity—and how to stop it.
• The difference between holding people accountable and being accountable.
• How leaders can create clarity with KPIs and still inspire growth.
• Why “What can I do?” is the most powerful question in business and life.

Whether you’re leading a sales team, coaching a sport, or raising a family, this episode reminds us that accountability isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of performance.

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It’s easy to teach accountability—but much harder to live it at home. Kristin and her husband Erik share real stories of marriage, parenting, and the messy, funny, humbling moments of practicing what they preach with QBQ.

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What’s the #1 takeaway from QBQ? According to creator John G. Miller, it’s simple: I can only change me. 

In this episode, John and Kristin unpack how that truth transforms marriages, parenting, and workplaces alike. From counseling breakthroughs to a young wife who literally saved her marriage with QBQ, the stories highlight the freeing power of personal accountability. 

Stop trying to fix others—discover what happens when you focus on yourself instead.

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Kristin talks with Joe Hamilton, CEO and President of Vortex Optics, about building a thriving family business through consistency, service, and personal accountability. Joe shares Vortex’s journey from a small trade show tent to the world’s largest sport optics brand, his first encounter with QBQ!, and how its principle-based approach became part of the culture at Vortex. With personal stories—from folding laundry with his kids to owning mistakes at work—Joe shows how QBQ! habits create a ripple effect across teams and customers. He also reveals Vortex’s mission to “Create A Rare Experience” (C.A.R.E.) and why starting with “I” is the key to transforming both leadership and company culture.

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Why “we” dilutes accountability. Kristin explains why QBQ is always about the “I”—and how shifting your questions can drive real personal accountability. At QBQ, Inc., we've spent over two decades helping teams and individuals understand the power of PERSONAL accountability. Listen in to find out how we make sure to differentiate QBQ! from others forms of accountability training. 

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In this episode, Kristin and her dad, John, pull back the curtain on how QBQ! operates today—from selling books and licensing training to delivering powerful keynotes and workshops. They reflect on what makes QBQ successful in organizations long-term, share behind-the-scenes stories from clients like Husqvarna and Kiddie Academy, and emphasize the role of leadership ownership in sustaining change. You’ll hear why QBQ isn’t just a one-time program—it’s a cultural shift. Plus, a few laughs, a little parenting wisdom, and an open invite to share your own QBQ story!

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In this episode, John and Kristin pick up where Part 3 left off—sharing what happened after the first QBQ book hit the shelves. Hear how one self-published book titled Personal Accountability evolved into multiple editions of QBQ! The Question Behind the Question, and how unexpected moments—like a request from a hotel chain or a question from an audience member—shaped the content and the company. From living rooms to boardrooms, the message of personal accountability has stuck with people for decades, creating a ripple effect across industries.

Join us as we explore how real feedback, practical tools, and the simple focus on “What can I do?” made QBQ a lasting solution to workplace blame, victim thinking, and procrastination.

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