Aaron Miller
@aaronmiller.info
Professor in BYU's George Romney Institute of Public Service and Ethics, teaching public service/social impact students.
https://aaronmiller.info
https://how-to-help.com
https://aaronmiller.info
https://how-to-help.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:53 PM
November 4, 2025 at 11:42 PM
November 3, 2025 at 4:47 AM
October 6, 2025 at 1:29 AM
October 4, 2025 at 9:28 PM
September 30, 2025 at 4:38 PM
A common misunderstanding people have about finding a calling in life is that a calling means being free from any frustration, mundanity, or discomfort. The things worth doing *all* involve work that is, at times, unpleasant.
Better advice is to follow your blisters, not your bliss. #fromclasstoday
Better advice is to follow your blisters, not your bliss. #fromclasstoday
September 25, 2025 at 11:08 PM
A common misunderstanding people have about finding a calling in life is that a calling means being free from any frustration, mundanity, or discomfort. The things worth doing *all* involve work that is, at times, unpleasant.
Better advice is to follow your blisters, not your bliss. #fromclasstoday
Better advice is to follow your blisters, not your bliss. #fromclasstoday
You might have heard this before: “Choose a job you love, and you will never work a day in your life.” I think that's wrong, and misleading. #fromclasstoday
September 25, 2025 at 11:08 PM
You might have heard this before: “Choose a job you love, and you will never work a day in your life.” I think that's wrong, and misleading. #fromclasstoday
#fromclasstoday
In a dilemma, it feels like you're choosing from a list of premade options. But that's not how decisions really work. The given options can almost certainly be improved.
Making decisions means *making* them, like crafting an outcome that upholds what you value most.
In a dilemma, it feels like you're choosing from a list of premade options. But that's not how decisions really work. The given options can almost certainly be improved.
Making decisions means *making* them, like crafting an outcome that upholds what you value most.
September 22, 2025 at 8:27 PM
#fromclasstoday
In a dilemma, it feels like you're choosing from a list of premade options. But that's not how decisions really work. The given options can almost certainly be improved.
Making decisions means *making* them, like crafting an outcome that upholds what you value most.
In a dilemma, it feels like you're choosing from a list of premade options. But that's not how decisions really work. The given options can almost certainly be improved.
Making decisions means *making* them, like crafting an outcome that upholds what you value most.
The 8x on the iPhone 17 Pro is pretty great
September 22, 2025 at 1:33 AM
The 8x on the iPhone 17 Pro is pretty great
September 21, 2025 at 10:49 PM
During this period on the Fortune 500, Polaroid went from 480 to 205. Polaroid was an incredible company in its prime. And that's because Edwin Land, its CEO, knew where the real bottom line was.
September 17, 2025 at 11:33 PM
During this period on the Fortune 500, Polaroid went from 480 to 205. Polaroid was an incredible company in its prime. And that's because Edwin Land, its CEO, knew where the real bottom line was.
- Elimination of time-clocks for determining pay
- A vocational exploration program for all employees
- Women hired into leadership roles since 1930’s
- First major affirmative action program following assassination of Dr. King
- Pioneering corporate philanthropy and community engagement
- A vocational exploration program for all employees
- Women hired into leadership roles since 1930’s
- First major affirmative action program following assassination of Dr. King
- Pioneering corporate philanthropy and community engagement
September 17, 2025 at 11:33 PM
- Elimination of time-clocks for determining pay
- A vocational exploration program for all employees
- Women hired into leadership roles since 1930’s
- First major affirmative action program following assassination of Dr. King
- Pioneering corporate philanthropy and community engagement
- A vocational exploration program for all employees
- Women hired into leadership roles since 1930’s
- First major affirmative action program following assassination of Dr. King
- Pioneering corporate philanthropy and community engagement
How much do you know about the original Polaroid? (More from my Helping class today.)
What most people don't know is that Polaroid was a pioneer in creating a workplace where people could flourish. These slides show the Two Aims of the company, and here's what these aims led to:
What most people don't know is that Polaroid was a pioneer in creating a workplace where people could flourish. These slides show the Two Aims of the company, and here's what these aims led to:
September 17, 2025 at 11:33 PM
How much do you know about the original Polaroid? (More from my Helping class today.)
What most people don't know is that Polaroid was a pioneer in creating a workplace where people could flourish. These slides show the Two Aims of the company, and here's what these aims led to:
What most people don't know is that Polaroid was a pioneer in creating a workplace where people could flourish. These slides show the Two Aims of the company, and here's what these aims led to:
And so we discuss human flourishing from the perspective of philosophers, psychologists, economists, and governments. But we land on the excellent Harvard Flourishing Measure, which you can take for yourself here.
https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu/measuring-flourishing
https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu/measuring-flourishing
September 17, 2025 at 12:00 AM
And so we discuss human flourishing from the perspective of philosophers, psychologists, economists, and governments. But we land on the excellent Harvard Flourishing Measure, which you can take for yourself here.
https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu/measuring-flourishing
https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu/measuring-flourishing
Are you flourishing? Are the people in your life flourishing?
This week in my Helping Behavior class we're talking about how the only help we give that really matters is what helps someone flourish. So thinking about how people flourish makes us better helpers.
This week in my Helping Behavior class we're talking about how the only help we give that really matters is what helps someone flourish. So thinking about how people flourish makes us better helpers.
September 17, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Are you flourishing? Are the people in your life flourishing?
This week in my Helping Behavior class we're talking about how the only help we give that really matters is what helps someone flourish. So thinking about how people flourish makes us better helpers.
This week in my Helping Behavior class we're talking about how the only help we give that really matters is what helps someone flourish. So thinking about how people flourish makes us better helpers.
Thinking today about this description of healing from trauma that Rabbi Myers shared on an episode earlier this year. His synagogue, Tree of Life, suffered from a mass murder in their spiritual home almost 7 years ago.
September 12, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Thinking today about this description of healing from trauma that Rabbi Myers shared on an episode earlier this year. His synagogue, Tree of Life, suffered from a mass murder in their spiritual home almost 7 years ago.
Some of the best advice you'll ever get is to keep a list (in Notes on your phone) of people you go to for advice.
I've taught business ethics for 18 years now, and I still turn to the people I trust to help me figure out hard decisions.
We call it a CAM list: Counselors, Allies, and Mentors.
I've taught business ethics for 18 years now, and I still turn to the people I trust to help me figure out hard decisions.
We call it a CAM list: Counselors, Allies, and Mentors.
September 11, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Some of the best advice you'll ever get is to keep a list (in Notes on your phone) of people you go to for advice.
I've taught business ethics for 18 years now, and I still turn to the people I trust to help me figure out hard decisions.
We call it a CAM list: Counselors, Allies, and Mentors.
I've taught business ethics for 18 years now, and I still turn to the people I trust to help me figure out hard decisions.
We call it a CAM list: Counselors, Allies, and Mentors.
I'd planned to share something else from my classes today, but because of the murder of Charlie Kirk that happened at UVU (not far from BYU and where my son is a student), I thought I should skip ahead. Here's what I tell my students at the end of the semester.
September 11, 2025 at 12:29 AM
I'd planned to share something else from my classes today, but because of the murder of Charlie Kirk that happened at UVU (not far from BYU and where my son is a student), I thought I should skip ahead. Here's what I tell my students at the end of the semester.
The biggest mistake made by generous people? It's not being too generous. It's caring too much about giving, and not enough about the impact of your gift.
Only 3% of donors actually research their giving. We make this mistake because giving feels good, so we focus on that instead of actual impact.
Only 3% of donors actually research their giving. We make this mistake because giving feels good, so we focus on that instead of actual impact.
September 10, 2025 at 3:38 PM
The biggest mistake made by generous people? It's not being too generous. It's caring too much about giving, and not enough about the impact of your gift.
Only 3% of donors actually research their giving. We make this mistake because giving feels good, so we focus on that instead of actual impact.
Only 3% of donors actually research their giving. We make this mistake because giving feels good, so we focus on that instead of actual impact.
How do you find your own path to impact? I had the chance to talk about this question with my close friend and mentor Todd Manwaring on the Impact Innovations podcast.
Having done three seasons of my own show, How to Help, I've learned that each of us will do it in our own, unique way.
Having done three seasons of my own show, How to Help, I've learned that each of us will do it in our own, unique way.
September 9, 2025 at 11:17 PM
How do you find your own path to impact? I had the chance to talk about this question with my close friend and mentor Todd Manwaring on the Impact Innovations podcast.
Having done three seasons of my own show, How to Help, I've learned that each of us will do it in our own, unique way.
Having done three seasons of my own show, How to Help, I've learned that each of us will do it in our own, unique way.
More from class today (my Improving Helping Behaviors class):
There's a name for the good feeling we get from seeing someone act kindly or with courage. The feeling is called Elevation, and it's in response to a thing called Moral Beauty. (It's so handy when something has a good name for it.)
There's a name for the good feeling we get from seeing someone act kindly or with courage. The feeling is called Elevation, and it's in response to a thing called Moral Beauty. (It's so handy when something has a good name for it.)
September 8, 2025 at 11:00 PM
More from class today (my Improving Helping Behaviors class):
There's a name for the good feeling we get from seeing someone act kindly or with courage. The feeling is called Elevation, and it's in response to a thing called Moral Beauty. (It's so handy when something has a good name for it.)
There's a name for the good feeling we get from seeing someone act kindly or with courage. The feeling is called Elevation, and it's in response to a thing called Moral Beauty. (It's so handy when something has a good name for it.)
I've been teaching for almost 20 years now, but I've never really shared what class is like. I had the thought this morning to share an idea or two from class. Follow along and I'll keep it going.
Today in business ethics: ethical dilemmas and how they happen when good values come in conflict.
Today in business ethics: ethical dilemmas and how they happen when good values come in conflict.
September 8, 2025 at 8:11 PM
I've been teaching for almost 20 years now, but I've never really shared what class is like. I had the thought this morning to share an idea or two from class. Follow along and I'll keep it going.
Today in business ethics: ethical dilemmas and how they happen when good values come in conflict.
Today in business ethics: ethical dilemmas and how they happen when good values come in conflict.
So this happened yesterday. 😄 Even with very little marketing, the show has been downloaded 20,002 times.
I started How to Help as a passion project (which it still very much is!) and it's been one of my favorite things I've ever done. Each episode is timeless, so find the one that speaks to you!
I started How to Help as a passion project (which it still very much is!) and it's been one of my favorite things I've ever done. Each episode is timeless, so find the one that speaks to you!
August 28, 2025 at 1:00 PM
So this happened yesterday. 😄 Even with very little marketing, the show has been downloaded 20,002 times.
I started How to Help as a passion project (which it still very much is!) and it's been one of my favorite things I've ever done. Each episode is timeless, so find the one that speaks to you!
I started How to Help as a passion project (which it still very much is!) and it's been one of my favorite things I've ever done. Each episode is timeless, so find the one that speaks to you!
The book title *Dangerous Love* ≠ tolerate abuse. It’s seeing humanity (Agape) while enforcing safety — leaving, calling police, or requiring treatment. Compassion can mean firm boundaries, not passivity. #Compassion #Boundaries
August 17, 2025 at 1:37 AM
The book title *Dangerous Love* ≠ tolerate abuse. It’s seeing humanity (Agape) while enforcing safety — leaving, calling police, or requiring treatment. Compassion can mean firm boundaries, not passivity. #Compassion #Boundaries