arts & entertainment

Man With A

Message

Gary R. Miller has reinvented himself,
but it had nothing to do with
a New Year's resolution.

"I want

to teach
people to

face their
fears,"

says the
author.

I

Suzanne Chessler

Contributing Writer

A

fter decades of helping people
look their best, Gary R. Miller of
Milford aims at helping people
achieve their best.
A party photographer whose book-
ings diminished with the advent of digital
imagery, Miller is moving on by conveying
lessons he considered important to his own
advancement.
He is putting the spotlight on himself
through motivational speaking and a
self-published book, Go to War Against
Fear & Doubt, available at
www.garyrmiller.com .
"I'm giving people encouragement to
walk in their dreams:' says Miller, 67, who
still does some photography but is devoting
more time to promoting his message.
"I figured that if a mediocre guy with a
mediocre mind could grow and do what-
ever he wanted to do with his life, people
who are more talented, smarter and sharper
could be a lot greater if they got out of their
own way.
"I want readers to know that I had less
than average ability. I couldn't speak well,
and I didn't play sports well. People bul-
lied me because they could. I was a lost
soul until I discovered the gifts I had and
learned to become more positive:'
Miller's book describes his problems and
initiatives in areas beyond career — family,
education, religion and special interests. He
explains how hurdles actually came to boost
opportunities for improvement.
"The biggest message is that life is a test
to see how much you love yourself:" Miller
explains. "I think people have to get rid of

"Life is a test to see how much
you love yourself"

– Gary R. Miller

the negatives and be their own cheerleaders.
"This book is to help people get a mind-
set to work in happiness with a 'yes, I can
attitude to do whatever they want to do and
make their dreams come true'
Anyone who has hired Miller for a wed-
ding or bar or bat mitzvah, has watched
him arrange poses and equipment designed
to flatter his subjects. The book recalls the
paths he traveled to find topnotch teachers
and costly equipment.
Guests have watched the "Love Stories"
he presented at weddings. Big-screen
images and music were staged to show the
romances leading to nuptials while making
his approach distinctive.
Interest in pursuing photography
emerged before he gave up a career as a
schoolteacher, but he continued with his
emphasis on learning.
"I had a 50-year span of being a photog-
rapher and thought I was set for life," Miller
says. "People flew me all over the world to
do the 'Love Stories: and I went as far away
as Hawaii and Cancun.
"Then digital came out, and the next
generation decided that they could take pic-
tures with their cellphones and didn't need
a professional photographer.
"I was out of business so I looked at the
lessons that had made me successful and
wanted to reinvent myself. I started discuss-

ing the principles with people I would see,
and they suggested a book:'
It took Miller almost three years to write
Go to War Against Fear e9. Doubt. He
found inspiration by going to Barnes &
Noble two hours a day, five days a week, to
jot down his ideas. At the end of every ses-
sion, Miller would discuss his passages with
others and then rewrite.
Seeking advice from the late writer Jeffrey
Zaslow and writing coaches, Miller gradu-
ally learned to use a computer.
"Thirty-six years ago, when I was a medi-
ocre photographer, I decided to spend time
with the best photographers, sales trainers
and motivational speakers," Miller says. "I
wanted to take what I could from them and
mold myself into something great:'
Miller, who took a Toastmasters course
and has addressed meetings of Professional
Photographers of America and Wedding
Photographers International, is negotiating
to speak before students and business pro-
fessionals.
In his book, Miller describes his 40-year
marriage to Sandra, his attitudes about rais-
ing sons Adam and Aaron, and challenges
in his personal life. There also are sections
about taking up horseback riding and rais-
ing bees.
The author explains how religion has
become important to moving him forward.

He attends services at Chabad House of
Farmington Hills.
"I started this journey 25 years ago, want-
ing to learn how to say thank you to God:'
Miller explains. "Having faith that I'm going
to be walked through the conflicts of my life
makes my life richer. I hope this book will
have its own way of doing that.
"I hope the book will show that every-
thing happens for the good. I want to teach
people to face their fears and walk in the
direction of their fears. If they try too hard
to resist mistakes, they can't grow"
Miller has sold his book to most of
the people who regularly attend religious
services with him and to members of the
health club he frequents.
"I have my cellphone number on the
back of the book, and once in a while,
I have been called to do some coaching
to deal with a problem:' Miller says. "I
believe that when someone helps others,
the help comes back.
"The book complements my public
speaking by showing I had the guts to write
it. I'm more of a talker than a writer. I'm
impatient and jump ahead to make things
happen. I got the idea for the book, jumped
into it and got as much help as I could.
"Because I'm more focused on the mes-
sage and getting my ideas across, there
have been some [proofreading] errors [in
the book]:' Miller admits. "Getting better
at handling that will move me to the next
level as the book is polished [for future
editions]:' ❑

To purchase a copy of Go to War
Against Fear & Doubt, visit Gary R.
Miller's website at www.garyrmiller.

Corn.

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