Why That Worked – Presented by StoryBrand.ai
StoryBrand.ai
Welcome to Why That Worked – Presented by StoryBrand.ai. Have you ever wondered why some brands, trends, or products become massive successes while others fade away? That’s exactly what this podcast explores. Hosted by Donald Miller, creator of the StoryBrand Framework, and co-hosted by Kyle Reed, each episode dives into the strategies behind the world’s biggest wins, breaking them down into clear, actionable insights you can use to create your own success.
Discover how to craft clear and effective messaging that works for your business at StoryBrand.ai.
#8: Amazon—The Crazy Business Strategies that Rewired Our Brains and Changed Shopping Forever
Amazon didn’t just change how the world shops—it rewired our brains. Suddenly, driving to a store for light bulbs feels like a huge chore. Need cat food? Click. New coffee maker? Click. A hat with antlers for your Halloween costume? It’ll be at your door by 5 p.m. Love it or hate it, Amazon’s success lies in its relentless focus on the customer. It turned convenience into an art form. The real question is: how did they pull it off, and what can we learn from them? In today's episode, Donald Mi
#7: Comedians—The Science and Strategy Behind the Funniest People on Earth
Making people laugh looks effortless, but behind every joke is an incredible amount of work and strategy. Great comedians deliver far more than entertainment—they offer a masterclass in human connection. They say the things we’re afraid to say, challenge cultural norms, and turn life’s absurdities into something we can laugh at. The best comedians have the power to shape culture and influence how we see the world. So, what makes them so effective? In this episode, Donald Miller and Kyle Reed d
#6: Valentine’s Day—The Surprising Economics and Evolution of Love’s Biggest Day
Every February 14th, millions of people rush out to buy heart-shaped chocolates, overpriced roses, and mass-produced cards, turning Valentine’s Day into a global cash grab. But how did a once obscure tradition become a billion-dollar industry? Whether you adore the holiday or roll your eyes at its commercialism, one thing is certain—it works. So, what makes this day so powerful, and why do we keep celebrating it year after year? In this week’s episode, hosts Donald Miller and Kyle Reed explor
#5: Stories—The Survival Tool Hardwired into Every Human
Every day, we’re surrounded by stories—on social media, in conversations, and even in our own heads. But have you ever stopped to wonder why stories are so powerful? They connect us, help us make sense of the world, and have been humanity’s most effective tool for survival. But how do they work their magic, and what happens when they’re used to manipulate rather than inspire? In this episode, hosts Donald Miller and Kyle Reed break down why stories are more than just entertainment—they’re a su
Football—Why It Became America’s Favorite Ritual
Football has a powerful grip on its fans, but have you ever stopped to think about why it works so well? Football has a remarkable history of uniting friends and families across generations. From the build-up to game day and the epic rivalries to the emotional highs-and-lows of every play, football delivers both the thrill of competition and the comfort of community. But what actually makes it so captivating? In this week’s episode, hosts Donald Miller and Kyle Reed are joined by Will Guidara,
#3: Thought Leaders—How Innovative Thinkers Build a Following and Shape Modern Culture
Thought leaders influence the way we see the world, solve problems, and make decisions. But what makes someone a true thought leader? Are they original thinkers with unique worldviews, or can they be curators sharing their opinions and amplifying others’ ideas? With the rise of social media, it’s harder than ever to tell the difference. So how can we separate the trailblazers from those simply echoing the ideas of others? In this week’s episode, hosts Donald Miller and Kyle Reed unpack the art
Top Gun Maverick—The Strategy Behind Its Billion-Dollar Success
Some movies capture lightning in a bottle, but few soar as high as Top Gun: Maverick. With $1.4 billion in global earnings and record-breaking attendance post-pandemic, this film didn’t just work—it dominated. But why? Was it the nostalgia, the perfectly executed hero’s journey, or the relentless determination of its star, Tom Cruise? At a time when theaters struggled, Maverick reminded us why blockbuster films exist. It delivered spectacle, heart, and a story that resonated across generations.
#1: Frameworks—The Invisible Structure Behind Every Great Idea
Whether you realize it or not, frameworks structure the world around us. They help us make decisions faster, simplify complex processes, and are the reason so many bestselling books and billion-dollar businesses succeed. Without clear frameworks, progress can feel chaotic and goals seem unattainable. So, why are frameworks so effective, and how can you create one to make life and business simpler? In this debut episode of Why That Worked, hosts Donald Miller and Kyle Reed dive into the art and
Why That Worked PREVIEW—A New Podcast You Can’t Miss
Starting January 6, 2025, the Business Made Simple Podcast feed will become home to an exciting new show: Why That Worked – Presented by StoryBrand.ai, hosted by Donald Miller, creator of the StoryBrand framework. Have you ever wondered why some brands, trends, or products become massive successes while others fade into obscurity? That’s exactly what this podcast will explore. Each week, Donald Miller, creator of the StoryBrand framework, and co-host Kyle Reed uncover the strategies behind the
#207: Geoff Woods—How to Use AI as a Strategic Partner to Grow Your Business
AI is revolutionizing the way businesses operate—but how do you harness it effectively without getting lost in the noise? In this final episode of the Business Made Simple Podcast, Bobby Richards and James Sweeting sit down with Geoff Woods, author of The AI-Driven Leader, to unpack the practical ways small business owners can leverage AI as a strategic thought partner. Geoff shares the essential mindset shifts needed to embrace AI, from reframing limiting beliefs to asking the right questions
Hal Elrod—Simple Morning Habits That Can Change Your Life Before Breakfast
Life’s curveballs can leave you feeling out of control, burned out, and off your game. And when your mornings feel chaotic, the rest of your day never seems to recover. Most people start their day hitting snooze, reacting to problems, and dragging themselves to work. But what if you could take back your mornings and start every day with clarity, purpose, and motivation? Imagine how much more you could accomplish if you were already firing on all cylinders before 9 a.m. In this week’s episode,
#205: Dan Martell—How to Buy Back Your Time So You Can Earn More While Working Way Less
Countless business owners unknowingly build a “prison” around themselves — a business that only works if they’re doing all the work. Every problem is their problem. Every fire is their fire. They’re working 60, 70, 80 hours a week — and for what? This is the hidden trap that swallows countless business owners whole. Here’s the truth: if you don’t break out of this cycle, you’ll end up resenting the very thing you created. So how can you effectively hand off critical tasks without your business f
#204: David Kessler—Why ADHD Minds Are Exceptionally Wired for Entrepreneurial Success
Running a business is hard enough without feeling like your own brain is working against you. If ADHD has you stuck in cycles of procrastination, perfectionism, or overwhelm, you might wonder if you’ll ever get a handle on your own productivity. Many entrepreneurs struggle to balance their creative bursts with the structure and discipline needed for success. So how do you work with your brain instead of against it? And what if the quirks of ADHD are actually your greatest asset? In this episod
Introducing Why That Worked – Presented by StoryBrand.AI | Coming January 6th
Get ready for an all-new podcast experience! Why That Worked – Presented by StoryBrand.AI launches January 6th. Have you ever wondered why some brands, trends, and campaigns succeed while others fall flat? Host Donald Miller dives deep into the strategies behind today’s biggest successes, breaking them down into actionable insights you can use. Whether you're a business owner, marketer, or just someone fascinated by the "why" behind success, this show is for you. The first episode drops Mond
Cathy Heller—How Reimagine Success and Create Abundance in Your Life
What if the secret to abundance isn’t found in chasing external success but in reframing how you see and approach your life and business? For so many of us, achieving more doesn’t always equate to feeling fulfilled. How can you shift your mindset and embrace the abundance already around you? In this week’s episode, Cathy Heller, author of Abundant Ever After, talks with hosts Bobby Richards and James Sweeting and shares how reframing your relationship with abundance can transform your life and
#202: Sean Cannell—YouTube Strategies That Actually Work for Coaches
BIG NEWS! After three amazing years, the Business Made Simple Podcast will be ending, and starting January 6, 2025, this feed will become home to an exciting new show: Why That Worked – Presented by StoryBrand.AI, hosted by Donald Miller. It’s been an honor providing you with the tools and frameworks to help you become a better business owner, and this new podcast will continue giving incredible value with actionable insights you can immediately apply. Stay subscribed to this feed so you don’t
The One Thing You Might Be Overlooking That Fuels Customer Loyalty
Delivering exceptional customer service can feel taxing, especially when you’re juggling multiple roles in your business. It’s easy to think that “good enough” is sufficient, but the truth is, it’s the small, thoughtful actions that leave the biggest impact on your customers. If you’ve ever struggled with handling tough customer interactions or wondered how to wow your clients without breaking the bank, you’re not alone. What if elevating your customer experience could be simpler (and more affor
The 4-Part Health Check Your Business Needs to Stay Strong (Even During Explosive Growth)
When your business starts to scale, growth brings new opportunities—and new complexities. As they say, “New level, new devil.” While rapid growth is exciting, it can also lead to misalignment, confusion, and burnout without the right checks in place. To keep your team focused, your mission clear, and your growth sustainable, you need a proactive approach. In this episode, host Bobby Richards talks with Tyler Ginn, President of CoachBuilder and Business Made Simple, who reveals a 4-part health
#199: Michael Hyatt & Will Guidara—How Top Coaches Are Scaling Fast with These New Frameworks
If you’re in the coaching business, you know it’s not enough to just find clients. You’ve got to help them get real results that make a difference. But without a proven system, that’s easier said than done. A lot of coaches end up frustrated, watching their clients stall out. So, what if you could skip the trial and error and go straight to what works? In this episode, Donald Miller talks with Michael Hyatt, founder of Full Focus, and Will Guidara, author of Unreasonable Hospitality, about the
#198: Donald Miller Returns—The Simple Framework that Will Revolutionize the Way You Coach Small Businesses
As a business coach, you might have all the passion and wisdom in the world, but if you don’t have a clear, step-by-step framework, things can get messy—fast. Without a reliable system, helping your clients get consistent, meaningful results is essentially a gamble. You end up reinventing the wheel for each client which creates an exhausting grind for you and an unpredictable experience for your clients. So, how do you move from just giving good advice to offering a proven, repeatable system tha
#197: Seth Godin—How to Craft a Business Strategy that Future-Proofs Your Brand
Feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list? Download The Small Business Owner’s Quickstart Checklist for free at BusinessMadeSimple.com/Quickstart and start streamlining your operations, clarifying your message, and building a business that works for you. -- If you think more followers or a bigger ad budget will fix your business, think again. Too often, business owners mistake tactics for strategy. They focus on short-term wins—like growing a social media following or driving quick sales—but fo
#196: Donald Miller—How to Stop Giving Free Advice and Start Charging for Your Expertise
How do you start charging for your advice without feeling weird about it? A lot of business owners have the expertise to coach others, but turning that knowledge into a successful coaching business can feel daunting and awkward. How do you know if what you’re offering is worth the price? The real challenge isn’t what you know—it’s learning how to package that knowledge into something people are willing to pay for. Without a clear plan, it’s easy to get stuck in “free advice” mode and miss the op
#195: How to Get Over Your Camera Fears and Be Yourself on Video
Feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list? Download The Small Business Owner’s Quickstart Checklist for free at BusinessMadeSimple.com/Quickstart and start streamlining your operations, clarifying your message, and building a business that works for you. -- Video marketing can do wonders for your business—if you're comfortable getting on camera. For many, though, creating videos feels awkward and overwhelming. We freeze up, obsess over tiny details, or just have no idea where to start, leaving
Why Your Business Desperately Needs a Project Manager
You’ve got the vision and the drive to grow your business, but there’s a massive obstacle holding you back: chaos. Tasks pile up, deadlines blur, and you find yourself juggling too many things at once. How many times have you wished you had more time to focus on the bigger picture? Without someone to manage the daily grind, it can feel like you’re constantly putting out fires instead of strategizing for growth. What if the answer isn’t more hours in the day, but a single, essential hire? In th
Nicole Burke—How to Get Out of the Weeds and Start Delegating So You Can Scale Your Business
You’ve built a business you're proud of, but are you spending too much time in the weeds? When small tasks pile up, you might feel like you’re doing everything except what actually grows your business. With every email and customer support issue you handle, you're losing time that should be dedicated to sales and marketing—the lifeblood of your revenue. So, how do you know when it’s time to delegate and finally scale? In this episode of Business Made Simple, hosts James Sweeting and Bobby Rich
Kim Scott—The Hidden Cost of Being Too Nice in Leadership
What’s the real cost of being too nice? It’s more than you might think. Many leaders, especially small business owners, fall into the trap of “ruinous empathy”, which is the failure to provide essential feedback due to the fear of hurting someone's feelings. Avoiding difficult confrontations might feel like the right thing to do—but it’s actually a fast track to mediocrity. Join hosts Bobby Richards and James Sweeting as they sit down with Kim Scott, author of Radical Candor, to dive into the
Tiffany Aliche—Why Financial Freedom Isn’t as Important as You Think (And What to Aim for Instead)
Many people believe that financial freedom—accumulating enough money to never work again—is the ultimate goal. But for most entrepreneurs, this dream feels out of reach, which leads to frustration and financial stress. The constant pressure to build wealth and achieve financial freedom can leave you feeling like a failure if you don’t hit that big number. So what if financial freedom isn’t the answer? What if there’s a more realistic and sustainable way to manage your money and build security?
Amy Porterfield—Is It Time to Add a Digital Course to Your Existing Business?
Are you leaving money on the table by not offering an online course? A lot of business owners feel overwhelmed by the idea of turning their knowledge into a digital product, worried it might be too complex or could cannibalize their bread-and-butter services. The doubts—about your teaching ability or the sheer effort involved—can make you question if creating an online course is the right move. In today’s episode of the Become a Better Business Owner series, host Bobby Richards brings in digit
Donald Miller—Cash Crisis? How to Generate Quick Revenue When Times Get Tough
Cash flow is the heartbeat of any business. But what do you do when revenue takes a sudden hit and the money isn't coming in as expected? Whether it's a seasonal dip, unexpected expenses, or a major disruption like a pandemic, every entrepreneur feels the pressure when cash flow slows down. These times can be stressful and can even threaten the survival of your business. So, what can you do now to ensure your business stays afloat when money is tight? In this week’s episode of the Become a Bet
Bill Allen—Make Your Business a Force for Good in the World (Even If You're Starting Small
So you've built a thriving business. You've got the airplane humming along, maybe even hitting 7 figures. But there's a nagging question in the back of your mind: "What's it all for?" Deep down, you want to make a difference, leave a legacy, maybe even inspire the next generation. But how? And do you really have to choose between profit and purpose? In this episode of the Become a Better Business Owner series, hosts James Sweeting and Bobby Richards sit down with Bill Allen, a real estate inve
Why Your Sales Team Isn't Selling (And How to Fix It)
As a business owner, you might be a sales superstar, but teaching your team to replicate your conversations with potential clients can feel next to impossible. After all, you know the company’s origin story and the ins-and-outs of the product like the back of your hand. But in order to scale your business, you need to transition from being the primary salesperson to having a high-performing sales team. And to do that, you need a consistent sales process. In this week’s episode of the Become a
Marcus Sheridan—The Simple Formula for Becoming the Most Trusted Voice in Your Industry
You've probably heard the phrase "content is king" more times than you can count. But creating content that truly drives sales is easier said than done. Many biz owners struggle to produce content that hits on all levels: it feels authentic, builds trust, and makes an impact on their bottom line. You might be wondering: How can I create content that my target audience actually wants to read? In this week’s episode of the Become a Better Business Owner series, hosts Bobby Richards and James Swe
Erin Meyer—The Feedback Mindset That Sets High-Performing Teams Apart
As a business owner, you know that a high-performing team is essential to success. But what if your team isn't performing at its best? If communication is breaking down, productivity is low, and your goals are slipping out of reach, it might be time to look at a surprising factor many leaders miss. The secret to a high-performing team isn't a complicated strategy or expensive software; it's something much simpler: feedback. In the latest episode of the Become a Better Business Owner series, h
Megan Hyatt Miller—How to Win at Work Without Losing Your Soul (aka The Double Win)
Let's talk about the elephant in the room for a second: the relentless hustle and grind of building a business. The entrepreneurial world can be a demanding beast, often forcing us to sacrifice our personal lives in the pursuit of success. Yes, you love your business, but you didn't sign up to be married to it. The truth is, chasing success doesn't have to mean sacrificing your personal life. You deserve to have both. Kicking off our brand new Become a Better Business Owner series, hosts Bobby
Balancing Work & Life—How to Actually Enjoy What You Do and Love How You Live
Here’s a stark warning: heart disease is America’s #1 killer, and stress is heart disease’s #1 predictor. When your work/life balance is out of whack, stress only grows. How business owners manage this delicate highwire act is quite literally a matter of life and death. Thankfully, today we recognize the link between work/life balance and overall health, and there are steps anyone can take to improve that balance and their quality of life. Today, host Donald Miller sits down with fellow Busine
Don Yaeger—Inside the Daily Routines of the World’s Greatest Achievers (And What You Can Learn)
What does it take to be truly great? It's easy to think greatness is only for a lucky few. But that belief will leave you powerless—feeling that without certain natural traits, high levels of success just aren't in the cards for you. But what if the real difference between average and great lies in simple, doable habits and mindsets that anyone can adopt? The truth is, there are some not-so-obvious hacks that can help rewire your brain for greatness. In this week’s episode, host Donald Miller
Organizing Your Digital World to Banish Chaos and Make Life Easier
The enemy of clarity is chaos and confusion. Not only is that true in your marketing and messaging, it’s true in your everyday work. But how many times have you or your team misplaced an important file, been locked out of a vital platform, or even discovered a digital asset you thought you owned was actually never yours to begin with? That kind of chaotic disorganization can bring any business to a halt. In today’s episode, guest hosts Bobby Richards and James Sweeting sit down with Shawn Lemo
#180: This Genius Hack Ensures You Never Run Out of Content Ideas Again
Frustrated your marketing isn't working? Stuck wondering why customers aren't clicking "buy now"? Imagine turning that around in just five minutes. Get the help you need to clarify your message and grow your business with our free 5 Minute Marketing Makeover video series. Get immediate access to the 5 Minute Marketing Makeover video series at 5MinuteMarketingMakeover.com. -- Does marketing yourself or your business on social media make you want to pull your hair out? We’ve all been there! Co
Crafting a One-Liner that Aligns Your Team and Elevates Your Brand
Frustrated your marketing isn't working? Stuck wondering why customers aren't clicking "buy now"? Imagine turning that around in just five minutes. Get the help you need to clarify your message and grow your business with our free 5 Minute Marketing Makeover video series. Get immediate access to the 5 Minute Marketing Makeover video series at 5MinuteMarketingMakeover.com. -- Often the difference between a team that does well and one that doesn’t is how clearly they communicate. For most busi
How to Turn Your Website into a Sales Machine
Frustrated your marketing isn't working? Stuck wondering why customers aren't clicking "buy now"? Imagine turning that around in just five minutes. Get the help you need to clarify your message and grow your business with our free 5 Minute Marketing Makeover video series. Get immediate access to the 5 Minute Marketing Makeover video series at 5MinuteMarketingMakeover.com. -- Once a customer gets curious about how you can solve their problem, they're hungry for more information. This is where
The Secret to Winning Over Customers and Outshining Your Competition
Frustrated your marketing isn't working? Stuck wondering why customers aren't clicking "buy now"? Imagine turning that around in just five minutes. Get the help you need to clarify your message and grow your business with our free 5 Minute Marketing Makeover video series. Get immediate access to the 5 Minute Marketing Makeover video series at 5MinuteMarketingMakeover.com. -- Even if you have the best product in the marketplace, you will lose to your competition if they explain more clearly h
#176: Ryan Deiss—How to Scale Your Business and Sell It for Millions
Frustrated your marketing isn't working? Stuck wondering why customers aren't clicking "buy now"? Imagine turning that around in just five minutes. Get the help you need to clarify your message and grow your business with our free 5 Minute Marketing Makeover video series. Get immediate access to the 5 Minute Marketing Makeover video series at 5MinuteMarketingMakeover.com. Have you ever wondered how to scale and sell your business? Many entrepreneurs struggle with scaling their operations or kn
#175: From Concept to Launch—How to Simplify Your Product Creation Process with Kyle Reid
Do you find it difficult to take your product ideas from the drawing board to the market? When it comes to new products, too many teams encounter obstacles like missed deadlines, inflated budgets, and a final product that doesn’t align with the original vision. These pitfalls can be frustrating and destroy would-be successful product launches and growth plans. So how can businesses streamline the product development process? What steps should you take to turn visionary concepts into tangible, ma
#174: Allison Fallon—The Life-Changing Magic of Telling Your Own Story
Are you tired of superficial connections and quick fixes in a world that seems to prioritize them? Many of us crave deeper meaning and genuine interactions, but often find ourselves detached from our own stories and the profound impact they can have on shaping who we are and how we relate to others. Can reconnecting with your own story change how you see yourself and improve your relationships with others? In this week’s episode, host Donald Miller is joined by Allison Fallon, author of Write
#173: Lock In Sales this Memorial Day with These Expert Closing Techniques
Often, the hardest part of any sales process isn't starting—it's closing. Many businesses struggle to seal the deal, especially during high-stakes, competitive shopping periods like Memorial Day. You've made the offer, you've attracted the attention—now, how do you convert that interest into actual sales? The secret lies in effective closing techniques that resonate with your audience and inspire them to take action. As Memorial Day draws nearer, the pressure’s on to make sure that your holiday
#172: Turn Up the Heat on Your Memorial Day Offer With This 3-Part Framework
The marketplace can feel hectic during big promotional holidays like Memorial Day. So if you want to make it a record-breaking sales opportunity for your small business, there’s only one solution. Create an offer that's simply irresistible. That means you’ve got to understand what resonates for your audience and come up with a value proposition they can't say no to. With the shopping frenzy upon us, how do you ensure your offer not only stands out but calls out to the customers, compelling them
#171: How to Create an Irresistible Memorial Day Offer
We’re all well aware of the shopping frenzy on Black Friday, but we tend to forget that other holidays like Memorial Day can be just as profitable. Many businesses miss out because they don't realize how ready their customers are to spend money during these holidays. With Memorial Day approaching—a peak time for consumer activity—not having a strong offer can mean squandering a massive chance to boost sales. So what steps can you take to ensure you have an irresistible offer prepared when custom
#170: Is It Time to Hire a Bookkeeper To Tackle Your Business Finances?
Most entrepreneurs are great at making money, but they aren’t always great at managing that money. Let’s be honest: you didn’t start a business because you were passionate about bookkeeping. But you know that managing your cash flow well is the fuel that keeps your business growing. Between monthly reconciliations, quarterly reports, tax prep, and payroll—your business finances can get complicated fast. And doing it yourself—or even hiring the help you need—can be difficult and time-consuming. S
#169: How to Clarify Your Message and Grow Your Business
Needing to clarify your message so more customers engage? Register for our upcoming StoryBrand Marketing Workshop May 7-8, 2024 at StoryBrand.com/Workshop. In this virtual workshop you will learn directly from Donald Miller and Dr. J.J. Peterson how to create a clear message and walk away with a 5-part marketing plan to help boost revenue and grow your business. Register now at StoryBrand.com/Workshop. -- Every savvy business owner knows that marketing is the key to survival, and your onli
Coach Builder Part 9—The Essential Qualities of a Respected Coach
Coach Builder is available now! Order it at CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast and get an 8-step plan to become a self-employed business coach so you can make great money doing something you love every single day. -- What are the characteristics of a great coach? Knowing your field inside out is crucial, but there's something else just as important: soft skills. These are the skills that help you connect on a personal level, earn trust, and provide real value to your clients. Unfortunately, a lot
#168: Amy Porterfield Takes Over!—Create a Winning Work Culture with These Trailblazing Tactics
What if the secret to doing really well in business isn't about the newest tech or the flashiest ads, but about how happy and motivated your team is? A great work culture is key to growing your business. It's what makes people want to work for you, fuels innovation, and keeps things running smoothly even when times get tough. But cultivating such a culture isn't easy, especially with the ever-evolving changes in the modern workforce and inevitable challenges in the market. So if your workplace i
Coach Builder Part 8—Why Joining a Coaching Community Will Fuel Your Success
Coach Builder is available now! Order it at CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast and get an 8-step plan to become a self-employed business coach so you can make great money doing something you love every single day. -- Working for yourself as a coach is a double-edged sword. It gives you space to innovate and plan, but it can also lack the vibrant exchange of ideas that fuels growth. Dealing with the loneliness that comes with the job is a challenge because it means there’s no one to share ideas wit
#167: How to Make Feedback Conversations Less Horrible for Everyone
Feedback is critical to making a team work well, but it can be full of traps for leaders who aren't careful. Often, feedback meetings become dreaded encounters, either avoided altogether or handled so carefully that they hardly lead to any good changes. Providing constructive feedback as a leader can feel like a tightrope walk, because your words carry a lot of weight and you don’t want to demotivate your team members. So how do you give feedback that’s kind but also helps your team members reco
Coach Builder Part 7—How to Achieve Financial Stability as a Coach
Coach Builder is available now! Order it at CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast and get an 8-step plan to become a self-employed business coach so you can make great money doing something you love every single day. -- Are you a coach wondering where your next paycheck will come from? Many consultants and coaches are concerned about earning enough and growing their business. They’re anxious about maintaining a steady income, debating whether to quit their job for full-time coaching, and questioning
#166: Michael Bungay Stanier—Practical Tools for Handling Workplace Conflicts
When we ignore conflicts in the workplace, it can actually make things worse. It can make people less interested in their jobs, cause good employees to leave, and ultimately impact the bottom line of your business. Sweeping conflicts under the rug doesn’t make them disappear. It makes them grow and fester which can lead to a toxic work environment and higher turnover rates. So what’s the best way to approach difficult conversations at work so that it fosters a culture of open communication and m
Coach Builder Part 6—Create a Marketing and Product Ladder to Retain More Clients
Coach Builder is available now! Order it at CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast and get an 8-step plan to become a self-employed business coach so you can make great money doing something you love every single day. -- Do new coaching clients seem hard to come by, and existing ones hard to keep? Despite delivering top-notch coaching, you might find yourself in a constant hunt for new clients, unable to scale your business. This usually happens when you lack a clear marketing and product ladder. With
#165: Dr. David Rosmarin—Why Anxiety Is an Entrepreneurial Superpower (And How to Use It to Fuel Your Success)
Feeling anxious about your business? You're not alone. Entrepreneurship and anxiety often go hand-in-hand. It's the uninvited guest that overstays its welcome, casting a dark cloud over our decision-making, creativity, and leadership. It's easy to think that this anxiety is a roadblock to your success. But what if we told you that your anxiety could be a secret weapon? In this week’s episode, guest hosts James Sweeting, Director of Story at Business Made Simple, and podcast producer Bobby Ric
Coach Builder Part 5—Email is Your Secret Weapon to Coaching Success (And Here’s Why)
Pre-order Coach Builder, Donald Miller's new book, at CoachBuilder.com/Podcast and get an 8-step plan to become a self-employed business coach so you can make great money doing something you love every single day. -- Most coaches are missing out on the *one* thing that could truly transform their business: a solid email strategy. While they chase the latest trends and pour resources into social media, the real game-changer lies in the humble art of sending great emails. Email is a powerful t
#164: The Graceful Exit—How to Quit Your Job Without Burning Bridges
Are you mulling over the decision to leave your job, but worried about the potential fallout? Quitting a job is never a simple decision. It's fraught with concerns about the future, your career prospects, and your professional relationships. And the fear of leaving on bad terms can be paralyzing. How will your boss react? Will your colleagues view you differently? The possibility of leaving a job and inadvertently damaging your professional reputation or losing the respect of those you value can
Coach Builder Part 4—Building a Coaching Website That Keeps Your Client Pipeline Full
Pre-order Coach Builder, Donald Miller's new book, at CoachBuilder.com/Podcast and get an 8-step plan to become a self-employed business coach so you can make great money doing something you love every single day. -- Your coaching website is the first thing people see about you, so it needs to make a good impression fast. But more importantly, it needs to be all about the people you want to help. This means when they visit your site, they should feel like you’re talking right to them. It sho
#163: How to Fire Someone the Right Way and Maintain Team Morale
Firing an employee is never easy and can make unwanted waves in your company. The emotional weight and potential fallout can affect your team's spirit and your company's culture, making it one of the tasks business owners hate the most. It's a situation that requires legal due diligence, as well as a good grasp of people's feelings and how an organization works. So how do leaders make sure they're doing it right and respectfully? In this week’s episode, host Donald Miller explores the best pra
Coach Builder Part 3—How to Build A Client List from Scratch
Do you dream of launching a successful coaching business but find yourself paralyzed by the question: "Where will my clients come from?" Tackling this fear is a critical turning point that can either propel you forward or leave you questioning your goals, making what should be an exciting career shift seem overwhelming. Countless would-be coaches find themselves hesitating, torn between making the leap or staying put. So how can you make sure your client pipeline is always full? In the 3rd epi
#162: How to Tackle the Fear of Public Speaking and Grow Your Business
Public speaking is a top fear for a lot of people. Whether it's the panic that sets in at the thought of everyone looking at you, relentless rehearsing without ever feeling ready, or the hesitation to hit 'post' on a social media video after countless takes, the struggle with public speaking anxiety is real and it’s pervasive. Yet being able to give a good talk can be enormously valuable, especially in the world of business. So how do you overcome this fear and become a confident speaker? In t
Coach Builder Part 2—Why Every Coach Should Create a Menu of Products to Grow Their Business
Taking the leap from a stable career to start a coaching business is a monumental decision that can be fraught with uncertainty. The biggest hurdle is usually the fear of financial instability. This worry keeps thousands of potential coaches on the sidelines, trapped in careers that don't fulfill their passion or potential. So how do you navigate the career transition without compromising your ability to provide for yourself and your loved ones? In the second part of our Coach Builder limited
#161: What You Should Put in a Job Description to Get the Perfect Hire
Creating a job description that gets the right people interested is not as easy as it might sound. It's even more challenging when it's your first time hiring or when you're adding more people to your team. The key is to strike the right balance of talking about what skills they need and also what problems they might encounter on the job. So how do you write a job description that accurately explains what you’re looking for and also talks about the challenges that might come up? Today, host D
Coach Builder Part 1—How to Pivot Your Career Into A Profitable Coaching Business
How can you make money from your expertise and become known as a coach? It's a big question for many who have significant experience in their field and want to switch to coaching or consulting. Potential coaches grapple with the fear of leaving behind a secure job for the “unpredictable” world of coaching, questioning whether their knowledge is marketable and if they can truly make a living out of their passion. They often struggle to get started because they’re stuck wondering: how do I pivot m
#160: Rory Vaden—How to Build a Personal Brand (Without Pretending to be Someone You’re Not)
Have you ever wondered how to build a personal brand without having to become someone you're not? It's something a lot of us struggle with in an era where everyone's trying to be noticed online. The truth is, there are people out there right now who are desperately seeking the insights and solutions you already know and take for granted. Your everyday skills and knowledge, the things you do so naturally, could be the exact answers someone else is searching for. So how can you turn who you are an
Coach Builder Limited Series PREVIEW—Your First Step to Starting a Successful Coaching Business
Many people are afraid to leave their full-time jobs because they're not sure they could ever make it on their own as a coach or consultant. The stakes are too high. There's too much to learn. Where do you even begin in such a crowded marketplace? Here's the truth: coaches with a clear plan and who follow the right steps to grow their businesses survive. Coaches without a plan don't. Our new nine-part Coach Builder limited podcast series is here to walk you through those steps! Just follow th
#159: Stop the Revolving Door! The Secret to Finding and Keeping Great Employees
Join us on February 1 & 2, 2024 at Coach Builder Summit, the ultimate free livestream event all about helping coaches and consultants build and grow their businesses. Lock in your spot at CoachBuilder.com/CoachSummit. -- Do you feel stuck in a loop of hiring people only to see them leave? The secret to breaking this cycle isn't just about who you hire—it's about how you help them work together in a way that pushes the company forward. Every business leader dreams of assembling a team that fe
Turn Your Expertise Into a Thriving Coaching Business—New Limited Series Coming February 6!
Many people are afraid to leave their full-time jobs because they're not sure they could ever make it on their own as a coach or consultant. The stakes are too high. There's too much to learn. Where do you even begin in such a crowded marketplace? Here's the truth: coaches with a clear plan and who follow the right steps to grow their businesses survive. Coaches without a plan don't. Our new nine-part Coach Builder limited podcast series is here to walk you through those steps! Just follow the
#158: Mike Michalowicz—How to Build and Lead an Unstoppable Team
Join us on February 1 & 2, 2024 at Coach Builder Summit, the ultimate free livestream event all about helping coaches and consultants build and grow their businesses. Lock in your spot at CoachBuilder.com/CoachSummit. -- It’s not easy to build and manage diverse and productive teams. First, you’ve got to find the right people with the right mix of skills, then you’ve got to retain them over the long-term. Oh, and don’t forget about creating the kind of workplace culture where everyone can th
#157: How to Stop Thinking Like a Victim and Become Your Own Hero
Join us on February 1 & 2, 2024 at Coach Builder Summit, the ultimate free livestream event all about helping coaches and consultants build and grow their businesses. Lock in your spot at CoachBuilder.com/CoachSummit. -- Many people feel stuck in their situation, often thinking they're victims of their circumstances. This mindset can make you feel like a loser because your motivation plummets and hopelessness tends to set in. As a result, it becomes hard to accomplish what you want in life.
#156: Will Guidara Returns—Is Hospitality the Ultimate Competitive Advantage?
Join us on February 1 & 2, 2024 at Coach Builder Summit, the ultimate free livestream event all about helping coaches and consultants build and grow their businesses. Lock in your spot at CoachBuilder.com/CoachSummit. -- Business owners often find it hard to balance profitability with genuine customer care. If you’re too focused on getting things done quickly and making money, personal connections and customer service can often take a backseat. In a marketplace where business is often driven
#155: Alex Hormozi—Facing Economic Uncertainty Head-On (REPLAY)
Join us on February 1 & 2, 2024 at Coach Builder Summit, the ultimate free livestream event all about helping coaches and consultants build and grow their businesses. Lock in your spot at CoachBuilder.com/CoachSummit. -- With inflation and interest rates hitting recent highs, fears of a recession have been mounting around the U.S. For small business owners, the threat of an economic downturn can be terrifying. But it’s important to recognize that recessions aren’t rare events—they happen rou
#154: Debunking the Myth of “Work-Life Balance” (REPLAY)
Join us on February 1 & 2, 2024 at Coach Builder Summit, the ultimate free livestream event all about helping coaches and consultants build and grow their businesses. Lock in your spot at CoachBuilder.com/CoachSummit. -- The concept of “work-life balance” often feels impossible, especially for business owners who can’t seem to switch off from work. Many people struggle to balance their job with their personal life, missing out on family events or relaxing downtime because of work demands. Co
#153: When the Going Gets Tough—How to Be Resilient in Business and Life
Join us on February 1 & 2, 2024 at Coach Builder Summit, the ultimate free livestream event all about helping coaches and consultants build and grow their businesses. Lock in your spot at CoachBuilder.com/CoachSummit. -- Life isn’t always fair. As business owners, we all face tough times, complicated situations, and people who make our journey even more challenging. These problems can make us feel stuck, unsure of how to move forward in our personal and professional lives. So what’s the best
#152: AI Is Here to Stay—Here’s What Business Owners Need to Do Now
Join us on February 1, 2024 at Coach Builder Summit, the ultimate free livestream event all about helping coaches and consultants build and grow their businesses. Lock in your spot at CoachBuilder.com/CoachSummit. -- Artificial intelligence is here to stay and understanding how to use it is becoming non-negotiable. But many business owners and entrepreneurs are still figuring out how to make the most of tools like ChatGPT. In the meantime, they’re missing out on the multitude of benefits the
#151: Ask Amy Porterfield—Your Online Marketing Questions Answered
Join us on February 1, 2024 at Coach Builder Summit, the ultimate free livestream event all about helping coaches and consultants build and grow their businesses. Lock in your spot at CoachBuilder.com/CoachSummit. -- Many aspiring entrepreneurs find it hard to make the leap into the online business world. They see the potential in online courses or coaching but struggle with making good content, getting people interested, and selling their products and services. This often leads to a lot of
#150: Don's Personal Strategies for Balancing Social Media
It’s our best Black Friday Deal ever! Get $100 off Business Made Simple when you sign up now at BusinessMadeSimple.com/BlackFriday. Join thousands of successful business owners who’ve used the 6-step plan to grow their small business. Visit BusinessMadeSimple.com/BlackFriday. to learn more and take advantage of our best offer of the year! -- Everyone has a love-hate relationship with social media these days. It’s great for staying in touch and laughing at cute pets, but it can also be a sour
#149: Tim Arnold—How to Lead Your Dream Team
It’s our best Black Friday Deal ever! Get $100 off Business Made Simple when you sign up now at BusinessMadeSimple.com/BlackFriday. Join thousands of successful business owners who’ve used the 6-step plan to grow their small business. Visit BusinessMadeSimple.com/BlackFriday. to learn more and take advantage of our best offer of the year! -- Are you struggling to get your team to click? In the world of work, getting everyone on the same page can feel like herding cats. Misunderstandings, con
EXCLUSIVE EVENT - 5 Coaching Tactics Used By the Most Effective Business Coaches
Exciting news alert! To get results for your clients as a coach, delivering value in your coaching sessions is key. That’s why Donald Miller is hosting an exclusive livestream event this Friday (November 17, 2023) walking you through exactly how to do that no matter if you’re an aspiring or established coach. AND you can join us for this game-changing event for FREE! Just follow these three easy steps: Pre-order Don's new book, Coach Builder Submit your receipt number at CoachBuilderBook.com
#148: Jen Gottlieb—How to Build a Media Presence that Lasts
Pre-order Coach Builder, Donald Miller's new book, at CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast and transform your expertise into a lucrative consulting career. If you pre-order right now at CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast, you'll unlock amazing bonuses like the 90-minute audio summary of the book so you're immediately able to jump start your coaching career! -- Feeling invisible in the bustling marketplace? You're not alone. Many brands and businesses hustle hard but still stay hidden in the shadows of th
#147: John Lowry—Unlocking the Secrets of Effective Negotiation
Pre-order Coach Builder, Donald Miller's new book, at CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast and transform your expertise into a lucrative consulting career. If you pre-order right now at CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast, you'll unlock amazing bonuses like the 90-minute audio summary of the book so you're immediately able to jump start your coaching career! -- Professionals often find themselves in situations where they need to negotiate, whether it's closing a deal, discussing salaries, or resolving con
#146: How to Escape a Corporate Zombie Apocalypse! (Halloween Special)
Pre-order Coach Builder, Donald Miller's new book, at CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast and transform your expertise into a lucrative consulting career. If you pre-order right now at CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast, you'll unlock amazing bonuses like the 90-minute audio summary of the book so you're immediately able to jump start your coaching career! -- Even though it's the Halloween season, for many of you, the real horror is being trapped in a job that drains the life out of them, a corporate wo
#145: Your Website Probably Stinks—Here’s How to Fix It!
Is your website failing to bring in sales? You may have a great looking site with a fancy tagline, but if it’s not selling, you’re probably missing the most important element: clear messaging that shows how you solve your customer’s problem. So what steps can you take to transform your website into a revenue-generating engine? In today’s episode, host Donald Miller is joined by J.J. Peterson, Head of StoryBrand and co-host of the Marketing Made Simple Podcast, to discuss a simple formula for
#144: How to Scale Your Service-Based Business Without Hiring
Pre-order Coach Builder, Donald Miller's new book, at CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast and transform your expertise into a lucrative consulting career. If you pre-order right now at CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast, you'll unlock amazing bonuses like the 90-minute audio summary of the book so you can jump start your coaching career immediately! -- Service providers, like photographers, writers, or designers, often hit a revenue cap, limited by the hours they can work. Breaking through the revenue c
#143: How to Escape the Hourly Rate Trap as a Coach
Pre-order Coach Builder, Donald Miller's new book, at CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast and transform your expertise into a lucrative consulting career. If you pre-order right now at CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast, you'll unlock amazing bonuses like the 90-minute audio summary of the book so you can jump start your coaching career immediately! -- It's a common struggle for coaches—being tethered to an hourly rate, feeling undervalued, and unable to scale their business. The traditional model of tr
#142: Marlee Joseph—The Secret to Making Better Marketing Decisions
When it comes to marketing, it’s easy to feel bombarded with endless opportunities. The key is to choose wisely and avoid jumping at everything that comes your way. Marlee Joseph, the Director of Marketing at Business Made Simple, is a pro at this. She’s mastered the art of prioritization by using the ICE framework, a simple decision-making formula that helps her sift through marketing opportunities and pick the winners. In today’s episode, host Donald Miller sits down with Marlee to unpack
#141: How to Unleash Your Instagram Potential & Build a Personal Platform
In an age ruled by social media, entrepreneurs are discovering the power of crafting a personal platform to catapult themselves (and their products) into the limelight. But forget about trendy dances and silly reels – it's all about honing in on the problem you solve. In today’s episode, Donald Miller shares five underrated tactics for creating your personal platform on Instagram. Learn how to become the voice for those facing the same challenges, master the art of crafting memorable sound bit
#140: How to Provide Health Benefits to Your Employees Without Breaking the Bank
As your business grows and you begin to hire more employees, this inevitable question comes up: “do you provide healthcare benefits?” And how you answer that question could be the difference between hiring top talent and settling for a less qualified candidate. But where in the world do you start when most healthcare packages seem too expensive and the insurance industry is so confusing? In today’s episode, Donald Miller talks with Austin Lehman, CEO of Remodel Health, a company revolutionizin
#139: Kristi Herold—The Importance of Having More Fun at Work
Have you ever had an idea for the Business Made Simple podcast? We want to hear from you! We’re always dreaming up ways to make this podcast more valuable for our listeners, so we want to hear what you’ve loved and what you want to hear more of so we can make future episodes even better! Go to BusinessMadeSimple.com/Survey to help us make the podcast even better! If you take this quick survey before Friday, September 15, you’ll be entered to win a $50 Amazon gift card. Take the survey today a
#138: How to Become a Business Consultant
Have you ever had an idea for the Business Made Simple podcast? We want to hear from you! We’re always dreaming up ways to make this podcast more valuable for our listeners, so we want to hear what you’ve loved and what you want to hear more of so we can make future episodes even better! Go to BusinessMadeSimple.com/Survey to help us make the podcast even better! If you take this quick survey before Friday, September 15, you’ll be entered to win a $50 Amazon gift card. Take the survey today a
#137: Could You Turn Your Hobby Into a Career By Teaching Others?
Have you ever had an idea for the Business Made Simple podcast? We want to hear from you! We’re always dreaming up ways to make this podcast more valuable for our listeners, so we want to hear what you’ve loved and what you want to hear more of so we can make future episodes even better! Go to BusinessMadeSimple.com/Survey to help us make the podcast even better! If you take this quick survey before Friday, September 15, you’ll be entered to win a $50 Amazon gift card. Take the survey today a
#136: Rory Clark—A New Way to Approach Your Sales Conversations
Have you ever had an idea for the Business Made Simple podcast? We want to hear from you! We’re always dreaming up ways to make this podcast more valuable for our listeners, so we want to hear what you’ve loved and what you want to hear more of so we can make future episodes even better! Go to BusinessMadeSimple.com/Survey to help us make the podcast even better! If you take this quick survey before Friday, September 15, you’ll be entered to win a $50 Amazon gift card. Take the survey today a
Challenge #10 – Join Small Business Flight School
Congratulations! It’s the last day of the Double Your Revenue Challenge. You’ve done nine things over the past two weeks to help you grow your revenue. What you’ve just experienced is a little taste of what it feels like to implement a business growth plan at an aggressive pace. If you want that kind of business growth plan… but on steroids… Small Business Flight School is for you. Small Business Flight School is a comprehensive growth program for small businesses who want to scale revenue qui
Challenge #9 – Put Yourself on a Salary
Many business owners treat their business finances like their own personal bank account. They think they’re being frugal by only taking what they “need” – but it’s actually a sloppy way to manage both business and personal finances. It’s Day 9 of the Double Your Revenue Challenge, and in today’s episode, Donald Miller challenges you to put yourself on a consistent salary. Just like you’d pay an employee or contractor a fixed rate, Don recommends treating yourself the same way. Determine the a
Challenge #8 – Work on The Right Things
Many small business owners and their teams spin their wheels when it comes to productivity. It feels like everyone is doing a ton of work – and you probably are! But since your effort is going in so many directions, your business isn’t gaining meaningful traction. That’s exactly why setting a limited number of priorities – and touching base on them weekly – is so important. It’s Day 8 of the Double Your Revenue Challenge, and today is all about productivity! Donald Miller teaches you how to i
Challenge #7 – Stop “Selling” and Start Talking About The Customer’s Problems
Most people feel like they have to put on their “sales hat” in order to convince people to buy. But when you take this approach, it often feels fake and ingenuine – not only for you, but for your customers as well! What if there was a way to have more natural and organic sales conversations that didn’t feel like “selling” at all? It’s Day 7 of the Double Your Revenue Challenge, and in today’s episode, Donald Miller teaches you the single most important thing you can do in a sales conversation.
Challenge #6 – Build Your Credibility
Did you know that 95% of people say that reviews or testimonials influence their purchasing decisions? That’s why it’s so important for businesses to utilize testimonials throughout all of their marketing – but many businesses forget to ask them! It’s Day 6 of the Double Your Revenue Challenge, and in today’s episode, Donald Miller challenges you to interview one customer for a testimonial. When you capture someone’s story about how your product made their life better and share it with your au
Challenge #5 – Ask For the Sale
If you’re like most business owners, you probably have leads that would buy from you – but you’re putting off asking for the sale. Why? Because you don’t want to come off as salesy or manipulative. But here’s the truth: if your product is solving a problem that your customer has, you’re actually making their life better by asking them to buy it. It’s Day 5 of the Double Your Revenue Challenge, and in today’s episode, Donald Miller challenges you to call some of your leads and ask them to buy.
Challenge #4 – Create a Product Bundle or Upsell
As a business owner, you probably have untapped revenue opportunities sitting right under your nose. If you’d only create a strategic product bundle or upsell, you could make a whole lot more money with very little effort. It’s Day 4 of the Double Your Revenue Challenge, and in today’s episode, Donald Miller walks you through ideas on how to create new products or bundle existing products to generate more revenue in a single transaction. Tune in now to learn how you can boost your revenue with
Challenge #3 – Fix Your Website
Is your website helping your business – or hurting it? The truth is, potential customers go to your website and make a decision within seconds about whether or not you can help them. That’s why your website must pass the “grunt test.” Unfortunately, most business’ websites don’t pass this test. And if your website doesn’t pass the grunt test… you’re losing sales! In today’s episode, we continue our 2-week series on the Double Your Revenue Challenge. For Challenge #3, Donald Miller wants you to
Challenge #2 – Rally Your Team
Are you leading your business well? One way to know is whether or not you and your entire team are clear about your company’s top 3 priorities. And not just any priorities – priorities that actually make your business money. When you focus on a few strategic objectives, you’ll actually gain traction toward your revenue goal. In today’s episode, we continue the Double Your Revenue Challenge with Challenge #2! Donald Miller explains how you can rally your team using Business Made Simple’s Missio
Double Your Revenue Challenge – Challenge #1
Are you making less money than you thought you would in 2023? You’re not alone. Many business owners believe that less revenue is inevitable right now. But if you believe that you can’t do something to boost your revenue, you’re believing a lie. That’s why we’re inviting you to join us and thousands of business owners in the Double Your Revenue Challenge! Over the next two weeks, Donald Miller will give you one simple thing each day to increase your revenue upon implementation. By the end of t
#135: Want to Write a Book? This Writing Plan Makes It Easier!
Many founders and entrepreneurs write books and become published authors. Why? Because it’s a great way to build credibility, grow your platform, and create awareness for your business! But most business owners also feel at a loss when it comes to getting started. How will you get published? Do you really have the time to write a book? And how can you know if people will actually buy and read your book? In today’s episode, Donald Miller pulls back the curtain on his own writing journey and te
#134: How to Tell Your Story Without Playing the Hero (REPLAY)
Are your revenue goals for 2023 slipping away? Don't worry, you're not alone. Join us on August 3, 2023 for the Mid-Year Revenue Accelerator and learn the same steps we used at Business Made Simple to grow into a $15 million operation. Regain control of your growth and finish the year with more money! Just go to BusinessMadeSimple.com/Acceleratorto register. -- You've heard us say it over and over again: your job is to invite your customers into a story where they are the hero who wins the
#133: Curing The Overworked, Overwhelmed Business Owner (REPLAY)
Are your revenue goals for 2023 slipping away? Don't worry, you're not alone. Join us on August 3, 2023 for the Mid-Year Revenue Accelerator and learn the same steps we used at Business Made Simple to grow into a $15 million operation. Regain control of your growth and finish the year with more money! Just go to BusinessMadeSimple.com/Accelerator to register. -- Success as a business owner can feel like a double edged sword. You are accomplishing your dream and growing a business you're pa
#132: How to Avoid the Biggest Cause of Business Failure (REPLAY)
Cash flow problems are the number one reason that small businesses fail. If your business is going to stand the test of time, you must have an effective system for managing your business finances. Unfortunately, many business owners are confused by their bookkeeping, don’t understand what’s really happening in their finances, and never have enough money saved for taxes. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Today we continue our Summer Replay Series, highlighting our top episodes of all time. In
#131: Ryan Deiss—The Digital Marketing Strategy Your Business Needs—Part 2 (REPLAY)
Most businesses slow down in the summer – but yours doesn’t have to! Our Summer Replay Series is here to help. You’ll get to hear the episodes our listeners have found most helpful for making an immediate impact on business growth. Today you can listen to Part 2 of Donald Miller’s conversation with Ryan Deiss, digital marketing expert and CEO of Digital Marketer. In this value-packed conversation, Ryan breaks down a step-by-step digital marketing strategy to help you generate and convert more
#130: Ryan Deiss—The Digital Marketing Strategy Your Business Needs—Part 1 (REPLAY)
If you’re like most business owners, summer is full of fun activities – but it’s easy to get complacent and check out when it comes to your business. How can you take a much-needed breather while also continuing to grow your business during the summer months? Our Summer Replay Series is here to help! You’ll get to hear the episodes our listeners have found most helpful for making an immediate impact on business growth. First up is Part 1 of Donald Miller’s conversation with Ryan Deiss back in
#129: How to Make More Money With Your Existing Products
When you need to increase revenue for your small business, what ideas come to mind first? If you're like most business owners, you mind likely gravitates to sales and marketing ideas. But there is actually a ton of untapped revenue in your existing products! More money is in existing customers than new customers. In today’s conversation, Donald Miller talks with Jennifer Rodriguez, owner of Porter Flower Reserve. She also happens to be Don's sister! Don gives Jennifer ideas on how she can take
#128: Mignon François—How a High Belief Level Can Make You Wildly Successful
Ever had a day where you felt unstoppable? It feels like you’re on top of the world and you believe wholeheartedly in what you’re building. But then there are other days when you’re so discouraged you can’t even take out the trash. What’s the difference between those days? Your belief level. Without belief, our productivity levels plummet, our motivation dwindles, and our perspective shrinks. In today’s conversation, Donald Miller talks with Mignon François, founder and owner of the Cupcake Co
#127: Dr. Henry Cloud—How to Earn Trust And Rebuild It When It's Been Broken
Trust is like oxygen for your personal and professional relationships. Whether you’re interacting with your spouse, a colleague, or a customer, establishing and maintaining trust is the only way for the relationship to last. But what exactly are the building blocks of trust? And is there any way to rebuild trust if it’s been broken? In today’s episode, Donald Miller talks with Dr. Henry Cloud, acclaimed leadership expert, psychologist, and best-selling author. Dr. Cloud shares insights from hi
#126: Seth Godin—Solutions You Need to Lead in the Post-COVID Workplace
It’s no secret that COVID-19 changed the American workplace. Remote work, Zoom meetings, and using Slack for communication has become the norm and changed the way we do work as a society. But what does all of this mean for business leaders? The reality is, the skills set of a leader has changed since COVID-19, and so has the expectations of work culture. In today’s episode, Donald Miller talks with Seth Godin, best-selling author, renowned entrepreneur, and Marketing Hall of Fame inductee. Set
#125: Tricia Sciortino—Best Practices for Hiring and Using a Virtual Assistant
As a business leader, you know what it's like to constantly juggle multiple responsibilities and face the demands of a fast-paced work environment. Your days are filled with meetings, calls, and strategic decisions that require your undivided attention. Time is of the essence, and it feels like you never have enough of it. In this competitive landscape, staying on top of your game requires strategic delegation and effective time management. In today’s episode, Donald Miller talks with the CEO
#124: Mike Foster—7 Crucial Questions to Ask That Shape Your Emotional Intelligence (Part 2)
Continue learning a new way to understand yourself and others in Part 2 of Donald Miller’s conversation with Mike Foster. -- Humans are complex. But understanding ourselves and others is an essential part of human flourishing. When we don’t engage with our emotions and the emotions of others in a healthy way, we can develop unhealthy patterns of controlling others, people-pleasing, perfectionism, anxiety, and more. As a result, we don’t show up as our best selves in our personal or profe
#123: Mike Foster—7 Crucial Questions to Ask That Shape Your Emotional Intelligence (Part 1)
Small Business Flight School has launched! And to continue the celebration we are offering $275 off when you use promo code FLIGHTSCHOOL275 at SmallBusinessFlightSchool.com. This is a limited time offer only through the week of May 8th, 2023! If you’re serious about implementing a plan to grow your business and revenue, Flight School is for you! Join now at SmallBusinessFlightSchool.com and get $275 off when you use promo code FLIGHTSCHOOL275 -- Humans are complex. But understanding ou
#122: Take the First Step to Double Your Revenue Today
Small Business Flight School launches TODAY! Join now at SmallBusinessFlightSchool.com. If you want to implement a plan to double your revenue, this is your moment! Sure, you could keep doing what you’re doing and hopefully grow your revenue at a decent pace. OR… you could join Small Business Flight School where we’ll help you implement a plan to streamline your business and double your revenue. If you’re serious about implementing a plan to grow your business and revenue, Flight School
#121: How to Sell Your Small Business for Millions
Small Business Flight School launches in one week! Join waitlist to get an exclusive discount during launch week at SmallBusinessFlightSchool.com. Small Business Flight School is an elite, 6-month program for small business owners who want to double their revenue. When you join Flight School, you get… 💥 Access to our 6-month video training series taught by Donald Miller to completely overhaul your business 💥 Actionable workbooks to help you optimize the 6 key parts of your business (Leader
#120: Craig Groeschel—The Secrets to Self-Discipline and Habit Formation
Most people think that humans fall into one of two categories: you’re either self-disciplined or you’re lazy. But that’s not how humans operate. Even if you’re extremely disciplined in one area of your life, another area of your life might be a mess. For example, you might be incredibly self-disciplined when it comes to working out, but you have terrible habits when it comes to managing your money. How can you grow in self-discipline in the areas that don’t come naturally to you? In today’s ep
#119: How to Always Have Enough Money (Especially During Tax Season!)
Don’t need to feel trapped in the day-to-day of growing your small business. Order "How to Grow Your Small Business" and get the 6-step plan proven to help grow your business taking it to the next level. Order "How to Grow Your Small Business" at GrowYourSmallBusiness.com/Podcast today and get the Making Your First Million video series with your purchase. -- It’s tax season, which means many businesses are about to get a pulse-check on how their money management is going. It’s stressful to get
#118: How to Get Out of the Day-to-Day Operations Without Crashing Your Business
Attention small business owners, do you want to take your business to the next level? Well, we have great news for you! Donald Miller's new book "How to Grow Your Small Business" is now available, and it's jam-packed with practical tips and strategies that will help your business thrive. And if you order the book before April 4, 2023, you'll receive a FREE ticket to our exclusive live virtual event: Business Growth Bootcamp! This 3-hour livestream will feature world-renowned marketers and busi
#117: How to Make More Money With What You Already Have
Attention small business owners, do you want to take your business to the next level? Well, we have great news for you! Donald Miller's new book "How to Grow Your Small Business" is now available, and it's jam-packed with practical tips and strategies that will help your business thrive. And if you order the book before April 4, 2023, you'll receive a FREE ticket to our exclusive live virtual event: Business Growth Bootcamp! This 3-hour livestream will feature world-renowned marketers and busi
#116: How to Boost Your Sales (Without Being a Pushy Salesperson)
Great news for all small business owners out there! "How to Grow Your Small Business" is now available and it's filled with practical tips and strategies to help you take your business to the next level. To celebrate our launch, we're offering an exclusive bonus just for our early bird customers. Order your copy of "How to Grow Your Small Business" now and you'll receive the 10x Business Growth Plan - a blueprint of how to 10x your business and achieve rapid, yet sustainable, growth without bu
#115: How to Turbocharge Your Marketing Engine and Generate More Cash Flow
Great news for all small business owners out there! "How to Grow Your Small Business" is now available and it's filled with practical tips and strategies to help you take your business to the next level. To celebrate our launch, we're offering an exclusive bonus just for our early bird customers. Order your copy of "How to Grow Your Small Business" now and you'll receive the 10x Business Growth Plan - a blueprint of how to 10x your business and achieve rapid, yet sustainable, growth without bu
#114: Why Most Mission Statements Fail (and How to Avoid the Pitfalls)
Are you ready to take your small business to the next level? Don't miss our upcoming Business Growth Bootcamp, featuring world-renowned marketers and business leaders: Donald Miller, Dr. J.J. Peterson, and special guest Amy Porterfield! This 3-hour livestream event on April 4, 2023, will be jam-packed with actionable insights to help you grow your business and increase revenue. Best of all, the event is completely FREE! All you have to do is pre-order a copy of our new book, "How to Grow Your Sm
#113: Take These Six Steps to Double Your Revenue
To celebrate the arrival of our new book, How to Grow Your Small Business, we’re hosting our first ever Business Growth Bootcamp on April 4, 2023. In this livestream event, you’ll get 3 action-packed hours of advice from some of the world’s top marketers and business leaders: Donald Miller, Dr. J.J. Peterson, and special guest Amy Porterfield! We’ve never packed this much value into a free event before, and you do NOT want to miss it. To attend, all you have to do is pre-order How to Grow You
#112: The Most Important First Hire for Entrepreneurs
What if you could grow your small business on autopilot? Our new tool will show you how! Access our free PDF compiling all parts of the plane– the steps you need to grow your small business–into one place so you can install a business growth plan that leads to higher revenue, less chaos, and more freedom. Get immediate access to our free PDF at BusinessMadeSimple.com/Autopilot. -- Do you find yourself bogged down in painstaking details? When you’re in charge of so many menial tasks – wheth
#111: Amy Porterfield—Real Talk on Becoming a Successful Entrepreneur
What if you could grow your small business on autopilot? Our new tool will show you how! Access our free PDF compiling all parts of the plane– the steps you need to grow your small business–into one place so you can install a business growth plan that leads to higher revenue, less chaos, and more freedom. Get immediate access to our free PDF at BusinessMadeSimple.com/Autopilot. -- Are you a discouraged entrepreneur? You’re not alone. Starting a business comes with a lot of painful setbacks
#110: How to Quit Your Job & Start a Coaching Business
What if you could grow your small business on autopilot? Our new tool will show you how! Access our free PDF compiling all parts of the plane– the steps you need to grow your small business–into one place so you can install a business growth plan that leads to higher revenue, less chaos, and more freedom. Get immediate access to our free PDF at BusinessMadeSimple.com/Autopilot. -- Have you ever considered leaving your 9-5 to start your own coaching business? Quitting a job with steady inco
#109: Cameron Herold—How to Hire a Great “Second in Command”
One of the hardest parts of building a business is hiring the right people. This becomes even more challenging when you’re looking to hire a second in command. You need someone you can trust on a deep level and someone who has the right skills set for the job. If you make the wrong hire in this area, it can be catastrophic for your business and ruin years of hard work. In today’s episode, guest host Dr. J.J. Peterson, Director of StoryBrand and host of the Marketing Made Simple Podcast, talks
#108: Alex Hormozi—Surviving the Looming Economic Storm
Concerns about the economy are on the rise as the U.S. hit the debt limit last Thursday. If the “extraordinary measures” taken by the Treasury Department aren’t enough, it could create a financial nightmare for many Americans – including small business owners. How can you prepare your small business for the looming economic downturn? In today’s episode, Donald Miller talks with Alex Hormozi, founder of Acquisition.com and author of best-selling book, $100M Offers: How To Make Offers So Good Pe
#107: How to Have Your Best Year Yet in 2023
What if you could look back on 2023 and say that it was the best, most fun, and rewarding year you’ve ever had? For many of us, our life looks almost the same year after year. No big goals reached, no bucket list items crossed off, and nothing to make the year particularly memorable. If you’re ready to have a stand-out year that you’ll remember for the rest of your life, this episode is for you. In today’s coaching conversation, Donald Miller shares 3 things you can do to have your best year e
#106: Why “Work-Life Balance” Isn’t Working For You
If you feel like you’ve been trying to achieve “work-life balance” for years and never experiencing it, you’re not alone. Most business leaders have a hard time shutting off work and finding time to focus on other things like time with family, health and fitness, and personal hobbies. But if you constantly live with unhealthy work hours and stress, it can have serious effects on your mental and physical health. In today’s episode, Donald Miller opens up about how he’s changed his perspective o
#105: How to Scale Your Business Without Burning Out Your Team
Is your highest business expense people’s salaries? If so, managing people and productivity is vital to your company’s ability to scale. If you want to make your business operationally effective, there are only two options: you either have to decrease the cost of your labor or make your labor more productive. But how can you increase productivity without burning people out? In today’s one-on-one coaching conversation, Donald Miller gives you the solution to increase productivity while also inc
BONUS: Marketing Made Simple Podcast—The Best Takeaways From This Year's Top Episodes (Part 2)
Continue to position your marketing and messaging for success heading in the new year with Part 2 of our Marketing Mixtape. In this bonus episode, J.J. and April continue calling out the best marketing takeaways from this year to help you get even more clarity and inspiration going into 2023! Help the Marketing Made Simple Podcast deliver even more value by completing our Hero Maker survey at StoryBrand.com/Survey. Let us know what you're loving and what you're wanting more of in future episod
#104: Top Business Growth Hacks of 2022
Running a business can be exhausting and complex. As a business owner, you have to think about every aspect of your business including sales, finances, marketing, product development, and so much more! If you don’t take a step back every now and then to look at the big picture, you can get so lost in the details that you miss important opportunities for growth. In today’s episode, we’re sharing the top business growth hacks from our 2022 episodes. You’ll hear clips from four conversations Dona
BONUS: Marketing Made Simple Podcast—The Best Takeaways From This Year's Top Episodes (Part 1)
If you’re feeling overwhelmed closing out 2022, you’re not alone! Many business owners and marketers feel the weight of incomplete projects, initiatives that never got started, and stress from trying to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of digital marketing. To make matters worse, you’re not even sure what to prioritize for 2023. Instead of overworking yourself or getting paralyzed thinking about all there is to do, take a moment to take a step back with us. In this bonus episode of the
#103: The Best Way to Increase Revenue in the New Year
If your business didn’t make as much money as you thought it would in 2022, it’s time to perform a profitability audit. Instead of dumping more money into sales and marketing and hoping for better results, you need to take some time to evaluate the foundation of your business: the profitability of your products or services. In today’s coaching conversation, Donald Miller coaches you one-on-one how to perform a product profitability audit. When you understand where your money is truly coming fr
#102: How to Give an Inspiring Presentation
No one wants to listen to a boring presentation – and no one wants to be a boring presenter! Yet so many presentations are either uninspiring or completely self-centered. If you fall into either of those ditches, your audience will tune you out and your message won’t get heard. In today’s coaching conversation, Donald Miller coaches you one-on-one through the 7 parts you need to give a great presentation. If you have a big presentation coming up or want to become a better speaker, this episode
#101: 5 Tips for Expanding if Your Business is at Max Capacity
It’s exciting when your business reaches max capacity, but scaling your operation can be challenging. You have to continue to produce at high volume while figuring out how to build infrastructure to produce more. It can feel like a catch-22 for a busy entrepreneur. To make matters worse, you know you’re missing out on a ton of revenue because you can’t meet demand. In today’s coaching conversation, Donald Miller talks with Laura Higgins, founder of 3DayWebsites.co, where Laura and her team cre
#100: Do You Have a Service People Need, Yet Your Business Isn’t Growing?
Are you frustrated with slow growth even though you have a service you know will help your customers? It’s frustrating when your business doesn’t take off, but it’s even more frustrating when you don’t know what you’re doing wrong! If you don’t figure out what’s holding your business back, your business won’t survive long enough to become profitable. In today’s episode, Donald Miller talks to Aimee Bennett and Lauren Paradis, founders of Empower Postpartum Physical Therapy. Aimee and Lauren ar
#99: The Quickest Way to Grow Your Business
If you’re looking to grow your business FAST, you might be surprised to learn that email marketing is one of the best ways to do that. But there’s a big problem: Most small business owners think they don’t have the time or expertise it takes to write marketing emails. In today’s episode, we’re busting that myth and helping you learn an email framework that’s doable and effective. In today’s episode, you’ll learn from the email marketing master himself, Donald Miller. Join Don for this concentr
#98: Should You Bring on Investors for Your Small Business?
More often than not, small businesses need more money than their businesses are bringing in order to grow and scale. There are options like private equity, venture capital and loans that can help you take the next step. But how do you decide if bringing on an investor is best for your business? In this episode, Donald Miller talks with Ryan Filsinger, CEO of Iron Fox Games, and walks him through the pros and cons of different investment options and helps him determine the right path for his bu
#97: How to Make More Money Without Creating New Products
Do you have customers and a great product but aren’t seeing an increase in cash flow? You might be tempted to create a new product – which might be a good move. But before you do that, you should consider how you can make more money with what you already have! Sometimes, all you need to do is think more creatively about what you’re currently offering your customers. In today’s coaching conversation, Donald Miller talks with Elisha Reverby, CEO and Founder of Elique Organics, a luxury plant-bas
#96: There’s Been A Murder! How Did This Small Business Die? (Special Halloween Episode with Don & J.J.)
Tune in for this special Halloween “whodunnit” murder mystery episode! Like so many small businesses, Penelope Featherbottom’s business has died. The doors have closed and all that’s left is the carnage of what used to be a thriving soap business. When Business Detective Dr. J.J. Peterson (host of the Marketing Made Simple Podcast) arrives on the scene, he helps Don piece together clues to solve this dreadful mystery so that it never happens to anyone else. Was the cause of death a mission st
#95: Will Guidara—Why a Culture of Hospitality Matters for Every Business
If you’ve ever thought that hospitality is only for… well, the hospitality industry… think again! Your customers are craving human connection more than ever – whether they’re staying in a hotel or buying a pair of socks. And genuine acts of hospitality don’t have to be extravagant or break the bank to have an impact. In today’s episode, Donald Miller talks with Will Guidara, James Beard Award winning restaurateur and author of the new book, Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Givin
#94: The Secret to Optimizing and Pricing Your Products for Explosive Growth
If you have a great line of products but don’t optimize, price and package them strategically, you are leaving money on the table. The truth is, 10% of your customers are willing to pay you 10 times more money if you had the right product or package for them. Every company should think through having an entry-level product, a mid-level product, and an elite-level product for customers with different needs (and pocketbooks!). In today’s coaching conversation, Donald Miller talks with Dr. Tarun
#93: Why Your Products Aren’t Selling and How to Fix It
Do you have a great product that people need, but for some reason people aren’t buying it? This is a common problem when you’re just starting out or launching a new product. When customers are confused about the problem your product solves or it sounds too complicated to buy or use, they won’t be motivated to pull out their wallets and buy. In today’s coaching conversation, Donald Miller talks with Tyler Robertson, Founder and CEO of Diesel Laptops, a company providing much-needed resources fo
#92: 5 Key Talking Points You Need to Close Deals
Are you tired of losing sales because you’re fumbling over your words? Your customers deserve to know about your product and services – but unless you know how to communicate the value you offer, people won’t buy from you. Instead of losing sales and feeling tongue-tied, you can learn 6 strategic talking points that will help you approach sales conversations with confidence. In today’s coaching conversation, Donald Miller continues to unpack the new The Customer if the Hero sales framework wit
#91: Hate Selling? Here’s the Sales Framework You Need
If you’re like most people, you hate being sold to – and you don’t enjoy selling to others, either! But as a small business owner, you have to sell to survive. Selling your products or services shouldn’t feel slimy or nerve-wracking. When you learn our storytelling framework for sales, you can stop pushing products and start inviting customers into a story instead. In today’s episode, Donald Miller introduces you to the The Customer is the Hero sales framework. When trying to sell, many people
#90: Stop Getting Talked Over & Start Being Seen as a Leader
Are you struggling to find confidence and step out of your comfort zone at work when it comes to growing as a leader and asking for what you want? Today's guest will show you how! In this episode, Donald Miller talks with Karen Laos, author of the book Trust Your Own Voice and host of the podcast, Ignite your Confidence with Karen Laos. Karen shares practical tips on how aspiring leaders can confidently speak up and become a valuable player everyone else wants to hear from. First, Karen encour
#89: 5 Ways to Protect Your Time (and Increase Revenue)
Are you a leader or executive in your company? If so, you’re one of the biggest expenses in your business. You’re also one of the most sought-after people in your company. This creates a problem: you need to use your time extremely wisely, but you’re constantly being pulled in multiple directions. If you don’t learn practical strategies to protect your time, your work (and life!) will suffer from constant overwhelm and frustration. In today’s episode, Donald Miller coaches you one-on-one from
#88: Jason Feifer—How to Embrace Change and Be Adaptable
Are you struggling to adapt to a recent change in your life or business? No matter what your personality type, research shows that people move through 4 stages when a massive disruption occurs: 1) Panic 2) Adaptation 3) New Normal 4) An “I wouldn’t go back” moment where you no longer wish for the old normal. Your adaptability depends on how efficiently you can move through those four phases and how much belief you have that your “I wouldn’t go back” moment is coming. In today’s episode, Donald
#87: Should You Hire Someone Else to Run Your Company?
If you started a company, you probably have the personality of an entrepreneur. Which means you don’t like running day-to-day operations! Visionaries are at their best when they can dream up ideas and launch new initiatives – not when they are bogged down in the details of running an operation. It makes sense for entrepreneurs to run things for a while, but it can end up hurting your business and frustrating your team if you stay in that seat too long. In today’s coaching conversation, Donald
#86: Scale Your Startup With 90 Minute Workdays
Are you looking to scale your startup? If you’re like most entrepreneurs, you have two major obstacles to growth: limited time and how to best differentiate your product in the marketplace. In today’s episode, Donald Miller coaches Anna Belle and Lila Mae Skidmore, owners and founders of Granola’d, a company selling gluten-free granola, through how they can scale their startup. At only 17 and 20 years old, Lila Mae and Anna Belle are already growing their company but still need help with stra
#85: Leveraging the Power of Story to Grow Your Business (Donald Miller at Baylor University)
Did you know that your brain spends 30% of its time daydreaming? But not when your mind is engaged in a story. When you’re emotionally connected to the plot points of a story, your brain focuses fully on that story. In today’s special episode, Donald Miller presents the power of story to business students at Baylor University and teaches them how to use the art of story in the marketplace. If you want to grow your ability to influence those around you, engage your customers, build trust, and g
#84: How to Know if Your New Idea Might Actually Kill Your Business
Entrepreneurs are wired to constantly come up with new ideas. But sometimes creative juices can cause your business to get pulled in multiple directions, making you a jack of all trades and a master of none. Even worse, it kills your company’s potential to hone in on the products and services that actually boost revenue. In today’s episode, Donald Miller talks with board-certified art therapist, Jocelyn Fitzgerald, about how a controlling idea can help her take advantage of the opportunities r
#83: How to Become an Authority in Your Niche
Having trouble being seen as an authority in your niche? No matter what you’re selling, if you don’t position your products correctly, you’ll lose credibility and stunt the growth of your business. To own market share, you’re going to have to do one thing extremely well: be known for solving a very specific problem – and it may not be the problem you have in mind! In today’s coaching conversation, Donald Miller talks with Walter & James Miltenberger, brothers and business owners who run Syft,
#82: Recession-Proof Your Business Using this Marketing Checklist
The economy has many business owners on edge. How can you recession-proof your company? One key way is to make sure your marketing is strong and effective. The right marketing strategy has the power to make your business thrive and grow, even in an economic downturn. In today’s episode, Donald Miller shares some marketing tips that every business owner should implement. These tactics can help you boost your revenue and carry you through a disruption in the economy. Listen in and discover how
#81: How You Can Create a Subscription Model for Your Business
What if you had recurring revenue that covered most (if not all) of your monthly expenses? Anything on top of that would be pure profit. If your business is seasonal or has a highly fluctuating monthly cash flow, a subscription model could help you stabilize your revenue stream and cover your monthly overhead. In today’s coaching conversation, Donald Miller sits down with Jacob Bradley, CEO and owner of PsychTalent, a company that recruits clinicians for their clients. Jacob’s biggest challeng
#80: How to Reinvest Your Profit to Fuel Growth
When you have extra money in the bank, you should reinvest it in your company. But how do you know where to invest when there are many areas that need attention? Instead of sitting on your profit with uncertainty or putting money in the wrong places, you want to pour cash in strategic growth areas. In today’s episode, Donald Miller talks with Rebekah Scott of Rebekah Scott Designs, a luxury handbag brand that allows women to design their own purses. In 2020, Rebekah reinvested some of her prof
#79: Pivot Your Products to Break Out of a Revenue Rut
Is your business stuck making the same revenue as last year? No matter what industry you’re in, expanding or changing a product or service could be the boost you need. A strategic pivot can help you tap into a new area of the market and ignite the growth you’ve been looking for. In today’s coaching session, Donald Miller talks with Scott Mueller, president and owner of Mueller Memorial Funeral Homes, about a new product spinoff for his business. Like many business owners in America, narrow mar
#78: Jenna Kutcher—The Risk of Authenticity
Many business owners find their personalities are tightly bound to their company's marketing, especially thanks to social media. On one hand, this can allow your customers to feel a connection to you and your brand. However, it also can act as an open invitation to for people to criticize you and, at times, even your family. So the question is how authentic and vulnerable should you be over social media? What is the right balance of authenticity to ensure you don't lose customers? In today's e
#77: How to Buy a Company You Didn't Start
What would you do if your boss gave you the opportunity to buy the company? It's a huge decision, and hard to know where to even begin evaluating if it's a good investment for you. Today's episode will give you the key questions to ask and things to look out for so you enter negotiations confident and prepared. In today's coaching conversation, Donald Miller talks with Ray Martindale, a video producer who was recently offered the option to buy the company where he works. But having never owned
#76: The Right Way to Scale as a Consultant
As a consultant, customers are paying for your expertise. The problem is how can you scale if your business model limits your services to one-on-one interactions? You could charge more but that's only a temporary fix. What's the long term approach you should take? In today's coaching conversation, Donald Miller talks with Alexis Alvarez, CEO of Burst Event Company. Alexis hopes to grow her wedding planning business by offering customers more one-on-one options but is nervous about the overhead
#75: How to Tell Your Story Without Playing the Hero
You've heard us say it over and over again: your marketing should invite your customers into a story where they are the hero. And this means focusing on their story instead of telling your own. But we're going to let you in on a secret today. There actually is there a way you can tell your brand's story. You just have to make it all about your customer and solving their problem. In today's coaching conversation, Donald Miller talks with Eddie Zingleman, owner and furniture maker at Tennessee W
#74: Choosing Your Next Strategic Initiative
When it comes to growing your business, it's easy to fill up a list with potential great ideas. What's hard is deciding which ones to implement and when, especially if you only have the time and money to go with one. In this episode, Donald Miller walks Jeff Stoner, co-owner of My Mickey Vacation Travel, through the decision-making process of choosing the next strategic initiative for his business. Don also coaches Jeff on how to "market for the moment," shifting resources and taking advantage
#73: Why Your Non-Profit Isn’t Growing
One of the questions we get asked the most at Business Made Simple is "Can you apply these frameworks to help grow nonprofits?" The simple answer: YES! And in today's episode, Donald Miller will show you how as he coaches Breanna Owen of Beza Threads, a nonprofit selling handcrafted leather goods to fight human trafficking around the world. If you're tired of hitting a wall when it comes to growing your nonprofit and engaging with more active donors, today's conversation will show you the best
#72: Tim Schurrer—The Right Way to Quit
Starting and growing a business can't happen in a vacuum. You need supporting players to help foster your dream into a reality. But what happens when the people you brought on to grow your company decide they want to leave? Even more importantly, how can you manage their exit so it's smooth and constructive? This scenario is very familiar in the walls of Business Made Simple as Don talks with Tim Schurrer, former Business Made Simple COO and author of The Secret Society of Success. Don and Tim
#71: Confusing Marketing Could Be Killing Your Business
Your website is the front door to your business, and you only have a few seconds to win over a customer before they either engage with your brand or move on. That's why it's crucial that your website is clear and simply explains how you will help your potential customer solve a problem to make their life better. In today's coaching conversation, Donald Miller talks with Sam, a retired law enforcement officer starting up a personal protection agency. Don helps Sam craft his brand and message so
#70: Amy Porterfield—How to Start a Successful Business From Scratch
As a business owner, starting a business from nothing can feel like solving an impossible mystery. But with the right frameworks and insight you can remove that mystery to create a business not only survives, but thrives. Today we've brought on special guest and online marketing expert Amy Porterfield, host of the Online Marketing Made Easy Podcast, to compare notes with Donald Miller around how they built their businesses narrowing down the seven steps you should take to start and grow a strong
#69: How to Grow a Successful Business as an Artist
Many artists don't believe they're competent at business or feel thinking about their art as a business might cheapen it. But whether you're an author, painter, musician or produce any other type of creative work, without steady cash flow, it's nearly impossible to get your work in front of the world. It's only when you think of your art as a product you sell that you can truly market and get in front of the right audience. In today's coaching conversation, Donald Miller talks with Raj Lulla,
#68: How to Make More Money by Monetizing Your Mission
You started your business to follow your passion, to fill a need or even to accomplish a mission. But exactly how can you inspire customers to buy into that mission and buy your products? In today's coaching conversation, Donald Miller talks with Tara Hurster, founder of the TARA Clinic in Sydney, Australia. Her mission is providing busy and successful people help as they try to regain control over substance use and addiction, all while leaving guilt and shame behind. Don coaches Tara on exac
#67: David Novak—Are You Truly Self Aware as a Leader?
As a leader it's easy to feel the pressure of needing to make every decision. It's also easy to fall into the trap of dismissing other people's ideas thinking your way is best. In fact, leaders who lead by force not only erode confidence within their company but can ultimately push it to failure. So how can you lead with authority while still being inclusive and open-minded? In this episode, Donald Miller talks with David Novak, founder and CEO of David Novak Leadership and co-author of Take C
#66: Getting Back to Growth Post-Pandemic
The pandemic shifted business in a huge way. As things start to return back to normal, many businesses are stuck trying to get back to where they were pre-pandemic or even trying to figure out what a new normal looks like. In today's coaching conversation, Donald Miller talks with David Bron, owner of Praxis Learning International, a summer camp program for international students. Don coaches David on what steps he needs to take to breathe life back into his once thriving business and how you
#65: How to Make More Money with Your Current Products
When it comes to future-casting, business leaders often try to think of the next big product they can create or service they can offer. But what if your next opportunity to bring in more revenue is actually right in front of you? If you want to keep your costs low, profits high, and avoid overworking your employees, you need to work smarter, not harder. In today's coaching conversation, Donald Miller talks with Kristin "KB" Newton, founder and CEO of Heart Convos, a business that gives you the
#64: Are You Solving the Right Problem for Your Customers?
Last week's conversation was all about honing in on the problem you solve for customers because when your product is the solution to a problem, its value doubles immediately. But what if you're focusing on the wrong problem? In this coaching conversation, Donald Miller talks with Adam Jones, a comedic stage hypnotist, about how he needs to rethink the problem he solves for his clients so he can always be front of mind and book more gigs! If your business like an airplane, this episode is all
#63: Is a Weak Brand Identity Holding Your Business Back?
Do you think of your product or your business as a solution to a problem? If your product is the solution to a problem, your product's value doubles immediately. But if you're in a crowded market, how do you set yourself apart and get more customers? In this coaching conversation, Donald Miller talks with Kaytlyn Wells, physical therapist and owner of Beyond Repair. Don coaches Kaytlyn on how to define her brand identity and own the problem her business solves in the market. If your business
#62: How to Create More Demand for Your Products
So many small businesses feel stuck when it comes to their revenue. Year after year they keep making the same amount, and no matter what they try, it doesn't seem to grow. How do you break out of a revenue rut? In this episode, Donald Miller talks with balloon artist Natalie Teabo, owner of Hello Sunshine Balloons, who feels stuck in what her business is currently making. Don coaches Natalie on how she can triple or even quadruple her prices to not only keep her business afloat (no pun intende
#61: How to Attract and Retain Top Talent
Your business needs highly trained individuals to serve your clients well. But hiring top talent is expensive, and businesses often wonder how they can pay well and still keep the business afloat, especially when they have looming overhead expenses as well. In this episode, Donald Miller talks with Michael Remole, CEO and Founder of Gateway Family Services of Illinois, a mental health organization providing services including equine assisted therapy. Don coaches Michael on how he can attract,
#60: How to Scale Your Team as a Solopreneur
As a soloprenuer, you are used to doing everything yourself. But as a team of one there's only so much you can do to scale your business. So when it comes to growth, how do you create a strategy for expanding your team that doesn't inflate your overhead, grows your revenue, and utilizes your time and talents to the fullest? In this episode, Donald Miller talks with Laurelyn Dexter, owner of My Brand Photographer, a business that helps female entrepreneurs grow their businesses through strategi
#59: Tim Arnold—Move Forward Faster When You Lead With "And"
As a leader, you’re committed to making a difference, leaving a mark, and making the world a better place. But when it comes to moving things forward, does it often seem like you’re fighting an uphill battle against broken systems, impossible demands, and unreasonable people? In this episode, Donald Miller talks with Tim Arnold, leadership expert and author of the new book Lead with And, to coach you to move beyond the traditional Either/Or approach to solving problems and embrace the transfor
Becoming a Hero on a Mission—Play the Hero to Improve Your Story
When it comes to your own personal story and experiencing a meaningful life, do you feel like things are coming up short? Even if you have a packed schedule, you might still wake up feeling restless, bored or even hopeless. Know that you are not alone. Too many people have lost interest in their own stories. But in this Business Made Simple six-part limited series, we want to help you change that. We want to help you become a hero on a mission. In the final part of this limited series, Donald
#58: How to Build and Grow Your Personal Brand
When it comes to selling your products, they need to be in demand and profitable. But what about if you are the product? How can you strategize and build a personal brand that is both in demand and profitable? In this episode, Donald Miller coaches Shanera Williamson, founder and podcast host of Brown Mama Bear, a personal brand centered around helping mothers raise brown children in white spaces. Don coaches her on a step-by-step plan to grow her audience and build engagement. If you think
Becoming a Hero on a Mission—How to Escape a Villain Mindset
When it comes to your own personal story and experiencing a meaningful life, do you feel like things are coming up short? Even if you have a packed schedule, you might still wake up feeling restless, bored or even hopeless. Know that you are not alone. Too many people have lost interest in their own stories. But in this Business Made Simple six-part limited series, we want to help you change that. We want to help you become a hero on a mission. Every story includes four basic characters: a her
#57: Is Word-of-Mouth Marketing Dead?
Customers are buying your product. They're loving it. ... Then what? As a business, is your job done now? We'll go ahead and give you the answer. If you're not equipping your customers to share about your products after they buy, you're leaving a ton of money on the table. In this episode, Donald Miller coaches Connor Meakin, founder of Blue Bird Provisions, on how to create marketing that gives your customers everything they need to share about your product, turning them into a sales force fo
Becoming a Hero on a Mission—How to Ditch a Victim Mentality (When You're Not a Real Victim)
When it comes to your own personal story and experiencing a meaningful life, do you feel like things are coming up short? Even if you have a packed schedule, you might still wake up feeling restless, bored or even hopeless. Know that you are not alone. Too many people have lost interest in their own stories. But in this Business Made Simple six-part limited series, we want to help you change that. We want to help you become a hero on a mission. Every story includes four basic characters: a her
#56: Curing the Overworked, Overwhelmed Business Owner
Success as a business owner can feel like a double edged sword. You are accomplishing your dream and growing a business you're passionate about, but you're also doing so much, feeling constantly overwhelmed by the weight of making sure everything runs as it should. Today's coaching guest finds herself here. Renee Thompson is the founder and CEO of the Healthy Workforce Institute, an organization eradicating bullying and incivility inside the healthcare system. In this episode, Donald Miller co
Becoming a Hero on a Mission—Create a Morning Routine that Gives You Meaning
When it comes to your own personal story and experiencing a meaningful life, do you feel like things are coming up short? Even if you have a packed schedule, you might still wake up feeling restless, bored or even hopeless. Know that you are not alone. Too many people have lost interest in their own stories. But in this Business Made Simple six-part limited series, we want to help you change that. We want to help you become a hero on a mission. In part three of our series, Donald Miller breaks
#55: How to Grow Your Business to Seven Figures
It's inevitable; even the most successful businesses eventually hit a plateau. So how do you avoid losing the momentum that grew your business from the ground up? Today's coaching guest, Gabe Helguera finds himself here. Gabe is the founder and CEO of Drum Beats Online, a subscription-based platform helping drummers level-up their skills. In this episode, Donald Miller coaches Gabe on how to keep his business growing towards his next goal. If you think of your business like an airplane, this
Becoming a Hero on a Mission—Start By Writing Your Eulogy Now
When it comes to your own personal story and experiencing a meaningful life, do you feel like things are coming up short? Even if you have a packed schedule, you might still wake up feeling restless, bored or even hopeless. Know that you are not alone. Too many people have lost interest in their own stories. But in this Business Made Simple six-part limited series, we want to help you change that. We want to help you become a hero on a mission. In part two of our series, Donald Miller talks th
#54: How Writing a Book Can Give Your Business Extra Fuel
Do you have life experiences that feel too valuable not to share with the world? Or have you figured something out in you business you know other business owners struggle with? Writing a book is great way to not only share your valuable story, but also give your business an extra dose of fuel. While it may seem like it's in a different lane, publishing a book helps strengthen several parts of your airplane - your marketing engine, your sales engine, and even your leadership in the cockpit. But
Becoming a Hero on a Mission—How to Rediscover Purpose and Meaning in Your Life
When it comes to your own personal story and experiencing a meaningful life, do you feel like things are coming up short? Even if you have a packed schedule, you might still wake up feeling restless, bored or even hopeless. Know that you are not alone. Too many people have lost interest in their own stories. But in this Business Made Simple six-part limited series, we want to help you change that. We want to help you become a hero on a mission. In part one of our series, Donald Miller shows yo
#53: How to Incorporate Your Mission into Your Products
For some business owners, the mission behind the business is what truly drives them, and at the end of the day, means more to them than making a profit. However, as a business, you have to make money to stay operational and actually sustain the mission. So how do you do both successfully? First, you need to incorporate your mission into your products. Second, you need to market your mission and your products consecutively. Think of it this way: if your business is like an airplane, your produc
Hero on a Mission Limited Series PREVIEW—What You Need in a Morning Ritual
Most of us are bored with the story we’re living. We’ve lost interest in our own lives, and as a result, we spend our days feeling anxious, restless or just flat out hopeless. But what if you stopped trusting fate to write the story of your life and started living like a character in an interesting story? Our new six-part limited podcast series, Hero on a Mission, will help you do just that! In this preview of an upcoming episode, host Donald Miller walks you through creating a morning ritual so
#52: The Best Business-Growing Moments of 2021
2021 was quite the ride, especially for businesses, and we’re honored you took the journey with us! Before we say goodbye to 2021, let’s look back on some of the most valuable and insightful moments from this year. First, we return to episode one, where you learned how to build your business like an airplane so it flies far and fast. Then we’ll revisit the most valuable bites from conversations with: John Lee Dumas (Episode #12) - How to Create a Content Production Plan Ryan Deiss (Episode
Discover True Meaning in Your Life's Story—New Limited Series Coming January 6!
Most of us are bored with the story we’re living. We’ve lost interest in our own lives, and as a result, we spend our days feeling anxious, restless or just flat out hopeless. But what if you stopped trusting fate to write the story of your life and started living like a character in an interesting story? Our new six-part limited podcast series, Hero on a Mission, will help you do just that! Just follow the Business Made Simple Podcast feed and every Thursday starting January 6th for six week
#51: Grow Your Products Without Growing Your Expenses
When it comes time to expand and grow, companies often rush to create new products that inflate their overhead. But in order to stay in business, doubling your costs means you must also double your profits. If you don't it could send everything into a tailspin. Think of it this way: if your business is like an airplane, your products are your wings. They need to be strong and stable to support your overhead, or the body of your airplane. If not, your business will crash! In today's coaching c
#50: Create Lifelong Customers with a Product Funnel
After a customer purchases a product from you, what's next for them? You could call it a day and let that customer drop off. Or you could create a path for them to discover their next purchase from you. Creating a product funnel and guiding your customers through it is a key way to turn one-time purchasers into lifelong customers, generating sustainable revenue for your company. Think of it this way: if your business is like an airplane, your products are your wings. They need to be strong and
#49: How to Grow Your Business by Getting Specific
Let's start with the bad news. If you're attempting to target anyone and everyone as a potential customer, your business will never be known for anything. But here's the good news! When you nail down exactly who your customer is and become super specific in telling them exactly what problem you can solve for them, your business will fly far and fast. This is what today's episode is all about. Our guest, Stephanie Gray, is a corporate trainer who originally came to us needing help strategizing
#48: Tom Henschel—Establishing Your Executive Presence
You may take pride in wearing your heart on your sleeve when interacting with your team, feeling it comes across as transparent and honest. The trouble is even though you may have the best intentions, your impact could be leaving team members feeling judged or dismissed. And, even more troubling, it could be holding you and your company back! Today we talk with Tom Henschel, executive coaching expert and host of The Look & Sound of Leadership Podcast, all about how to navigate the gap between in
#47: How to Scale as a Solopreneur
Solopreneur- we applaud you. You’ve worked hard, started a business, and grown it to where it is today. Now you’re ready to take the next step! ... Except you’re stuck. And because you alone continue to act as the “secret sauce” powering everything inside your business, you never see the light of day. To take the next step in scaling your business and avoiding burnout, you must first figure out how to scale yourself! Today's guest, Katherine Kelly of KatherineKellyDesign.com, knows this all to
#46: Hala Taha RETURNS—How to Start and Grow Your Own Podcast
Over the last year, podcasts have exploded in popularity, becoming a powerful marketing tool. Podcasts are a great way to engage with and build your customer base, but starting one can seem like a huge undertaking. That's exactly why we invited Hala Taha, host of the Young and Profiting podcast and founder of YAP media, back to the show. She joins Donald Miller to coach you through developing a podcast strategy from start to finish. Hala also reveals which social platform you and your business n
#45: Tyler Ginn—How to Use Social Media to Actually Grow Your Business
You know your business is supposed to be on social media, right? So you keep showing up there, posting randomly, spending time and money trying to connect with customers. But if you’re honest, all of your social media efforts don't seem to be leading to more customers or more revenue. It doesn’t have to be that way. It’s possible to use social media to connect with prospective customers, add new email addresses to your list, and ultimately drive more revenue for your business. In today’s conve
#44: Mignon Francois—How to Build a Business When You Have Absolutely, Freaking Nothing
How can you build your business when you have nothing? Nothing in the bank, nothing left in your fuel tank and nothing much to work with. Believe it or not, there’s a way. That’s why we invited Mignon Francois, founder and CEO of The Cupcake Collection, to share her story of how she started a business at one of the lowest points in her life and grew it into a $15 million empire! If you’re feeling like there’s no way you could ever succeed in your business, Mignon’s story of resilience and reinve
#43: Joshua DuBois—How Your Business Can Get the Most Out of Quarter 4
With the holidays just around the corner, is your business ready to make the most of it? In this week’s conversation, Joshua DuBois, co-founder and CEO of Gauge.ai, returns, packing a powerful punch with his top three predictions for quarter 4. He’ll coach you on how to best position your business so it’s ready to take on your customer’s problems head-on into the new year! Find out more about Joshua DuBois and how he and his team can help your business get ahead at Gauge.ai. -- If you ne
#42: Tim Schurrer—How to Keep Your Team Focused On Your Big Goals
Are your employees always busy, but your business still doesn’t seem to move forward? Do you feel like you’re always stuck micromanaging? Without a management and execution system, this is the arena you can expect to play in. But if you want employees who are focused, productive, and happy in their jobs, then today’s conversation is for you! Donald Miller and Tim Schurrer, Vice President of Talent Management and Culture at Business Made Simple, coach you through the simple but effective manageme
#41: Clate Mask—Not Having a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) System Is Costing You
Creating and nurturing customer relationships is key to growing your business. You must know where they are in their journey to buying your product so you can easily guide them to the sale. But managing it all can be overwhelming and exhausting which is exactly why you need a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. Speaking from experience, implementing a CRM system helped grow StoryBrand and Business Made Simple to over $15 million! Today we are joined by Clate Mask who is co-founder and
Close the Deal with a Great Sales Email Campaign
While your nurture email campaign adds value and builds trust with potential customers, it's your sales email campaign that will close the deal! Creating a sales email campaign provides the perfect opportunity for you to share the full story of how your product is going to help solve your customers' problems setting you up to ask them to buy it. Welcome to Part Five in our How To Create Your Marketing Made Simple Sales Funnel series, where J.J. and April break down exactly how craft your sales
#40: How To Grow Your Business When You Feel Stuck
Growing your business can feel like a constant and overwhelming guessing game. That's exactly what this week's guest, Sheri Rowney, owner of Harmonized Brain Center, was facing when she came to us for help. Sheri is a brilliant business owner with a great business model, but like many of you, she's hit a roadblock when it comes to growing and scaling. In this coaching conversation, Don walks Sheri through exactly what she needs to do to grow her business without adding hours to an already packed
#39: Cathy Heller—Ditch Your Day Job and Turn Your Passion Into Profit
Over 95% of Americans are considering quitting their jobs right now. Are you one of them? This week, we’re continuing our deep dive into how you can escape feeling redlined at work and follow your true passion instead. We talk with Cathy Heller, host of the Don’t Keep Your Day Job podcast, who coaches you through how to get out of your own way and become delusionally optimistic about paving your own path forward. -- Join Cathy Heller's Quitter's Club at CathyHeller.com/Quitters, and
#38: Tanya Dalton—Get Unstuck and Find Your Passion in Work (and in Life)
Close to 11 million people, almost 10% of the U.S. workforce, have recently quit their jobs in search for greater purpose. Some have coined this moment the "Great Resignation". If you're one of those people, feeling stuck in a job and going through the motions, then you need to listen to today's conversation with Tanya Dalton! Tanya is a productivity expert and author of the new book On Purpose, and will help you escape the merry-go-round, follow your passion and find your "soulmate client."
#37: Hala Taha—How to Develop an Internship Program to Fill Your Talent Pool
Some the biggest challenges you face growing your business are finding the right talent and managing to pay your people without overhead getting too high. That's why you need an internship program. And we don't mean some stereotypical program where college students complete mindless tasks. In today's conversation with expert Hala Taha, host of the Young and Profiting podcast and founder of YAP media, you'll learn how to build an internship program that makes it easy to find and train the talent
#36: Scott Jeffrey Miller—Marketing Strategies That Stand the Test of Time
Want to beat the competition every time, without having the lowest price in the market? First, make it unbelievably easy to buy from you. Second, surprise and delight customers by taking the extra step to show them you care. In this episode, Don is joined by Scott Jeffrey Miller, author of Marketing Mess to Brand Success. They’ll coach you through how to make your marketing air tight so your customers not only have an effortless buying experience, but rave about your brand to everyone they know!
#35: Bill Haslam—Leading with Empathy When Your People are Divided
Some believe being a strong leader means having all the answers and ruling with an iron fist. But unfortunately for them, they don't last long. It's only when you lead with empathy and compromise that you build trust and buy-in within your organization. In this episode we talk with former Tennessee governor Bill Haslam, author of the book Faithful Presence, about how to lead, even in the most turbulent times, with an open mind and not by your emotions. -- Click here to order Bill Haslam's n
#34: Erin Meyer—Rewrite the Rules for Growing Your Business
Hard work is irrelevant. Be radically honest. And never, ever try to please your boss. Would you believe these are the rules Netflix has lived by to reach their stratospheric level of growth and success? Well, in this week’s conversation with special guest Erin Meyer, co-author of No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention, you learn exactly why following them will help grow your business and attract the talent your business needs to become the next “Netflix” of your market! -- Or
Marketing Made Simple #9: Give Your Customers a "Happily Ever After"
Never assume people will understand how your brand can change their lives. You need to clearly tell your customer how buying your product will end in their success. This is best way to offer them what they want most: a happy ending to their story where they become the hero! This week, J.J. and April work the final section of the StoryBrand framework: Success. They’ll also show you: How to cast a vision of a climactic scene for your customers How to frame success against failure Exam
#33: Doug Keim—How to Attract, Hire and Manage Top Talent
Hiring and managing top talent to grow your business can be overwhelming. Without a clear process to thoroughly qualify potential hires, you could find yourself on-boarding your uncle’s best friend’s cousin as your new sales director solely based on the fact that “they sold stuff at a job they had in college one time”. Not okay. If you never want to find yourself in that situation, you need a talent management framework. This week Don breaks down how you can start implementing one with special g
Marketing Made Simple #8: Save Your Customers from Failure
A story lives and dies based on one question: Will the hero succeed or will they fail? This is also true for your marketing. You need to tell your customer what’s at stake if they don’t buy your product. Without clearly showing that failure, your customer has no motivation to make a purchase. This week, J.J. and April work through the Failure section of the StoryBrand framework and show you: Exactly how to talk about failure without overwhelming your customer How to breakdown and show
#32: Governor Bill Lee—How Investing in Your Employees Can Pay Off
When running a growing team, developing your employees is no small feat. Today’s conversation with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee offers guidance and a solid example of how you can educate and strengthen your workforce to position your business for massive growth! -- At Business Made Simple we help you understand what’s wrong with your business and show you how to fix it. Just go to BusinessMadeSimple.com and for only $275 annually you'll get instant unlimited access to all of our online course
Marketing Made Simple #7: Challenge Your Customers to Take Action
In a story, a character never takes action on their own. They need to be challenged. The same is true for your customer! As the guide in your customer’s story, you must let them know what’s at stake if they don’t buy your product then clearly call them to action by asking for a commitment to buy. This week, J.J. and April unpack the Call To Action, or CTA, section of the StoryBrand framework and show you: How to create a strong Call To Action or CTA for your customer Specific examples
#31: Koula Callahan—How to Conduct a Great Exit Interview
When one of your team members decides to leave your company, even for the best reasons, it is crucial to conduct a great exit interview. Without one you are missing an opportunity to collect valuable feedback for improving how you hire and retain top talent. Today Don, J.J. and Koula discuss exactly what’s needed in an effective exit interview and provide a list of strategic questions to capture honest feedback while also positioning your team member to leave with a great sense of closure. S
Marketing Made Simple #6: Customers Never Trust a Guide Without a Plan
You should always begin your customer's story by identifying what they want then define their problem to spark interest in how you can help them overcome that problem. Next, reveal yourself as their guide by expressing empathy and demonstrating authority. Now is the time to ask your customer for a commitment to buy your product however that won’t happen unless you have a clear and simple plan for them to follow. This week, J.J. and April unpack Plan section of the StoryBrand framework and show
#30: John Maxwell—The Proven Steps You Need to Create Change
We live in a time filled with conflict and uncertainty, feeling like we're stuck watching from the sidelines ready to give up. But even as we are constantly bombarded by our news and social feeds, there are proven steps you can follow allowing you to plant the seeds of transformation to create change within your business, community and even your world. Today John Maxwell, leadership expert, change-maker and author of the new book, Change Your World, joins the conversation and shares the simple s
Marketing Made Simple #5: Your Customers Are Looking for a Guide, Not a Hero
Many businesses feel like they have something to prove and position themselves as the hero in their story. But customers aren't looking for another hero, they're looking for a guide! When you position yourself as the guide, showing customers exactly how your product can fix their problems and transform them into the hero, you're destined to win! This week, J.J. and April unpack the Guide section of the StoryBrand framework and show how you can: -Use specific language throughout your marketi
#29: Frank Calderoni—Why Downplaying the Importance of Character-Led Culture Will Cost You
The character of your business is a critical driver of sustained success. Without character, there is no trust. So if your customers are reluctant to commit to buying your products or your team members are constantly at odds, you definitely need to listen to this episode! We're joined by Frank Calderoni, CEO of Anaplan (a cloud-based business planning software company) and author of the new book, Upstanding. Frank breaks down how you can align your business around a character-led culture to buil
Marketing Made Simple #4: What Specific Problem Do You Solve For Customers?
Can you name the specific problem your business solves for your customers? Identifying your customers' problem deepens their interest in the story you invite them in and shows you truly understand them. It’s the “hook” of your story, but without it, your customers have no reason to engage with your brand causing your story to fall flat. This week, J.J. and April guide you through the Problem section of the StoryBrand framework and how you can: -Clearly identify the problem you solve -Brea
#28: David Eagleman—Break Free of Your Soul-Sucking Routine
Sometimes it can feel like you’re constantly stuck in the same soul-sucking routine day after day, like a hamster in a wheel. And even if it's not draining all your energy, it can still be mentally exhausting. That is exactly why we invited David Eagleman to the podcast! David is a neuroscientist and best-selling author of the Pulitzer nominated Livewired: The Story of the Ever-Changing Brain and gives you simple and easy ways to break out of your routine, improve brain health and gain back your
Marketing Made Simple #3: Discover What Your Customer Really Wants
As a brand, you must define what your customer wants. As soon as you define that, a story question forms in their mind: Can this brand really help me get what I want? Without this, the customer has very little interest in the story. This week, J.J. and April guide you through the Character section of the StoryBrand framework and how you can: -Define exactly what your customer wants -Plug that specific language into your marketing -Help transform your customer into the hero after they use
#27: Juliet Funt—Reclaim Your Focus and Productivity
Have a minute? If you're like most business leaders today, the answer is probably no. But you need open windows of time during the day in order to thrive, especially if you're growing a business. On this episode special guest Juliet Funt, author of A Minute To Think, shows you how to find moments of "white space", or strategic pauses, throughout your day to eliminate mindless tasks, enhance your performance and productivity, and reinvent the way you work. -- Pre-order A Minute To Think at J
Marketing Made Simple #2: Invite Your Customers Into a Beautiful Story
In every great story, the main character goes on a journey and by the end she transforms from zero to hero. This is called identity transformation. The same is true for your marketing. When you participate in your customer's identity transformation you are going to win! This week J.J. and April unpack the first part of the StoryBrand framework, identity transformation, and how you can apply it so your customers feel like they've transformed after purchasing your product or service. April also t
#26: Josh Linkner—Five Strategies for Escaping a Creative Rut
Running a business, you constantly run into challenges that need creative solutions. But what happens when you've hit a creative rut and time is ticking? This episode's special guest Josh Linkner, author of Big Little Breakthroughs, shows you exactly how to reclaim your creativity using five brainstorming techniques to help solve your trickiest problems and unlock your biggest opportunities! -- Order Josh Linkner's book Big Little Breakthroughs and access exclusive bonus content at BigLittl
Marketing Made Simple #1: Donald Miller—The Framework That Makes Marketing Easy
Does your company have a clear message? If not, it could be costing you thousands or more! That's exactly why we've invited Donald Miller, author of Building a StoryBrand and Marketing Made Simple, as our first guest. Don will guide you through the StoryBrand framework which has already helped thousands of businesses clarify their message to turn browsers into buyers. Listen and learn how to create marketing that is easy and that works! -- Every week on Marketing Made Simple, marketing exper
#25: Joshua DuBois—Get the Most Out of the Post-COVID Spending Boom
The post-COVID spending boom is coming! Is your business positioned to get the most out of it? Joshua DuBois, co-founder and CEO of Gauge.ai, returns to the podcast giving his top three predictions on exactly what you need do to get ahead of the game this upcoming quarter. -- Find out more about Joshua DuBois at Gauge.ai Start on your path to becoming a Business Made Simple Professional at BusinessMadeSimple.com. For only $275 annually you get instant access to all of our online courses,
Marketing Made Simple Launches Next Week on June 23!
Showing your customer exactly how your product can transform their life is essential if you want your business to win! It's called identity transformation and in an upcoming episode of Marketing Made Simple, you'll learn what language to use in your messaging to engage your customer's identity transformation by inviting them into a beautiful story. Every Wednesday, starting June 23, marketing experts Dr. J.J. Peterson and April Sunshine Hawkins will deliver practical marketing tips rooted in t
#24: Greg McKeown—Experiencing Burnout? How to Reprioritize!
We tend to equate success with working hard and think anything worth getting is worth working for, no matter the cost. But once we reach the level success we've dreamt about, we’re too burnt out to even enjoy it. Does this resonate with you? If so, pause and listen to today's conversation with Greg McKeown, author of the new book Effortless. Greg will teach you how to prioritize and reframe your priorities to make things easy allowing you to finally focus on what matters most. If you are constan
#24: Greg McKeown—Experiencing Burnout? How to Reprioritize!
We tend to equate success with working hard and think anything worth getting is worth working for, no matter the cost. But once we reach the level success we've dreamt about, we’re too burnt out to even enjoy it. Does this resonate with you? If so, pause and listen to today's conversation with Greg McKeown, author of the new book Effortless. Greg will teach you how to prioritize and reframe your priorities to make things easy allowing you to finally focus on what matters most. If you are constan
Introducing Our New Podcast: Marketing Made Simple!
If your company does not have a clear message, it could be costing you thousands if not more! But don't worry because our brand new Marketing Made Simple podcast is here for you and here's a teaser of our very first episode with special guest Donald Miller, author of Building a StoryBrand, Marketing Made Simple and Business Made Simple. Every Wednesday, starting June 23, marketing experts Dr. J.J. Peterson and April Sunshine Hawkins will deliver practical marketing tips rooted in the StoryBra
#23: Carey Lohrenz—Equipping Yourself to Perform Under Pressure
Are you feeling helpless or stuck in perpetual chaos emerging into the post-COVID landscape? Today's guest, Carey Lohrenz, author of Span of Control, offers a solution. As the first female F-14 Tomcat Fighter Pilot in the U.S. Navy, Carey has been there and breaks down exactly how you can overcome that helpless feeling to navigate uncertainty and equip yourself to truly perform under pressure! -- Order Span of Control at CareyLohrenz.com then take the Span of Control test to find our if you
#22: Ellen Bennett—Learn To Stop Overthinking and Take Action
Have you been trying to start up a business but keep dragging your heals overthinking every detail? If so, you need to listen to this episode! Special guest, Ellen Bennett, author of Dream First, Details Later and Founder/CEO of Hedley & Bennett, shares how she grew a $300 apron start-up into a multimillion dollar company. You'll come away knowing how to squash your doubt and build a personal playbook for taking action before you stop yourself again! -- Click here to order Dream First, Deta
#21: Charles Koch & Brian Hooks—How to Become the Best Version of Yourself
This week we're asking the question, "What would happen if you shift the need to control to a need to empower?" Special guests Charles Koch and Brian Hooks, co-authors of Believe In People: Bottom Up Solutions for a Top Down World, give you their answer in this captivating conversation. They explain how an obsession with control is at the root of many of our current problems and offer a solution through empowerment. For anyone wanting to become the best version of themselves and make a true diff
#20: Ryan Deiss—The Digital Marketing Strategy Your Business Needs [Part 2]
Special guest, Ryan Deiss, digital marketing expert and CEO of Digital Marketer, is back to continue guiding you step-by-step through a digital marketing strategy that will help your business scale and make you more money. -- Find out more about Ryan Deiss at DigitalMarketer.com Start on your path to becoming a Business Made Simple Professional at BusinessMadeSimple.com. For only $275 annually you get instant access to all of our online courses plus live coaching sessions with Donald Miller
#19: Ryan Deiss—The Digital Marketing Strategy Your Business Needs [Part 1]
These days your business needs an effective digital marketing strategy not only to keep up with the competition but in order for it to fly far and fast. Without one, you could be headed for a crash landing! But don't worry—we’ve got you covered because over the next two episodes special guest, Ryan Deiss, digital marketing expert and CEO of Digital Marketer, guides you step-by-step through a digital marketing strategy to help your business scale and make you more money. -- Find out more about
Get Coached—"How Can I Protect Cash Flow?"
What mystery about growing your business is overwhelming you? Let us know and submit your business question to BusinessMadeSimple.com/Question for a chance to have Donald Miller coach you through it! Get Coached is the weekly Business Made Simple Podcast segment focused entirely on coaching you through the business problems keeping you up at night. For your chance to Get Coached by Donald Miller, submit your business question to BusinessMadeSimple.com/Question.
#18: Leah Glover Hayes—Three Keys to Success
Most people think success is a solo endeavor – you have to do it alone and there's no one else who can help you get there. But the reality is that we are surrounded by resources and people who can support us in our journey toward success. This week's guest, Leah Glover Hayes, host of the podcast "Her Story of Success", shares inspiring stories of women trailblazers, entrepreneurs, artists and business leaders from all walks. She’s distilled their advice into three keys to success you can use in
Get Coached—"How Do I Create a Lead Magnet to Drive Revenue?"
What mystery about growing your business has you stuck? Let us know and submit your business question to BusinessMadeSimple.com/Question for a chance to have Donald Miller coach you through it! Get Coached is the weekly Business Made Simple Podcast segment focused entirely on coaching you through the business problems keeping you up at night. For your chance to Get Coached by Donald Miller, submit your business question to BusinessMadeSimple.com/Question.
#17: Tom Eisenmann—Is Your Start-up Destined to Fail?
The failure rate for startups is 90%. That means 9 out of 10 businesses will fail! It doesn’t have to be this way though. If you know the patterns causing these failures and avoid them, your chances for success increase dramatically. This week's guest, Tom Eisenmann, Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and author of “How Startups Fail”, surveyed 470 entrepreneurs and investors about their failed businesses and discovered six distinct patterns leading to their failure.
Get Coached—How to Discover the Specific Problem You Solve
What mystery about growing your business are you stuck trying to solve? Let us know and submit your business question to BusinessMadeSimple.com/Question for a chance to have Donald Miller coach you through it! Get Coached is a weekly podcast presented by Business Made Simple focused entirely on coaching you through the business problems keeping you up at night. For your chance to Get Coached by Donald Miller, submit your business question to BusinessMadeSimple.com/Question.
#16: Tyler Reagin—How To Lead Something You Didn’t Start
No matter what your role is within your business, there will be a time when you need to step in and take over something somebody else has built. Not knowing how to manage that transition could put you in a nose dive toward disaster. So how can you successfully lead something you didn’t start? This week special guest, Tyler Reagin, author of “Leading Things You Didn’t Start", answers that question! He gives you the five steps you'll need when taking over any project, department or company. --
#15: Allison Fallon—How and Why Should You Write Your Story?
You know you have a story to tell but struggle how to even begin telling it. Where should you start? Is it captivating? Who really wants to hear your story? It's overwhelming. That's why we’re answering the question, “How and why should you write your story?” We're joined by special guest Allison Fallon, author of "The Power of Writing It Down", who’s helped hundreds of people find their voice, tell their stories, and share them with the world. In this episode she’ll walk you step-by-step on how
#14: Joshua DuBois—How Can Your Business Ride the Post-COVID Wave?
The post-COVID wave: most of us are thinking about it but few of us feel prepared for it. What's going to happen to our businesses? How will consumer behavior change? What exactly is this "new normal?" These are the exact questions we are answering this week. Joshua DuBois, founder of Gauge.ai, a market research firm that surveys tens of thousands of people per day, will share what you can expect in Q2 of this year and how your business can be prepared for the changes that will come as the world
#13: Michael Hyatt—Can You Grow Your Business Working Six Hour Days?
On this week’s episode we’re answering the question, “Is it possible to grow your business working only six hour days?” Michael Hyatt, co-author of the new book “Win At Work & Succeed At Life,” is convinced you can. You'll hear why as he shares his insight into how fewer, more focused hours can lead to significant growth in your business. -- Order Michael Hyatt's new book, "Win at Work & Succeed At Life" and get access to exclusive bonus content at WinAndSucceedBook.com/BMS When you beco
#12: John Lee Dumas—Is It Worth It To Create an Online Platform?
It feels like just about everyone is trying to "build their online platform" these days. But only the people who do it right are the ones that reap the benefits. And yes -- there is a "right" way to do it. On this week's episode, John Lee Dumas, author of the book "The Common Path to Uncommon Success" shares a step-by-step plan for how you can produce consistent content for your platform that doesn't feel cheesy and allows you to expand your influence. -- Find out more about The Common Path
#11: Vik Harrison—What You Really Need to Grow Your Non-Profit
This week we’re answering the question: How can non-profits who want to fundraise less, raise more money and build a community of monthly givers? Special guest, Vik Harrison of Charity: Water, an organization that to date has delivered clean and safe drinking water to over 10 million people across the globe, gives you the answer! Then host Donald Miller walks you step-by-step through crafting the perfect mission statement for any type of business. -- Find out more about Vik Harrison at VikHa
#10: John Lowry—Six Things You Need to Become a Great Negotiator
You’re negotiating all the time without even knowing it. And that’s a problem, because your success in life depends on how well you can negotiate. That's why in this week's episode we're teaching you the six things every great negotiator does to create more win/win outcomes in work and in life. Don also talks with Dr. John Lowry, President of the Lowry Group and instructor of our newest course at Business Made Simple University - Negotiation Made Simple. John shares what it's like inside a high
#9: Martin Lindstrøm—Embrace Empathy to Grow Your Business
This week Martin Lindstrøm, author of The Ministry of Common Sense and expert at helping businesses around the world unleash their common sense, joins Don, Koula and J.J. Martin shows how to embrace empathy and unlock pure common sense to help grow your business and make you more money! -- Find out more about Martin Lindstrøm and his book The Ministry of Common Sense at MartinLindstrom.com/Ministry-Of-Commonsense Want to become a Business Made Simple Certified Coach? Apply now at Certif
#8: How Do You Make Sure You Never Run Out of Cash?
Run out of cash and your business will crash! That's why in this final episode of our seven-part series, How Your Business is an Airplane, we explain exactly how to manage your finances, giving you a plan to keep your business fueled with cash. Don also talks with finance guru, Mike Michalowicz, who shows you how to implement his Profit First method. -- Find out more about Mike Michalowicz or Profit First at ProfitFirstProfessionals.com Want to become a Business Made Simple Certified Coac
#7: How Can You Keep Overhead from Getting Out of Hand?
A coke machine in the break room or a food truck party for your staff might sound like a fun idea. But the reality is – that’s overhead, and it’s slowing your business down (and costing you money). In part six of our seven-part series, How Your Business is an Airplane, we’re focusing on overhead. Sure, you’re going to have some expenses that don’t drive crazy revenue, and sometimes that’s okay. The answer isn’t to cut those expenses altogether – it’s to learn this simple formula so you know what
#6: The Secrets to Creating Products That Sell
There’s a myth that says it takes dozens of bad product ideas to uncover one good one. The problem is, that means you’re sending revenue down the drain. In part five of our seven part series, How Your Business is an Airplane, we’re focusing on the wings of the airplane – or your product. You don’t have to waste any more time creating dead-end products. Do these two things and you'll knock your product ideas out of the park the first time. -- Learn more about Allison Trowbridge how her compa
#5: Jamie Kern Lima—How to Overcome Your Fear of Selling
If you’re running your own business then you know selling your product can be a challenge. Whether it's finding leads, crafting the perfect pitch or dealing with crippling self doubt, you need to sell your product to stay in business. We're taking a slight detour from our 7-Part Series, How Your Business Is Like An Airplane, to talk with Jamie Kern Lima, who is no stranger to overcoming obstacles. As co-founder of IT Cosmetics, she grew the company from her living room into a $1.2 billion megabr
#4: The Proven Framework to Close Any Sales Deal
You’ve got no shortage of customers in your pipeline, but getting them to sign on the dotted line? That’s a completely different story. In Part Four of our series, How Your Business is an Airplane, we’re focusing on the Left Engine – Sales. You don’t have to go full-on used car salesman to get your leads to convert. There’s a better way, and we’re teaching it to you in this episode. -- Want to become a Business Made Simple Certified Coach? Apply now at CertifiedBusinessCoach.com Needing to
#3: How Does A Business Die? Our Detectives Are On The Case!
Here’s the sad reality: countless businesses close their doors every day. It’s not always for the same reason, and sometimes, the problems in a business totally sneak up on you. In Part Three of our series, How Your Business is an Airplane, we’re focusing on the Right Engine (aka - great marketing). Getting this essential piece of a business right could truly be the difference between if your business succeeds, or if you have to close your doors...for good. -- Want to become a Business Made
#2: What All Great Leaders Have in Common
What if leadership wasn’t about rallying your team around a mission or being liked? What if great leadership meant mastering seven core competencies that actually drive your team forward? In Part Two of our series, How Your Business is an Airplane, we’re focusing on The Cockpit. Don, Koula, and JJ break down each of these seven pillars (and spoiler alert: they may not be what you think). ... Want to become a Business Made Simple Certified Coach? Apply now at CertifiedBusinessCoach.com Needin
#1: What You Really Need to Know to Grow Your Business
In this inaugural episode of the Business Made Simple podcast, our hosts, Donald Miller, Dr. J.J. Peterson and Koula Callahan explain how a business really works and debate whether or not your college degree was worth the investment. ... Want to become a Business Made Simple Certified Coach? Apply now at CertifiedBusinessCoach.com Needing to hire a Business Made Simple Certified Coach? Go to HireACoach.com At Business Made Simple, we teach you everything you need to know to grow a busine
#233: The Best of 2020—Our Biggest Takeaways for Business Leaders
Well, friends, we did it! We’ve wrapped on yet another year of the Building a StoryBrand Podcast. And you know what that means: it’s time for the annual “Best of” episode. On this year’s episode, we’ve pulled together some of the best nuggets of wisdom from guests like Adrienne Bankert, Matthew McConnaughey, and even our very own Business Made Simple President, Doug Kiem. So join us as we revisit some amazing business (and life) advice we got in 2020. Head to storybrand.com/survey to complete
#232: Joshua DuBois—How Should You Change Your Business?
There is no doubt we’re all craving a return to normalcy. But is getting back to the way things were what your customers actually want? Joshua DuBois, market research expert and CEO of Gague.ai, gives Don some surprising insight. Peeking into his “crystal ball”, Joshua predicts how trends will change so you and your business can be more than ready heading into 2021! Head to storybrand.com/survey to complete our 2020 Listener Survey before December 31 for a chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!
#231: 10 Characteristics of Every Value-Driven Professional
There are specific qualities that highest paid people possess. I don’t mean integrity or honesty or kindness — those are characteristics you have to have in order to be a decent human. I’m talking about tangible character traits that make you a value-driven professional. Traits like understanding how to receive feedback, de-escalating drama and prioritizing your highest return opportunities. There’s a reason the highest paid people are where they are — and I want to teach you why. If you devel
#230: Paula Faris—Three Keys to Uncovering Your Purpose and Finding Meaning in Life
Have you ever found yourself feeling a bit...meh.. about your career trajectory? You’re proud of what you’ve accomplished, and you should be. But you just can’t shake the fact that you feel unfulfilled and that there's got to be more to life... It wasn’t too long ago when Good Morning America news anchor, Paula Faris, found herself in the same rut. So she decided to change things. She quit her job and completely re-engineered her life to discover her true purpose. What some might have thought w
#229: Elida Field—How to Go From “Starving Artist” to Savvy Business Owner
Many artists think sheer talent and creativity are all they need to turn their art into a lucrative business. Sadly, here’s what usually ends up happening: they realize talent alone isn’t going to cut it so they resort to being a “starving artist” and never really achieve the type of success they once dreamt possible. Elida Field could have easily fallen into the same trap, but her focus and determination propelled her into a profitable career she loves. In this week’s episode, she’ll share her
BONUS—A Word About Tough Conversations with Friends and Family This Holiday
In a candid moment from his back porch, Don shares a few ways you can break through the noise at the dinner table this Thanksgiving and focus on what really matters--sharing love and connection with friends and family. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
#228: Matthew McConaughey—Are Those Who “Trust In Fate” Doomed to a Boring Life?
Fate is a terrible writer -- and it shouldn’t be the one in the driver’s seat of your life. But there has to be a balance between fate and control, right? Matthew McConaughey’s take on this topic is an inspiring one, and in this week’s interview, he talks about how fate works together with self-determination to help you create the life you really want. He argues that ego is actually a healthy thing and that there is a beautiful balance between freedom and responsibility (in his terms, “giddy-up
#227: How a Life Plan Will Give You a Deep Sense of Meaning
We all want to live a meaningful life, but if we’re honest, we’ve been letting fate author our story for way too long. A meaningful life doesn’t happen when we let fate write it for us. A meaningful life happens when we create and follow a life plan that gives us a clear direction and purpose. Imagine knowing every task you completed was contributing to a life full of meaning. Imagine waking up each day not in a fog, but with a clear sense of purpose. That’s exactly what you’ll experience when
#226: Seth Godin—How to Become More Creative - Even if You Think You Aren’t
Most people think there are those who are “just born” creative, and those who just aren’t. Seth Godin would disagree. He believes that creativity, like riding a bike, is a skill everyone can learn and develop over time. It’s an important skill, too, and if we don’t develop practices that keep us creative, we could get left behind. In today’s episode, Seth gives us insight into how we can become more creative with our work. Whether you’re a graphic designer, and architect, a CEO or a receptionist
#225: Lee LeFever—What to Do When Your Business Slows Down & Money Stops Coming In
Your business can’t always be booming. So what do you do when it feels like everything is slowing down? If you’re like most people, you’ll probably panic -- but Lee LeFever would challenge you not to. Lee decided he was going to embrace the slow down and learn how to gain success even if he wasn’t making money. If you’re the type of person who hates when things slow down, this is the episode you need. Plus -- our friend Justin Christensen stops by to share how he pivoted his business during the
How to Get People to Pay Attention to You
As a leader, you’re always looking for ways to grow that also fit into your hectic schedule. We made StoryBrand Rewind for YOU. In this new series, Koula Callahan does a quick breakdown of the most valuable tips we’ve received from past episodes. This week, she’s diving into wisdom from Andy Stanley on how to communicate in a way that’s clear and memorable. For most of us, our communication falls flat more than we’d like to admit. As a leadership expert and bestselling author, Andy knows how to
#224: The Canlis Brothers—What’s (Actually) Possible For Your Business?
When COVID-19 hit, everyone scrambled to pivot their businesses. And our friends at the Canlis restaurant in Seattle were no exception. They took their fine-dining restaurant and made it a burger joint, and a crab shack, and oh yeah ... a drive-in movie theatre?! So when we got the chance to talk to them about their (new and improved) business model, we just couldn’t resist. And we get it -- your business might not need to do a full 180 like it did six months ago. But this episode will transform
#223: Daniel Harkavy—Is 2020 a Total Wash for Business Leaders?
The beginning of the pandemic felt like being chased by a tiger. For a lot of us, this is the first time we’re getting to slow down and catch our breath. This week, Daniel Harkavy stops by to share why it’s important to spend time really reflecting on your wins and losses from this season. His new book, The 7 Perspectives of Effective Leaders, provides a framework to become a better leader even in the face of enormous challenges. When you use his perspectives to reflect on everything that’s happ
#222: Hal Runkel—What Leadership and Parenting Have in Common
If you’ve ever tried to wrangle a screaming preschooler into a car, you know what the worst days of leading a team feel like. Managing a team and parenting a small child can sometimes feel … a little too similar. But Hal Runkel doesn’t think that’s such a bad thing. This bestselling author of books like ScreamFree Parenting and Choose Your Own Adulthood joins the podcast to show you how his proven parenting techniques can also help you become a confident and respected leader.
#221: Miles Adcox—Should You Really Keep Emotions Out of the Workplace?
How many times have you been told to leave your emotions at the door? Probably too many to count. But when you’re sitting at your desk with chest pains or feel your ears ringing after a frustrating meeting -- that feels pretty impossible. Miles Adcox flips the script when it comes to emotions in the workplace. He gives you permission to actually feel your emotions and shows you 3 ways to use them to your advantage.
#220: Robbie Kellman Baxter—Three Keys to Making Passive Revenue
You want recurring revenue for your business. The thing is — you just aren’t sure if you have what it takes to create something people will actually buy. It stinks, but subscription services can sink your business — fast. So if you’re going to do this, you need to do it right. Robbie Kellman Baxter literally wrote the book on creating subscription services that make money. And in this episode, she’s giving you her secret formula for building a recurring revenue stream that lasts. Listen now!
#219: How to Make Any Communication Campaign a Success
You have great ideas that have the power to transform your business. But it’s hard to get people to pay attention. What you need is a proven framework that makes any communication campaign a success and gets buy-in from your entire team. And that’s exactly what you’ll get in our newest Business Made Simple University course -- Communication Made Simple. On this week’s episode, we’re giving you a sneak peek into the paradigm-shifting framework so you can start applying these helpful tips today!
#218: Sherman Merricks—Two Characteristics the Most Profitable Business Leaders Have in Common
Building a profitable business takes a lot of hard work. But when you boil it down -- there are two characteristics every profitable business leader has in common. On today’s episode, StoryBrand Certified Guide Sherman Merricks is sharing why these two characteristics have the power to make or break your business. Plus, Don and Sherman talk about the current social climate and how business leaders can affect change.
#217: Lee Hartley Carter—How to Persuade Any Audience
If you’ve ever tried to convince someone your position is right, you know it can feel like talking to a brick wall. But what if you were just going about persuasion in the wrong way? The truth is—most people aren’t convinced by some compelling set of facts. Most people change their minds because of their emotions. Lee Hartley Carter has studied the art of persuasion and on today’s episode, she’s sharing what works, what doesn’t, and what you can do to persuade people when it matters most.
#216: Nir Eyal—The Secret to Staying Focused at Work
Life is busy. Between email notifications, calendar reminders, and your wandering mind, it’s easy to let distractions rule the day. But what if staying focused and being productive didn’t have to be so hard? Nir Eyal, author of Indistractable, has cracked the code on staying focused. In this episode, he’s breaking down how to control your attention-span, increase your productivity, and say no to distractions once and for all. If your mind wandered even a little bit while reading this podcast des
#215: Gary Hamel—Why Micromanagement is Killing Your Business
You’ve worked hard to grow your business, so you want to make sure that every little thing is done right. But what if there were parts that would be more successful if you let someone else take the wheel for a change? London Business School professor, Gary Hamel, is sharing why top-down micromanagement structures are suffocating businesses and stifling their growth. If you’ve struggled to give up control of your business, this episode might just convince you that it’s actually the best thing you
#214: Dan Heath—Why You Need to Solve Problems Before They Happen
We have two options when we’re faced with a problem. We can either resolve it and walk away or figure out why it’s happening in the first place. It’s tempting to just solve problems as they come up, but bestselling author and speaker Dan Heath thinks there’s a better way. On today’s episode, he’s sharing why it’s important to get to the root of a problem. If managing conflict at work has ever felt like a game of whack-a-mole, this episode will give you the tools you need to create lasting change
#213: Nicole Walters—The Missing Ingredient in Your Business Strategy
When you know your product or service will make your customer’s life better and you have the confidence to back it up, your business strategy is foolproof. But most of us walk around giving wimpy pitches instead because we’re afraid of sounding arrogant. Today’s guest, Nicole Walters, shows you why that’s costing you money. There’s actually a missing ingredient in your business strategy. It’s not better branding. It’s not more advertising. It’s confidence. Listen now. On today’s episode, we talk
#212: Tiffani Bova—How to Achieve (Smart) Growth for Your Company
Tiffani Bova is an executive at Salesforce and the author of Growth IQ. Her strategies have helped companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and IBM take their business to the next level. When it comes to scaling your business, it can be hard to know where to start. But the path to success is not as daunting as you might think. There are actually ten paths to grow a business, and this week’s guest is sharing them with you.
#211: Rory Vaden—Why You Need a Personal Brand
The most well-recognized thought leaders have one thing in common: an irresistible personal brand. But for those of us without a platform, it’s hard to know where to start. Rory Vaden, author of Take the Stairs, has worked with countless influencers to develop brands people gravitate towards and love. In today’s episode, he shares the keys to creating a personal brand that will elevate your status and help you win big with customers.
#210: Ryan Holiday—The Best Leaders Know How to Be Still
Great leaders have a superpower that helps them stay centered while the world spins around them. They know how to be still. On today’s episode Ryan Holiday, author of Stillness is the Key, shows you how to incorporate daily practices into your routine that help you avoid distractions and stay fully present. Our greatest insights usually come out of our quietest moments. Today's episode shows you how to find those crucial moments of stillness in our fast-paced world.
#209: Adrienne Bankert—Your Secret Weapon to Becoming Unbeatable at Work
Succeeding at work takes a high level of competency. But today’s podcast guest believes you have an even greater superpower — kindness. Adrienne Bankert, ABC News national correspondent and Emmy-award winning journalist, is sharing the philosophy behind her new book, Your Hidden Superpower. Succeeding at work doesn’t have to be exhausting — you just have to be kind.
#208: Stephen M. R. Covey—The Key to Creating Great Workplace Culture
Trust is the foundation for any great relationship. But have you ever thought about what role trust plays at work? Work environments without trust are both exhausting and demoralizing. And most of the time, you don’t notice how much you need trust at work until it’s no longer there. Stephen M. R. Covey is the author of The Speed of Trust, and on this week’s episode he and Don are unpacking why trust is so important at work and how to get it back if it has been lost. Listen now!
#207: Bob Goff—Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid to Dream Big
We all set goals in life. But for many of us -- the road stops there. We make plans to buy a bigger house or take the next step in our career without ever stopping to ask what bigger dreams we might be leaving behind. Today’s guest, Bob Goff, is an expert at helping people discover their dreams and turn them into reality. His new book, Dream Big, is available now, and on today’s episode he’s offering practical tips to help you do just that. You don’t have to be bound by the limitations you put o
#206: How to Stop Losing Deals -- for Good
If you’re like most businesses, you’ve probably lost more deals this year than you’d like to admit. And if you’re being honest, you actually don’t understand why that is. You’ve got a great product, clear messaging, a smooth sales process -- but time and time again you just aren’t closing the deal. Well, there’s good news. The secret to closing more deals is as simple as writing a great proposal. On this week’s episode, Koula Callahan shows you how to create a 7-part proposal that will help you
#205: John Ruhlin—How Giving Gifts Can Grow Your Business
Giving gifts is an essential part of building relationships in business. But most business leaders only think about gifts when it’s somebody’s birthday or they’re closing a deal. And even then, they usually end up sending baskets of stale popcorn and chocolate bars wrapped in cellophane. There has to be a better way. That’s why we’ve invited John Ruhlin, author of Giftology, to share his seven steps to giving gifts that grow your business. In this episode, he explains the art of giving gifts and
#204: Curt Richardson—Secrets to Building a $10M Business
Growing your business to $10M can be hard work -- but it doesn’t have to be. On this week’s episode, we’re talking with Curt Richardson, founder of Otterbox, about what it’s like to scale a business. He’s sharing practical tips about how he did it and the inspiration you need to keep going even when it gets tough. Your business has potential to get to (and far surpass) $10M in revenue. Listen to this episode to find out how.
#203: Dave Hollis—Stop Believing These 7 Lies About Leadership
It’s not often that an author chooses to be vulnerable in a business book. But that’s exactly what co-founder of The Hollis Co., Dave Hollis decided to do. In his new book, Get Out of Your Own Way, Dave unpacks 7 lies he used to believe about leadership and how those lies affected him both personally and professionally. Join Dave and Don as they debunk these false beliefs and uncover the truth about leadership, vulnerability, and what it means to live a life of meaning.
#202: Chris Guillebeau—How to Plant a Money Tree and Make an Extra $1k THIS Week
If you’re like most people -- the economy might be keeping you up at night. But what if you were able to use this season as a chance to change your mindset AND make more money? Chris Guillebeau, author of The Money Tree, is explaining how to view the current economic situation as an opportunity to grow. If you’ve felt worried about money over the last few months, this episode offers hope and practical action to help you recover.
#201: James Clear—The Secret to a Successful Product Launch
What would it be like to release a product without any platform, customer base, or name recognition? That’s exactly where James Clear found himself when he released his book, Atomic Habits. Now, Atomic Habits is a staple on bestsellers lists with over one million copies sold. On today’s episode, James is unpacking the psychology of a successful product launch and sharing his secrets with you. No matter what type of product you sell or what your customer base looks like today, these tips will hel
#200: Mike Michalowicz—The Step-By-Step Plan for Fixing Your Business
Right now, most business leaders finally have time to work on the things that have always bothered them about their business. But improving a business is like opening a junk drawer -- things can get overwhelming fast. Mike Michalowicz, author of Fix This Next, is sharing his guide that will help you fix your business one step at a time. From growing revenue to creating repeatable processes for your team, Mike’s strategies will help every part of your business thrive. Don’t get bogged down by all
#199: Michael Hyatt—How to Become a Vision-Driven Leader
Most people believe they fall into one of two categories when it comes to their leadership style: those who cast a vision for the company and those who get stuff done. The problem is -- a really good leader needs to do both. Bestselling author and CEO, Michael Hyatt, created a formula to help leaders become visionaries and now he’s sharing it with you. In this episode, he’s unpacking what it means to have a vision for your company, why it’s important, and what you can do to become a vision-drive
#198: Michael Brody-Waite—What Drug Addicts and Great Leaders Have in Common
What if the best leaders actually have more in common with drug addicts than anyone else? That’s exactly what Michael Brody-Waite, author of Great Leaders Live Like Drug Addicts, shares in his conversation with Don. The truth is -- drug addicts and great leaders have the same super power. And if you can harness it, it’ll advance your career. Discover what that superpower is and how to unlock it in today’s episode.
#197: Joel Peterson—How to Rebuild Your Business After a Crisis
After any crisis, there comes a time to rebuild. But it can be hard to know where to begin. On this episode, Joel Peterson is sharing foundational strategies for building a healthy business. He used these strategies to grow JetBlue Airways, and now you can apply them to your business. If you’ve been wondering how you’re going to rebuild after the COVID-19 crisis is over, this episode is for you.
#196—Your Checklist for Getting Through a Crisis
When the team at StoryBrand HQ realized everything was about to change, we jumped right into a plan that would help us survive these uncertain times. Now, we’re sharing that plan with you. Join Don in his conversation with Doug Keim, the President of StoryBrand, as they unpack the 6-part checklist that will help your business survive this crisis and come back stronger than ever.
#195: Stephen Mansfield—Nine Secrets to Leading During a Crisis
Winston Churchill was no stranger to leading during a crisis. He led his country through World War I, World War II, an economic crisis, and much more. And he has 9 things that made him an effective leader during those times. On this week's episode, author Stephen Mansfield is unpacking Churchill’s 9 strategies for leading during a crisis. These nine practical tips will help you become the leader your team needs during this challenging time.
#194—Three Keys to Managing Stress Through COVID-19
Don and J.J. give you three strategies to manage anxiety through the COVID-19 crisis. It’s possible for your business to survive, and even thrive, after the dust settles -- but you have to know how to manage stress in the meantime. This week's episode will show you how.
#193: Jon Gordon—How to Keep Moving Forward in Times of Stress
The coronavirus is disrupting careers, lifestyles, and peoples’ overall sense of calm. These are inevitably difficult times, and most business leaders are overwhelmed trying to decide what to do next. So we invited bestselling author and speaker, Jon Gordon, to the podcast to share strategies for managing stress. Even the most calm, assured people can freeze with anxiety in turbulent circumstances like these. This episode provides hope and practical tips that will help you -- and your business -
#192: Howard Partridge—The One Thing Every Successful Leader Has in Common
Most business leaders have a surplus of great ideas, but get stuck at one crucial step -- implementation. When businesses don’t implement their ideas, growth becomes impossible. In today’s episode, Howard Partridge outlines ten proven principles that will help you get unstuck and actually deliver on your businesses’ best ideas.
#191: Bruce Deel—Find Your Purpose by Taking More Risks
As a business leader, you have to take risks. But for most people, taking even the smallest risk can feel terrifying. This week’s guest, Bruce Deel, has a different perspective altogether. He founded the incredible community service organization, City of Refuge, and he believes taking risks could be the key to finding your purpose. This paradigm-shifting episode will push you outside of your comfort zone. And who knows -- you might just feel a little braver after listening!
#190: Dr. Jennifer Goldman-Wetzler—Could conflict at work actually be a good thing?
Workplace drama is why so many employees dread Monday mornings and struggle to work as a team. And unfortunately, nobody is immune to it. But what if conflict didn’t have to be so stressful? What if it could actually lead to best-case-scenarios for everyone involved? Today’s guest, Dr. Jennifer Goldman-Wetzler, believes it can. She’s the author of Optimal Outcomes and today she’s giving you her strategies for understanding, managing, and even negotiating conflict. After this episode, you won’t h
#189: Jeremy Vallerand—Three Ways to Grow Your Nonprofit With Storytelling
If you run a nonprofit, you’ve probably wondered whether the StoryBrand Framework will work for you. Here’s a secret -- it totally will! But don’t just take our word for it. We’ve invited Jeremy Vallerand to the podcast to share how Rescue:Freedom International is using the StoryBrand Framework every day. It’s helped them talk about what they do, share stories of the people they serve, and expand their relationships with donors. And it can do the same for your nonprofit, too. Listen now!
#188: Doug Keim— Why You Need a Coach Instead of a Cheerleader
Good business coaches can make a big difference in the success of your company. But if your “coach” just roots for you from the sidelines, they might actually be more of a cheerleader than a coach. Our Executive Vice President, Doug Keim, acts as our coach at StoryBrand everyday and he’s sharing the nine areas where every business needs good coaching. This episode is full of practical tips that you can implement in your business right now. Plus — we’re announcing some exciting news about what’s
#187: Ben Weprin—How to Create A Magical Brand
As a StoryBrand podcast listener, you know all about creating great marketing. But do you know how to create a great brand? Crafting a brand that gets people excited is no small task. That’s why we invited Ben Weprin, mastermind behind Soho House and Graduate hotels, to share how he’s built a brand that welcomes people to live inside of a story. He’s a master of whimsy and believes if you can build a magical brand, it might be the most meaningful part of your life.
#186: Dr. Wayne Baker—Unlock the Power of Asking for Help
People can’t help you if they don’t know what you need. But it’s hard to ask for help -- so you usually wind up just doing the job yourself. Dr. Wayne Baker, author of All You Have to Do Is Ask, has harnessed the power of asking for help. This episode doesn’t stop at why it’s so important. It actually gives you practical tools to overcome your fear of asking. If you’ve ever needed help but didn’t know how to ask, this episode is for you!
#185: Shelle Rose Charvet—How to Learn What Your Customers Want (And Make More Money)
Have you ever wished you could just read your customers’ minds and know exactly how to sell them your product? Spoiler alert: telepathy is impossible, but today’s guest has a formula that can get you pretty close. Shelle Rose Charvet is the author of Words that Change Minds and she knows how to figure out what customers want. If you’ve ever struggled with sales, negotiation, or communication in general, her 14-part framework is here to help!
#184: Allan Langer—Five Secrets to Pricing Your Product
Could your price actually become a selling point for your product? On today’s podcast, author and speaker Allan Langer shares his secret to pricing products in a way that makes them sell. It isn’t about cutting costs and running sales -- it’s about using price as a sales strategy. When you implement these five practical tips, you’ll harness the power of pricing once and for all.
#183: Michele Cushatt—How to be Vulnerable Without Risking Control
We don't have very many emotionally healthy leaders anymore, and the ones who are don't get the microphone. We often feel like we're being led by a bunch of adult children. Emotionally healthy leaders are an imperative in our culture, and on today’s podcast, we talk with author and speaker Michele Cushatt, who shares some paradigm-shifting knowledge about how to be vulnerable without risking control as a leader.
#182: Jeff Henderson—Build Your Business by Taking a Stand
In today’s culture, standing for something important and sticking to it takes guts, but it’s also one of the fastest ways to grow your business or nonprofit. On today’s podcast, Jeff Henderson, entrepreneur, speaker, pastor and author of the book Know What You’re For, gives practical examples of actions leaders can take to bridge the gap between what they’re known for and what they’d rather be known for. He’s launched churches and worked in marketing for Chick-fil-A, the Atlanta Braves and other
#181: The Best of 2019—Our Biggest Takeaways for Business Leaders
As you kick off the new decade (!), take a moment to reflect on how you’re growing as a business leader. This episode can help. We’ve compiled the best and brightest insights from 2019's episodes, from guests like Michael Hyatt, Rebekah Lyons, and Adam Savage. It’s a wealth of wisdom to equip you for a successful 2020.
#180: How to Create a Personal Life Plan Before 2020
So many people have everything they need to succeed but get in their own way. A lack of confidence often keeps people from achieving their potential. Sound familiar? Life doesn’t have to be that way. The start of a new year (and decade) is the perfect time to reflect on what’s most important and make sustainable changes to create a life you love. Today on the podcast, Don and JJ walk you through creating a personal life plan step by step (and you can follow along!). What if a plan was the only t
#179: Chanda Bell—Believing in the Magic of Your Mission
When Chanda Bell’s family sold 5,000 units of the “Elf on the Shelf” book and doll in its first season in 2005, they knew they were onto something. With 11 million elves now in homes around the world, they were right. But that success didn’t happen overnight. Hear on the podcast how this family bootstrapped their beloved family tradition into a cultural phenomenon without the help of publishers and corporations -- and what we can learn from their enduring success and unique company culture. If C
#178: How You and Your Family Can Live a Richer Story in 2020
Many individuals and families are living in a "narrative void." Without a sense of purpose, mission or agency, we drift through life feeling unfulfilled and sometimes even depressed. In this special edition of the podcast, Don and JJ talk about the formative practice of creating guiding principles for you and your family (not just your business). Living a great story doesn't happen on accident. When you follow this formula, you'll begin to inspire others and get investment into a cause that can
#177: Jon Gordon—How to Create a Positive Team Culture
No one creates success alone. And the most successful teams are positive ones that are continuously strive to get better. But how do you create a positive culture of growth when we’re hard-wired for negativity and competition? On today’s podcast, Jon Gordon, a world leader on executing positivity, shows you the role “positive discontent” can play in creating connection and commitment in your organization. He’s seen it work with his corporate clients like Dell as well as sports teams like the Ram
#176: Proof that Narrative-Based Marketing Will Work For You
In this episode, Koula Callahan interviews our own Dr. J.J. Peterson about his doctoral dissertation on StoryBrand Narrative Marketing. Don’t just tell your customers a story, invite them into it. Don’t miss this detailed, StoryBrand-focused episode that unpacks the data and science behind why this 7-part framework drives revenue for every type of business.
#175: James Clear—How to Hack Your Habits to Achieve Lasting Change
If you approach creating a habit with drudgery, you won’t stick with it. The key is to create pleasure around healthy habits so they’re more likely to stick. Today on the podcast, Atomic Habits author James Clear gives us an entirely fresh approach to making and breaking habits. What if discipline and willpower had nothing to do with it? If you’re tired of failing at the habits that will create a better life for you, make sure you listen to this episode.
#174: Dr. Kelly Goldsmith—Can Scarcity Make Your Marketing More Generous?
What will your customers lose if they don’t make a timely decision to buy your product or service? That’s the power of scarcity, and it’s one of the oldest tools in the marketer’s box. But how has this seminal marketing principle evolved now that the way people consume has changed so dramatically? That’s why we’re excited to welcome Dr. Kelly Goldsmith to the podcast. She’s an award-winning Yale-educated behavioral scientist (and former Survivor contestant) who examines scarcity’s seemingly par
#173: Ian Morgan Cron—Thriving in Relationships with Every Enneagram Type [Part 2]
Ian Morgan Cron, who teaches our all-new Enneagram Made Simple course at Business Made Simple University, is back with Part 2 of our two-part Enneagram series. He and Don dive deep into what winning in relationships and business looks like when our personalities are each wired so differently. In this episode, we dive into the remaining Types 5-9: The Investigator, The Loyalist, The Enthusiast and The Peacemaker. Plus, discover how to go even deeper with your own team so you waste less time on wo
#172: Ian Morgan Cron—Thriving in Relationships with Every Enneagram Type [Part 1]
Life and business revolve around relationships. That means things can get messy fast. Our unconscious motivations can sometimes derail communications, creating obstacles and inefficiencies. Ian Morgan Cron, who teaches our all-new Enneagram Made Simple course at Business Made Simple University, joins us to talk about what winning looks like when we’re all wired so differently. The conversation he and Don have is so packed with helpful Enneagram content that we’re sharing it in two parts. In this
#171: Megan Hyatt Miller—How to Focus Your Life and Business
Most of us are good at setting goals. But accomplishing them? That’s another story. Today’s digitally native world constantly vies for our attention and energy, threatening to derail the best-laid plans. This is especially true within organizations. On today’s podcast, Megan Hyatt Miller, the Chief Operating Officer of Michael Hyatt & Company, shows you how vision can help you get instant clarity so you can focus and accomplish your goals personally and as a team. She’s a practitioner at her fat
#170: Pat Flynn—Practical Tips that Will Help You Grow a List of Super Fans
What can you do in your business to turn casual customers into super fans? On this episode of the podcast, Donald Miller talks with online marketing expert Pat Flynn about how to interrupt customers’ routines, delight them with exclusive experiences, and more. Why? Because if your customers are succeeding because of your product or service, then you are, too. Whether you have an email list of 26 or run an enterprise, this super practical episode has a tip you can start using today.
#169: Rebekah Lyons—The Magic of “Less” to Manage Stress
You may not even realize it, but you’re stressed out. Today’s modern world is undermining all our efforts to live a full and productive life. In this episode, Rebekah Lyons will help you identify and manage anxiety so you can prevent burnout and actually improve your productivity. If you think you’ve heard it all before, this tender yet powerful conversation will open your mind to new possibilities.
#168: Claire Díaz-Ortiz—5 Ways to Become a Social Media Master
If you lead a business, you’re in the public eye. That means people are talking about you and your brand on social media – even if you don’t realize it. Today’s guest, former Twitter executive Claire Díaz-Ortiz, shares a model for how to succeed at social media for your company. This episode, and StoryBrand's new free online course (at www.SocialMediaMadeSimple.com), is going to give you the confidence to know if you’re using the correct platform for your brand and creating the right content.
#167: Nancy Duarte—How to Craft a More Powerful Story Using Data
Our cups overfloweth with data. But creating a story with data can feel like drinking from a firehose. These days, powerful presentations are less about stand-and-deliver presenting. It’s more about crafting an explanation that can spread online. That’s why we’re so excited to have Nancy Duarte on the podcast. Author of Data Story, she’s the world's leading expert on how to create a compelling keynote. Learn how you can apply her powerful four-part strategy to your own brand to create memorable
#166: Ambassador John Cotton Richmond—How to Frame a Mission to Get Maximum Buy-In
How do you frame a mission, get buy-in for it, and then make it work? That’s what we’re discussing in this episode with U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Trafficking in Persons John Cotton Richmond. When we need to make sure wrong things are being made right, it takes maximum engagement around a clear mission. Ambassador Richmond shares brilliant insight on how to build a team around a mission and help people understand their role – and that the mission is doable. Whether you’re saving lives or impro
#165: Gary Haugen—What Can Business Leaders Do About Human Trafficking?
It’s time for corporations, businesses, and consumers to wise up about how supply chains play a role in human trafficking around the world. While there are more slaves today than ever, Gary Haugen, CEO and founder of International Justice Mission, shares a game plan to stop it. In this critical interview, hear how IJM is partnering with giants like Walmart and Target to clean up supply chains so they don’t facilitate human trafficking. You’ll also hear how “story” is fueling those efforts. If yo
#164: Brooke Allison—Practical Tips That Will Help You Play the Guide
Local businesses are the heartbeat of a local economy. But to succeed, they have to play the guide. In this episode, our own Koula Callahan interviews Brooke Allison, co-owner of Scout's Barbershop, about the grassroots strategies they’ve employed to grow to 6 neighborhood-based locations. Whether you’re marketing, hiring, learning your customer, or giving back to the community, you need to understand your role in the process. Don’t miss this super practical, local-business focused episode!
#163: Marissa Orr—Rethinking Power in the Workplace
Marissa Orr, a former executive at Google and Facebook, is a self-proclaimed Corporate Rebel, and in her new book, Lean Out, she challenges the notion that women have to change in order to succeed in corporate business. In this episode of the podcast, she and Don discuss the myths that prevail about the wage gap and unpack how we got to where only 5 percent of CEOs in the Fortune 500 are women. This is a fascinating discussion you won’t want to miss.
#162: Scott Miller—A Crash Course on Management
Leaders are the lynchpin in company culture. So how do you identify and develop great ones within your business? Today on the podcast, we talk to management expert Scott Miller, an Executive VP at FranklinCovey, on why management takes a complete shift in mindset – one that’s counterintuitive to your top producers. You owe it to your company to build a culture where people choose to stay and give their all. This episode will help you do that.
#161: Lindsey Pollak—How to Create a Thriving Workplace Culture
Millennials want to work from home or a totally open office space – and have unlimited time off – right? Wrong. On today’s podcast, Lindsey Pollak, a leading expert on Millennials and author of the book The Remix: How to Lead and Succeed in the Multigenerational Workplace, debunks modern workplace myths. She offers insight into what Millennials want instead, and why many companies are re-thinking that age group for the primary talent pool. Discover how you can create a thriving culture that deve
#160: Cal Newport—How to Digitally Declutter Your Life
Most of us have a love-hate relationship with our smartphones and digital media. The technology is here to stay, so how can we keep social media and apps like Slack from killing our productivity? Marie Kondo may have helped us declutter our homes, but on today’s podcast, Cal Newport, a professor of computer science at Georgetown University and author of the book Digital Minimalism, shows you how to digitally declutter. Discover how to harness your tech and keep it from sabotaging your brain’s op
#159: Keith Cunningham—5 Simple Ideas That Will Help You Avoid Dumb Business Mistakes
Captain Obvious here: Successful businesses don’t do stupid stuff. Of course we all know that, but running a business is hard! And that means we all make dumb (and costly) mistakes along the way. Today’s guest, Keith Cunningham, teaches 5 key disciplines that will help you avoid those common business mistakes. Today’s episode could save you a TON of wasted money and effort. It’s like free consulting. Listen now!
#158: Adam Savage—7 Eye-Opening Ways To Be More Creative
“Well, I’m not really a creative type.” Today on the podcast, Adam Savage (host of the popular show Mythbusters) is going to bust THAT myth for us. We’re all creative -- whether we build model cars or entire organizations. But we don’t always know how to tap into that part of ourselves. When you listen to this episode, you’ll hear Adam’s practical advice to add more creativity to your life. You’ll learn why it matters. Best of all, you’ll give yourself permission to be more curious and cr
#157: Dr. John Townsend—Energize Your Life With These 7 Key Relationships
If you’re a leader, you need energy. But if you don’t have the right people in your life, you’ll always feel drained. On today’s podcast, Dr. John Townsend shares the 7 types of relationships -- which ones we need, which ones we don’t, and how to balance them so the people in your world keep you focused, creative, and fueled u
#156: Craig Detweiler—3 Practical Ways to Tell a Compelling Brand Story on Social Media
We all know we’re supposed to be using social media to build our brands. But how can we do it in a way that truly serves our customers, too? Craig Detweiler is a film and media commentator, and he joins our own Dr. J.J. Peterson to show us how. If you want to actually connect on social media (instead of just wasting time pretending to), then you want to listen to this episode.
#155: David Epstein—Why You Don’t Need to Specialize in Order to Succeed
If you manage a team, you may think you need a collection of top-notch specialists. But you’ll second-guess that strategy after you listen to today’s podcast. David Epstein joins us to show the power of having range -- broad, generalized knowledge that helps us see hidden patterns and solve big problems. He’s turned swaths of data into compelling case studies that will shift the way you think about your team (and your own career
#154: Alden Mills—4 Leadership Lessons from a Navy SEAL Commander
Leadership is tough enough from your comfy cubicle. Now, imagine doing it on the front lines as a Navy SEAL. That’s exactly what today’s podcast guest has done. Former Navy SEAL Commander Alden Mills joins us to share four powerful (and surprisingly heartfelt) leadership principles. This is hard-won wisdom, and he’s found a way to make it practical for us. If you want to build up a daring team that knows how to win, then you want to listen to this episode
#153: Ken Coleman—The 5 Types of People Who Can Skyrocket Your Success
What’s the biggest factor in our success? It’s not what we do. It’s who we’re in proximity to. Today on the podcast, Ken Coleman tells us how to surround ourselves with influential people and put ourselves in intentional places. Listen now, and you just might discover how to change careers, land your next big client, or finally launch that side hustle.
#152: Dr. Wanda Wallace—Do You Have to “Know It All” to Be a Good Leader?
If you’re a leader, you probably got your role by being an expert in your field. So what happens when you need to broaden your leadership role and oversee people whose field you aren’t an expert in? Today’s guest, Dr. Wanda Wallace, shows us three practical ways we can “span” our leadership into new areas by adding unexpected value. It’s a paradigm shift you don’t want to miss -- listen now!
#151: Kevin Kruse—7 Old-School Leadership Principles You Need to Ditch ASAP
You may not even realize it, but a lot of our “traditional” principles of leadership don’t fit today’s modern world. In this episode, Kevin Kruse will help you ditch outdated leadership ideas so you can strengthen your team and improve your company.
#150: Les McKeown—5 Practical Ways to Scale Your Business for Maximum Profit
If you’re a visionary leader, you know how to inspire your company with big ideas. But you may not know how to scale your company with the right processes and hires -- and over time, your bottom line will suffer. Listen to today’s episode with Les McKeown, and learn the 5 practical steps to clean up and scale your company -- so you’re free to pursue the big-picture stuff you love.
#149: Mike Michalowicz—7 Steps to Follow So Your Business Runs Itself
Could you take a month-long vacation from your business without things falling apart? One of our favorite guests, Mike Michalowicz, returns with seven steps you can follow to build a more efficient organization that runs on its own, without relying on you every step of the way. And hey, maybe that dream vacation is closer than you think!
#148: Joshua DuBois—Here’s Why Genuine Empathy is a Game Changer for Your Business
Great leadership starts with understanding your customers and your staff. But it doesn’t end there. To truly succeed, you need to be able to make genuine human connections with those around you. Today on the podcast, Donald Miller welcomes Joshua DuBois. After working with President Obama and Oprah, he now runs a cutting-edge focus group firm. He shares how we can become better marketers and leaders by truly connecting with people’s struggles and motivations.
#147: Susan David—How to Harness Your Emotions to Make Wiser Business Decisions
Do you want a team that’s collaborative and innovative? That means you’ll also have conflict and failure -- and all the messy emotions that come with them. On today’s podcast, Dr. Susan David shares how we can welcome emotions at work while also using them to grow in powerful ways outside of the office. It’s practical and rich stuff -- listen now!
#146: Josh Robbins—Is the Financial System Ripping You Off?
How much do financial markets actually impact your small business? More than you probably realize. And in this case, what you don’t know really can hurt you -- and your employees. Today on the podcast, fiduciary analyst Josh Robbins will arm you with the information you need to make smart decisions about your financial advisors, investments and 401k plans -- without getting taken advantage of.
#145: How to “Recession Proof” Your Business
Nobody wants to talk about it, but a potential recession is looming. And that’s a scary thought for most business leaders. But what if it was possible to make a a few changes in your business now so that you would be ready to survive a recession? Or better yet — what if your business could actually THRIVE during a recession? This week on the podcast, Don and J.J. lay out a plan for “recession proofing” your business. This could be the episode that keeps your business running at full speed while
#144: Willie Robertson—The Inspiring Story of Entrepreneurship Behind “Duck Dynasty”
Behind Willie Robertson’s success in the reality show “Duck Dynasty” is a powerful story of American entrepreneurship. Today on the podcast, he and Don share an honest (and hilarious) conversation about Willie’s journey as an unlikely CEO. How can we process well through failure? What’s the key to staying true to yourself in success? How do our family and faith impact us as leaders? There’s lots of wisdom here for any business leader -- listen now!
#143: Michael Hyatt—How to Stop Hustling So You Can Achieve What Really Matters
So much productivity “advice” these days will help you cut down your workload. That’s great! But if you fill that time back up again with more work, that’s a surefire way to burn out and compromise the relationships in your life that really matter to you. Today on the podcast, Michael Hyatt gives us a radical new approach to productivity: what if we can keep achieving at work and still be present for what matters in life? If you’re tired of the hustle and want to design a more intentional life
#142: Shannon Sedgwick Davis—The Power of Using Your Business to Champion a Social Cause
Shannon Sedgwick Davis is the CEO of Bridgeway Foundation, the foundation arm of a capitol management firm that gives half of its profits away, and with that money, she fought a Ugandan warlord. Yes, really! She’s on the podcast today to share the extraordinary story. Plus, she inspires us to consider how our businesses can help turn the tide on the social issues that keep us up at night. Listen now!
#141: Sean Webb—How to Hack Your Emotions
Running a business can (and will) mess with your emotions. And when our emotions take over, the rational part of our brain shuts down. Not a good thing when you’re making high-stakes business decisions. Sean Webb show you how to “hack” your happiness so you can control how you respond in charged situations. Listen now!
#140: Mark Miller—The 5 Character Traits You Need to Become a Strong Leader
You may have the finely honed skills of a leader, but people won’t follow you unless you have the heart of a leader. And that’s what we’re talking about today with Mark Miller. He’s the VP of High Performance Teams at Chick-fil-A, and he shares 5 character traits of strong leaders. If you’re ready to become the kind of leader people want to follow, listen to this episode.
#139: Kirsten Powers—Behind the Scenes of the 24-Hour News Cycle
As a business leader, you’ve got to pay attention to what’s going on in the world. But with 24-hour news cycles, constant outrage, and endless “hot takes,” it can feel impossible to truly understand the issues. To help us make sense of it, Don sits down with CNN analyst Kirsten Powers for an honest and nuanced conversation about how we can process the news in complex times.
#138: Chris Voss—3 Science-Backed Tactics That Will Make You a Master Negotiator
If you lead a business, you’re constantly negotiating -- even if you don’t realize it. Make sure no one’s taking advantage of you, with help from today’s guest. Chris Voss is a former FBI hostage negotiator, and he understands the neuroscience that drives any negotiation. He sits down with Don to help us apply those tactics in our everyday lives as business leaders. If you want to approach your next deal with confidence, don’t miss this episode.
#137: Governor Bill Haslam—Leadership Lessons Straight from the Governor’s Office
As the Governor of Tennessee for the last eight years -- and a successful business leader before that -- Bill Haslam knows a lot about leadership. In this special episode of the Building a StoryBrand podcast, he joins Don for an earnest and inspiring conversation. Whether you lead in the public or private sector, you’ll find practical wisdom that’ll sharpen your leadership skills.
#136: David Pursell—What If You Sold Your Product in a Crazy, Unexpected Way?
How did one family-owned business crank out a 90% conversion rate (!!!!) for their golf course fertilizer -- even when their product cost more than their competitors’? They showed their prospects how great life could be once they buy -- and they did it in a wild and wonderful way. David Pursell, the CEO of Pursell Farms, tells the whole story this week on the podcast. It’ll inspire you to think creatively about your sales process, too.
#135: Mathew Ford—How to Create “FOMO” and Make Your Marketing More Powerful
What will your customer miss out on if they don’t buy your product or service? That’s the power of “FOMO” - or “Fear of Missing Out.” And as marketers, it’s critical that we create it -- without resorting to cheap fear tactics. That’s why we’re excited to have Matt Ford on the podcast. He’s the creative force behind experience-driven marketing campaigns for Hulu, Adidas (among others) that customers don’t want to miss out on. Learn how you can apply this powerful strategy to your own brand!
#134: How To Motivate Your Customers To Take Action—with Tyler Ginn
It’s no secret that a strong call to action is key for creating great marketing material. But what does it look like to actually craft a call to action that people respond to? To help answer that question we invited our Director of Marketing, Tyler Ginn, to join the podcast for this week’s episode. He sits down with Don and JJ to break down a successful email campaign and gives you practical tips for creating calls to action in your marketing that will get a response. Plus, find out which type o
#133: Horst Schulze—How to Lead With Vision So Your Brand Stands Out
The Ritz-Carlton is one of the most iconic brands in the world. And on this episode of the podcast, we welcome the visionary who built it, Horst Schulze. He shares the practical strategies he used to do it. How to craft a compelling vision. How to make sure all your employees share that vision. Plus, the four key objectives every successful business pursues in order to succeed. It’s a masterclass in authentic branding and visionary leadership from a man who knows exactly what it takes to excel a
#132: Dean Nelson—Practical Tips That Will Help You Conduct More Meaningful Interviews
We all need to know how to conduct great interviews. Whether you’re hiring, networking, doing customer discovery, or even dating, you need to be able to ask questions that solicit meaningful answers. On this episode of the podcast, Donald Miller talks with master interviewer Dean Nelson about what questions to ask, how to listen, and more. Don’t miss this super practical episode!
#131: Mike McHargue—The Science of Why Your Brand Needs a Villain
Want to make your brand’s messaging exponentially more powerful? Learn how to define a villain for your customers. That’s because our brains are hard-wired to pay attention to negative things -- threats, villains, potential losses. On today’s episode, Mike McHargue (a.k.a. “Science Mike”) explains the science of why this happens. And don’t worry -- he uses simple terms we can all understand and apply to our businesses without being manipulative.
#130: Aaron James—How to Define What Your Customer Really Wants
What are you selling? Your quick answer may be “real estate” or “jewelry” -- but to really connect with customers, you need to understand the deeper value you offer them. You don’t sell real estate, you sell peace of mind. You don’t sell jewelry, you sell confidence. Join us on this episode for a deep dive into defining what your customer really wants. First, Don and JJ talk about why we need to understand our customers’ desires. Then, Don interviews advertising executive Aaron James about real-
#129: The Best of 2018—Our Biggest Takeaways for Business Leaders
As we close out the year and look ahead to 2019, take a moment to reflect on how you’re growing as a business leader. This podcast is a great place to start. We’ve compiled the best and brightest insights from this year’s episodes, from world-renowned guests like Rachel Hollis, Daniel Pink, and Patrick Lencioni. It’s a wealth of wisdom to inspire and equip you for the year ahead. http://buildingastorybrand.com/129
#128: Jay Baer—Why You Need a Word-of-Mouth Marketing Strategy ASAP
Word of mouth plays a role in 50-90% of all buying decisions. But most of us have never actually sat down to outline a strategy that would get more customers talking about our brand. If that’s you, it won’t be after you listen to this episode. Jay Baer joins Donald Miller to talk about “talk triggers” -- moments you can create for your customers that they’ll tell their friends about. He’s full of specific, practical examples that will inspire you. You may very well transform your whole business
#127: Blake Mycoskie—Should Your Company Take a Stand on a Social Issue?
Should your company take a stand on a social issue? There’s no better person to ask than TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie. He and his team have built a thriving footwear brand on the One for One model of giving a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair they sell. And recently, they launched a bold campaign on the controversial issue of gun violence. In this episode, we examine the finer points of what happens when your company takes a stand on a social issue. How does it affect your employees
#126: Tina Sharkey—How to Build a Strong Brand Around Your Core Values
We business leaders like to talk about our "core values," but all too often, those values don't actually show up in our products, services, and business practices. That's not the case at Brandless, an online retailer with a wholly different approach to how people shop for home essentials. They've built everything around core values like quality, community, and kindness. On today's episode, our guest correspondent Allison Trowbridge talks with Tina Sharkey, the co-founder of Brandless, about the
#125: Ian Cron—How the Enneagram Can Make You a More Effective Leader
The Enneagram is a personality typing system that teaches there are nine basic personality styles in the world. These styles, or “Types,” deeply influence how we think and act. But what does that mean for us as leaders? Enneagram teacher Ian Cron is back for part 2 of our Enneagram series for leadership. This time, he shows you how to leverage the strengths of your own Enneagram Type in order to lead your team well. (Not sure of your Type? You may have a better idea of it after you listen to thi
#124: Ian Cron—The Do’s and Don’ts of Leading Each Enneagram Type
The Enneagram is a personality typing system that teaches there are nine basic personality styles in the world. These styles, or “types,” deeply influence how we think and act. Today on the podcast, we welcome Ian Cron, an Enneagram teacher, to walk us through leadership “do’s and don’ts” for each type so we can lead our teams well. Download the cheat sheet for this episode: http://storybrand.com/enneagram http://buildingastorybrand.com/124
#123: Donald Miller and Andy Stanley—How Story Can Make You a Better Leader
By now you know the framework of story can transform your marketing. But how can story make you a better leader? Today on the StoryBrand podcast, the tables turn as Andy Stanley interviews Donald Miller about how to invite those you lead into a bigger story. Learn the 3 questions you need to answer for your organization and you’ll be ready to re-energize your team. Listen now! http://buildingastorybrand.com/123
#122: Andy Stanley—5 Questions That Will Make Any Talk Clear and Memorable
Got something you need to communicate to a crowd? You KNOW it needs to be clear and memorable. But that’s easier said than done. Today on the podcast, we welcome one of the finest communicators we know, Andy Stanley. As a pastor and bestselling author, he knows how to craft a message that sticks. Listen to learn the 5 questions he asks himself as he prepares a talk. They’ll help a ton the next time you need to win over a crowd. http://buildingastorybrand.com/122
#121: Jesse Cole—11 Surefire Ways to Delight Your Customers
How on earth does a summer league baseball team in Savannah, Georgia sell out every game? Well, it has nothing to do with the baseball -- and everything to do with the team’s philosophy of putting fans first. In this episode, we sit down with Savannah Bananas GM Jesse Cole. He shares the unique and fun philosophy that’s fueled their success and how we can apply it to delight our customers and grow our businesses. http://buildingastorybrand.com/121
#120: 4 Simple Marketing Tasks That Will Turbocharge Your 4th Quarter
We’re gearing up for a strong economy this holiday season. Is your marketing ready? If you’re not sure, listen to this episode. Don and JJ talk through the four simple tasks you need to create in order to have a great fourth quarter (and beyond!). They don’t cost much -- just a little time. But execute them well and you’ll be crushing your revenue goals for Q4. http://buildingastorybrand.com/120
#119: Ben Malcolmson—Leadership Lessons from the NFL Sidelines
Leadership, character, performance, and competition. All part of our lives as business leaders -- and also the driving forces for sports teams. So this week, as the NFL season heats up, we’re honored to have Ben Malcolmson, the assistant to Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, with us on the podcast. He and Donald Miller talk about Coach Carroll’s leadership, the surprising role persistence plays in our success, and the “x-factor” quality they look for in every player. Give this episode a l
#118: Jason Russell—The Power of Resilience When You Face Adversity
It’s not a question of whether or not we’ll face adversity. It’s a question of how we’ll respond when we do. So today on the Building a StoryBrand podcast, we’re featuring interviews with two incredibly resilient people. First, Donald Miller sits down with Bonnie St. John, who despite having her right leg amputated as a child, became the first African-American to medal in Winter Olympic competition. Second, Allison Trowbridge talks with Jason Russell, who experienced worldwide acclaim with Invis
#117: Michael Bungay Stanier—Coach Your Team to Success By Asking These 7 Questions
If you manage a team, it’s way too easy to just give advice and demand action. But if you want to get the best from your team so your business can grow, you’ve got to coach your people, not manage them. In this episode of the Building a StoryBrand podcast, Donald Miller sits down with Michael Bungay Stanier. He talks us through seven questions we can ask our team members if we want to have better conversations. http://buildingastorybrand.com/117
#116: Mike Michalowicz—How to Structure Your Business Finances to Maximize Profit
Sales minus expenses equals profit, right? Not exactly, according to Mike Michalowicz, our guest on today’s episode. A lot of business leaders aren’t maximizing their profits because they’re thinking about them as what’s “left over.” He shares his system for structuring your business’ finances so you put the priority on profit. It’s remarkably simple and will help you reshape your entire mindset around how you look at profit and expenses. http://buildingastorybrand.com/116
#115: Gina Bianchini—How to Build an Online Community for Your Customers
If you lead a business, you’ve got a huge opportunity to add value to your product or service. Trouble is, most everybody overlooks it. On today’s episode of the Building a StoryBrand podcast, guest correspondent Allison Trowbridge talks with Gina Bianchini. She’s the founder and CEO of Mighty Networks and a pioneer in online community building. She’s helped countless businesses offer value in the form of a niche community where customers can share ideas and experiences. She’ll show you how, too
#114: Dr. Arthur Laffer—How Taxes and Economic Policy Affect Your Business
If you’re a business owner, then you know how to pay your taxes. But do you understand the basic economic principles of how those taxes work? Or how economic policy affects your business’s growth? Today on the Building a StoryBrand podcast, Donald Miller talks with Dr. Arthur Laffer, a prominent American economist whose ideas have shaped policy from the Reagan administration through today. He gives us an accessible primer on how taxes work -- plus, we dive into other economic policy like trade
#113: Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson—Philanthropy, Parenthood, and What It’s Like to Be the Duchess
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of York is on the podcast! Sarah Ferguson sat down with our correspondent, Allison Trowbridge, for an inspiring conversation about how we can all bring an entrepreneurial spirit to improve the lives of those around us. She’s winsome and full of wisdom -- and, having married the son of the Queen of England, she has found a way to use her considerable influence to be a voice for those in need. Don’t miss this uplifting episode! http://buildingastorybrand.com/113
#112: Snoop Dogg’s Manager and Ben Rector Take Us Behind the Scenes of the Music Industry
In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at how music artists and managers develop their brands in a rapidly changing landscape. In part one, guest correspondent Allison Trowbridge interviews Russell Redeaux, the manager for Snoop Dogg and many other fantastic artists. Then, in part two, Donald Miller sits down with musician Ben Rector. From balancing commercial success with artistry, to cultural diversity in our entertainment, to the way streaming works, to the backstory of global marketing
#111: Go Behind the Scenes of the Songwriting Business—with Tom Douglas (legendary songwriter) and Troy Tomlinson (CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing)
Ever wondered how songs get written, pitched, and cut? How songwriters and publishers work together? How the creative process unfolds? The role publishers play in getting a song out there? To answer all these questions, we sat down with legendary Nashville songwriter Tom Douglas and the president and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Troy Tomlinson. It’s a fascinating look at both the art and business of songwriting. If you’re in a creative field, you’ll find plenty of takeaways for your own bus
#110: Joey Coleman—How to Stop Losing Customers
Your customers are leaving in droves. Today’s guest, Joey Coleman, has the research to back it up. So if you want to keep your customers and grow your business, don’t miss this episode. In it, Joey highlights the 8 phases of customer experience so you never lose another customer again. http://buildingastorybrand.com/110
#109: Rachel Botsman—How Trust Works in the Business World
We talk a lot about “trust” in our businesses. But a lot of us are getting it wrong. On this episode, Oxford lecturer and bestselling author Rachel Botsman joins us for a fascinating look at how trust works in the business world, how it’s changing, and what we need to do to keep up. http://buildingastorybrand.com/109
#108: Daniel Coyle—3 Magic Ingredients That Every Strong Company Culture Has
A vibrant company culture is a silver bullet for success. But how does culture work? What makes it gel? On this episode, we talk with NYT bestselling author Daniel Coyle, who unpacks 3 traits of great cultures and how we can develop them in our businesses. http://buildingastorybrand.com/108
#107: Marc Ventresca—3 Myths About Entrepreneurship That May Be Holding You Back
What is the “ideal” entrepreneur like? The answer may surprise you. Why? Because our assumptions about what it takes to run a business don’t really line up with what successful leaders actually do. Today on the Building a StoryBrand podcast, guest correspondent Allison Trowbridge talks to esteemed Oxford economic sociologist Marc Ventresca. He debunks 3 myths about entrepreneurship. Listen for an inspiring new outlook on how to lead your business well. http://buildingastorybrand.com/107
#106: Jenn Lim—How to Build a Positive Company Culture
There’s more to business than just making money. We want to make the world better, both for our customers and our employees. To do that, we need to create a company culture that’s built around happiness. Today on the Building a StoryBrand podcast, Donald Miller sits down with Jenn Lim, one of the pioneers of culture at Zappos. Listen and discover three key ways we as leaders can build a positive, thriving culture for our employees. http://buildingastorybrand.com/106
#105: Go Behind the Scenes of the Art World
Art helps us see the world in a new way. But the art world itself can feel pretty intimidating. Today on the Building a StoryBrand podcast, we talk with three art world insiders -- an artist, a curator, and a patron -- so we can understand how it works and why it makes life better. If you want to appreciate art at a finer level but don’t know where to start, this episode will inspire you. https://buildingastorybrand.com/105
#104: Armando Lopez—6 Failproof Tips for Hiring Amazing People
Hiring the right person can transform your business. Bring on the wrong person, and you can substantially set it back. So if you’re growing your team, don’t miss this episode with Armando Lopez, the Executive Director of HR for Dave Ramsey’s company. Follow the six steps he outlines, and make sure everyone who joins your team helps to make it amazing. https://buildingastorybrand.com/104
#103: What Works Better: A Physical Office or a Virtual One?
Do you really need a physical office space? Remote collaboration is easier than ever, and digital workplaces are on the rise. But how does each setup impact how we work? Which kind of office will help your team members achieve their best? Today on the podcast, we have two guests with differing opinions. Bryan Miles of BELAY joins us to discuss the merits of the virtual remote office. And Jacob Morgan, a leading expert on how we work, shares the benefits of a thoughtfully designed physical space.
#102: Dr. Lee Norton—Why You Need to Pay Attention to Mental Health at Work
If you read the headlines, you know our mental health is precious. But you also know it’s in jeopardy. As business leaders, what can we do? Plenty. Today on the podcast, we welcome Dr. Lee Norton, a clinical social worker and trauma expert. She helps us understand the role mental health plays at work. What is trauma and how does it show up in our employees? What do you do if you work for someone who lacks empathy? How can you protect your own mental health and look out for the people around you,
#101: Peter Smith—What in the World is Cryptocurrency?
We hear words like “cryptocurrency” and “blockchain” and “Bitcoin” and we know they’re supposedly the Next Big Thing. But what do they really mean? How are they relevant to us as business leaders? Today’s guest, Peter Smith, the CEO and Founder of Blockchain, Inc., walks us through this brave new world of digital finance in a way we can actually understand. Listen to this episode and you’ll have a practical understanding of digital currency and what next steps you can take if you’re ready to dig
#100: Bonnie St. John—How to Stop Mental Exhaustion So You Can Work Smarter
Why are we always mentally worn out? As business leaders, we ask a lot of our brains every day. Decisions, creativity, strategy, and more. And if we don’t protect our mental energy, it will show up in our bottom line. Today on the Building a StoryBrand podcast, Donald Miller sits down with Olympic medalist and leadership consultant Bonnie St. John. She shares small but mighty “micro-resilience” techniques that can help us keep our mental sharpness so we can be at our best for the people who coun
#99: Business of Film—Go Behind the Scenes of the Cutthroat Movie Industry
Ever wonder what it’s like in the film industry? What it’s really like? Today on the Building a StoryBrand podcast, we’re taking an insider tour of the movie business. Our guest correspondent Allison Trowbridge sat down with actor Kellan Lutz (of 'Hercules' and 'Twilight' fame) and top manager/producer Ryan Daly. Together, they give us a fascinating look at what it takes to succeed with integrity in a cutthroat industry. There are some surprising takeaways for other industries too, particularly
#98: Branden Harvey—How to Use Social Media in a Dynamic, Irresistible Way
If you want to build a strong social media following without resorting to negativity, you’ll love today’s episode of the Building a StoryBrand podcast. Branden Harvey of Good, Good, Good joins Donald Miller for a conversation about how we can create dynamic and positive social media that draws our customers in. You’ll learn what to post about, how to separate your personal brand from your business, and so much more. Your social media can be a huge asset to your brand and your bottom line. This e
#97: Too Faced Founders—How to Build an Authentic and Inviting (Billion Dollar) Brand
Growing a business is tough and risky. And as pressures rise and competition emerges, we’re tempted to make compromises with our brand in order to win the day. But if you want to be successful in the long run, you’ve got to know what your brand authentically stands for and stick to it. Today on the Building a StoryBrand podcast, we hear from Too Faced founders Jerrod Blandino and Jeremy Johnson. With their winsome blend of authenticity and creativity, they’ve built one of the biggest and most be
#96: Vanessa Van Edwards—How to Become the Most Captivating Person in the Room
The awkward stops here, folks. If you want to be more memorable and captivating when you talk to other people, then you need to listen to this episode. Donald Miller talks with Vanessa Van Edwards, a human behavioral expert, about the art and science of how we interact with each other. Discover the small signals you don’t even know you’re sending out -- and how to authentically manage them so people easily connect with you. You’ll feel more confident and and in control the next time you walk int
#95: How 3 Successful Companies Hire Smart, Quality People
Making a smart hiring decision can make you a ton of money. But the wrong choice can set your business back dramatically. So how can you make sure you’re hiring the right person for the role? Today, we’re going to hear from three big brands who’ve developed their own strategies to find and keep amazing talent: Chick-fil-A, POPsocial, and Ramsey Solutions. If you’re hiring or if you want to better nurture your current employees, then you want to listen to this episode. It’ll help you tap into (an
#94: Shark Tank's Daymond John—How to Grind Out Success on Your Own Terms
On the podcast today, we welcome Daymond John. He founded the iconic fashion brand FUBU. He kills it every week on Shark Tank. He is, without a doubt, successful. But the story behind his success -- and how he pursues it now -- is what truly makes Daymond inspiring. In this conversation with Donald Miller, Daymond shares the habits and qualities you need as a leader if you want to truly prosper in both life and business. He also tells some amazing stories about the early days of FUBU that will e
#93: Steve Cockram—How to Lead Your Team So Everyone Brings Their Best
If you want to build a team where everyone feels supported, heard, and ready to tackle big challenges, then you want to listen to this episode of the Building a StoryBrand podcast. In it, we welcome our correspondent Allison Trowbridge as she talks with GiANT co-founder Steve Cockram. As a expert in both leadership and personality types, Steve walks us through the five different personalities (or “Voices”) you’ll find on every team and how to nurture each one. In Steve’s words, “You can’t outsou
#92: Bob Goff—Leading Without Fear and Loving Without Limits
Hustle and grind. Plan out everything. Protect your availability. That’s the typical advice business leaders get to “maximize our efficiency.” But there’s more to life than efficiency. And no one models this better than Bob Goff, the bestselling author of Love Does. He joins Donald Miller on the podcast for an inspiring conversation about leading well by loving others. It’s a different kind of mindset that puts people before efficiency and meaning ahead of success. If you struggle with a fear of
#91: Shannon Miles—9 Ways to Create a Life Where Both Work and Family Can Thrive
You’re driven to lead your business well. But you want quality time with your family, too. It’s a constant balancing act, and for women especially, it can seem like you have to choose one or the other. But Shannon Miles, today’s guest on the StoryBrand podcast, believes it doesn’t have to be that way. She shares nine creative and practical ideas that will help you succeed both at home and at work instead of feeling like you have to choose between them. If you want to design a life where both wor
#90: Michael Hyatt—Redefining Productivity to Focus on What Actually Matters
If you’re reading this, you’re probably a productivity junkie. You love getting stuff done and being successful. You write down stuff you’ve already done just so you can check it off! But when constantly being in “beast mode” leaves us feeling depleted and unhealthy, is that really success at all? What if we’re doing productivity all wrong? Today on the StoryBrand podcast, Donald Miller sits down with Michael Hyatt to talk about a better approach to productivity. Michael believes that to truly b
#89: Ron Clark—10 Practical Ways to Build a Positive, Productive Team
If building a positive team at your organization feels like a uphill battle, this week’s podcast is for you. Ron Clark joins Donald Miller to share ten practical habits that will help both leaders and employees contribute to their teams in extraordinary ways. Ron developed these ideas after years of serving educators and schools, but they work for businesses and nonprofits, too. Why? Because at the end of the day, ANY organization needs great people in order to thrive. Ron will show you how to b
#88: Ryan Holiday—The Crazy Story of a Narrative War and the Conspiracy That Won It
The world around us is pretty bonkers. Fortunately, that’s good for us as business leaders. Behind every headline, there are so many lessons that can make our business stronger. Today on the Building a StoryBrand podcast, we hear the crazy story behind one of those headlines. Ryan Holiday is the author of Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker, and the Anatomy of Intrigue, which tells the story of how Peter Thiel strategically launched a behind-the-scenes conspiracy to take down media giant
#87: Carey Lohrenz—Three Characteristics You Need to Be a Bold Leader
Why do organizations fail? For countless reasons, of course, but at the root of every business failure you’ll find a leader who never gave their team a clear vision. It sounds so simple, but in practice, only the boldest leaders have the courage to craft a vision and the tenacity to keep their staff focused on it. So when it comes to bold leadership, you don’t need to look much farther than today’s podcast guest, Carey Lohrenz. She was the first female pilot of an F-14 Tomcat, and she knows what
#86: Todd Herman—Why You’re Setting Goals Wrong (and How to Fix It)
90 days from now. It’s not that far away, is it? That’s all the time you need to accomplish a major goal, according to Todd Herman, a performance coach for athletes and business owners. He’s our guest today on the Building a StoryBrand podcast. He shares his four-part blueprint for tackling big projects in 90 days instead of letting them languish and stall for an entire year or longer. He’ll show you how to make reaching your goals “inevitable” by using smarter strategy and a more efficient proc
#85: Tim Arnold—How to Embrace Tension to Be a Stronger Leader
Left or right. Justice or mercy. Traditional or innovative. Logic or gut instinct. We tend to be binary thinkers. We assume things have to be one way or the other. But this is dangerous, according to Tim Arnold, today’s guest on the Building a StoryBrand podcast. To be a better leader -- both at work and at home -- we need to embrace healthy tension. We need to learn to see life’s decisions not as “either/or” but as “both/and.” When we do, we give ourselves a massive competitive advantage. We un
#84: Patrick Lencioni—3 Fundamentals You Need to Build a Strong Company Culture
It’s easy to spot weak company culture, isn’t it? We’ve all witnessed the politics, egos, and backstabbing. That kind of toxic environment makes it hard to do good work and retain good people. But it’s not so easy to pinpoint what makes a thriving company culture. What steps can we take to cultivate it with our current employees? How can we recruit and hire people who “get it?” To answer those questions, Donald Miller sits down with renowned business consultant Patrick Lencioni this week on the
#83: Rachel Hollis—5 Practical Ways to Strengthen Your Business With Social Media
So, at this point, you know you need a strong social media strategy to grow your business. But it seems like the best practices are always changing. It takes a ton of time. You’re constantly updating all the things. And at the end of the day, you have no idea if it’s even working. Here’s the good news. With the right strategies, you can measurably grow your business with social media -- even if you don’t have a lot of time or a huge staff. That’s why we’re thrilled to have Rachel Hollis on the p
#82: Scott Hamilton—How to Live More Like a Champion
When the Winter Olympics start this week, we’re going to be captivated by winners. We’ll get inspired by seeing years of hard work all come down to one moment of glory. You may not be fine-tuning your luge run. But as business leaders, we still want to win. We want to surpass last month’s goals. We want to beat the competition. We want to lead the industry. That’s why we have Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton back on the Building a StoryBrand podcast this week. He and Donald Miller talk about
#81: Ron Carson—Insider Economic Advice to Help Business Leaders Win Big
These days, our economy shifts and evolves at light speed. It can be overwhelming and intimidating just to follow along with the news. But if you lead a business, you need to understand how these big-level marketplace changes affect your company. When you do, you’ll feel empowered to make smarter decisions about how you hire and invest. In this episode of the Building a StoryBrand podcast, Donald Miller talks with economist and investment expert Ron Carson about the many economic issues that imp
#80: Bryan Miles—5 Surprising Ways a Smart Assistant Will Simplify Your Life
For your business to truly thrive, you’ve got to be good at delegation. You know this. But it’s so hard to relinquish control of your email, your calendar, and your travel. You’ve bought into the myth that only you can do it all, and it’s sucking the life out of you. A personal assistant can help -- but only if you set up the relationship in a healthy way. To help us, Donald Miller sits down with Bryan Miles. His company, Belay Solutions, helps high-performing executives achieve more by pairing
#79: Dan Heath—How to Create Powerful Moments for the People You Serve
Have you ever felt like something is missing from your customers’ experience? Or that you and your team are just “going through the motions?” Sure, you’re delivering a great product, but it’s just a business transaction. Worse, you and your team have lost the excitement you used to have about serving your customers. That’s why I’m thrilled to sit down with Dan Heath on the Building a StoryBrand podcast. As the co-author of The Power of Moments, he’s going to show you what’s missing in your cu
#78: Daniel Pink—How to Stop Wasting Time and Start Wielding It
Do you always feel like you’re short on time? Most days, it seems like there just aren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish everything that matters to us. But what if the problem isn’t how many hours we have — but how we’re using them? That’s the big idea from Daniel Pink, our guest today on the StoryBrand podcast. Daniel has done the research and studied the science, and it turns out that certain times are better than others for doing different types of work. Donald Miller sits down with Dan
#77: Miles Adcox—How to Make Fear Work for You in 2018
We may hide it well, but the truth is most of us business leaders and executives suffer from the same fears that plagued us in middle school — appearing incompetent, vulnerable, and foolish. These fears get in the way of our goals and mess up our relationships. But not this year. As we move into 2018, we’re going to start with how to face your underlying fears in a healthy way. This week, Miles Adcox joins Donald Miller for this week’s episode of Building a StoryBrand podcast. As the CEO of the
#76: The Best of 2017, Part 2
Since it’s Christmas, we decided to wrap up all the practical advice from 2017 and give it to you in a single episode. Tune in to Blake Mycoskie, Chief Shoe-Giver and founder of TOMS, for the first three hires you should make as you scale up your business. Charles Duhigg, author of Smarter Faster Better reveals how to build mental models to help you avoid wasting time on unimportant tasks. Professional storyteller Tricia Rose Burt gives you the story structure that will help you resonate with yo
#75: The Best of 2017, Part 1
Get our most helpful advice from some of our favorite interviews in a single episode! As we close out the year, we’ve selected five big ideas from our conversations that zero in on building your business. You get to hear from Seth Godin, marketing genius, about speed versus perfection when it comes to launching your product. You’ll learn how to reverse engineer your goals from Fizzle director, Chase Reeves, and how to get your team to focus on and execute your most important goal from 4DX co-aut
#74: Jerry Linenger—How to Accomplish Your Mission Under Extreme Pressure
You don’t get to meet an astronaut everyday. They’re really special people who beat terrific odds (less than 1%) to get where they are. So what an honor it is to have Astronaut Jerry Linenger on the podcast. He was sent on some of the most dangerous and historical space missions of all time. Jerry has faced mechanical malfunctions, fires and system failures all while in space. While you might not have to put out a space fire this week, we all have faced extreme pressures before. The principles
#73: Whitney Johnson—How to Protect Your Company in a World of Disruption
As consumers, we admire disruptors like Netflix, Uber, and Apple. But as a business leader, disruption can cause you to lose sleep at night. You’ve got to stay ahead of the competition or you might get left behind. In this episode of the Building a StoryBrand podcast, Donald Miller sits down with Whitney Johnson to talk about how to prepare your team to manage change in an age of disruption. She’s an expert on this topic and gives you some strategies to help you feel competent and confident in t
#72: Todd Duncan—5 Rules That Will Help You Attract Loyal Customers
How much can poor customer service cost you? The answer is more than you think. Donald Miller sits down with Todd Duncan, author of The $6,000 Egg. A best-selling author and thought-leader in the sales industry, Todd outlines five scenarios that illustrate the five rules of spectacular customer service. When you apply them, you’ll bring in loyal customers and create trust in your company. Customer service is the bedrock of your brand. If your team takes ownership of your company’s values and d
#71: Tricia Rose Burt—How to Reach Your Customers with These 3 Storytelling Principles
How can a professional storyteller help you grow your business? Simple. Business is about persuading people to buy your products or services. And, psychologists tell us that storytelling is the most effective method of persuasion. So, you’re going to need effective storytelling to grow your business. In this episode of the Building a StoryBrand podcast, Donald Miller sits down with professional storyteller Tricia Rose Burt to talk about 3 super powerful principles you need to tell a great stor
#70: Dorie Clark—How to Start a Business That Will Make You Money
If you’ve ever seriously thought about starting a business of your own, you’ve probably discovered how difficult it is to get good advice on how to do it. What you need is a map, a blueprint, of how to get from your cubicle to doing what you love. And you need to know how to make money at it. Because, let’s face it, making a good living is an important part of your security and happiness. This week, Donald Miller sits down with Dorie Clark, author of Entrepreneurial You, on the Building a StoryB
#69: Chris Hogan—4 Obstacles to a Happy Retirement and How to Overcome Them
You’re going to retire someday. And we’re not talking about just a few years of your life. People are living longer. More people will live to 100 than ever. So you might be in financial stress for a good 20 to 25 years of your life if you don’t make some changes. Worse, you could end up becoming a burden to the people you love the most. That’s not a pretty picture, but there’s some good news. Donald Miller sits down with Chris Hogan, the author of Retire Inspired, on the Building a StoryBrand po
#68: Charles Duhigg—Increase Your Productivity and Reclaim Your Life
Do you feel like no matter how hard you work, you’re always behind? The worst part is you know of highly productive people who have time for everything important — family, health, friends and business. Nothing has to be sacrificed upon the altar of success. So, what are their secrets? Today’s podcast guest will reveal them. Charles Duhigg, the author of Smarter Faster Better, used to be sitting in the same place you are now. He had achieved an incredibly successful career, but was still miserabl
#67: Chris McChesney—The 4 Disciplines That Will Make You Win In Business
Does running your business feel like you’re caught in a whirlwind? That ringing phone, the unexpected appointment, the stuff piling up from last week? Urgent matters keep popping up. All the while, more important things like growing your company gets pushed aside. You know the answer lies in getting help from your team, but trying to get your team to do something new in the midst of the whirlwind is extremely difficult. Today, you’ll discover the solution to that problem. Donald Miller sits down
#66: Nancy Duarte—How to Crush that Upcoming Presentation
If you have an important, high-stakes presentation that needs to move people en masse in a given direction, Nancy Duarte is the person you’d call. She’s written, visualized, and helped people deliver some of the world’s greatest talks. Her Guide to Persuasive Presentations is the best-selling Harvard Business Review guide ever. And if you haven’t seen Nancy’s TED talk — where she lays Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream speech over Steve Jobs’ Apple iPhone release and shows you how they’re essen
#65: Donald Miller—The Framework That Makes Marketing Easy
This week my new book Building a StoryBrand is out! If you’ve been wanting to clarify your message pick it up today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble! That said, if you don’t want to order it because reading hurts your brain, there’s a distant, distant second option I recommend. And that’s to listen to this week’s podcast because this week, J.J. and I shamelessly plug the book by going through it point by point. It’s like the audiobook but with a laugh track! The main reason I wrote the book is beca
#64: Al Andrews—10 Things Powerful People Can Do to Not Screw Up Their Lives
Being successful isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. I mean, look at the headlines. We can all name a few celebrities who crumbled under the pressure of fame and fortune. While well-known artists may deal with the problems of success on an amplified level, most successful leaders have similar struggles and are in danger of the same downfalls. That’s why I’m so excited about this week’s episode on the Building a StoryBrand podcast. I sit down with Al Andrews, the founder and executive direct
#63: Ray Edwards—8 Magic Phrases That Will Make You Money
If you’ve ever tried to write sales copy for your product, then you’ve probably felt the intimidation of the blank page. Worse, when you’ve finally beat the blank page blues, your copy doesn’t deliver the results you wanted. Your words fail to persuade your customers. That’s why I’m thrilled to sit down with Ray Edwards on the Building a StoryBrand podcast. As the author of How to Write Copy That Sells, Ray’s going to reveal some magic phrases that will help you write great copy. After listening
#62: Chris Guillebeau—How to Launch a Side Hustle That Will Make You a Profit in a Month
Ever thought about quitting your job to start a business of your own? Not everyone is ready to risk a secure job to launch a new enterprise. Some people really like their day job. And for many, a regular paycheck is a blessing. That’s why I’m honored to have Chris Guillebeau joining us on the Building a StoryBrand podcast. He’s the author of Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days and he’s going to show us how to quickly and easily create an additional stream of income without giving up the
#61: Blake Mycoskie—The 3 Most Important Hires You Need to Make to Grow Your Business
If you had a chance to sit down with a world-renowned businessman, what would you ask? As an entrepreneur, you’d likely want him to go back to the point where you are and find out what crucial decisions he made to help his business go big. Blake Mycoskie, Founder and Chief Shoe Giver of TOMS, is one of the top young businessmen in the world and perhaps the most visionary entrepreneur in forming social-minded businesses and consumers. On the podcast this week, I sit down with Blake to talk about
#60: Chase Reeves—4 Steps That Will Make You a Successful Entrepreneur
Do you feel like your job isn’t what you should be doing? Perhaps you have a side hustle that you wish could be your main hustle? Or you have an entrepreneurial itch that just won’t go away? If so, you’d probably like some help in making your business dreams a reality. Someone who can guide your through the journey from beginning to end. That’s why I’m happy to have Chase Reeves joining us on the Building a StoryBrand podcast. He’s a co-founder of Fizzle and their mission is to help you earn a l
#59: Robert Sutton—How To Deal With People Who Treat You Like Dirt
Many of our favorite movies and TV shows portray jerks at work. From droning Lumbergh in Office Space, clueless Michael in The Office, to sleazy Mr. Hart in 9 to 5, we find these characters so funny because they’re true. It isn’t funny, however, actually working with these jerks. According to a recent study, 75% of workers deal with bullies in the workplace. This has a huge effect on the economy, your workplace, and your health. So, what can you do? Robert Sutton sets out to answer that question
#58: Craig Ross—Teams That Do Big Things Take These 7 Steps
Do you and your team members suffer from DSD — Distracted, Stressed, and Disconnected? Sure, you believe in what your team is doing. And you believe in the people on your team. But it feels like no matter how hard you all work, the results keep eluding you. Worse, you go home exhausted and give your family the only thing you’ve got … leftovers. You’d love to find a way to turn your team around, but how? On the podcast this week, Donald Miller interviews Craig Ross, one of the authors of Do Big
#57: Anthony Iannarino—Energize Your Sales Abilities With These 7 Expert Tips
Are you in a sales slump? What if I told you the reason for your lagging sales isn’t the fluctuating market. Neither is it your product or company. It’s not even the competition. Top sellers across various industries and companies prove that sales performance isn’t situational. The key to sales success is you. This is good news because you can start making money right away with some key adjustments to how you sell. By learning the behaviors, attitudes and a few vital skills of the aces in the in
#56: David Covey and Stephan Mardyks—7 Traps That Can Tank Your Success (And How to Avoid Them)
Running a company can sometimes feel like a treacherous journey. A bad financial decision will cost you a ton of money. If you don’t give enough attention to your relationships, you might lose your family. And a lack of focus sucks away precious time. It’d be so much simpler if you had a map to guide you through it. Some sort of blueprint to show you where you might fall so you can avoid the hassle of trying to dig your way out. That’s why I’m thrilled about this episode of the Building a StoryB
#55: Seth Godin—5 Huge Paradigm Shifts that Will Change the Way You Do Marketing
This week, we’re honored to welcome Seth Godin to the Building a StoryBrand podcast. Unless you’ve been living in a cave for the last fifteen years, you recognize Seth Godin as a preeminent influencer in the marketing world. And in an industry that can be so noisy, cheesy, and in-your-face, Seth’s thinking stands out. It’s deep and it’s well-reasoned. And it’s humanistic, affirming at its core that marketing is ultimately about people and the relationships we build with them. In this conversatio
#54: The Best of 2017 (So Far), Part 2
If you want to grow your business, of course you’ve got to get the everyday stuff right: product quality, customer satisfaction, marketing, personnel, logistics, etc. But there’s more to success than those elements. To see the right kind of growth in our business, we also need to focus on our personal growth. That’s why this week’s episode is designed to give you a moment of reflection this summer. In our second of two podcasts featuring The Best of 2017 (So Far), we’ve compiled the most powerfu
#53: The Best of 2017 (So Far), Part 1
For these next two episodes, we’ve selected several excellent clips for you to revisit or catch up on what you may have missed. Summer is a time for recreation, rest and reflection. Because we’ve covered so much great content, we wanted to take some time to think back on what we’ve learned. Whether you’re on a vacation or staycation, mull over the highlights of what we’ve covered in 2017 and evaluate whether you’ve incorporated them into your business and your life. Some principles are so essent
#52: David Horsager—The 8 Pillars of Trust that Will Make or Break Your Business
Why does trust matter so much in business? In this episode of the Building a StoryBrand podcast, we’re going to show you how to build trust in your company. Donald Miller interviews David Horsager, leadership speaker and author of The Trust Edge. David tells us that loss of trust costs us a lot, bringing skepticism, frustration, low productivity, lost sales, and turnover into our business. Trust affects a leader’s impact and the company’s bottom line more than any other single thing. The good ne
#51: Molly Fletcher—6 Strategies that Will Help You Run Your Business Fearlessly
What do elite athletes have that business leaders need? A fearless mindset. In this episode of the Building a StoryBrand podcast, Donald Miller sits down with Molly Fletcher, a former sports agent who has taken what she’s learned from leaders in the world of sports to leaders in the workplace. Representing elite athletes during their sports careers has given Molly an insider view of what drives them to surpass the rest. She reveals that the best-of-the-best athletes have a fearless mindset. List
#50: Ken Blanchard and Claire Diaz-Ortiz—How to Create a Mutually Beneficial Mentoring Relationship
How did you get to where you are now in your business? I’m sure you could list a lot of factors. But every successful business leader will always point to specific people in their lives who mentored them along the way. Books and classes are powerful, but nothing can replace actual people stepping into your life to guide you. In this episode of the Building a StoryBrand podcast, Ken Blanchard and Claire Diaz-Ortiz join Donald Miller to talk about mentorship. They share a process for mentoring tha
#49: Francis Jones—Are You Making These 8 Beginner Email Marketing Mistakes?
If you haven’t gotten serious about email marketing, it’s time. In this episode of the Building a StoryBrand podcast, we’re going to take away the confusion behind getting started with email marketing. Donald Miller sits down with Francis Jones of Infusionsoft. Francis shares eight common email mistakes he sees beginners make when they start email marketing -- plus what to do instead. Listen to this episode and schedule an hour of time to implement even one of these ideas, and you’ll make a dram
#48: Caitlin Crosby—3 Powerful Lessons for Aspiring Social Entrepreneurs
Imagine you see a homeless couple on the side of the road holding a sign that says “Ugly, Broke, and Hungry.” You stop to hear their story and take them out to dinner. And before the last course is served, you’ve invited them to be your business partners. That’s the story of Caitlin Crosby, the founder and creative visionary behind the company The Giving Keys and this week’s guest on the Building a StoryBrand podcast. The Giving Keys employs people who are trying to transition out of homelessnes
#47: Chris Anderson—6 Ways To Make Your Next Speech Absolutely Unforgettable
Go on, admit it. If you’re a business leader, you’ve stayed up late binge-watching -- no, not Game of Thrones -- but TED talks. And it’s totally understandable. TED talks take complex topics and present them in a way that everybody understands. There’s something about making things clear, regardless of what you're talking about, that the human mind engages. That’s the magic of TED. This week on the Building a StoryBrand podcast, Donald Miller sits down with Chris Anderson, the CEO of TED. Chris
#46: Luke Laird—An Inspiring Look at a Hit Songwriter’s Creative Process
Can you be both a disciplined, focused business leader and a deeply creative person? For us here at StoryBrand, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, the worlds of creatives and business leaders overlap more than we might assume. If you’re leading a business, you need to embrace your creativity. When you do, you’ll unlock levels of innovation and inspiration in your work that will give you a competitive advantage. And anyone who does creative work needs to focus and master their industry so t
#45: Auntie Anne Beiler—4 Ingredients You Need to Grow a Successful, Purpose-Filled Business
If you’ve ever smelled that warm and buttery smell in the mall, and minutes later, had an Auntie Anne’s pretzel in your hand, you’re not alone. Auntie Anne’s has 2,000 locations in 26 countries. They’ve made 1.8 billion pretzels -- enough to go around the Earth 50 times. And their success is about a lot more than just that amazing smell. Auntie Anne’s founder, Anne Beiler, is an incredible leader with a unique backstory. She joins Donald Miller on this episode of the Building a StoryBrand podcas
#44: Ernie Johnson—3 Life Lessons That Will Inspire You to Slow Down and Live Differently
Is it possible to live a life of service and sacrifice even while pursuing a career that matters deeply? When you look at the life of sportscasting legend Ernie Johnson, Jr., you can’t help but say yes. On this episode of the Building a StoryBrand podcast, Donald Miller sits down with Ernie Johnson. They share a heartfelt conversation about leading a life of significance and making room to help others, even while we pursue our careers. Don’t miss this inspiring episode. The life lessons here are
#43: David McKeown—How to Predict Whether or Not Your Business Will Succeed
What if there were a roadmap that showed you all the major milestones your business was going to hit as it grows? Wouldn’t it be great to know what’s coming next and how to navigate well? That framework exists, and we’re going to explore it in depth on this week’s episode of the Building a StoryBrand podcast. Donald Miller sits down with David McKeown of PredictableSuccess.com. He and his father Les have developed this framework over decades, and they’ve seen it prove out in countless companies,
#42: Ian Cron—Can the Enneagram Make You a More Effective Leader?
The better we understand people, the better leaders we’ll be. And one of the best tools for understanding yourself and those around you is the Enneagram. If you haven’t encountered it before, the Enneagram is simply an ancient personality framework. There are nine core types, and we tend to gravitate toward one of them in our youth as a way of coping with the world. This week on the Building a StoryBrand podcast, Donald Miller talks with Enneagram expert Ian Cron about how to use this powerful f
#41: Allan Heinberg—3 Powerful Takeaways Marketers Can Learn from a Master Storyteller
What’s the most powerful tool in the world for captivating the human brain? It’s storytelling. As business leaders, sometimes we struggle to keep our audience’s attention for a few seconds. But storytellers have figured out how to keep an audience’s attention for hours. If we want to captivate our customers, we need to understand the art of storytelling. So today on the Building a StoryBrand podcast, Donald Miller talks with Allan Heinberg, one of the world’s most accomplished storytellers. He’s
#40: Juliet Funt—The Brutal Cost of Overload and How to Reclaim the Rest You Need
Most of us business leaders are glued to our phones. Work can feel all-consuming. We end each day fatigued and overloaded, and everything suffers as a result. But life isn't supposed to look like this. We need what Juliet Funt calls “white space” -- strategic rests and pauses between our busy-ness. This week, Juliet joins Donald Miller on the Building a Story Brand podcast, and she helps us understand the importance of these pauses for our work, the four big reasons we struggle with it, and what
#39: Chris Zook—How to Turbocharge Your Company’s Growth with "The Founder’s Mentality"
Why do some companies stay young, agile, and competitive, while others get bogged down and decline? That’s the big question that this week's guest, Chris Zook, set out to answer. After years of research, he and his team at Bain Insights found three key elements that showed up in successful companies, and they called them “The Founder’s Mentality.” On this episode, Donald Miller sits down with Chris to understand how these three elements make a company healthy on the inside and create more profit
#38: Lee Cockerell—5 Lessons from a Disney Exec to Help You Develop Amazing People Skills
Why do leaders fail? It’s not because they don’t know what they’re doing. It’s usually because they’ve failed to listen to and develop their staff. They’ve failed to respect and communicate well with them. Basically, they’ve failed at people skills. To help us master the fine art of people skills, Lee Cockerell, the former Executive VP of Operations for Disney, joins Donald Miller on this episode of the Building a Story Brand podcast. Lee built his sterling career by focusing on people, and in t
#37: Mel Robbins—Hack Your Motivation and Accomplish More With This Surprisingly Simple Strategy
Motivation is overrated. If you want to accomplish the things that will grow your life and your business, you can’t rely on it. And today’s guest on the Building a Story Brand podcast, Mel Robbins, is with me on this notion that motivation isn’t the key to success. More than that, she’s discovered a simple mental strategy we can use to bypass motivation in order to make wise decisions that grow our businesses, make healthful decisions, and strengthen our relationships. It’s incredibly simple and
#36: Daniel Tardy—Nine Strategies That Will Make Your Meetings More Productive
Why are most meetings so awful? A lot of us leave every meeting feeling like we’ve wasted our time and gotten nowhere on a problem -- only to get back to our desks farther behind on our “real jobs.” But with a little intention, we can make meetings not just productive, but also energizing and fun. On this episode of the Building a Story Brand podcast, Donald Miller sits down with Daniel Tardy the SVP of EntreLeadership, Dave Ramsey’s business coaching division. They walk through nine strategies
#35: Elon Musk’s Biographer, Ashlee Vance—What Can Everyday Entrepreneurs Learn from the Life of Elon Musk?
There’s nobody like Elon Musk. As the founder and CEO of both SpaceX and Tesla (among other ventures), he is arguably the world’s most visionary entrepreneur. And on the podcast this week, Donald Miller interviews Ashlee Vance, the man who wrote Musk’s definitive (and bestselling) biography. As entrepreneurs ourselves, what can we learn from a pioneering leader like Elon Musk? Listen to this interview for an inside look at Musk’s life and discover the big takeaways we can use to build our busine
#34: Stephen Mansfield—10 Warning Signs of a Leadership Crash (and How to Fix Them)
Why do leaders crash and burn, taking their companies and families down with them? Is it the inevitable result of pressure or a character flaw? Or can it all be prevented? In this episode of the Building a Story Brand podcast, Donald Miller sits down with leadership expert Stephen Mansfield to talk about the 10 warning signs of a leadership crash -- and how to fix them. The list will surprise you. Listen today and discover how to protect yourself from a leadership crash. Get the worksheet that g
#33: Carrie Green—6 Steps That Will Make You a Better Entrepreneur
If you’re trying to start and grow a business, you know it’s not an easy road. Rewarding, yes. Eventful, yes. But easy? Not at all. But like any journey, you’re better off if you’ve equipped yourself properly for it. And that’s why I am so honored to have Carrie Green joining us on the Building a Story Brand podcast. She’s the founder of the wildly successful Female Entrepreneur Association, and in this episode she shares six steps entrepreneurs can follow to grow their businesses. Wherever you
#32: Greg McKeown—How to Live and Work with Radical Clarity
According to Greg McKeown, the author of Essentialism, most of us have been living under the assumption that we can have it all -- we just have to cram it all into our lives. As a result, we end up busy (not necessarily productive) and stretched too thin at work and at home. We’re chained to our smartphones, hopping from disjointed task to disjointed task, not really focused on (or even clear about) what we want. Essentialism changes all that. It helps us tune out all the unimportant things vyin
#31: Mike Pacchione—8 Expert Tips That Will Make Your Next Speech Unforgettable
For business leaders, public speaking skills are critical. Whether you’re delivering a major keynote or simply leading a staff meeting, you’ve got to be able to engage your audience and communicate powerfully. That’s why public speaking expert Mike Pacchione is joining Donald Miller this week on the Building a Story Brand podcast. As a part of the communications consulting firm Duarte, Mike gives 70 speeches a year -- all on the topic of public speaking. He is the talker about talking. And he’s
#30: Lee LeFever—Why You’re Confusing Your Customers and How to Fix It
As business leaders, we often get so focused on the details of our company that we forget to step back and understand things from our customers’ perspective. As a result, we talk over our potential customers’ heads in our communication and marketing. Feeling confused, they take their business to another company -- not necessarily a better one, but one they understand. But when we learn how to communicate clearly, we stop confusing our customers and start connecting with them. On this episode of
#29: Chalene Johnson—How to Effectively Scale Your Business Without Losing Your Mind
We’re passionate about growing our businesses, aren’t we? But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. In fact, the path of scaling a company is lined with landmines and pitfalls, both personal and professional. This week on the Building a Story Brand podcast, Donald Miller talks with massively successful entrepreneur Chalene Johnson about the five things we can do this year to dramatically scale our businesses without losing our minds. If you want to grow your business the right way, without compromising y
#28: Rachel Cruze—7 Smart Habits That Will Transform Your Personal Finances
As a business leader, you’d never start a year without a working budget or a sense of your profit margin, would you? But most of us don’t have the same kind of awareness and discipline when it comes to our personal finances. That’s why we’ve got Rachel Cruze joining Donald Miller for this week’s episode of the Building a Story Brand podcast. She is a personal finance expert and bestselling author. And as the daughter of Dave and Sharon Ramsey, her heart for the topic runs deep. Listen now to dis
#27: Don Schneider—How to Create a Big Brand (Even On a Small Budget)
If you’re good at marketing, you know how to make people understand what you offer. But if you’re good at branding, you know how to make people feel a certain way about it. When you master this, you can create exponential value for your business. (For example, branding is what allowed Starbucks to sell a 50-cent cup of coffee for $4.) This week on the Building a Story Brand podcast, Donald Miller talks with advertising legend Don Schneider about the art of branding. He’s the creative force behin
#26: John Lowry—5 Strategies That Will Make You a Strong Negotiator
A lot of us believe that killer negotiators are born, not made. But that’s not true. When you know a few key strategies, you can become a great negotiator and land great outcomes for your business. Best of all, you can do it while treating others with respect. In this episode of the Building a Story Brand podcast, Donald Miller sits down with negotiation coach and expert John Lowry. John walks us through five techniques to improve our negotiation skills so we can strike better deals, increase ou
#25: StoryBrand Productivity Schedule
Welcome to 2017! If you’re wondering how to make this year more productive and meaningful, try the 30-day process we walk you through in this week's episode. This system won’t take you more than a few minutes each day, but it will unlock new levels of energy and focus you didn’t know you had. Listen now and discover how to develop new habits, become more productive, overcome procrastination, and complete the major projects that will move the needle for your business this year. http://buildingast
#24: The Best of 2016
Get our best wisdom from 2016, compressed into a single episode! As we close out the year, we’ve selected clips from 10 conversations we’ve had on the podcast and highlighted our biggest takeaways from them. If you’re traveling over the holidays, this is a great way to find helpful episodes you may have missed or revisit your favorites for fresh insights. Thanks to everyone for listening this year. We’ve learned a ton from our guests, and we hope we’ve helped you clarify your messaging and grow
#23: David Kinnaman—10 Expert Tips to Strengthen Your Business with Surveys
As good as your gut may be about your customers, there are some aspects of your business that are too important to guess at. That’s why I’m thrilled to have David Kinnaman joining us on this episode of the Building a Story Brand podcast. He’s the owner of The Barna Group, a market research firm that’s helped thousands of companies better understand their customers through survey data. He’s got 10 excellent tips for sending surveys to our customers. These will help you listen better, pinpoint opp
#22: Nigel Green—3 Reasons Why You Should Fire Yourself This Week (Really)
2017 is right around the corner. How can you set yourself up for a great year in your job? What if I said you should fire yourself? It sounds crazy, but it’s exactly what our CEO, Nigel Green, does every year. It gives him the perspective and energy he needs to embrace whatever challenges the new year brings. In this week's episode of the Building a Story Brand podcast, we share exactly how you can do this process yourself and why it works. It sounds super critical at first, but it’s actually a
#21: Amy Porterfield—4 Foolproof Ways to Improve Your Digital Marketing
If you’re trying to run and grow a business, you know you’re going to need smart marketing tactics to get you to the next level of success. The trouble is, there is SO MUCH information out there. And not all of it can be trusted to actually work for you. So I’m thrilled to have Amy Porterfield joining me on the Building a Story Brand podcast this week. She’s an actual expert on all things digital marketing, and she has four ways you can dramatically improve your online marketing strategy, no mat
#20: Miles Adcox—6 Characteristics that Will Make You an Emotionally Strong Leader
Can we be real with each other? Leading a business packs a big emotional punch. The stress of the day-to-day. The immense pressure to succeed. The isolation at the top. The strangeness of managing an image. It’s a heavy burden to carry around -- and it takes a toll on us. That’s why it’s critical to care for your inner life and develop your emotional intelligence. If you do, you can forge a great home life and company culture. If you don’t, you can destroy it all. I’m thrilled to have Miles Adco
#19: Nicole Walters—4 Surprising Ways Entrepreneurs Can Get Better at Selling
Entrepreneurs, listen up. If you want to bust through that revenue plateau, you’ve got to get good at selling -- even if you don’t think of yourself as a salesperson. We’re pleased to have Nicole Walters of The Monetized Life joining us on this episode of the Building a Story Brand podcast. She quit her job as a top-selling corporate exec and built a million-dollar lifestyle business in a year. (Whoa.) Listen and discover four surprising strategies that we as entrepreneurs can use to dramaticall
#18: Jon Gordon—4 Inspiring Principles to Develop More Grit
As business leaders, we throw the word “grit” around a lot. It’s hard work, resilience, and toughness all rolled into one. But where does grit come from? And how can we tap into it to improve our companies and our lives? In this episode of the Building a Story Brand podcast, I sat down with Jon Gordon to talk about it. He shared four principles with me to help us develop more grit. And this guy knows his stuff. His principles of motivation and success have been tested and proven by pro sports te
#17: Ryan Deiss—4 Simple Ways to Make Your Marketing More Persuasive
What do you offer your customers? Sure, you’ve got a product or service. But really, you offer your customers some kind of transformation. And when you fully understand this “before” and “after” journey of your customers, you can reach them on a whole new level. In this episode of the Building a Story Brand podcast, we learn exactly how to map out our customers’ transformation. Donald Miller talks with Ryan Deiss, the mastermind behind Digital Marketer, to talk about a simple four-part process y
#16: Rory Vaden—5 Revolutionary Strategies That Will Maximize Your Time
Did you wake up this morning and ask, “What am I going to get done today?” Or did you say, "How can I use my time today in a way that makes tomorrow better?" If we really want to accomplish our big goals while keeping our priorities straight, we need to be asking the second question -- and working toward it every day. This week on the Building a Story Brand podcast, Donald Miller sits down with Rory Vaden, the NYT bestselling author and cofounder of Southwestern Consulting, to talk about the fiv
#15: Christy Wright—5 Ways Entrepreneurial Women Can Thrive and Win Big
Starting a business comes with plenty of challenges. And women face a unique set of them as they become entrepreneurs. To help, Donald Miller sat down with Christy Wright, founder of Business Boutique. And we’re kicking off the third season of the Building a Story Brand podcast by discussing 5 game-changing insights for entrepreneurial women. Christy sees the most common struggles women face in business. And she’s helped guide the success of thousands of female entrepreneurs through her wildly p
#14: Jeff Walker—Secrets of a Successful Product Launch
You can launch a product online with hope. Or you can launch it with a plan. In the Season 2 finale of the Building a Story Brand podcast, Donald Miller talks with Jeff Walker, digital marketing pioneer and creator of the wildly successful Product Launch Formula. Jeff shows us how to make our marketing more successful by treating it like a can't-miss event. Listen in and discover the strategies that have earned Jeff's students an estimated 400 million dollars and counting. If you're starting a b
#13: Brian Clark—How to Win Big With Content Marketing
Would you propose on a first date? Of course not, but that's how many businesses approach marketing. You get a lead and immediately start asking for the sale. In this episode of Building a Story Brand, Donald Miller talks with Brian Clark of Copyblogger about a better way to approach sales — with a strong content marketing strategy. He'll show you exactly how to understand your customer, forge a relationship, and build trust — all by sharing your expertise for free. Best of all? We get i
#12: Ben Crane—5 Habits of People Who Win Big (Even Under Pressure)
If we approached our jobs the way professional golfers approach theirs, we'd all be millionaires. Meet Ben Crane, a PGA Tour golf pro consistently ranked among the world's best. Behind every stroke, he's packed countless hours of discipline, planning, intention, and sheer grit. When the pressure is on, he knows how to deliver. Thing is, the five habits Ben employs to excel at golf don't only work for golfers. They'll help you win big in any area of your life. Listen and discover how to hit y
#11: Ken Blanchard—How to Cast a Vision So People Listen
We have mantra at StoryBrand: if you confuse, you'll lose. We say it in reference to customers, but it's also true for your team. Businesses don't just falter because they lack a vision. They falter because the employees don't truly understand what that vision is. As a leader, your job is to make sure everyone on your staff knows where your company is going and how they can help it get there. In this episode of Building a Story Brand, Donald Miller sits down with Ken Blanchard, the legen
#10: Toi Sweeney—Is Your Professional Wardrobe Hurting Your Business?
Like it or not, we all judge each other by our appearances. What you wear makes an instant impression on your customers. It's up to you to define what that impression is. In this episode of Building a Story Brand, Donald Miller sits down with Toi Sweeney, an award-winning image and style consultant. She shares the must-have pieces men and women need in their wardrobes to communicate success. You'll discover how to use color, fit, and style — on any budget — so your clothes always work for you,
#9: David Salyers—3 Ways to Deliver Value and Delight Your Customers
Ever struggled to keep your customers coming back? Donald Miller talks with Chick-fil-A's VP of Brand Activation, David Salyers, to discuss how the beloved fast-food chain has built a multi-billion-dollar business by dazzling its customers. In this episode of Building a Story Brand, you'll discover how to put Chick-fil-A's powerful customer-centric principles to work in your own business. And when you do, you'll have more repeat business, better word of mouth, and lower advertising costs. If y
#8: Canlis—Secrets of Insanely Good Customer Service
Customer service matters more than ever in our super-connected world. One customer experience for your business — good or bad — may end up influencing thousands of people. In the Season 2 opener of Building a Story Brand, Donald Miller sits down with Mark and Brian Canlis of the world-famous Canlis restaurant in Seattle, WA. These brothers deliver unforgettable customer experiences night after night, year after year. They share exactly how they put their customers first — through radically uni
#7: Scott Hamilton—How to Show Up, Hit Your Goals, and Win Big
What really drives true success — whether it's on the ice or in the office? In this episode, Donald Miller talks with Scott Hamilton, Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater and humanitarian. They dig into what it takes to accomplish your biggest goals and beat the competition, plus what will derail you along the way. Apply Scott's hard-won wisdom, and you can achieve whatever crazy-big dreams you have for your life or business. Visit http://buildingastorybrand.com/7 to get an unedited version
#6: Ray Edwards—Why Your Sales Copy Stinks (and How to Fix It)
Feel like your sales copy falls flat? Join Donald Miller for a conversation with world-renowned copywriting and marketing pro Ray Edwards. You'll discover Ray's six-part formula for writing persuasive sales copy, including one critical element most people overlook. Skip it, and watch your sales tank. If you want to dramatically improve your sales letters, email campaigns, pitches, and landing pages, don't miss this episode! Visit http://buildingastorybrand.com/6 to get an unedited version of the
#5: Jonathan Davis—How to Make Your Call to Action Irresistible
As anyone who's ever bought a set of kitchen knives at 2 a.m. will tell you, infomercials are selling machines. And in this podcast, you'll discover exactly how and why they work so well. Donald Miller talks with infomercial producer Jonathan Davis to uncover the secrets of getting people to take action and respond. Apply these proven strategies to your own marketing, and you'll get more people saying YES when you ask them to buy, inquire, or get involved. Visit http://buildingastorybrand.com/5
#4: Claire Diaz-Ortiz—6 Steps to Accomplish More in Less Time
Feel overwhelmed and overworked? Don't miss this game-changing conversation with Donald Miller and Twitter pioneer Claire Diaz-Ortiz. In this episode, you'll discover six steps you can take to achieve more by doing less — starting today. This practical advice will help you simplify your to-do list, recharge, boost your creativity, and grow your business the right way. Visit http://buildingastorybrand.com/4 to get an unedited version of the interview with Claire Diaz-Ortiz, along with a video of
#3: Dave Ramsey—How to Be the Guide and Attract More Customers
Donald Miller talks with personal finance legend Dave Ramsey about how to position your business as a guide and focus on your customers' successes. Dave intuitively understands this marketing strategy, and it's a huge reason why his products and content have impacted millions of people. In this episode, you'll discover exactly how to make this powerful shift in your communications and tap into your customers' most powerful motivations. Visit http://buildingastorybrand.com/3 to get an unedited ve
#2: Mike McHargue—Why People Buy: The Powerful Science of Selling
Donald Miller sits down with Mike McHargue, aka "Science Mike," to discuss what's really going on in your customers' brains when they come to your website. It's a fun and accessible look at the neuroscience of sales and marketing. When you understand how the human brain is wired, you can create irresistible marketing that taps into your customers' most powerful, predictable instincts. Visit http://buildingastorybrand.com/2 to get an unedited version of the interview with Science Mike, along with
#1: Michael Hyatt—How to Know What Your Customers Are Thinking
Donald Miller talks with special guest Michael Hyatt, the seven-figure leadership blogger and New York Times best-selling author. Hyatt shares his process for understanding his readers at a high level and serving them well. In this conversation, you'll discover how to get inside the heads of your prospects and customers and craft a message that always hits home. Visit http://buildingastorybrand.com/1 to get an unedited version of the interview with Michael Hyatt, along with a video of Don's w