Building a StoryBrand with Donald Miller | Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen

#145: How to “Recession Proof” Your Business

Apr 22 • 33 min

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…

#144: Willie Robertson—The Inspiring Story of Entrepreneurship Behind “Duck Dynasty”

Apr 15 • 62 min

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…

#143: Michael Hyatt—How to Stop Hustling So You Can Achieve What Really Matters

Apr 8 • 52 min

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…

#142: Shannon Sedgwick Davis—The Power of Using Your Business to Champion a Social Cause

Apr 1 • 42 min

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…

#141: Sean Webb—How to Hack Your Emotions

Mar 25 • 47 min

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…

#140: Mark Miller—The 5 Character Traits You Need to Become a Strong Leader

Mar 18 • 51 min

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…

#139: Kirsten Powers—Behind the Scenes of the 24-Hour News Cycle

Mar 11 • 34 min

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…

#138: Chris Voss—3 Science-Backed Tactics That Will Make You a Master Negotiator

Mar 4 • 40 min

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…

#137: Governor Bill Haslam—Leadership Lessons Straight from the Governor’s Office

Feb 25 • 28 min

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…

#136: David Pursell—What If You Sold Your Product in a Crazy, Unexpected Way?

Feb 18 • 39 min

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…

#135: Mathew Ford—How to Create “FOMO” and Make Your Marketing More Powerful

Feb 11 • 35 min

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…

#134: How To Motivate Your Customers To Take Action—with Tyler Ginn

Feb 4 • 39 min

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…

#133: Horst Schulze—How to Lead With Vision So Your Brand Stands Out

Jan 28 • 37 min

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…

#132: Dean Nelson—Practical Tips That Will Help You Conduct More Meaningful Interviews

Jan 21 • 43 min

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…

#131: Mike McHargue—The Science of Why Your Brand Needs a Villain

Jan 14 • 40 min

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…

#130: Aaron James—How to Define What Your Customer Really Wants

Jan 7 • 52 min

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…

#129: The Best of 2018—Our Biggest Takeaways for Business Leaders

Dec 31, 2018 • 77 min

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…

#128: Jay Baer—Why You Need a Word-of-Mouth Marketing Strategy ASAP

Dec 24, 2018 • 39 min

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…

#127: Blake Mycoskie—Should Your Company Take a Stand on a Social Issue?

Dec 17, 2018 • 32 min

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…

#126: Tina Sharkey—How to Build a Strong Brand Around Your Core Values

Dec 10, 2018 • 33 min

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…

#125: Ian Cron—How the Enneagram Can Make You a More Effective Leader

Dec 3, 2018 • 28 min

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…

#124: Ian Cron—The Do’s and Don’ts of Leading Each Enneagram Type

Nov 26, 2018 • 59 min

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…

#123: Donald Miller and Andy Stanley—How Story Can Make You a Better Leader

Nov 19, 2018 • 42 min

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…

#122: Andy Stanley—5 Questions That Will Make Any Talk Clear and Memorable

Nov 12, 2018 • 33 min

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…

#121: Jesse Cole—11 Surefire Ways to Delight Your Customers

Nov 5, 2018 • 32 min

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…

#120: 4 Simple Marketing Tasks That Will Turbocharge Your 4th Quarter

Oct 29, 2018 • 50 min

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!)….

#119: Ben Malcolmson—Leadership Lessons from the NFL Sidelines

Oct 22, 2018 • 36 min

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…

#118: Jason Russell—The Power of Resilience When You Face Adversity

Oct 15, 2018 • 73 min

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…

#117: Michael Bungay Stanier—Coach Your Team to Success By Asking These 7 Questions

Oct 8, 2018 • 51 min

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…

#116: Mike Michalowicz—How to Structure Your Business Finances to Maximize Profit

Oct 1, 2018 • 55 min

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…

#115: Gina Bianchini—How to Build an Online Community for Your Customers

Sep 24, 2018 • 48 min

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…

#114: Dr. Arthur Laffer—How Taxes and Economic Policy Affect Your Business

Sep 17, 2018 • 67 min

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,…

#113: Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson—Philanthropy, Parenthood, and What It’s Like to Be the Duchess

Sep 10, 2018 • 33 min

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….

#112: Snoop Dogg’s Manager and Ben Rector Take Us Behind the Scenes of the Music Industry

Sep 3, 2018 • 47 min

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…

#111: Go Behind the Scenes of the Songwriting Business—with Tom Douglas (legendary songwriter) and Troy Tomlinson (CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing)

Aug 27, 2018 • 60 min

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…

#110: Joey Coleman—How to Stop Losing Customers

Aug 20, 2018 • 47 min

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…

#109: Rachel Botsman—How Trust Works in the Business World

Aug 13, 2018 • 38 min

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…

#108: Daniel Coyle—3 Magic Ingredients That Every Strong Company Culture Has

Aug 6, 2018 • 37 min

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…

#107: Marc Ventresca—3 Myths About Entrepreneurship That May Be Holding You Back

Jul 30, 2018 • 29 min

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,…

#106: Jenn Lim—How to Build a Positive Company Culture

Jul 23, 2018 • 39 min

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,…

#105: Go Behind the Scenes of the Art World

Jul 16, 2018 • 61 min

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…

#104: Armando Lopez—6 Failproof Tips for Hiring Amazing People

Jul 9, 2018 • 51 min

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…

#103: What Works Better: A Physical Office or a Virtual One?

Jul 2, 2018 • 57 min

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…

#102: Dr. Lee Norton—Why You Need to Pay Attention to Mental Health at Work

Jun 25, 2018 • 49 min

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…

#101: Peter Smith—What in the World is Cryptocurrency?

Jun 18, 2018 • 66 min

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…

#100: Bonnie St. John—How to Stop Mental Exhaustion So You Can Work Smarter

Jun 11, 2018 • 46 min

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…

#99: Business of Film—Go Behind the Scenes of the Cutthroat Movie Industry

Jun 4, 2018 • 63 min

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…

#98: Branden Harvey—How to Use Social Media in a Dynamic, Irresistible Way

May 28, 2018 • 43 min

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…

#97: Too Faced Founders—How to Build an Authentic and Inviting (Billion Dollar) Brand

May 21, 2018 • 37 min

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…

#96: Vanessa Van Edwards—How to Become the Most Captivating Person in the Room

May 14, 2018 • 51 min

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…

#95: How 3 Successful Companies Hire Smart, Quality People

May 7, 2018 • 43 min

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…

#94: Shark Tank’s Daymond John—How to Grind Out Success on Your Own Terms

Apr 30, 2018 • 40 min

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…

#93: Steve Cockram—How to Lead Your Team So Everyone Brings Their Best

Apr 23, 2018 • 67 min

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…

#92: Bob Goff—Leading Without Fear and Loving Without Limits

Apr 16, 2018 • 45 min

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…

#91: Shannon Miles—9 Ways to Create a Life Where Both Work and Family Can Thrive

Apr 9, 2018 • 46 min

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…

#90: Michael Hyatt—Redefining Productivity to Focus on What Actually Matters

Apr 2, 2018 • 40 min

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…

#89: Ron Clark—10 Practical Ways to Build a Positive, Productive Team

Mar 26, 2018 • 44 min

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…

#88: Ryan Holiday—The Crazy Story of a Narrative War and the Conspiracy That Won It

Mar 19, 2018 • 41 min

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…

#87: Carey Lohrenz—Three Characteristics You Need to Be a Bold Leader

Mar 12, 2018 • 45 min

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…

#86: Todd Herman—Why You’re Setting Goals Wrong (and How to Fix It)

Mar 5, 2018 • 28 min

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….

#85: Tim Arnold—How to Embrace Tension to Be a Stronger Leader

Feb 26, 2018 • 54 min

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…

#84: Patrick Lencioni—3 Fundamentals You Need to Build a Strong Company Culture

Feb 19, 2018 • 36 min

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…

#83: Rachel Hollis—5 Practical Ways to Strengthen Your Business With Social Media

Feb 12, 2018 • 40 min

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…

#82: Scott Hamilton—How to Live More Like a Champion

Feb 5, 2018 • 43 min

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…

#81: Ron Carson—Insider Economic Advice to Help Business Leaders Win Big

Jan 29, 2018 • 53 min

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…

#80: Bryan Miles—5 Surprising Ways a Smart Assistant Will Simplify Your Life

Jan 22, 2018 • 41 min

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…

#79: Dan Heath—How to Create Powerful Moments for the People You Serve

Jan 15, 2018 • 48 min

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…

#78: Daniel Pink—How to Stop Wasting Time and Start Wielding It

Jan 8, 2018 • 37 min

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?…

#77: Miles Adcox—How to Make Fear Work for You in 2018

Jan 1, 2018 • 44 min

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…

#76: The Best of 2017, Part 2

Dec 25, 2017 • 35 min

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…

#75: The Best of 2017, Part 1

Dec 18, 2017 • 29 min

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…

#74: Jerry Linenger—How to Accomplish Your Mission Under Extreme Pressure

Dec 11, 2017 • 52 min

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…

#73: Whitney Johnson—How to Protect Your Company in a World of Disruption

Dec 4, 2017 • 35 min

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…

#72: Todd Duncan—5 Rules That Will Help You Attract Loyal Customers

Nov 27, 2017 • 42 min

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…

#71: Tricia Rose Burt—How to Reach Your Customers with These 3 Storytelling Principles

Nov 20, 2017 • 57 min

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…

#70: Dorie Clark—How to Start a Business That Will Make You Money

Nov 13, 2017 • 35 min

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….

#69: Chris Hogan—4 Obstacles to a Happy Retirement and How to Overcome Them

Nov 6, 2017 • 56 min

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…

#68: Charles Duhigg—Increase Your Productivity and Reclaim Your Life

Oct 30, 2017 • 38 min

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…

#67: Chris McChesney—The 4 Disciplines That Will Make You Win In Business

Oct 23, 2017 • 47 min

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…

#66: Nancy Duarte—How to Crush that Upcoming Presentation

Oct 16, 2017 • 49 min

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…

#65: Donald Miller—The Framework That Makes Marketing Easy

Oct 9, 2017 • 43 min

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,…

#64: Al Andrews—10 Things Powerful People Can Do to Not Screw Up Their Lives

Oct 2, 2017 • 44 min

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…

#63: Ray Edwards—8 Magic Phrases That Will Make You Money

Sep 25, 2017 • 47 min

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…

#62: Chris Guillebeau—How to Launch a Side Hustle That Will Make You a Profit in a Month

Sep 18, 2017 • 40 min

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…

#61: Blake Mycoskie—The 3 Most Important Hires You Need to Make to Grow Your Business

Sep 11, 2017 • 42 min

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…

#60: Chase Reeves—4 Steps That Will Make You a Successful Entrepreneur

Sep 4, 2017 • 53 min

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…

#59: Robert Sutton—How To Deal With People Who Treat You Like Dirt

Aug 28, 2017 • 52 min

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,…

#58: Craig Ross—Teams That Do Big Things Take These 7 Steps

Aug 21, 2017 • 38 min

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…

#57: Anthony Iannarino—Energize Your Sales Abilities With These 7 Expert Tips

Aug 14, 2017 • 34 min

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…

#56: David Covey and Stephan Mardyks—7 Traps That Can Tank Your Success (And How to Avoid Them)

Aug 7, 2017 • 49 min

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…

#55: Seth Godin—5 Huge Paradigm Shifts that Will Change the Way You Do Marketing

Jul 31, 2017 • 45 min

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…

#54: The Best of 2017 (So Far), Part 2

Jul 24, 2017 • 44 min

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…

#53: The Best of 2017 (So Far), Part 1

Jul 17, 2017 • 41 min

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…

#52: David Horsager—The 8 Pillars of Trust that Will Make or Break Your Business

Jul 10, 2017 • 43 min

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….

#51: Molly Fletcher—6 Strategies that Will Help You Run Your Business Fearlessly

Jul 3, 2017 • 46 min

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…

#50: Ken Blanchard and Claire Diaz-Ortiz—How to Create a Mutually Beneficial Mentoring Relationship

Jun 26, 2017 • 49 min

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…

#49: Francis Jones—Are You Making These 8 Beginner Email Marketing Mistakes?

Jun 19, 2017 • 41 min

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…

#48: Caitlin Crosby—3 Powerful Lessons for Aspiring Social Entrepreneurs

Jun 12, 2017 • 41 min

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…

#47: Chris Anderson—6 Ways To Make Your Next Speech Absolutely Unforgettable

Jun 5, 2017 • 33 min

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….

#46: Luke Laird—An Inspiring Look at a Hit Songwriter’s Creative Process

May 29, 2017 • 47 min

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…

#45: Auntie Anne Beiler—4 Ingredients You Need to Grow a Successful, Purpose-Filled Business

May 22, 2017 • 41 min

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…

#44: Ernie Johnson—3 Life Lessons That Will Inspire You to Slow Down and Live Differently

May 15, 2017 • 42 min

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…

#43: David McKeown—How to Predict Whether or Not Your Business Will Succeed

May 8, 2017 • 53 min

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…

#42: Ian Cron—Can the Enneagram Make You a More Effective Leader?

May 1, 2017 • 50 min

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…

#41: Allan Heinberg—3 Powerful Takeaways Marketers Can Learn from a Master Storyteller

Apr 24, 2017 • 60 min

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…

#40: Juliet Funt—The Brutal Cost of Overload and How to Reclaim the Rest You Need

Apr 17, 2017 • 46 min

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”…

#39: Chris Zook—How to Turbocharge Your Company’s Growth with “The Founder’s Mentality”

Apr 10, 2017 • 41 min

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…

#38: Lee Cockerell—5 Lessons from a Disney Exec to Help You Develop Amazing People Skills

Apr 3, 2017 • 48 min

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…

#37: Mel Robbins—Hack Your Motivation and Accomplish More With This Surprisingly Simple Strategy

Mar 27, 2017 • 36 min

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…

#36: Daniel Tardy—Nine Strategies That Will Make Your Meetings More Productive

Mar 20, 2017 • 37 min

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…

#35: Elon Musk’s Biographer, Ashlee Vance—What Can Everyday Entrepreneurs Learn from the Life of Elon Musk?

Mar 13, 2017 • 42 min

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…

#34: Stephen Mansfield—10 Warning Signs of a Leadership Crash (and How to Fix Them)

Mar 6, 2017 • 51 min

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…

#33: Carrie Green—6 Steps That Will Make You a Better Entrepreneur

Feb 27, 2017 • 40 min

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…

#32: Greg McKeown—How to Live and Work with Radical Clarity

Feb 20, 2017 • 50 min

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…

#31: Mike Pacchione—8 Expert Tips That Will Make Your Next Speech Unforgettable

Feb 13, 2017 • 34 min

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…

#30: Lee LeFever—Why You’re Confusing Your Customers and How to Fix It

Feb 6, 2017 • 29 min

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…

#29: Chalene Johnson—How to Effectively Scale Your Business Without Losing Your Mind

Jan 30, 2017 • 43 min

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…

#28: Rachel Cruze—7 Smart Habits That Will Transform Your Personal Finances

Jan 23, 2017 • 37 min

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…

#27: Don Schneider—How to Create a Big Brand (Even On a Small Budget)

Jan 16, 2017 • 52 min

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….

#26: John Lowry—5 Strategies That Will Make You a Strong Negotiator

Jan 9, 2017 • 62 min

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…

#25: StoryBrand Productivity Schedule

Jan 2, 2017 • 37 min

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…

#24: The Best of 2016

Dec 26, 2016 • 70 min

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…

#23: David Kinnaman—10 Expert Tips to Strengthen Your Business with Surveys

Dec 19, 2016 • 49 min

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…

#22: Nigel Green—3 Reasons Why You Should Fire Yourself This Week (Really)

Dec 12, 2016 • 23 min

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…

#21: Amy Porterfield—4 Foolproof Ways to Improve Your Digital Marketing

Dec 5, 2016 • 46 min

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…

#20: Miles Adcox—6 Characteristics that Will Make You an Emotionally Strong Leader

Nov 28, 2016 • 61 min

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…

#19: Nicole Walters—4 Surprising Ways Entrepreneurs Can Get Better at Selling

Nov 21, 2016 • 47 min

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…

#18: Jon Gordon—4 Inspiring Principles to Develop More Grit

Nov 14, 2016 • 38 min

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…

#17: Ryan Deiss—4 Simple Ways to Make Your Marketing More Persuasive

Nov 7, 2016 • 48 min

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…

#16: Rory Vaden—5 Revolutionary Strategies That Will Maximize Your Time

Oct 31, 2016 • 47 min

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…

#15: Christy Wright—5 Ways Entrepreneurial Women Can Thrive and Win Big

Oct 24, 2016 • 37 min

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…

#14: Jeff Walker—Secrets of a Successful Product Launch

Aug 22, 2016 • 48 min

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…

#13: Brian Clark—How to Win Big With Content Marketing

Aug 15, 2016 • 46 min

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…

#12: Ben Crane—5 Habits of People Who Win Big (Even Under Pressure)

Aug 8, 2016 • 46 min

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,…

#11: Ken Blanchard—How to Cast a Vision So People Listen

Aug 1, 2016 • 40 min

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…

#10: Toi Sweeney—Is Your Professional Wardrobe Hurting Your Business?

Jul 25, 2016 • 42 min

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…

#9: David Salyers—3 Ways to Deliver Value and Delight Your Customers

Jul 18, 2016 • 37 min

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…

#8: Canlis—Secrets of Insanely Good Customer Service

Jul 11, 2016 • 35 min

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…

#7: Scott Hamilton—How to Show Up, Hit Your Goals, and Win Big

Apr 24, 2016 • 44 min

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…

#6: Ray Edwards—Why Your Sales Copy Stinks (and How to Fix It)

Apr 18, 2016 • 33 min

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…

#5: Jonathan Davis—How to Make Your Call to Action Irresistible

Apr 11, 2016 • 27 min

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…

#4: Claire Diaz-Ortiz—6 Steps to Accomplish More in Less Time

Apr 4, 2016 • 33 min

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…

#3: Dave Ramsey—How to Be the Guide and Attract More Customers

Mar 28, 2016 • 34 min

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…

#2: Mike McHargue—Why People Buy: The Powerful Science of Selling

Mar 18, 2016 • 29 min

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…

#1: Michael Hyatt—How to Know What Your Customers Are Thinking

Mar 11, 2016 • 32 min

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,…