
The StoryBrand Podcast
556 episodes — Page 11 of 12
#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 StoryBrand podcast with David Covey and Stephan Mardyks, co-authors of Trap Tales: Outsmarting the 7 Hidden Obstacles to Success. In this episode, they highlight the major traps business leaders slip into and show you how to steer clear of them. Listen now so you can avoid these common pitfalls and save time, money and your relationships. http://buildingastorybrand.com/56
#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 conversation, Donald Miller and Seth Godin cover a lot of ground, including: *How to ship your projects quickly without sacrificing quality *Why the old models of marketing are failing and what it takes to succeed today *The psychology behind why people buy (most of us miss it) *The perils of not understanding the world we're marketing in *Why now is an ideal time to be a creative person At every point in the conversation, Seth challenges us to think differently about marketing. And when we do, we'll find a massive opportunity to set our businesses apart and make more meaningful connections with our customers. Listen now! http://buildingastorybrand.com/55
#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 powerful advice from our podcast guests for staying balanced and healthy while your business grows. This week, listen to Part 2 of The Best of 2017 (So Far) as we highlight 5 key ways you can move forward professionally while staying balanced personally. http://buildingastorybrand.com/54
#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 essential, they need repetition and time to sink in. This is our way of making space for that to happen. Listen to this week's episode as we recap the most important ideas from 5 of our most popular interviews. http://buildingastorybrand.com/53
#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 news is you can earn trust over time by building and maintaining these eight key pillars. Listen to this episode, learn how to form a trusting relationship with your team and your customers, and watch your bottom line increase. http://buildingastorybrand.com/52
#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. Listen to this episode and put some of these same fundamental habits to work for you in your business so you can achieve your maximum potential. http://buildingastorybrand.com
#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 that will help you begin a strong mentoring relationship, whether you need a mentor or want to become one. The six elements they outline in their process (forming the acronym MENTOR) will show you how to begin a mentoring relationship that could make all the difference in another person's life -- and in your own. http://buildingastorybrand.com/50
#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 dramatic impact on your business. http://buildingastorybrand.com/49
#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 homelessness to engrave keys with different inspiring words. You buy a key and wear it for awhile, and then you look for a chance to pass it on and pay it forward to somebody you feel needs the message on that key more than you do. Caitlin's story is remarkable for so many reasons, not the least of which is that she never set out to be a social entrepreneur. If you're a creative person running a business or believe in the power of entrepreneurship to make a difference in the causes we care about, don't miss this inspiring interview.
#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 shares six principles that make a TED talk successful. If you need to communicate any big idea to a large group of people, whether it's in a speech or a board meeting or a lecture, you're going to find his advice invaluable.
#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 their work gets the attention it deserves. To help us as business leaders understand the creative process better, Donald Miller invited Luke Laird to join this episode of the Building a StoryBrand podcast. He's a Grammy-award-winning producer and songwriter who's penned 23 number-one hits for major country artists like Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Eric Church, and Tim McGraw. Whether you're a business leader trying to embrace your creativity or an aspiring artist trying to make it, here are three takeaways from Luke Laird about the creative process. He also brought his guitar along to showcase some of his work, so make sure you give this episode a listen! http://buildingastorybrand.com/46
#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 podcast to share the lessons she's learned growing this company. Her story will inspire you in so many ways, especially if you're passionate about personal growth and building a company with a greater purpose. For a blog post summary of the episode with practical takeaways, visit http://buildingastorybrand.com/45
#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 rich and hard and absolutely worth your time. Get the worksheet that goes along with this episode at http://buildingastorybrand.com/44 to help you apply what you learned in the interview to your life and business.
#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, regardless of their size or industry. When you understand these seven stages, you'll understand how to strike a perfect balance between innovation and processes. And when that happens, the success of your business becomes a lot more predictable. Listen now and take the guesswork out of growing your small business. Get the worksheet that goes along with this episode at http://buildingastorybrand.com/43 to help you apply what you learned in the interview to your business.
#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 framework to make both yourself and your business healthier. They unpack each of nine personality types and then discuss how understanding the Enneagram can help you become a stronger, more empathetic leader. Get the worksheet that goes along with this episode at http://buildingastorybrand.com/42 to help you apply what you learned in the interview to your business.
#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 written for Grey's Anatomy and Sex and the City and is currently the showrunner for Shonda Rhimes' show The Catch. In this episode, you'll find a wealth of wisdom for how to captivate your audience of prospective customers. (There's also a fair amount of geeking out about character development and the creative process!) PLUS! Don't miss the BONUS SEGMENT with musician Drew Holcomb. Drew stopped by our office to talk about the business of music and to play a couple of songs for us. Listen now! Get the worksheet that goes along with this episode at http://buildingastorybrand.com/41 to help you apply what you learned in the interview to your business.
#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 we can do to reclaim our rest and thoughtfulness. This is an inspiring conversation, and the wisdom Juliet shares has the potential to give us better quality of work at the office and better presence with our loved ones at home. Don't miss it! Get the worksheet that goes along with this episode at http://buildingastorybrand.com/40 to help you apply what you learned in the interview to your business.
#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 and more impact on the world. Listen now! Get the worksheet that goes along with this episode at http://buildingastorybrand.com/39 to help you apply what you learned in the interview to your business.
#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 this conversation, he shares five major takeaways we can all use to help our teams grow -- and see our businesses grow as a result. ***PLUS! A BONUS SEGMENT*** Just in time for the Masters tournament this week, Donald talks with professional golfer Ryan Moore about what it's like to play the Masters and what makes its unique brand of tradition and excellence so special. Don't miss it! Get the worksheet that goes along with this episode at http://buildingastorybrand.com/38 to help you apply what you learned in the interview to your business.
#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 intuitive, as you'll see, and it has the power to dramatically impact your life. Get the worksheet that goes along with this episode at http://buildingastorybrand.com/37
#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 we can use that will make our meetings more productive and more fun. With this advice, you can lead dynamic meetings that bring out the best in your team and actually move the needle for your business. Get the worksheet that goes along with this episode at http://buildingastorybrand.com/36
#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 businesses, even if we're NOT building rockets. Get the worksheet that goes along with this episode at http://buildingastorybrand.com/35
#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 goes along with this episode at http://buildingastorybrand.com/34
#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 are in your entrepreneurial journey, listen now so you can take the next right step for your company. Get the worksheet that goes along with this episode at http://buildingastorybrand.com/33
#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 vying for our attention so we can discover and pursue a very small number of things of lasting value. Nobody wants to fritter away their lives on their smart phones. Listen to this episode of the Building a Story Brand podcast with Donald Miller and special guest Greg McKeown, and you'll be inspired to live a life rich with clarity and meaning. Get the worksheet that goes along with this episode at http://buildingastorybrand.com/32
#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 going to teach us to talk. Mike shares the expert tactics that separate casual public speakers who just get by from pros who stand out. Whether you're a dread-filled newbie or a seasoned pro, give this a listen and take your public speaking skills to the next level. Get the worksheet that goes along with this episode at http://buildingastorybrand.com/31
#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 the Building a Story Brand podcast, Donald Miller sits down with Lee LeFever, the master of the explainer video, to share four practical strategies we can use to speak clearly, engage our customers, and grow our businesses. Get the worksheet that goes along with this episode at http://buildingastorybrand.com/30
#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 your personal life or values, don't miss this episode! Get the worksheet that goes along with this episode at http://buildingastorybrand.com/29
#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 discover the seven habits you can develop in your personal finances to build wealth, give back, and have peace of mind about your money. Download the worksheet that goes along with this episode at http://buildingastorybrand.com/28
#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 behind ads for marquee brands like Pepsi, GE, and HBO. But as you'll see in this episode, what he's discovered about branding and human behavior applies no matter your budget. Listen now and discover the secrets of branding that can have an exponential impact on your bottom line. Get the worksheet that goes along with this episode at http://buildingastorybrand.com/27
#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 our revenue, and grow our companies. Get the worksheet that goes along with this episode at http://buildingastorybrand.com/26
#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://buildingastorybrand.com/25
#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 your business! http://buildingastorybrand.com/24
#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 opportunities for growth, and make better products and services. Listen to this episode, send a survey in the coming weeks, and I know you'll have a stronger, more successful business to show for it. http://buildingastorybrand.com
#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 positive way to ensure you're growing in your job and serving your company well. Listen now and I know you'll be inspired to close out your year well and start 2017 with a healthy perspective. (We've even got a free downloadable PDF that will walk you through the process!) http://buildingastorybrand.com
#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 matter what level you're at today. Give it a listen! http://buildingastorybrand.com
#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 Adcox joining me for this week's episode of the Building a Story Brand podcast. He's the CEO of the therapeutic retreat center Onsite, and he's been helping leaders with this unique burden for over a decade. Miles has a six-part guiding framework that can help you create and sustain emotional fitness as a leader. It will change your company culture -- but more importantly, it will change people's lives, including your own. We talk a lot at StoryBrand about growing your business, but you can't do that without growing yourself, too. Start with this week's podcast! http://buildingastorybrand.com
#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 dramatically improve the way we approach selling. If you're ready to take a more disciplined, intentional approach to sales and finally move the needle for your business, don't miss this episode! http://buildingastorybrand.com
#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 teams and Fortune 500 companies. I really want him to go help out my Seahawks, but I digress. Give this episode a listen today. I know you're going to discover something about yourself that'll make you and your business more successful. http://buildingastorybrand.com
#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 you can do in an afternoon to make your marketing exponentially more persuasive. http://buildingastorybrand.com
#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 five strategies we can use to make smarter decisions with our time. Spoiler alert: these aren't technology tools and hacks. These are revolutionary ways of thinking that will help you transform your productivity from the inside out. http://buildingastorybrand.com
#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 popular seminars. In this podcast, she shares five powerful insights women can use to develop as entrepreneurs. If you're dreaming about starting a business, trying to get one off the ground, or building an empire, don't miss this episode. http://buildingastorybrand.com
#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 business or struggling to make sales online, don't miss this episode! http://buildingastorybrand.com
#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 into the specifics of how to transform that trust into sales over time. If you know it's time to start or improve your content marketing, but you're not sure what to do next, this episode will take all the mystery out of it so you can build a stronger business with content marketing. http://buildingastorybrand.com
#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 your loftiest goals, whether they're for your business, your health, or your personal life. http://buildingastorybrand.com
#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 legendary leadership expert and author of The One Minute Manager, to talk about how to lead so people listen. He shares a three-part approach to crafting, sharing, and maintaining a powerful vision for your entire company. He'll inspire you to start communicating differently with your team, and you'll have a more mobilized, effective, and unified staff to show for it. http://buildingastorybrand.com
#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, not against you. With her advice, you can makeover your professional wardrobe in a few hours, feel more confident, and stand out for all the right reasons. http://buildingastorybrand.com
#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 you're serious about customer service, don't miss this episode! http://buildingastorybrand.com
#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 unique approaches to hiring, team morale, profit, and more. Listen and get inspired to take your business' customer service to the next level. http://buildingastorybrand.com/
#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 of the interview with Scott Hamilton, along with a video of Don's website critique.