The StoryBrand Podcast

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...

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, fou...

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.  ...

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 ph...

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...

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 Stor...

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...

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 thinki...

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 h...

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 pre...

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...

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 Ai...

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 epis...

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...

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 conversat...

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...

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 winn...

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 differe...

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 w...

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...

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 Mil...

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 conf...

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...

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 ho...

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...