The StoryBrand Podcast

Most leaders are making decisions in a world that keeps changing faster than their plans can keep up. Tactics expire. Trends fizzle. Teams get confused. And when pressure rises, it's easy to chase quick wins instead of building on something solid. But what if the best way to grow through uncertainty isn't to find a better tactic, but to lead from better principles?
 
In this episode, Donald Miller talks with Chase Koch, executive vice president at Koch Industries and co-author of Becoming a Principle-Driven Leader, about what it takes to lead when the stakes are high and the future is uncertain. Chase shares the principles his father, Charles Koch, taught him, the business failures that made those lessons stick, and why knowing what people are truly best at can change everything. Listen in to learn how to make better decisions and run your business with more clarity when everything around you keeps changing.
 
Get Charles and Chase's book, Becoming a Principle-Driven Leader, here: https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Principle-Driven-Leader-Principles-Enduring/dp/1637635249
 
Ready to clarify your message and grow your business?
 
Attend StoryBrand Your Business LIVE to learn how to explain what you do in a way customers instantly understand:
https://storybrand.com/live/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=sbyourbusiness&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=SB_workshop 
 
Visit StoryBrand.com for business training, messaging tools, and resources to help you grow:
https://storybrand.com/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=storybrand&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=SB_home 
 
Follow on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/storybrand
 
Connect on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/storybrand

It's easy to give up on people when they disappoint us, miss expectations, or don't seem to fit the role they're in. But great leaders know people are rarely just "good" or "bad" at work. More often, they're either understood or misunderstood, positioned well or placed poorly. What would change if you started looking for people's potential before writing them off?
 
In this episode, host Donald Miller talks with Brian Hooks, CEO of Stand Together and co-author of Believe in People, about how leaders can unlock more value by helping people discover and use their gifts. They discuss building stronger teams, solving social problems from the bottom up, and why believing in people may be one of the most practical leadership decisions you can make. Listen in to learn the secret to putting people in the right role so they can do their best work.
 
Brian's book is out now, get it here: https://www.amazon.com/Believe-People-Bottom-Up-Solutions-Top-Down/dp/1250200962
 
Ready to clarify your message and grow your business?
Attend StoryBrand Your Business LIVE to learn how to explain what you do in a way customers instantly understand:
https://storybrand.com/live/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=sbyourbusiness&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=SB_workshop 
Visit StoryBrand.com for business training, messaging tools, and resources to help you grow:
https://storybrand.com/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=storybrand&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=SB_home 
Follow on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/storybrand
Connect on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/storybrand

Anything that works has the same 5 elements behind it. Anything that fails is missing one of those. That is true for businesses, relationships, and personal goals. Most people never stop to ask which piece is broken. They stay busy, execute harder, and measure the wrong things. But success is not random. It follows a pattern. What if achieving your goals comes down to understanding that pattern and making sure every piece is in place?

In this episode, Donald Miller sits down with Dr. Henry Cloud to unpack the 5 components behind every successful outcome. They explore why belief matters more than motivation, how your brain filters what's possible, and why success always leaves clues you can follow. Tune in to learn how to identify what's missing, focus on what actually moves the needle, and start building momentum toward the future you want.
 
Buy Dr. Henry Cloud's new book now:  https://www.amazon.com/Your-Desired-Future-Essential-Steps/dp/0063487837
 
Ready to clarify your message and grow your business?
 
Attend StoryBrand Your Business LIVE to learn how to explain what you do in a way customers instantly understand:
https://storybrand.com/live/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=sbyourbusiness&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=SB_workshop 
 
Visit StoryBrand.com for business training, messaging tools, and resources to help you grow:
https://storybrand.com/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=storybrand&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=SB_home 
Follow on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/storybrand
Connect on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/storybrand

Remarkable customer experiences don't happen because someone on your team happened to be in a good mood. They happen when a business decides, in advance, how people should feel at every step. Without that kind of intention, even great companies become forgettable. So how do you design moments customers actually remember and share?
 
In this episode, Donald Miller sits down with Will Guidara, author of Unreasonable Hospitality, to talk about how business owners can turn everyday transactions into memorable moments. Will explains why hospitality is not just for restaurants, how systems can teach your team what "right" looks like, and how his new field guide helps companies build teams, create a culture of excellence, and deliver magic in a deliberate, repeatable way. Listen in to learn how to make customers feel seen and turn that into a competitive advantage.
 
Learn from Will:
Will Guidara / Unreasonable Hospitality https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/
Unreasonable Hospitality The Field Guide https://uhthefieldguide.com
Pre-Meal Newsletter https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/premeal
 
If you want help creating messaging that drives sales, attend the next StoryBrand Your Business Live workshop for direct teaching from Don and hands-on guidance from a StoryBrand certified marketing Guide:    https://storybrand.com/live/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=sbyourbusiness&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=SB_workshop
 
Buy the updated Building a StoryBrand 2.0  https://storybrand.com/building-a-storybrand-book-new/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=basb2.0&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=BASB2.0

A lot of brands are saying the wrong thing first. They lead with their mission, their story, and their personality, thinking that will make people care. But customers aren't looking for a brand to admire. They're looking for a guide who understands their problem and can help them solve it. When your message starts in the wrong place, your customer tunes out before you ever get a chance to help. How do you know if your brand is leading with the wrong story?
 
In this episode, host Donald Miller breaks down the difference between primary and secondary messaging and explains why that shift changes everything. He shows how to talk about your customer's problem, communicate why you care, prove you can help, and make the next step clear. Don also shares simple website tests to help customers quickly understand what you offer and why it matters. Tune in to create messaging that drives more sales.
 
Connect with Donald Miller on social media:
https://www.instagram.com/donaldmiller/
https://www.facebook.com/donaldmillerwords
http://StoryBrand.com
 
Make your marketing and messaging work with the StoryBrand framework—and you can do that with the updated version of the book, Building a StoryBrand 2.0, now available! https://buildingastorybrand.com/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=&utm_term=cb&utm_content=SB_Framework