No one creates success alone. And the most successful teams are positive ones that are continuously strive to get better. But how do you create a positive culture of growth when we’re hard-wired for negativity and competition? On today’s podcast, Jon Gordon, a world leader on executing positivity, shows you the role “positive discontent” can play in creating connection and commitment in your organization. He’s seen it work with his corporate clients like Dell as well as sports teams like the Rams, Clemson, Dodgers, Heat and the Pacers. He says what you believe ultimately determines what you create, and in this episode, he shares practical tips on how to do it.

In this episode, Koula Callahan interviews our own Dr. J.J. Peterson about his doctoral dissertation on StoryBrand Narrative Marketing. Don’t just tell your customers a story, invite them into it. Don’t miss this detailed, StoryBrand-focused episode that unpacks the data and science behind why this 7-part framework drives revenue for every type of business. 

If you approach creating a habit with drudgery, you won’t stick with it. The key is to create pleasure around healthy habits so they’re more likely to stick. Today on the podcast, Atomic Habits author James Clear gives us an entirely fresh approach to making and breaking habits. What if discipline and willpower had nothing to do with it? If you’re tired of failing at the habits that will create a better life for you, make sure you listen to this episode.

What will your customers lose if they don’t make a timely decision to buy your product or service? That’s the power of scarcity, and it’s one of the oldest tools in the marketer’s box. But how has this seminal marketing principle evolved now that the way people consume has changed so dramatically?  That’s why we’re excited to welcome Dr. Kelly Goldsmith to the podcast. She’s an award-winning Yale-educated behavioral scientist (and former Survivor contestant) who examines scarcity’s seemingly paradoxical effects. You’ll rethink what scarcity looks like in your marketing after this.

Ian Morgan Cron, who teaches our all-new Enneagram Made Simple course at Business Made Simple University, is back with Part 2 of our two-part Enneagram series. He and Don dive deep into what winning in relationships and business looks like when our personalities are each wired so differently. In this episode, we dive into the remaining Types 5-9: The Investigator, The Loyalist, The Enthusiast and The Peacemaker. Plus, discover how to go even deeper with your own team so you waste less time on workplace drama.

Life and business revolve around relationships. That means things can get messy fast. Our unconscious motivations can sometimes derail communications, creating obstacles and inefficiencies. Ian Morgan Cron, who teaches our all-new Enneagram Made Simple course at Business Made Simple University, joins us to talk about what winning looks like when we’re all wired so differently. The conversation he and Don have is so packed with helpful Enneagram content that we’re sharing it in two parts. In this episode, we dive into Types 1-4: The Perfectionist, The Helper, The Performer and The Romantic.

Most of us are good at setting goals. But accomplishing them? That’s another story. Today’s digitally native world constantly vies for our attention and energy, threatening to derail the best-laid plans. This is especially true within organizations. On today’s podcast, Megan Hyatt Miller, the Chief Operating Officer of Michael Hyatt & Company, shows you how vision can help you get instant clarity so you can focus and accomplish your goals personally and as a team. She’s a practitioner at her father’s company, not just a philosopher, and their success is proof you can do it, too.

What can you do in your business to turn casual customers into super fans? On this episode of the podcast, Donald Miller talks with online marketing expert Pat Flynn about how to interrupt customers’ routines, delight them with exclusive experiences, and more. Why? Because if your customers are succeeding because of your product or service, then you are, too. Whether you have an email list of 26 or run an enterprise, this super practical episode has a tip you can start using today.

You may not even realize it, but you’re stressed out. Today’s modern world is undermining all our efforts to live a full and productive life. In this episode, Rebekah Lyons will help you identify and manage anxiety so you can prevent burnout and actually improve your productivity. If you think you’ve heard it all before, this tender yet powerful conversation will open your mind to new possibilities.

If you lead a business, you’re in the public eye. That means people are talking about you and your brand on social media – even if you don’t realize it. Today’s guest, former Twitter executive Claire Díaz-Ortiz, shares a model for how to succeed at social media for your company. This episode, and StoryBrand's new free online course (at www.SocialMediaMadeSimple.com), is going to give you the confidence to know if you’re using the correct platform for your brand and creating the right content.

Our cups overfloweth with data. But creating a story with data can feel like drinking from a firehose. These days, powerful presentations are less about stand-and-deliver presenting. It’s more about crafting an explanation that can spread online. That’s why we’re so excited to have Nancy Duarte on the podcast. Author of Data Story, she’s the world's leading expert on how to create a compelling keynote. Learn how you can apply her powerful four-part strategy to your own brand to create memorable messages that hit a nerve and earn an audience.

How do you frame a mission, get buy-in for it, and then make it work? That’s what we’re discussing in this episode with U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Trafficking in Persons John Cotton Richmond. When we need to make sure wrong things are being made right, it takes maximum engagement around a clear mission. Ambassador Richmond shares brilliant insight on how to build a team around a mission and help people understand their role – and that the mission is doable. Whether you’re saving lives or improving them, this approach can generate more passion and engagement and make a huge difference.

It’s time for corporations, businesses, and consumers to wise up about how supply chains play a role in human trafficking around the world. While there are more slaves today than ever, Gary Haugen, CEO and founder of International Justice Mission, shares a game plan to stop it. In this critical interview, hear how IJM is partnering with giants like Walmart and Target to clean up supply chains so they don’t facilitate human trafficking. You’ll also hear how “story” is fueling those efforts. If you’re a nonprofit or business owner, you don’t want to miss it.

Local businesses are the heartbeat of a local economy. But to succeed, they have to play the guide. In this episode, our own Koula Callahan interviews Brooke Allison, co-owner of Scout's Barbershop, about the grassroots strategies they’ve employed to grow to 6 neighborhood-based locations. Whether you’re marketing, hiring, learning your customer, or giving back to the community, you need to understand your role in the process. Don’t miss this super practical, local-business focused episode!

Marissa Orr, a former executive at Google and Facebook, is a self-proclaimed Corporate Rebel, and in her new book, Lean Out, she challenges the notion that women have to change in order to succeed in corporate business. In this episode of the podcast, she and Don discuss the myths that prevail about the wage gap and unpack how we got to where only 5 percent of CEOs in the Fortune 500 are women. This is a fascinating discussion you won’t want to miss.

Leaders are the lynchpin in company culture. So how do you identify and develop great ones within your business? Today on the podcast, we talk to management expert Scott Miller, an Executive VP at FranklinCovey, on why management takes a complete shift in mindset – one that’s counterintuitive to your top producers. You owe it to your company to build a culture where people choose to stay and give their all. This episode will help you do that.

Millennials want to work from home or a totally open office space – and have unlimited time off – right? Wrong. On today’s podcast, Lindsey Pollak, a leading expert on Millennials and author of the book The Remix: How to Lead and Succeed in the Multigenerational Workplace, debunks modern workplace myths. She offers insight into what Millennials want instead, and why many companies are re-thinking that age group for the primary talent pool. Discover how you can create a thriving culture that develops employees who are much more likely to stick around.

Most of us have a love-hate relationship with our smartphones and digital media. The technology is here to stay, so how can we keep social media and apps like Slack from killing our productivity? Marie Kondo may have helped us declutter our homes, but on today’s podcast, Cal Newport, a professor of computer science at Georgetown University and author of the book Digital Minimalism, shows you how to digitally declutter. Discover how to harness your tech and keep it from sabotaging your brain’s optimal performance.

Captain Obvious here: Successful businesses don’t do stupid stuff.  Of course we all know that, but running a business is hard! And that means we all make dumb (and costly) mistakes along the way. Today’s guest, Keith Cunningham, teaches 5 key disciplines that will help you avoid those common business mistakes. Today’s episode could save you a TON of wasted money and effort. It’s like free consulting. Listen now!

“Well, I’m not really a creative type.”   Today on the podcast, Adam Savage (host of the popular show Mythbusters) is going to bust THAT myth for us.   We’re all creative -- whether we build model cars or entire organizations. But we don’t always know how to tap into that part of ourselves.    When you listen to this episode, you’ll hear Adam’s practical advice to add more creativity to your life. You’ll learn why it matters. Best of all, you’ll give yourself permission to be more curious and creative, both at home and at work.   Give it a listen!

If you’re a leader, you need energy. But if you don’t have the right people in your life, you’ll always feel drained. On today’s podcast, Dr. John Townsend shares the 7 types of relationships -- which ones we need, which ones we don’t, and how to balance them so the people in your world keep you focused, creative, and fueled u

We all know we’re supposed to be using social media to build our brands. But how can we do it in a way that truly serves our customers, too? Craig Detweiler is a film and media commentator, and he joins our own Dr. J.J. Peterson to show us how. If you want to actually connect on social media (instead of just wasting time pretending to), then you want to listen to this episode.

If you manage a team, you may think you need a collection of top-notch specialists. But you’ll second-guess that strategy after you listen to today’s podcast. David Epstein joins us to show the power of having range -- broad, generalized knowledge that helps us see hidden patterns and solve big problems. He’s turned swaths of data into compelling case studies that will shift the way you think about your team (and your own career

Leadership is tough enough from your comfy cubicle. Now, imagine doing it on the front lines as a Navy SEAL. That’s exactly what today’s podcast guest has done. Former Navy SEAL Commander Alden Mills joins us to share four powerful (and surprisingly heartfelt) leadership principles. This is hard-won wisdom, and he’s found a way to make it practical for us. If you want to build up a daring team that knows how to win, then you want to listen to this episode

What’s the biggest factor in our success? It’s not what we do. It’s who we’re in proximity to. Today on the podcast, Ken Coleman tells us how to surround ourselves with influential people and put ourselves in intentional places. Listen now, and you just might discover how to change careers, land your next big client, or finally launch that side hustle.

If you’re a leader, you probably got your role by being an expert in your field. So what happens when you need to broaden your leadership role and oversee people whose field you aren’t an expert in? Today’s guest, Dr. Wanda Wallace, shows us three practical ways we can “span” our leadership into new areas by adding unexpected value. It’s a paradigm shift you don’t want to miss -- listen now!

You may not even realize it, but a lot of our “traditional” principles of leadership don’t fit today’s modern world. In this episode, Kevin Kruse will help you ditch outdated leadership ideas so you can strengthen your team and improve your company.

If you’re a visionary leader, you know how to inspire your company with big ideas. But you may not know how to scale your company with the right processes and hires -- and over time, your bottom line will suffer. Listen to today’s episode with Les McKeown, and learn the 5 practical steps to clean up and scale your company -- so you’re free to pursue the big-picture stuff you love.

Could you take a month-long vacation from your business without things falling apart? One of our favorite guests, Mike Michalowicz, returns with seven steps you can follow to build a more efficient organization that runs on its own, without relying on you every step of the way. And hey, maybe that dream vacation is closer than you think!

Great leadership starts with understanding your customers and your staff. But it doesn’t end there. To truly succeed, you need to be able to make genuine human connections with those around you. Today on the podcast, Donald Miller welcomes Joshua DuBois. After working with President Obama and Oprah, he now runs a cutting-edge focus group firm. He shares how we can become better marketers and leaders by truly connecting with people’s struggles and motivations.

Do you want a team that’s collaborative and innovative? That means you’ll also have conflict and failure -- and all the messy emotions that come with them. On today’s podcast, Dr. Susan David shares how we can welcome emotions at work while also using them to grow in powerful ways outside of the office. It’s practical and rich stuff -- listen now!

How much do financial markets actually impact your small business? More than you probably realize. And in this case, what you don’t know really can hurt you -- and your employees. Today on the podcast, fiduciary analyst Josh Robbins will arm you with the information you need to make smart decisions about your financial advisors, investments and 401k plans -- without getting taken advantage of.

Nobody wants to talk about it, but a potential recession is looming. And that’s a scary thought for most business leaders. But what if it was possible to make a a few changes in your business now so that you would be ready to survive a recession? Or better yet — what if your business could actually THRIVE during a recession? This week on the podcast, Don and J.J. lay out a plan for “recession proofing” your business. This could be the episode that keeps your business running at full speed while your competition is hitting the panic button. Don’t miss it!

Behind Willie Robertson’s success in the reality show “Duck Dynasty” is a powerful story of American entrepreneurship. Today on the podcast, he and Don share an honest (and hilarious) conversation about Willie’s journey as an unlikely CEO. How can we process well through failure? What’s the key to staying true to yourself in success? How do our family and faith impact us as leaders? There’s lots of wisdom here for any business leader -- listen now!

So much productivity “advice” these days will help you cut down your workload. That’s great! But if you fill that time back up again with more work, that’s a surefire way to burn out and compromise the relationships in your life that really matter to you.   Today on the podcast, Michael Hyatt gives us a radical new approach to productivity: what if we can keep achieving at work and still be present for what matters in life? If you’re tired of the hustle and want to design a more intentional life, make sure you listen to this episode.

Shannon Sedgwick Davis is the CEO of Bridgeway Foundation, the foundation arm of a capitol management firm that gives half of its profits away, and with that money, she fought a Ugandan warlord. Yes, really! She’s on the podcast today to share the extraordinary story. Plus, she inspires us to consider how our businesses can help turn the tide on the social issues that keep us up at night. Listen now!

Running a business can (and will) mess with your emotions. And when our emotions take over, the rational part of our brain shuts down. Not a good thing when you’re making high-stakes business decisions. Sean Webb show you how to “hack” your happiness so you can control how you respond in charged situations. Listen now!

You may have the finely honed skills of a leader, but people won’t follow you unless you have the heart of a leader. And that’s what we’re talking about today with Mark Miller. He’s the VP of High Performance Teams at Chick-fil-A, and he shares 5 character traits of strong leaders. If you’re ready to become the kind of leader people want to follow, listen to this episode.

As a business leader, you’ve got to pay attention to what’s going on in the world. But with 24-hour news cycles, constant outrage, and endless “hot takes,” it can feel impossible to truly understand the issues. To help us make sense of it, Don sits down with CNN analyst Kirsten Powers for an honest and nuanced conversation about how we can process the news in complex times.

If you lead a business, you’re constantly negotiating -- even if you don’t realize it. Make sure no one’s taking advantage of you, with help from today’s guest. Chris Voss is a former FBI hostage negotiator, and he understands the neuroscience that drives any negotiation. He sits down with Don to help us apply those tactics in our everyday lives as business leaders. If you want to approach your next deal with confidence, don’t miss this episode.

As the Governor of Tennessee for the last eight years -- and a successful business leader before that -- Bill Haslam knows a lot about leadership. In this special episode of the Building a StoryBrand podcast, he joins Don for an earnest and inspiring conversation. Whether you lead in the public or private sector, you’ll find practical wisdom that’ll sharpen your leadership skills.

How did one family-owned business crank out a 90% conversion rate (!!!!) for their golf course fertilizer -- even when their product cost more than their competitors’? They showed their prospects how great life could be once they buy -- and they did it in a wild and wonderful way. David Pursell, the CEO of Pursell Farms, tells the whole story this week on the podcast. It’ll inspire you to think creatively about your sales process, too.

What will your customer miss out on if they don’t buy your product or service? That’s the power of “FOMO” - or “Fear of Missing Out.” And as marketers, it’s critical that we create it -- without resorting to cheap fear tactics. That’s why we’re excited to have Matt Ford on the podcast. He’s the creative force behind experience-driven marketing campaigns for Hulu, Adidas (among others) that customers don’t want to miss out on. Learn how you can apply this powerful strategy to your own brand!

It’s no secret that a strong call to action is key for creating great marketing material. But what does it look like to actually craft a call to action that people respond to? To help answer that question we invited our Director of Marketing, Tyler Ginn, to join the podcast for this week’s episode. He sits down with Don and JJ to break down a successful email campaign and gives you practical tips for creating calls to action in your marketing that will get a response. Plus, find out which type of salesperson is statistically proven to be the most successful (hint: the answer will probably surprise you).

The Ritz-Carlton is one of the most iconic brands in the world. And on this episode of the podcast, we welcome the visionary who built it, Horst Schulze. He shares the practical strategies he used to do it. How to craft a compelling vision. How to make sure all your employees share that vision. Plus, the four key objectives every successful business pursues in order to succeed. It’s a masterclass in authentic branding and visionary leadership from a man who knows exactly what it takes to excel at the highest level -- and what he shares will help you excel, too.

We all need to know how to conduct great interviews. Whether you’re hiring, networking, doing customer discovery, or even dating, you need to be able to ask questions that solicit meaningful answers. On this episode of the podcast, Donald Miller talks with master interviewer Dean Nelson about what questions to ask, how to listen, and more. Don’t miss this super practical episode!

Want to make your brand’s messaging exponentially more powerful? Learn how to define a villain for your customers. That’s because our brains are hard-wired to pay attention to negative things -- threats, villains, potential losses. On today’s episode, Mike McHargue (a.k.a. “Science Mike”) explains the science of why this happens. And don’t worry -- he uses simple terms we can all understand and apply to our businesses without being manipulative.

What are you selling? Your quick answer may be “real estate” or “jewelry” -- but to really connect with customers, you need to understand the deeper value you offer them. You don’t sell real estate, you sell peace of mind. You don’t sell jewelry, you sell confidence. Join us on this episode for a deep dive into defining what your customer really wants. First, Don and JJ talk about why we need to understand our customers’ desires. Then, Don interviews advertising executive Aaron James about real-world ad campaigns that have done just that. If you want to give yourself a big advantage as we start 2019, this is the episode for you!