The StoryBrand Podcast

If you want to stand out in our trust recession: start a personal brand. In this episode Donald Miller talks with brand coach Laura Higgins to discuss how (and why) to start a personal brand. They go into a lot of detail about finding your voice, choosing topics, generating ideas, the right balance of vulnerability and professionalism, and when to know it's time for you to step up to the mic. If you're a creative looking to scale your business, book a session with Laura: https://laurahiggins.com ---------------------- If you ever wonder why some marketing instantly grabs your attention while the rest gets ignored, know that it's not about luck. It's not about a bigger budget. The marketing that works follows just a few simple principles that make it easy to understandable, memorable, and impossible to overlook. That's why StoryBrand has a free guide. The Four Rules of Messaging PDF will teach you those principles and in just a few minutes you'll have a simple but powerful framework for improving every message you create from your website and emails to your ads and sales calls. Download your free copy of The Four Rules of Messaging: https://storybrand.com/the-4-rules-of-messaging?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=4rules-lead-gen-2026&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=sbpodcast ---------------------- 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

Most businesses are losing sales in the first few seconds, not because the offer is weak or the product is bad, but because the message feels like work. When people have to stop and decode your language, they don't lean in. They leave. And if confusion is costing you customers before the conversation even starts, how do you fix it fast? In this week's episode, Donald Miller explains why confusion is the real reason businesses stall and how zero cognitive load messaging helps customers buy. He breaks down the "curse of knowledge," why people say "I'll think about it," and the 3 questions your messaging must answer in seconds. This episode gives you a simple framework to clarify your message so customers engage, trust you, and take action. ---------------------- If you ever wonder why some marketing instantly grabs your attention while the rest gets ignored, know that it's not about luck. It's not about a bigger budget. The marketing that works follows just a few simple principles that make it easy to understandable, memorable, and impossible to overlook. That's why StoryBrand has a free guide. The Four Rules of Messaging PDF will teach you those principles and in just a few minutes you'll have a simple but powerful framework for improving every message you create from your website and emails to your ads and sales calls. Download your free copy of The Four Rules of Messaging: https://storybrand.com/the-4-rules-of-messaging?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=4rules-lead-gen-2026&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=sbpodcast ---------------------- 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

Every conversation is shaping your future. The way you show up affects whether people trust you, remember you, recommend you, or just move on. Connection isn't a soft skill on the sidelines of success. It's what opens doors. When people feel rushed, ignored, or talked at, they pull back. But when they feel heard, valued, and understood, they lean in. Trust starts to grow, and that trust can change everything from team culture to client relationships to sales. So how do you become more magnetic without sounding fake, forced, or overly polished? This week, Donald Miller shares a simple framework for building trust in everyday conversations. He explains why connection matters as much as competence and breaks down three practical moves. Don shows how rushed energy creates tension, why curiosity builds trust, and how small phrases can make people feel safe and valued. He also shares practical tips to help you ask better questions, make people feel seen, and stay calm in hard conversations. Tune in to learn how to build trust and become someone people want to work with. ---------------------- If you ever wonder why some marketing instantly grabs your attention while the rest gets ignored, know that it's not about luck. It's not about a bigger budget. The marketing that works follows just a few simple principles that make it easy to understandable, memorable, and impossible to overlook. That's why StoryBrand has a free guide. The Four Rules of Messaging PDF will teach you those principles and in just a few minutes you'll have a simple but powerful framework for improving every message you create from your website and emails to your ads and sales calls. Download your free copy of The Four Rules of Messaging: https://storybrand.com/the-4-rules-of-messaging?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=4rules-lead-gen-2026&utm_term=sbpod&utm_content=sbpodcast ---------------------- 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

Every business wants raving fans. But most end up with something weaker: people who buy once or twice and then move on. In a competitive market, brands that try to please everyone get ignored. When a company doesn't stand for anything, customers have no reason to care. The brands people truly love give customers something bigger than a product. They create a sense of identity, belonging, and trust. People start to feel like they are part of something. And when that happens, customers stick around, tell their friends, and defend the brand. So what makes people care enough about a brand to proudly stand behind it? In this episode, Donald Miller explains the psychology behind brands that develop loyal, cult-like followings. He shares examples from brands like Milwaukee Tool and RRL to show how strong brands attract loyal customers by clearly standing for something and pushing back against an enemy. Don also looks at public figures like Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, and Taylor Swift to explain how strong beliefs, clear identity, and shared rituals build devoted communities. Tune in to learn how taking a clear stand can turn your customers into loyal evangelists of your brand. 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