“Who are you at your core? What do you stand for? And how can you articulate that so that, not only can you go produce it today, but you can duplicate it tomorrow and the next day and on and on and on so that you’re not just waking up and going wherever the wind takes you.” – Ben Malcolmson

Leadership, character, performance, and competition. All part of our lives as business leaders — and also the driving forces for sports teams.

So this week, as the NFL season heats up, we’re honored to have Ben Malcolmson, the assistant to Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, with us on the podcast. He and Donald Miller talk about Coach Carroll’s leadership, the surprising role persistence plays in our success, and the “x-factor” quality they look for in every player.

Give this episode a listen so you can be a better leader, no matter what your playing field looks like.

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“There’s profit in here, you’re just not accounting for it. Because your brain is so muddled in how you’re spending the money.” – Mike Michalowicz

Sales minus expenses equals profit, right? Not exactly, according to Mike Michalowicz, our guest on today’s episode.

A lot of business leaders aren’t maximizing their profits because they’re thinking about them as what’s “left over.” He shares his system for structuring your business’ finances so you put the priority on profit. It’s remarkably simple and will help you reshape your entire mindset around how you look at profit and expenses.

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“Do the people that you serve have a motivation to talk and build relationships with each other? Can they actually be useful to each other? Can they actually be valuable to each other? In many, many cases the answer is a resounding yes.” – Gina Bianchini, founder and CEO of Mighty Networks

If you lead a business, you’ve got a huge opportunity to add value to your product or service. Trouble is, most everybody overlooks it.

On today’s episode of the Building a StoryBrand podcast, guest correspondent Allison Trowbridge talks with Gina Bianchini. She’s the founder and CEO of Mighty Networks and a pioneer in online community building. She’s helped countless businesses offer value in the form of a niche community where customers can share ideas and experiences.

She’ll show you how, too — and why it’s important as the Facebook backlash grows. If the customers you serve have a motivation to help each other, don’t miss this episode!

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“You should spend none of your time worrying about your taxes and trying to make more money. That’s what we should be trying to achieve in this economy.” – Arthur Laffer

If you’re a business owner, then you know how to pay your taxes. But do you understand the basic economic principles of how those taxes work? Or how economic policy affects your business’s growth?

Today on the Building a StoryBrand podcast, Donald Miller talks with Art Laffer, a prominent American economist whose ideas have shaped policy from the Reagan administration through today.

He gives us an accessible primer on how taxes work — plus, we dive into other economic policy like trade, debt, and more. It’s straightforward, easy-to-understand, and frankly, a whole lot more fun than your Econ 101 class ever was.

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“It’s not about charity. I don’t even think the word is right anymore. I think it’s about having an understanding of what you would want in a position, and you would want someone to help you get to that position, whatever it takes.” – Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of York is on the podcast! Sarah Ferguson sat down with our correspondent, Allison Trowbridge, for an inspiring conversation about how we can all bring an entrepreneurial spirit to improve the lives of those around us.

She’s winsome and full of wisdom — and, having married the son of the Queen of England, she has found a way to use her considerable influence to be a voice for those in need. Don’t miss this uplifting episode!

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“You can’t ever look inauthentic as an artist. You can’t ever look for the brand deal because the brand deal will never find you. You have to make your art … and you have to find partners that help you tell that story.” – Russell Redeaux

In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at how music artists and managers develop their brands in a rapidly changing landscape. In part one, guest correspondent Allison Trowbridge interviews Russell Redeaux, the manager for Snoop Dogg and many other fantastic artists. Then, in part two, Donald Miller sits down with musician Ben Rector. From balancing commercial success with artistry, to cultural diversity in our entertainment, to the way streaming works, to the backstory of global marketing campaigns, you’ll find this insider look at the music business fascinating.

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“I have to constantly stay in the process of writing and care not about the end result of the song. Once the song comes to fruition, it seeks to mock and taunt you and destroy you and stop you from writing. So, I love the song but once the song’s done, I hate the song.” – Tom Douglas

Ever wondered how songs get written, pitched, and cut? How songwriters and publishers work together? How the creative process unfolds? The role publishers play in getting a song out there?

To answer all these questions, we sat down with legendary Nashville songwriter Tom Douglas and the president and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Troy Tomlinson. It’s a fascinating look at both the art and business of songwriting. If you’re in a creative field, you’ll find plenty of takeaways for your own business.

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“Across all industries, somewhere between 20 and 70 percent of your new customers will decide to stop doing business with you before they reach the 100 day anniversary.” – Joey Coleman

Your customers are leaving in droves. Today’s guest, Joey Coleman, has the research to back it up. So if you want to keep your customers and grow your business, don’t miss this episode. In it, Joey highlights the 8 phases of customer experience so you never lose another customer again.

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