SPOS #981 – Donald Miller On Building A Story Brand

Apr 27, 2025

Join Donald Miller, bestselling author and the mastermind behind StoryBrand, as he uncovers the art of storytelling in business. He emphasizes that clarity trumps cleverness in effective communication and offers insights on navigating brand messaging to build loyalty. Miller also discusses how AI is reshaping marketing while advocating for the irreplaceable value of human creativity. Plus, he shares personal anecdotes about passion and curiosity that fuel his writing and the creative process behind his latest book!

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INSIGHT

Power of Timeless Story Formulas

Stories engage the human mind using timeless formulas that have worked for thousands of years.
Stories that don't use these formulas fail because people lose interest and don't pay attention.

INSIGHT

Brand Relationships as Human Bonds

Brand relationships mimic human relationships through curiosity, enlightenment, and commitment phases.
Marketing must first spark curiosity by defining the problem, then guide customers through enlightenment before commitment.

ADVICE

Build Loyalty Through Consistency

Brand loyalty stems from consistent problem solving and familiarity over time.
Businesses should nurture familiarity and layered services to maintain customer commitment.

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Welcome to episode #981 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Donald Miller is one of the most influential voices in modern marketing - a bestselling author, business strategist, and the creative force behind StoryBrand (a framework that has reshaped how leaders and organizations communicate). In our conversation, Donald breaks down the timeless power of story and why clarity - not cleverness - is the most underrated competitive advantage in business today. His new book, Building a StoryBrand 2.0 - Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen, expands on his original seven-part storytelling framework with sharper tools and practical applications for the modern marketer. Donald is also the author of several bestselling books, including the spiritual memoir Blue Like Jazz, the personal development reflection Scary Close, and A Million Miles In A Thousand Years (loved that one!), alongside business classics like Marketing Made Simple, Business Made Simple, Coach Builder, How to Grow Your Small Business, which have collectively shaped how individuals and organizations think about story, purpose, and growth. We explore why curiosity is the secret starting point in every great customer journey, how AI is accelerating both efficiency and confusion in marketing, and why simple messages are often the hardest to write. Donald also opens up about the creative process behind writing, how to chase ideas worth finishing, and why businesses fail not from a lack of creativity - but from poor communication. Whether you're leading a brand, launching a product, or refining your personal pitch, this conversation is a masterclass in messaging. Enjoy the conversation...

Running time: 55:49.
Hello from beautiful Montreal.
Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.
Listen and subscribe over at Spotify.
Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Six Pixels of Separation.
Feel free to connect to me directly on Facebook here: Mitch Joel on Facebook.
Check out ThinkersOne.
or you can connect on LinkedIn.
...or on X.
Here is my conversation with Donald Miller.
Building a StoryBrand 2.0 - Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen.
StoryBrand.
Marketing Made Simple.
Business Made Simple.
Coach Builder.
How to Grow Your Small Business.
Blue Like Jazz.
Scary Close.
A Million Miles In A Thousand Years.
Follow Donald on X.
Follow Donald on Instagram.
Follow Donald on LinkedIn.

Chapters:

(00:00) - The Power of Storytelling in Branding. (12:46) - Understanding Consumer Relationships with Brands. (26:02) - The Art and Science of Effective Marketing. (29:00) - The Ineffectiveness of Modern Advertising. (32:42) - The Importance of Clarity in Messaging. (36:46) - The Role of Creativity in Marketing. (41:15) - The Impact of AI on Marketing. (46:24) - The Future of Marketing and Strategy. (49:45) - The Creative Process and Writing Books.