Building a profitable business takes a lot of hard work. But when you boil it down -- there are two characteristics every profitable business leader has in common. On today’s episode, StoryBrand Certified Guide Sherman Merricks is sharing why these two characteristics have the power to make or break your business. Plus, Don and Sherman talk about the current social climate and how business leaders can affect change.

If you’ve ever tried to convince someone your position is right, you know it can feel like talking to a brick wall. But what if you were just going about persuasion in the wrong way? The truth is—most people aren’t convinced by some compelling set of facts. Most people change their minds because of their emotions. Lee Hartley Carter has studied the art of persuasion and on today’s episode, she’s sharing what works, what doesn’t, and what you can do to persuade people when it matters most.

Life is busy. Between email notifications, calendar reminders, and your wandering mind, it’s easy to let distractions rule the day. But what if staying focused and being productive didn’t have to be so hard? Nir Eyal, author of Indistractable, has cracked the code on staying focused. In this episode, he’s breaking down how to control your attention-span, increase your productivity, and say no to distractions once and for all. If your mind wandered even a little bit while reading this podcast description — this episode is for you.

You’ve worked hard to grow your business, so you want to make sure that every little thing is done right. But what if there were parts that would be more successful if you let someone else take the wheel for a change? London Business School professor, Gary Hamel, is sharing why top-down micromanagement structures are suffocating businesses and stifling their growth. If you’ve struggled to give up control of your business, this episode might just convince you that it’s actually the best thing you can do.

We have two options when we’re faced with a problem. We can either resolve it and walk away or figure out why it’s happening in the first place. It’s tempting to just solve problems as they come up, but bestselling author and speaker Dan Heath thinks there’s a better way. On today’s episode, he’s sharing why it’s important to get to the root of a problem. If managing conflict at work has ever felt like a game of whack-a-mole, this episode will give you the tools you need to create lasting change instead.

When you know your product or service will make your customer’s life better and you have the confidence to back it up, your business strategy is foolproof. But most of us walk around giving wimpy pitches instead because we’re afraid of sounding arrogant. Today’s guest, Nicole Walters, shows you why that’s costing you money. There’s actually a missing ingredient in your business strategy. It’s not better branding. It’s not more advertising. It’s confidence. Listen now. On today’s episode, we talk about becoming a Business Made Simple Certified Coach. Click here to apply: https://bit.ly/bms-coach

Tiffani Bova is an executive at Salesforce and the author of Growth IQ. Her strategies have helped companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and IBM take their business to the next level. When it comes to scaling your business, it can be hard to know where to start. But the path to success is not as daunting as you might think. There are actually ten paths to grow a business, and this week’s guest is sharing them with you.

The most well-recognized thought leaders have one thing in common: an irresistible personal brand. But for those of us without a platform, it’s hard to know where to start. Rory Vaden, author of Take the Stairs, has worked with countless influencers to develop brands people gravitate towards and love. In today’s episode, he shares the keys to creating a personal brand that will elevate your status and help you win big with customers.

Great leaders have a superpower that helps them stay centered while the world spins around them. They know how to be still. On today’s episode Ryan Holiday, author of Stillness is the Key, shows you how to incorporate daily practices into your routine that help you avoid distractions and stay fully present. Our greatest insights usually come out of our quietest moments. Today's episode shows you how to find those crucial moments of stillness in our fast-paced world.

Succeeding at work takes a high level of competency. But today’s podcast guest believes you have an even greater superpower — kindness. Adrienne Bankert, ABC News national correspondent and Emmy-award winning journalist, is sharing the philosophy behind her new book, Your Hidden Superpower. Succeeding at work doesn’t have to be exhausting — you just have to be kind.