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Business Made Simple. 60 days to master leadership, sales, marketing, execution, management, personal productivity and more
Is this blue book more valuable than a business degree?
Most people enter their professional careers not understanding how to grow a business. At times, this makes them feel lost, or worse, like a fraud pretending to know what they’re doing.
It’s hard to be successful without a clear understanding of how business works. These 60 daily readings are crucial for any professional or business owner who wants to take their career to the next level.
New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Donald Miller knows that business is more than just a good idea made profitable – it’s a system of unspoken rules, rarely taught by MBA schools. If you are attempting to profitably grow your business or career, you need elite business knowledge—knowledge that creates tangible value.
Even if you had the time, access, or money to attend a Top 20 business school, you would still be missing the practical knowledge that propels the best and brightest forward. However, there is another way to achieve this insider skill development, which can both drastically improve your career earnings and the satisfaction of achieving your goals.
Donald Miller learned how to rise to the top using the principles he shares in this book. He wrote Business Made Simple to teach others what it takes to grow your career and create a company that is healthy and profitable.
These short, daily entries and accompanying videos will add enormous value to your business and the organization you work for. In this sixty-day guide, readers will be introduced to the nine areas where truly successful leaders and their businesses excel:
Character: What kind of person succeeds in business?
Leadership: How do you unite a team around a mission?
Personal Productivity: How can you get more done in less time?
Messaging: Why aren’t customers paying more attention?
Marketing: How do I build a sales funnel?
Business Strategy: How does a business really work?
Execution: How can we get things done?
Sales: How do I close more sales?
Management: What does a good manager do?
Business Made Simple is the must-have guide for anyone who feels lost or overwhelmed by the modern business climate, even if they attended business school. Learn what the most successful business leaders have known for years through the simple but effective secrets shared in these pages.
Take things further: If you want to be worth more as a business professional, read each daily entry and follow along with the free videos that will be sent to you after you buy the book.
Most people enter their professional careers not understanding how to grow a business. At times, this makes them feel lost, or worse, like a fraud pretending to know what they’re doing.
It’s hard to be successful without a clear understanding of how business works. These 60 daily readings are crucial for any professional or business owner who wants to take their career to the next level.
New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Donald Miller knows that business is more than just a good idea made profitable – it’s a system of unspoken rules, rarely taught by MBA schools. If you are attempting to profitably grow your business or career, you need elite business knowledge—knowledge that creates tangible value.
Even if you had the time, access, or money to attend a Top 20 business school, you would still be missing the practical knowledge that propels the best and brightest forward. However, there is another way to achieve this insider skill development, which can both drastically improve your career earnings and the satisfaction of achieving your goals.
Donald Miller learned how to rise to the top using the principles he shares in this book. He wrote Business Made Simple to teach others what it takes to grow your career and create a company that is healthy and profitable.
These short, daily entries and accompanying videos will add enormous value to your business and the organization you work for. In this sixty-day guide, readers will be introduced to the nine areas where truly successful leaders and their businesses excel:
Character: What kind of person succeeds in business?
Leadership: How do you unite a team around a mission?
Personal Productivity: How can you get more done in less time?
Messaging: Why aren’t customers paying more attention?
Marketing: How do I build a sales funnel?
Business Strategy: How does a business really work?
Execution: How can we get things done?
Sales: How do I close more sales?
Management: What does a good manager do?
Business Made Simple is the must-have guide for anyone who feels lost or overwhelmed by the modern business climate, even if they attended business school. Learn what the most successful business leaders have known for years through the simple but effective secrets shared in these pages.
Take things further: If you want to be worth more as a business professional, read each daily entry and follow along with the free videos that will be sent to you after you buy the book.
240 pages, Paperback
Published January 19, 2021
1566 people are currently reading
3763 people want to read
About the author
Donald Miller
190 books2,759 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Don Miller is an American author, speaker, and entrepreneur best known for his New York Times bestseller Blue Like Jazz. He is the CEO of StoryBrand, a company that helps businesses clarify their messaging. Miller’s writing often explores faith, identity, and personal growth. His other books include Searching for God Knows What, Through Painted Deserts, and A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. He founded The Mentoring Project to support fatherless youth and has advised both nonprofit and government initiatives. His later work, including Scary Close and Building a StoryBrand, reflects a shift toward personal development and business communication. He lives in Nashville with his wife, Betsy.
Don Miller is an American author, speaker, and entrepreneur best known for his New York Times bestseller Blue Like Jazz. He is the CEO of StoryBrand, a company that helps businesses clarify their messaging. Miller’s writing often explores faith, identity, and personal growth. His other books include Searching for God Knows What, Through Painted Deserts, and A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. He founded The Mentoring Project to support fatherless youth and has advised both nonprofit and government initiatives. His later work, including Scary Close and Building a StoryBrand, reflects a shift toward personal development and business communication. He lives in Nashville with his wife, Betsy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
February 27, 2021
Meh... I read the author’s previous book, “Building a Story Brand” and loved it. This book was more written for employees or early entrepreneurs. That’s why I give this book a low rating.
I also didn’t appreciate the upselling tactics peppered throughout the chapters. “Send me a blank email and I’ll send you some more videos.” “Check out some more free resources on our website at...”
Look, I paid for the damn book, why make me opt-in for content that could have been included with the book?
I also didn’t appreciate the upselling tactics peppered throughout the chapters. “Send me a blank email and I’ll send you some more videos.” “Check out some more free resources on our website at...”
Look, I paid for the damn book, why make me opt-in for content that could have been included with the book?
June 3, 2021
There was a lot of good information in this book but it very much felt like a sales pitch into his online program.
Read
January 25, 2024It's a business book. A good one. But still a business book.
June 18, 2021
TL;DR: If you follow Donald Miller & his business closely - you don't need this book. If you haven't heard of Don or Business Made Simple/StoryBrand - you will get a lot from this book.
I'm a huge fan of anything Donald Miller puts out there - from his early memoirs to everything he's done with StoryBrand and now Business Made Simple.
BUT.
If you're a fan of BMS/StoryBrand, this book is NOT for you. It's a great marketing tool - a very long lead generator - for BMS. If you listen to the podcast, been on their webinars, signed up for their daily emails, you will already have heard all of this content already (if not several times).
It's GREAT content, don't get me wrong. Shallow, but good. Relateable, actionable. But it's not 60 days to master anything. I even signed up for access to the daily videos to go along with the daily reading and stopped watching after about 10 days when I realized the video is just a repeat of the same content as the book.
Anywho - I continue to love the BMS team, brand, philosophy, podcast etc. I just didn't gain anything new from the book. A lot of great reminders, but nothing new.
I'm a huge fan of anything Donald Miller puts out there - from his early memoirs to everything he's done with StoryBrand and now Business Made Simple.
BUT.
If you're a fan of BMS/StoryBrand, this book is NOT for you. It's a great marketing tool - a very long lead generator - for BMS. If you listen to the podcast, been on their webinars, signed up for their daily emails, you will already have heard all of this content already (if not several times).
It's GREAT content, don't get me wrong. Shallow, but good. Relateable, actionable. But it's not 60 days to master anything. I even signed up for access to the daily videos to go along with the daily reading and stopped watching after about 10 days when I realized the video is just a repeat of the same content as the book.
Anywho - I continue to love the BMS team, brand, philosophy, podcast etc. I just didn't gain anything new from the book. A lot of great reminders, but nothing new.
September 20, 2021
Lots of info, lots of plugs, and no connecting theme. I'm not inspired by it, but I guess it did have some useful insights about many things
January 31, 2022
Muy bien explicado..aunque ya muchas cosas las conocía y hacía en mi negocio me encantó descubrir otras para poderlas implementar. Donald es un gran autor.
April 16, 2021
Most books I see these days are one really good article stretched into a book by adding a lot of stories and fluff. This book is the opposite: every chapter of this book feels like reading an executive summary of a good book on that topic.
So, it's not for the advanced learner on each topic. This book is for the person who is starting out or changing roles. He's very clear about the focus of this book.
But it's so well written that even though I started out decades ago and teach this kind of stuff, I still enjoyed reading and picked up a couple of good nuggets that I'm talking about with my leadership team.
Donald Miller has grown a ton as a strategist and business leader (I've followed him for decades now) and his maturity really shows in this book. If you're in business, totally worth reading.
So, it's not for the advanced learner on each topic. This book is for the person who is starting out or changing roles. He's very clear about the focus of this book.
But it's so well written that even though I started out decades ago and teach this kind of stuff, I still enjoyed reading and picked up a couple of good nuggets that I'm talking about with my leadership team.
Donald Miller has grown a ton as a strategist and business leader (I've followed him for decades now) and his maturity really shows in this book. If you're in business, totally worth reading.
July 15, 2021
The book covers all the basics to be a successful professional: personal productivity, communication, how to unite a team around a mission, messaging, marketing, sales, negotiation, and how a business really works (for example, do you know how your work or your department add to the company's profits). It is easy to absorb the information and practice the tips. It's a short book but expanded a bit because the main points are repeated several times (which is understandable for a presentation but unnecessary for a book when you can highlight points you're interested in and refer back to them).
April 19, 2021
A lot of this book felt common sense to me, although I realize that for many people it is not. It also felt like the entire book was written just to market his online courses. He talked about them so much, it made me never want to take one. There were a few helpful reminders and nuggets but I think I could have benefited by reading a book with more specific strategies and information.
January 23, 2023
Reading Donald Miller's book "Building a StoryBrand" changed the way I look at every single story that I watch on the big screen, on television, or read in books. It has helped me to craft a story so that my brand brings people into that story.
In "Business Made Simple" Donald Miller has successfully condensed a year's worth of collegiate-level business school into a 60-day primer. I would even go so far as to say that he's shared more in this book that most students learn about business during their entire college career.
This is an amazing practical tool for anyone looking to strengthen their business or professional organization through a step-by-step framework. This is a most welcome tool in a leadership space where "TAKE ACTION!" is shouted from the rooftops without any actual plan for success. Read this book and be enlightened!
In "Business Made Simple" Donald Miller has successfully condensed a year's worth of collegiate-level business school into a 60-day primer. I would even go so far as to say that he's shared more in this book that most students learn about business during their entire college career.
This is an amazing practical tool for anyone looking to strengthen their business or professional organization through a step-by-step framework. This is a most welcome tool in a leadership space where "TAKE ACTION!" is shouted from the rooftops without any actual plan for success. Read this book and be enlightened!
August 28, 2022
Donald Miller is a genius. If you want to make more money, read this book. If you want to bring more value to your company, read this book. If you want to continue to grow, read this book. Will be studying this book moving forward to suggest the 60+ daily business “tips” he provides so they can sink in.
January 23, 2021
Audiobook read by the author. There is bonus material included in the audio book that is worth getting the audio version even if you have the book. This book may look small but that's because Donald Miller has figured out how to put huge concepts into a concise package. There is a 60 day video course that goes with the book. I also started watching those. This is a book I will likely be revisiting several times this year. This book is for anyone that wants to be paid for more than their muscle.
October 17, 2024
Donald Miller's "Business Made Simple" is a compelling guide for anyone looking to navigate the complexities of the business world with clarity and confidence. Miller excels in simplifying methodologies, making each phase of business clear and approachable.
One of the standout concepts in the book is the idea of viewing oneself as a value generator, almost like having a price tag above your head. This perspective encourages continuous growth and finding the "hidden staircase" to enhance one's value to employers. This metaphor is both empowering and practical, offering a unique lens through which to assess personal and professional development.
Another captivating component of the book is Miller's use of Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey.” He ingeniously applies this narrative framework to marketing, sales, and business strategies. This section of the book is particularly noteworthy for its ease of understanding and real-world applicability, making complex concepts digestible for readers across various industries.
The only critique I have is a desire for more. While the book lays an excellent foundation, incorporating additional real-world examples and case studies would have enriched the reading experience even further. There are some case studies included, but in my opinion, more detailed examples could better illustrate Miller’s methodologies and approaches.
Overall, "Business Made Simple" is an excellent read that effectively lays out a practical framework for business success. Its engaging insights and straightforward guidance make it a valuable resource for anyone looking to thrive in the business arena.
One of the standout concepts in the book is the idea of viewing oneself as a value generator, almost like having a price tag above your head. This perspective encourages continuous growth and finding the "hidden staircase" to enhance one's value to employers. This metaphor is both empowering and practical, offering a unique lens through which to assess personal and professional development.
Another captivating component of the book is Miller's use of Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey.” He ingeniously applies this narrative framework to marketing, sales, and business strategies. This section of the book is particularly noteworthy for its ease of understanding and real-world applicability, making complex concepts digestible for readers across various industries.
The only critique I have is a desire for more. While the book lays an excellent foundation, incorporating additional real-world examples and case studies would have enriched the reading experience even further. There are some case studies included, but in my opinion, more detailed examples could better illustrate Miller’s methodologies and approaches.
Overall, "Business Made Simple" is an excellent read that effectively lays out a practical framework for business success. Its engaging insights and straightforward guidance make it a valuable resource for anyone looking to thrive in the business arena.
April 22, 2021
Big fan of this book. I pretend to know what I am talking about a lot at work but actually have no idea what I am doing half of the time. This book breaks down the ins and outs of business from sales to character simplifying how our free-market works together. Don writes in a matter-fact-easy-to-understand-doesn’t-take-himself-too-serious style that is refreshing. This book is a slow burn that made me excited to start my work day with a couple pages of new knowledge. It also comes with 60 free videos that compliment the 60 short chapters. All in all, I will sing this books praises for anyone wanting to understand business.
March 29, 2024
My husband recommended to me as I am at the start of a small business venture with no desire to "go back to business school" and it was exactly what I was looking for. It read quickly. It did not feel like it wasted my time as I am sure internet searches would have done, yet offered an easy to follow business primer. And as for something I did not expect, but really enjoyed, the author connected most of his business principles to the principles of "story" which is something I particularly enjoy thinking about. I would recommend to anyone in a similar boat as myself.
November 14, 2021
Excellent! As a leader who is constantly looking for ways to do my job and support my team better, I came away with practical applications from every section. I enjoyed the format of a short entry and a short video - it reinforced the ideas and frameworks. If you want to grow in any area of business or leadership, this book is for you!
February 1, 2023
Not obviously flawed. Following this advice might well improve the operations of most companies. But some of it is hokey, e.g., having people show up to a meeting with laminated one-pagers. The “airplane” metaphor is tortured to death (it’s really not necessary to explain basic concepts like cash flow), and most of the advice applies to companies making physical products, not software or services.
February 21, 2022
Great framework for running a healthy business. Loved the analogy of the airplane, can see this as helpful with clients I coach as well.
March 27, 2022
3.5 ratings
November 23, 2023
Took me two months to finish cuz school got in the way but really enjoyed this. Taught me not only good business techniques and strategies but also how to improve myself.
February 17, 2024
Easy to understand business book for beginners! Highly recommend if your interested in being efficient in the work force and leading a team.
May 4, 2021
What They Don’t Teach You in School
This book should be required reading for anyone in business, seeking an MBA, or heading into the exciting life of an entrepreneur. I learned more from this book than the dozens I’ve read on business development over the past ten years. Kudos to Donald Miller and his team for this practical and relevant guidebook showing me how to be the hero of my business journey!
This book should be required reading for anyone in business, seeking an MBA, or heading into the exciting life of an entrepreneur. I learned more from this book than the dozens I’ve read on business development over the past ten years. Kudos to Donald Miller and his team for this practical and relevant guidebook showing me how to be the hero of my business journey!
January 10, 2024
So easy to read and understand. I loved the format and I think I can apply this to my work.
July 23, 2022
Business Made Simple by Donald Miller is a cheaper, more practical MBA as he defines it. While some of the things are similar to what you might have come across during your education and your professional life. But, few things that stuck with us were:
1. Brand should be the guide and not hero to the customer.
2. You’re an economic product. The sooner you understand that the more value driven you will be.
3. De-escalate Drama to be on route to a manager. Technical/ Hard skills aren’t enough anymore.
4. Write daily guiding principles which have the highest return
5. Prepare a mission statement like a JTBD ( Job To Be Done) for yourself
6. This was a great checklist (Grunt Test) for anyone who has brand websites:
a. What do you offer?
b. How does it help the consumer?
c. Where can I buy it and for how much?
7. Email campaign is the cheapest way to target the quantity time of the customers.
#bookreview #business #newpost
1. Brand should be the guide and not hero to the customer.
2. You’re an economic product. The sooner you understand that the more value driven you will be.
3. De-escalate Drama to be on route to a manager. Technical/ Hard skills aren’t enough anymore.
4. Write daily guiding principles which have the highest return
5. Prepare a mission statement like a JTBD ( Job To Be Done) for yourself
6. This was a great checklist (Grunt Test) for anyone who has brand websites:
a. What do you offer?
b. How does it help the consumer?
c. Where can I buy it and for how much?
7. Email campaign is the cheapest way to target the quantity time of the customers.
#bookreview #business #newpost
April 11, 2024
Is this book really more valuable than a business degree? I think it has the potential to be! Donald has brilliantly distilled so much wisdom and experience into understandable and, more importantly, actionable ideas that anyone can start implementing today. If you want to improve your own business or are just trying to make yourself more valuable at someone else’s company, I think book is a fantastic place to start!
Favorite Quote: “You either have a solution or you do not. You are either confident, or you are not. You can either help in their journey or you cannot. If you cannot, you will politely ask them to buy your product in such a way that you sound like you’re asking for charity, because you are. If you can help them, though, you will tell them to buy your product or use your service because you no longer want them to struggle with their problem.”
Favorite Quote: “You either have a solution or you do not. You are either confident, or you are not. You can either help in their journey or you cannot. If you cannot, you will politely ask them to buy your product in such a way that you sound like you’re asking for charity, because you are. If you can help them, though, you will tell them to buy your product or use your service because you no longer want them to struggle with their problem.”
November 28, 2022
I am going to be referring to this book over and over again in my professional life. I learned so much that inspired me to already make significant shifts to my upcoming launch plans. I'm so grateful for this book!
January 30, 2021
Everything in this book is simple: Leadership, marketing, sales … even execution.
Posted on January 30, 2021 by michellelovatosbookreviews, world's first book color commentator
Thomas Nelson Publishers
Everything in this book is simple: Leadership, marketing, sales … even execution.
Execution? What kind of book is this, anyway? Oh ya. Execution in business. I wouldn’t admit it publicly, but there are more than a few bosses I’ve known that I wouldn’t mind seeing executed.
Now that I ponder … execution in business is better than execution in anger or justice? Is executing businesspeople somehow less taboo? What about politicians? I know of a few politicians who would make good candidates. Ex husbands?
Business Made Simple, by Donald Miller is without a doubt a lot more serious in the execution of its message, than I am in the execution of my thought life. This book highlights the importance of value-based professionals and their advantage in the workplace.
Essentially, Miller says this book will help its readers accomplish more in less time, provide less stress, and more clarity in the workplace.
Sounds pretty good to me. Less violent anyway.
Miller presupposes that business people who present a core set of character traits proven to predict success will be the ones who actually win promotions, raises, and ultimately, conquer whatever business move is at hand.
These people, Miller says, know the way business really works; can give clear and compelling leadership; are personally productive, and can clarify their message. These strong business leaders, he says, know how to build marketing campaigns, can sell, and are great communicators, negotiators, and managers.
They also know how to run an execution system.
Geeze. I’m intimidated already.
As always, and in this book, it is the return on investment that proves key in the business ladder-climbing world. Return on investment in this case is in human skillsets and … shall I say it … the execution of that skillset in the workplace is imperative.
Now that I understand that no murderous plots are behind the business of success, or at least I hope so, Business Made Simple seems to be a textbook example of “Mama Always Told Me” at work.
And I’m betting that Business Made Simple will make “simple” into a business success.
Everything in this book is simple: Leadership, marketing, sales … even execution.
Execution? What kind of book is this, anyway? Oh ya. Execution in business. I wouldn’t admit it publically, but there are more than a few bosses I’ve known that I wouldn’t mind seeing executed.
Now that I ponder … execution in business is better than execution in anger or justice? Is executing businesspeople somehow less taboo? What about politicians? I know of a few politicians who would make good candidates. Ex husbands?
Business Made Simple, by Donald Miller is without a doubt a lot more serious in the execution of its message, than I am in the execution of my thought life. This book highlights the importance of value-based professionals and their advantage in the workplace.
Essentially, Miller says this book will help its readers accomplish more in less time, provide less stress, and more clarity in the workplace.
Sounds pretty good to me. Less violent anyway.
Miller presupposes that business people who present a core set of character traits proven to predict success will be the ones who actually win promotions, raises, and ultimately, conquer whatever business move is at hand.
These people, Miller says, know the way business really works; can give clear and compelling leadership; are personally productive, and can clarify their message. These strong business leaders, he says, know how to build marketing campaigns, can sell, and are great communicators, negotiators, and managers.
They also know how to run an execution system.
Geeze. I’m intimidated already.
As always, and in this book, it is the return on investment that proves key in the business ladder-climbing world. Return on investment, in this case, is in human skillsets and … shall I say it … the execution of that skillset in the workplace is imperative
Now that I understand that no murderous plots are behind the business of success, or at least I hope so, Business Made Simple seems to be a textbook example of “Mama Always Told Me” at work.
And I’m betting that Business Made Simple will make “simple” into a business success.
ml@michellelovato.com BoutiqueBooks@hotmail.com
Happy are those who respect the Lord and obey him. You will enjoy what you work for, and you will be blessed with good things. Psalm 128: 1-2
Posted on January 30, 2021 by michellelovatosbookreviews, world's first book color commentator
Thomas Nelson Publishers
Everything in this book is simple: Leadership, marketing, sales … even execution.
Execution? What kind of book is this, anyway? Oh ya. Execution in business. I wouldn’t admit it publicly, but there are more than a few bosses I’ve known that I wouldn’t mind seeing executed.
Now that I ponder … execution in business is better than execution in anger or justice? Is executing businesspeople somehow less taboo? What about politicians? I know of a few politicians who would make good candidates. Ex husbands?
Business Made Simple, by Donald Miller is without a doubt a lot more serious in the execution of its message, than I am in the execution of my thought life. This book highlights the importance of value-based professionals and their advantage in the workplace.
Essentially, Miller says this book will help its readers accomplish more in less time, provide less stress, and more clarity in the workplace.
Sounds pretty good to me. Less violent anyway.
Miller presupposes that business people who present a core set of character traits proven to predict success will be the ones who actually win promotions, raises, and ultimately, conquer whatever business move is at hand.
These people, Miller says, know the way business really works; can give clear and compelling leadership; are personally productive, and can clarify their message. These strong business leaders, he says, know how to build marketing campaigns, can sell, and are great communicators, negotiators, and managers.
They also know how to run an execution system.
Geeze. I’m intimidated already.
As always, and in this book, it is the return on investment that proves key in the business ladder-climbing world. Return on investment in this case is in human skillsets and … shall I say it … the execution of that skillset in the workplace is imperative.
Now that I understand that no murderous plots are behind the business of success, or at least I hope so, Business Made Simple seems to be a textbook example of “Mama Always Told Me” at work.
And I’m betting that Business Made Simple will make “simple” into a business success.
Everything in this book is simple: Leadership, marketing, sales … even execution.
Execution? What kind of book is this, anyway? Oh ya. Execution in business. I wouldn’t admit it publically, but there are more than a few bosses I’ve known that I wouldn’t mind seeing executed.
Now that I ponder … execution in business is better than execution in anger or justice? Is executing businesspeople somehow less taboo? What about politicians? I know of a few politicians who would make good candidates. Ex husbands?
Business Made Simple, by Donald Miller is without a doubt a lot more serious in the execution of its message, than I am in the execution of my thought life. This book highlights the importance of value-based professionals and their advantage in the workplace.
Essentially, Miller says this book will help its readers accomplish more in less time, provide less stress, and more clarity in the workplace.
Sounds pretty good to me. Less violent anyway.
Miller presupposes that business people who present a core set of character traits proven to predict success will be the ones who actually win promotions, raises, and ultimately, conquer whatever business move is at hand.
These people, Miller says, know the way business really works; can give clear and compelling leadership; are personally productive, and can clarify their message. These strong business leaders, he says, know how to build marketing campaigns, can sell, and are great communicators, negotiators, and managers.
They also know how to run an execution system.
Geeze. I’m intimidated already.
As always, and in this book, it is the return on investment that proves key in the business ladder-climbing world. Return on investment, in this case, is in human skillsets and … shall I say it … the execution of that skillset in the workplace is imperative
Now that I understand that no murderous plots are behind the business of success, or at least I hope so, Business Made Simple seems to be a textbook example of “Mama Always Told Me” at work.
And I’m betting that Business Made Simple will make “simple” into a business success.
ml@michellelovato.com BoutiqueBooks@hotmail.com
Happy are those who respect the Lord and obey him. You will enjoy what you work for, and you will be blessed with good things. Psalm 128: 1-2
January 16, 2025
Useful business advice for business owners or employees, covering leadership, productivity, messaging, marketing, communication, sales, negotiation, and management.
Includes aspects of Miller's books Building a StoryBrand and Marketing Made Simple.
Notes
Two-Week Quick Start
See yourself as a hero on a mission, not a victim.
During a dramatic situation, ask yourself, "How would a calm, calculated person handle this?" Respond as though you were writing script, not living in it.
The more optimistic you are, the more you'll be wiling to try, and the more you try, the more often you'll succeed.
Leadership Made Simple
If William Wallace couldn't shout your mission statement to inspire people, it's not interesting enough.
Good mission statement is short, interesting, inspirational. It should position your mission as a counterattack against injustice. It should explain what you're doing to help people, and why that matters.
Mission statement formula: We will accomplish [goal] by [time frame] because of [reason].
Tell your company history is likely boring; tell your story instead. A good story features a character who's been destabilized by an event, then overcomes a series of challenges to restabilize their life.
Good company story
1. Start with problem you help people overcome. What problem does your company solve?
2. Agitate problem to make it worse. How does problem make people feel?
3. Position your company or product as solution to problem.
4. Describe happy ending people will experience if they use your product to resolve their problem. What will their lives look like?
To define your company theme, add "because" to end of mission statement, then finish sentence. Why is that your mission?
Productivity Made Simple
Ask yourself, "If this were 2nd time I were living this day, what would I do differently? At the end of the day, what will I regret doing or not doing?"
Communication Made Simple
Answer 5 questions audience wants presenter to answer
• What problem are you going to help audience solve?
• What's your solution to problem?
• What will audience's life look like after solution?
• What do you want audience to do next?
• What do you want audience to remember?
Paint a picture of better life after your solution, so audience can visualize it.
Sales Made Simple
Create a custom story arc for each client
1. I see you're struggling with X problem.
2. I see X problem is causing Y frustration.
3. Our product/service resolves Y frustration by solving X problem.
4. We've worked with hundreds of clients with X problem, and here are their results.
5. Let's create a step-by-step solution so your problem and frustration get resolved.
Prospects often blame decision not to buy on price, competition, schedule, budget, etc., but often real problem is they were confused about how transaction would work, and what they'd get out of deal. To avoid confusion, memorialize story points of offer in proposal, brochure, video, etc.
Proposal template
1. Customer's problem
2. Product that will solve problem
3. Plan to implement solution/product into customer's life
4. Price and options
5. Result of resolving problem
Bonus Track: Business Coaches Checklist
StoryBrand BrandScript
1. What's the 1 thing customer wants most?
2. What's customer's internal, external, and philosophical problem?
3. How have we positioned ourselves as guide in customer's story?
4. What plan have we offered customer as a path to buy our product and solve their problem?
5. What's our direct call to action?
6. What are the successful results our customers will experience if they buy our product?
7. What negative experience will our product help customers avoid?
Includes aspects of Miller's books Building a StoryBrand and Marketing Made Simple.
Notes
Two-Week Quick Start
See yourself as a hero on a mission, not a victim.
During a dramatic situation, ask yourself, "How would a calm, calculated person handle this?" Respond as though you were writing script, not living in it.
The more optimistic you are, the more you'll be wiling to try, and the more you try, the more often you'll succeed.
Leadership Made Simple
If William Wallace couldn't shout your mission statement to inspire people, it's not interesting enough.
Good mission statement is short, interesting, inspirational. It should position your mission as a counterattack against injustice. It should explain what you're doing to help people, and why that matters.
Mission statement formula: We will accomplish [goal] by [time frame] because of [reason].
Tell your company history is likely boring; tell your story instead. A good story features a character who's been destabilized by an event, then overcomes a series of challenges to restabilize their life.
Good company story
1. Start with problem you help people overcome. What problem does your company solve?
2. Agitate problem to make it worse. How does problem make people feel?
3. Position your company or product as solution to problem.
4. Describe happy ending people will experience if they use your product to resolve their problem. What will their lives look like?
To define your company theme, add "because" to end of mission statement, then finish sentence. Why is that your mission?
Productivity Made Simple
Ask yourself, "If this were 2nd time I were living this day, what would I do differently? At the end of the day, what will I regret doing or not doing?"
Communication Made Simple
Answer 5 questions audience wants presenter to answer
• What problem are you going to help audience solve?
• What's your solution to problem?
• What will audience's life look like after solution?
• What do you want audience to do next?
• What do you want audience to remember?
Paint a picture of better life after your solution, so audience can visualize it.
Sales Made Simple
Create a custom story arc for each client
1. I see you're struggling with X problem.
2. I see X problem is causing Y frustration.
3. Our product/service resolves Y frustration by solving X problem.
4. We've worked with hundreds of clients with X problem, and here are their results.
5. Let's create a step-by-step solution so your problem and frustration get resolved.
Prospects often blame decision not to buy on price, competition, schedule, budget, etc., but often real problem is they were confused about how transaction would work, and what they'd get out of deal. To avoid confusion, memorialize story points of offer in proposal, brochure, video, etc.
Proposal template
1. Customer's problem
2. Product that will solve problem
3. Plan to implement solution/product into customer's life
4. Price and options
5. Result of resolving problem
Bonus Track: Business Coaches Checklist
StoryBrand BrandScript
1. What's the 1 thing customer wants most?
2. What's customer's internal, external, and philosophical problem?
3. How have we positioned ourselves as guide in customer's story?
4. What plan have we offered customer as a path to buy our product and solve their problem?
5. What's our direct call to action?
6. What are the successful results our customers will experience if they buy our product?
7. What negative experience will our product help customers avoid?
March 15, 2023
3.5 stars. There was some great information in here, but it’s essentially a mile wide and an inch deep.
I’ve read so many books that cover these issues in depth and are extremely valuable, so I’m not sure who I’d recommend this book to, other than an absolute newbie to business. Much of what was written here will be extremely obvious to anyone who’s been in business for any length of time.
Overall I think what bothered me most are the many unequivocal statements about how he guarantees you will be a better manager if you just _____. Again, when there’s very little depth, it just sounds pretentious and salesy. I would have loved to see a recommended reading list, or even a note about “for more on this topic, see the excellent work of _______.” I’ve read many of the books that could/should be recommended, so I know many of his concepts are recycled ideas with different names. That’s not necessarily bad, but I think that’s why this feels so…siloed? Even a bit arrogant. He practices what he preaches with calls to action, and the drive is toward his website and program alone. It gets annoying (I’ve been on his email list and had to unsubscribe).
Also, I LOVE Storybrand, use and recommend it to all my clients, and Marketing Made Simple is also great. I’m just really not sure who this book is for, other than maybe kids considering an MBA program or something.
I feel like I may need to write a more in depth review on my website that lists the books I’d recommend. And yes, I realize some people would be like “who has time to read 20 books?!” I guarantee you can find the time to download an audiobook or cut back on TV if it makes you that much better of a business owner.
Start with Traction by Gino Wickman. Donald Miller pulls many concepts from that book, and it’s far better.
I’ve read so many books that cover these issues in depth and are extremely valuable, so I’m not sure who I’d recommend this book to, other than an absolute newbie to business. Much of what was written here will be extremely obvious to anyone who’s been in business for any length of time.
Overall I think what bothered me most are the many unequivocal statements about how he guarantees you will be a better manager if you just _____. Again, when there’s very little depth, it just sounds pretentious and salesy. I would have loved to see a recommended reading list, or even a note about “for more on this topic, see the excellent work of _______.” I’ve read many of the books that could/should be recommended, so I know many of his concepts are recycled ideas with different names. That’s not necessarily bad, but I think that’s why this feels so…siloed? Even a bit arrogant. He practices what he preaches with calls to action, and the drive is toward his website and program alone. It gets annoying (I’ve been on his email list and had to unsubscribe).
Also, I LOVE Storybrand, use and recommend it to all my clients, and Marketing Made Simple is also great. I’m just really not sure who this book is for, other than maybe kids considering an MBA program or something.
I feel like I may need to write a more in depth review on my website that lists the books I’d recommend. And yes, I realize some people would be like “who has time to read 20 books?!” I guarantee you can find the time to download an audiobook or cut back on TV if it makes you that much better of a business owner.
Start with Traction by Gino Wickman. Donald Miller pulls many concepts from that book, and it’s far better.
October 4, 2022
A good friend recommended Business Made Simple in order to bolster my business acumen as I continue navigating the corporate waters. There are several elements I appreciated about the book.
First of all, it’s very well organized. Miller broke the book down day-by-day, and even provided supplemental material if you’d like to take it a step further. The sections are short, clearly stated, and easy to comprehend.
Furthermore, Business Made Simple is quickly paced. Miller wasted no time, which is consistent with his theme throughout the book. Miller recognized that busy people often struggle finding the time to read, so he made Business Made Simple as appealing as possible–he made it easy to pick it up when there’s a few extra minutes to spare. And once started, it’s hard to stop.
The first half of the book contained solid information and potent reminders, but Business Made Simple truly shined in the latter half. I particularly found the chapters dealing with negotiations, management, and execution incredibly insightful.
Though new to the corporate world, I believe Business Made Simple will prove beneficial to even the most savvy of business people. I highly recommend you give it a read.
First of all, it’s very well organized. Miller broke the book down day-by-day, and even provided supplemental material if you’d like to take it a step further. The sections are short, clearly stated, and easy to comprehend.
Furthermore, Business Made Simple is quickly paced. Miller wasted no time, which is consistent with his theme throughout the book. Miller recognized that busy people often struggle finding the time to read, so he made Business Made Simple as appealing as possible–he made it easy to pick it up when there’s a few extra minutes to spare. And once started, it’s hard to stop.
The first half of the book contained solid information and potent reminders, but Business Made Simple truly shined in the latter half. I particularly found the chapters dealing with negotiations, management, and execution incredibly insightful.
Though new to the corporate world, I believe Business Made Simple will prove beneficial to even the most savvy of business people. I highly recommend you give it a read.
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