How Donald Miller Changed How I Think About Brand & Business | TBRC
How Donald Miller Changed the Way I Think About Brand, Business, and Coaching
Introduction: When Simplicity Finally Clicks
There’s a point in business where complexity starts to feel like the enemy.
You’re doing plenty.
You’re learning constantly.
You’re busy — but something still feels unclear.
That’s where Donald Miller’s work landed for me.
Not as another tactic or strategy, but as a way of seeing things more clearly. His ability to simplify ideas, tell stories, and structure businesses in a way that actually makes sense was a turning point in how I think about brand, communication, and coaching.
It wasn’t about doing more.
It was about explaining things better — to others and to myself.
Why Storytelling Matters More Than Most People Realise
What Donald Miller helped me understand is that most businesses don’t have a marketing problem — they have a clarity problem.
They’re too close to what they do.
They talk about themselves too much.
They assume people understand.
Storytelling fixes that.
Not in a fluffy, marketing-led way — but in a practical way that helps customers understand:
What problem they have
How you help solve it
What happens next
That way of thinking has shaped how I build websites, write content, structure offers, and coach business owners who feel stuck but can’t quite explain why.
Learning Through Structure, Not Noise
What I appreciate most about Donald Miller’s work is the structure.
His frameworks don’t overwhelm — they guide.
They don’t impress — they clarify.
I’ve returned to his books repeatedly because they help reset my thinking when things start to feel messy or overcomplicated. They’ve helped me understand not just branding, but what it really means to build a business that serves people clearly and honestly.
The Donald Miller Books That Had the Biggest Impact on Me
These are the books I come back to when I need clarity — not motivation.
Building a StoryBrand 2.0
This book completely changed how I think about messaging.
It teaches you how to position your customer as the hero, simplify your message, and stop confusing people with clever language. If your website or marketing feels busy but not effective, this book shines a light on why.
You can find the book here on Amazon if you want to explore it further.
How to Grow Your Small Business
This is one of the most practical business books I’ve read.
It lays out business growth in a simple, step-by-step way without overcomplication. It’s especially powerful if you feel like you’re working hard but not seeing clear progress.
You can find this book on Amazon here if it’s relevant to your stage of business.
Coach Builder
This book played a big role in how I think about coaching as a business, not just a skill.
It helped me understand how to package knowledge, structure a coaching journey, and build something sustainable without losing authenticity or integrity.
You can find the book here on Amazon if coaching is part of your path.
Business Made Simple
This book brings everything back to basics.
It’s about understanding how a business actually works — from leadership and operations to marketing and sales — without jargon or complexity. A brilliant reset when things feel overwhelming.
You can find the book here on Amazon if you want a clearer view of the bigger picture.
Why Donald Miller’s Thinking Still Shapes My Work Today
What Donald Miller’s work reinforced for me is that clarity creates momentum.
When people understand:
What you do
Who it’s for
How it helps
What to do next
Everything gets easier.
That principle now sits at the heart of how I approach branding, websites, customer journeys, and coaching. Simplicity isn’t dumbing things down — it’s respecting people’s time and attention.
I don’t try to sound clever anymore.
I try to sound clear.
And that shift has made all the difference.
If you’re interested, I keep a quiet list of the books and tools that have shaped my thinking on my Resources I Trust page. “Resources I Trust page” →
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As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
