#196: Donald Miller—How to Stop Giving Free Advice and Start Charging for Your Expertise

When your business starts to scale, growth brings new opportunities—and new complexities. As they say, “New level, new devil.” While rapid growth is exciting, it can also lead to misalignment, confusion, and burnout without the right checks in place. To keep your team focused, your mission clear, and your growth sustainable, you need a proactive approach.   In this episode, host Bobby Richards talks with Tyler Ginn, President of CoachBuilder and Business Made Simple, who reveals a 4-part health check that’s become a game-changer for scaling businesses. Tyler’s framework—covering mission, processes, people, and results—keeps you ahead of potential pitfalls and helps you steer your company confidently through change. If you’re feeling the growing pains of success or want a proven strategy to keep your business on track, listen in to get the tools you need to lead with clarity and intention.   --   FIND OUT YOU CAN START AND GROW A SUCCESSFUL COACHING BUSINESS AT CoachBuilder.com.   FIND AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/BusinessMadeSimple

If you’re in the coaching business, you know it’s not enough to just find clients. You’ve got to help them get real results that make a difference. But without a proven system, that’s easier said than done. A lot of coaches end up frustrated, watching their clients stall out. So, what if you could skip the trial and error and go straight to what works?   In this episode, Donald Miller talks with Michael Hyatt, founder of Full Focus, and Will Guidara, author of Unreasonable Hospitality, about their newly launched certifications on the CoachBuilder platform. Michael’s Full Focus Planner Certification gives coaches a simple, effective way to help clients get set and achieve their biggest goals. While Will’s Unreasonable Hospitality Certification teaches you how to create unforgettable client experiences. Both certifications provide ready-made frameworks, teaching material, and marketing assets, allowing you to skip the trial and error and go straight to what works. Listen in and learn how you can gain a major competitive edge with these 2 powerful certifications.   Find out how to grow your coaching business at CoachBuilder.com.   --   STUCK TRYING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE US COACH THROUGH IT ON THE SHOW: BusinessMadeSimple.com/Podcast    ORDER COACH BUILDER, DONALD MILLER'S NEW BOOK, AND TRANSFORM YOUR EXPERTISE INTO A LUCRATIVE CONSULTING CAREER: CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast   IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A PLAN TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND REVENUE, FLIGHT SCHOOL IS FOR YOU! JOIN NOW: SmallBusinessFlightSchool.com.   FIND AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/BusinessMadeSimple

As a business coach, you might have all the passion and wisdom in the world, but if you don’t have a clear, step-by-step framework, things can get messy—fast. Without a reliable system, helping your clients get consistent, meaningful results is essentially a gamble. You end up reinventing the wheel for each client which creates an exhausting grind for you and an unpredictable experience for your clients. So, how do you move from just giving good advice to offering a proven, repeatable system that guarantees results?    In today’s episode, Donald Miller returns to share how the Small Business Flight Plan Certification can transform the way business coaches deliver value. This certification gives you a plug-and-play system to help small business owners grow, stabilize, and scale. Don breaks down his signature airplane metaphor, turning complex growth strategies into an easy-to-follow framework that works. You’ll learn how to guide your clients through every key area of their business—from leadership and marketing to cash flow and operations. Tune in if you're ready to help your clients achieve long-term growth with clarity and confidence!   f you're ready to turn your expertise into a profitable coaching business, head to CoachBuilder.com to schedule a call where we’ll answer all your questions and help you determine if the Coach Builder framework is the right fit for you.   --   STUCK TRYING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE US COACH THROUGH IT ON THE SHOW: BusinessMadeSimple.com/Podcast    ORDER COACH BUILDER, DONALD MILLER'S NEW BOOK, AND TRANSFORM YOUR EXPERTISE INTO A LUCRATIVE CONSULTING CAREER: CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast   IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A PLAN TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND REVENUE, FLIGHT SCHOOL IS FOR YOU! JOIN NOW: SmallBusinessFlightSchool.com.   FIND AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/BusinessMadeSimple    

Feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list? Download The Small Business Owner’s Quickstart Checklist for free at BusinessMadeSimple.com/Quickstart and start streamlining your operations, clarifying your message, and building a business that works for you.   --   If you think more followers or a bigger ad budget will fix your business, think again. Too often, business owners mistake tactics for strategy. They focus on short-term wins—like growing a social media following or driving quick sales—but forget to ask the most important question: “Where are we going?” Without a clear strategy, all the marketing and tactics in the world won’t save you. What if, instead of searching for the next quick fix, you defined where you’re headed and why?   In this week’s episode, host James Sweeting talks with bestselling author and marketing guru Seth Godin about his new book This is Strategy. Seth breaks down how business owners can build a strategy that acts like a compass, guiding them even when the business landscape shifts. He reveals the 4 key elements of any successful strategy and how they can transform your business. You’ll also learn how to prioritize long-term thinking, define who you serve, and make tough decisions when it's time to pivot. Listen in and start steering your business with clarity and intention.    Order This is Strategy at geni.us/thisisstrategy.   --   STUCK TRYING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE US COACH THROUGH IT ON THE SHOW: BusinessMadeSimple.com/Podcast    READY TO TURN YOUR EXPERTISE INTO A PROFITABLE COACHING BUSINESS? SCHEDULE A CALL WHERE WE'LL ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS AND HELP YOU DETERMINE IF THE COACH BUILDER FRAMEWORK IS THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOU: CoachBuilder.com   IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A PLAN TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND REVENUE, FLIGHT SCHOOL IS FOR YOU! JOIN NOW: SmallBusinessFlightSchool.com.   FIND AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/BusinessMadeSimple

How do you start charging for your advice without feeling weird about it? A lot of business owners have the expertise to coach others, but turning that knowledge into a successful coaching business can feel daunting and awkward. How do you know if what you’re offering is worth the price? The real challenge isn’t what you know—it’s learning how to package that knowledge into something people are willing to pay for. Without a clear plan, it’s easy to get stuck in “free advice” mode and miss the opportunity to build a business around the insights you already have.   In today’s episode, hosts Bobby Richards and James Sweeting talk with Business Made Simple’s very own Donald Miller, creator of the Coach Builder framework, to give you a clear, step-by-step plan for building a thriving coaching business. Don lays out 8 essential steps that will help you professionalize your coaching, confidently charge for your expertise, and grow your business. If you’ve ever wondered how to make the leap from giving free advice to getting paid for what you know, this episode gives you the tools to make it happen. Listen in and learn how to transform the expertise you already have into a profitable revenue stream!    If you're ready to turn your expertise into a profitable coaching business, head to CoachBuilder.com to schedule a call where we’ll answer all your questions and help you determine if the Coach Builder framework is the right fit for you.   --   STUCK TRYING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE US COACH THROUGH IT ON THE SHOW: BusinessMadeSimple.com/Podcast    ORDER COACH BUILDER, DONALD MILLER'S NEW BOOK, AND TRANSFORM YOUR EXPERTISE INTO A LUCRATIVE CONSULTING CAREER: CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast   IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A PLAN TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND REVENUE, FLIGHT SCHOOL IS FOR YOU! JOIN NOW: SmallBusinessFlightSchool.com.   FIND AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/BusinessMadeSimple

Feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list? Download The Small Business Owner’s Quickstart Checklist for free at BusinessMadeSimple.com/Quickstart and start streamlining your operations, clarifying your message, and building a business that works for you.   --   Video marketing can do wonders for your business—if you're comfortable getting on camera. For many, though, creating videos feels awkward and overwhelming. We freeze up, obsess over tiny details, or just have no idea where to start, leaving us feeling defeated before we even hit record. If you’re tired of watching hours of footage, only to realize you didn’t get what you needed, or you just hate how you sound and look on camera, you’re not alone. But there’s a better way to approach it that will make your video creation smoother and your personality shine through.    In today’s episode, hosts Bobby Richards and James Sweeting sit down with Abby Walla and David Storch, Hollywood film professionals and co-founders of Crushing It On Camera. They introduce their proven “Hollywood Method” to help you get comfortable on camera, using simple techniques to deliver content authentically. Whether you’re shooting a short reel or a 30-minute webinar, you’ll learn how to leave behind the stress of scripts or endless retakes. Abby and David teach you how to get prepared, bullet-point ideas, and stay natural. Listen in and learn how to feel confident, authentic, and genuinely excited to create video content. Go to CrushingItOnCamera.com to access Abby and David's free Hollywood Method webinar.   --   STUCK TRYING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE US COACH THROUGH IT ON THE SHOW: BusinessMadeSimple.com/Podcast    ORDER COACH BUILDER, DONALD MILLER'S NEW BOOK, AND TRANSFORM YOUR EXPERTISE INTO A LUCRATIVE CONSULTING CAREER: CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast   IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A PLAN TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND REVENUE, FLIGHT SCHOOL IS FOR YOU! JOIN NOW: SmallBusinessFlightSchool.com.   FIND AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/BusinessMadeSimple

You’ve got the vision and the drive to grow your business, but there’s a massive obstacle holding you back: chaos. Tasks pile up, deadlines blur, and you find yourself juggling too many things at once. How many times have you wished you had more time to focus on the bigger picture? Without someone to manage the daily grind, it can feel like you’re constantly putting out fires instead of strategizing for growth. What if the answer isn’t more hours in the day, but a single, essential hire?   In this episode, host Bobby Richards talks with Sam Buchholz, a project management expert who has transformed how the Coach Builder team operates. From streamlining your team’s workflow to saving you hours of mental fatigue, they break down the undeniable value of a project manager. Sam shares practical insights on how the right systems can boost your business’s efficiency. Tune in to learn how to offload the minutiae and focus on what matters most—driving revenue and achieving your big vision.   --   STUCK TRYING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE US COACH THROUGH IT ON THE SHOW: BusinessMadeSimple.com/Podcast    ORDER COACH BUILDER, DONALD MILLER'S NEW BOOK, AND TRANSFORM YOUR EXPERTISE INTO A LUCRATIVE CONSULTING CAREER: CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast   IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A PLAN TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND REVENUE, FLIGHT SCHOOL IS FOR YOU! JOIN NOW: SmallBusinessFlightSchool.com.   FIND AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/BusinessMadeSimple

You’ve built a business you're proud of, but are you spending too much time in the weeds? When small tasks pile up, you might feel like you’re doing everything except what actually grows your business. With every email and customer support issue you handle, you're losing time that should be dedicated to sales and marketing—the lifeblood of your revenue. So, how do you know when it’s time to delegate and finally scale?   In this episode of Business Made Simple, hosts James Sweeting and Bobby Richards sit down with Nicole Burke, founder of Gardenary, to chat about how she built a thriving online business by staying laser-focused on sales and marketing. Nicole shares her journey of transitioning from doing it all to building a team that handles fulfillment and admin, so she can prioritize what matters most. You’ll learn how to conduct a task audit, recognize when it’s time to hire, and maintain focus on activities that move the needle for your business. Listen in and get actionable steps to scale your team and your business!   Start living a garden-centered life at Gardenary.com.   --   STUCK TRYING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE US COACH THROUGH IT ON THE SHOW: BusinessMadeSimple.com/Podcast    ORDER COACH BUILDER, DONALD MILLER'S NEW BOOK, AND TRANSFORM YOUR EXPERTISE INTO A LUCRATIVE CONSULTING CAREER: CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast   IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A PLAN TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND REVENUE, FLIGHT SCHOOL IS FOR YOU! JOIN NOW: SmallBusinessFlightSchool.com.   FIND AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/BusinessMadeSimple

What’s the real cost of being too nice? It’s more than you might think. Many leaders, especially small business owners, fall into the trap of “ruinous empathy”, which is the failure to provide essential feedback due to the fear of hurting someone's feelings. Avoiding difficult confrontations might feel like the right thing to do—but it’s actually a fast track to mediocrity.    Join hosts Bobby Richards and James Sweeting as they sit down with Kim Scott, author of Radical Candor, to dive into the dangers of avoiding tough conversations. In this episode, Kim shares her powerful Radical Candor framework, breaking down how leaders can strike the perfect balance between caring personally and challenging directly. You'll learn how to move beyond "ruinous empathy," build stronger, more effective teams, and create a culture of honest feedback that drives real results. Listen in and discover specific strategies to give feedback that’s both clear and compassionate, helping you create a more accountable and high-performing team!   --   STUCK TRYING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE US COACH THROUGH IT ON THE SHOW: BusinessMadeSimple.com/Podcast    ORDER COACH BUILDER, DONALD MILLER'S NEW BOOK, AND TRANSFORM YOUR EXPERTISE INTO A LUCRATIVE CONSULTING CAREER: CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast   IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A PLAN TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND REVENUE, FLIGHT SCHOOL IS FOR YOU! JOIN NOW: SmallBusinessFlightSchool.com.   FIND AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/BusinessMadeSimple  

Many people believe that financial freedom—accumulating enough money to never work again—is the ultimate goal. But for most entrepreneurs, this dream feels out of reach, which leads to frustration and financial stress. The constant pressure to build wealth and achieve financial freedom can leave you feeling like a failure if you don’t hit that big number. So what if financial freedom isn’t the answer? What if there’s a more realistic and sustainable way to manage your money and build security?   In this episode, hosts James Sweeting and Bobby Richards talk with Tiffany Aliche, also known as "The Budgetnista," who shares her revolutionary concept of financial wholeness. Tiffany breaks down her 10-step plan that helps anyone achieve financial stability, whether you’re making $50k per year or $50 million. She also opens up about her own journey from financial mess to success and offers practical advice for small business owners to take control of both their personal and business finances. Tune in and learn how to build your dream business without sacrificing your financial peace!   Access amazing free resources to get started on the path to Financial Wholeness at TheBudgetnista.com.   --   STUCK TRYING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE US COACH THROUGH IT ON THE SHOW: BusinessMadeSimple.com/Podcast    ORDER COACH BUILDER, DONALD MILLER'S NEW BOOK, AND TRANSFORM YOUR EXPERTISE INTO A LUCRATIVE CONSULTING CAREER: CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast   IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A PLAN TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND REVENUE, FLIGHT SCHOOL IS FOR YOU! JOIN NOW: SmallBusinessFlightSchool.com.   FIND AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/BusinessMadeSimple