Quotes from Donald Miller

We understand how it feels to . . ." or "Nobody should have to experience . . ." or "Like you, we are frustrated by . . ." or, in the case of one Toyota commercial inviting Toyota owners to engage their local Toyota service center, simply, "We care about your Toyota.

If I have a hope, it's that God sat over the dark nothing and wrote you and me, specifically, into the story, and put us in with the sunset and the rainstorm as though to say, Enjoy your place in my story. The beauty of it means you matter, and you can create within it even as I have created you.

Once we've identified our customers' internal problems, we simply need to let them know we understand and would like to help them find a resolution.

A story that fails to get started always has the same problem: there is no conflict!

Who is your customer? What is their problem? What is your plan to help them, and what will their life look like after you do?

when we talk publicly about our company's random backstory or internal goals, we're positioning ourselves as the chairs, not the exits.

A good movie has memorable scenes, and so does a good life.

In your marketing copy, don't be cute, be clear.

Imagine searching for a caterer and their website simply said, "We will be your favorite, caterer, we promise," but didn't spell out a simple plan.

Simplify your message and repeat it over and over using the same language and customers will finally figure out where you fit in their lives.

Keep the Plan Visually Simple

Real empathy means letting customers know we see them as we see ourselves. Customers look for brands they have something in common with.

all of us are living stories, and those stories teach other people to live stories.

We'll help you create one-liners that pique a customer's curiosity, wireframe websites and landing pages that further intrigue them about the problems you solve, lead generators that enlighten them as to why your products and services will work for them, email campaigns that establish trust with customers, and sales emails and calls to action that ask for a commitment without making you sound like a sleazy salesperson.

In fact, most stories start with a character who wants something followed by a scene in which an enormous challenge is placed between where the character is and what the character wants.

We think stories are about getting money and security, but the truth is, it all comes down to relationships.

Every human being wakes up each morning and sees the world through the lens of a protagonist.

I spent years studying theology and philosophy. They were good years, but I was mistaken to believe that the study of meaning would give me a sense of meaning. Studying love does not cause you to fall in love. Falling in love happens under a certain set of circumstances.

Commonality, whether taste in music or shared values, is a powerful marketing tool.

what our stories are about matters, not just for us but for the world.

It's the crossing of that distance that makes the story work.

When we start our elevator pitch or keynote address, or when somebody visits our website, they're burning calories to process the information we're sharing. And if we don't say something (and say something quickly) they can use to survive or thrive, they will tune us out.

The only reason our customers buy from us is because the external problem we solve is frustrating them in some way. If we can identify that frustration, put it into words, and offer to resolve it along with the original external problem, something special happens.

If a positive scene followed by a negative scene is how enthralling movies work, then why not follow the same formula on our website?