Inside a Live StoryBrand Workshop – Lessons on Clarity, Creativity, and Connection

There’s something invigorating about stepping into a room full of people who’ve shown up with a common goal: clarity. On June 20, 2025, I found myself in a brand-new space—part podcast studio, part training center, part dream realized. What started as a stripped-down warehouse is now a fully built media sandbox where strategy meets creativity.

This journal entry documents the first day of an in-person StoryBrand experience, where marketers, entrepreneurs, and storytellers gathered not just to learn, but to connect—and where I stepped more fully into the vision I’ve been building for years.

Starting the Day with Curiosity and Connection

The morning kicked off with simple, genuine hellos. People trickled in—some local, others from across the country. One had just landed on a red-eye from Idaho. Another, like me, was newer to the area. The energy was casual but focused. Conversations sparked immediately: "Where are you from?" "What's your story?" "What do you do?"

Before diving into the training, we got oriented—Wi-Fi, coffee, restrooms, journals, and resources. What struck me most was the warmth. No pretension. Just a shared sense that we were all here to build something bigger than ourselves.

At each desk sat a fresh copy of Building a StoryBrand 2.0, a journal, and a workbook—the toolkit for the two-day transformation ahead.

The Power of a Simple Question

Before Don Miller took the stage, we were asked to turn to the person next to us and answer one question:
“If you had to teach a course on anything, what would it be?”

It was a moment that brought laughter, humility, and insight. I said marketing consulting and blogging—because that’s what I do. But it reminded me how personal this work is. Teaching others how to communicate well isn’t just a business. It’s a calling.

That one question shifted the tone from corporate to human. From presentation to conversation.

Stepping Into the Studio Sandbox

This studio we’re in? It used to be an auto upholstery warehouse. Now, it’s a hybrid space with podcasting rooms, livestream setups, and teaching zones. It’s not just a workspace—it’s a creative sandbox built for transformation.

Half the team is usually here, with media happening in one corner and training in another. It's the kind of environment that fuels innovation and invites experimentation.

I kept thinking: This is what modern marketing should feel like. Flexible. Collaborative. Purposeful. Human.

Looking Ahead: The StoryBrand Framework in Action

Over the next two days, we’ll be diving deep into the StoryBrand framework—building brand scripts, refining taglines, and reimagining website messaging. It’s hands-on. It’s immersive. And it’s designed to move ideas into action.

Having followed Donald Miller’s work for years, being in this room—with the author himself kicking things off—feels like a milestone. It's not just about learning; it’s about aligning. About taking what I already know and grounding it in a proven system.

This is more than a workshop. It's a reset.

Reflection: From Idaho to the Frontlines of Messaging

I couldn’t help but think back to my roots in Idaho—where entrepreneurship was modeled by my parents in plumbing, remodeling, and electrical businesses. Now, I’m here, refining my own path as a marketing consultant with a focus on helping home service companies grow.

My goal remains the same:
To partner with five businesses who are committed to growth, and to help them tell their story in a way that feels real, human, and compelling.

This event is another step in that direction. Another brick in the foundation.

Final Thoughts: Spaces Shape Stories

Spaces matter. And this one—a former warehouse turned creative haven—is a physical reminder that with vision and systems, anything can be transformed. Whether it’s a room, a brand, or a life.

Day one of the StoryBrand event has reminded me of the power of environment, community, and shared purpose. And tomorrow, we dive even deeper.

If you're on this journey too—

Marketing, storytelling, business growth—know this: you’re not alone. Keep documenting. Keep connecting. And above all, keep building something that matters.