Business Coach’s Checklist

In The Business Coach’s Checklist, Donald Miller applies his signature "StoryBrand" clarity to the world of professional consulting and coaching. The book is less about the psychology of coaching and more about a systematized business architecture. Miller argues that most business coaches fail because they lack a repeatable framework to diagnose and fix a client’s problems.

The core of the book is built around the metaphor of an airplane, where different parts of a business correspond to parts of the aircraft. For a business to "fly," every part must be functional and balanced.

The Six-Step Checklist

·         Leadership (The Cockpit): Defining a clear mission and vision.

·         Marketing (The Right Engine): Clarifying the message to drive sales.

·         Sales (The Left Engine): Creating a framework that closes deals.

·         Products (The Wings): Ensuring the offering is profitable and in demand.

·         Overhead (The Body): Keeping the "weight" of the business lean.

·         Cash Flow (The Fuel): Managing the lifeblood of the operation.

Miller’s approach is refreshingly pragmatic, stripping away corporate jargon in favor of actionable checklists. It’s an essential guide for coaches who want to move away from vague "vibe-based" sessions and toward delivering measurable ROI for their clients.