#72: How to Lead When the Future Feels Unpredictable
The StoryBrand Podcast
StoryBrand.com
4.7 • 2K Ratings
🗓️ 18 May 2026
⏱️ 64 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Most leaders are making decisions in a world that keeps changing faster than their plans can keep up. Tactics expire. Trends fizzle. Teams get confused. And when pressure rises, it's easy to chase quick wins instead of building on something solid. But what if the best way to grow through uncertainty isn't to find a better tactic, but to lead from better principles?
In this episode, Donald Miller talks with Chase Koch, executive vice president at Koch Industries and co-author of Becoming a Principle-Driven Leader, about what it takes to lead when the stakes are high and the future is uncertain. Chase shares the principles his father, Charles Koch, taught him, the business failures that made those lessons stick, and why knowing what people are truly best at can change everything. Listen in to learn how to make better decisions and run your business with more clarity when everything around you keeps changing.
Get Charles and Chase's book, Becoming a Principle-Driven Leader, here: https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Principle-Driven-Leader-Principles-Enduring/dp/1637635249
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Imagine taking over the reins of a $200 billion business from your father. |
| 0:06.0 | That would be a lot of pressure. |
| 0:09.0 | Well, today on the podcast, I'm interviewing Chase Koch, who is in that exact position. |
| 0:14.0 | He's ready for the job because he started training for the job at eight years old. |
| 0:18.0 | But how do you train for a job that big? How do you train to sustain an |
| 0:23.1 | organization that well, to not make critical mistakes? Today we're going to talk about the |
| 0:27.5 | principles that Charles Koch taught Chase Coke in order to be ready for this challenge. You |
| 0:34.6 | are going to get a lot out of it, even if you are small business owner, the same principles that built a $200 billion organization will build your small |
| 0:44.3 | business. In fact, Chase and Charles Koch have released a book called Becoming a Principal |
| 0:50.7 | Driven Leader. Chase was kind enough to come to town to talk about his life, talk about the book, |
| 0:56.8 | and ultimately talk about the principles that are going to benefit you. |
| 0:59.8 | You're going to love this interview with Chase Code. |
| 1:02.7 | If you've ever struggled to explain what your business does or you felt like your marketing |
| 1:07.8 | should be converting better, then join us for StoryBrand Your Business Live. |
| 1:11.8 | It's a two-day workshop here in Nashville. It's happening September 1st through 2nd, |
| 1:16.3 | where Donald Miller himself will teach you how to build clear messaging that works. And at the event, |
| 1:22.7 | you'll also get direct feedback from Story Brand certified guides. So your message finally connects with customers. |
| 1:29.4 | All of this year's workshops have sold out. |
| 1:31.5 | So don't miss your chance. |
| 1:33.3 | Register for the Storybrand Your Business Live event happening September 1st through 2nd |
| 1:38.0 | at storybrand.com slash live. |
| 1:42.2 | You're listening to the Storybrand podcast based on Donald Miller's bestselling book, |
... |
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