Sell the Mission, Not the Product with Dan Grech
Wed Feb 04 2026
What story are you really telling; and is anyone listening?
In this episode, Bill Gallagher is joined by Dan Grech, storyteller, strategist, and founder of BizHack Academy, to unpack the real reason most small businesses struggle: they skip the story and jump straight to the sell.
Dan shares how storytelling builds emotional connection, why most entrepreneurs fail to clarify their message, and how safe spaces for vulnerability unlock real transformation. From strategy to execution, this conversation will help you rethink how you communicate, connect, and lead.
Topics explored in this episode:
(03:30) The Power of Storytelling in Business
*Emphasis on emotional storytelling and the “why” behind a brand
*Dan talks about how stories humanize a brand and build authentic connection.
*He highlights the idea of ‘heart’ in storytelling
(11:45) Teaching Strategy + Tactics
*Dan explains the importance of combining big-picture strategy with technical execution
*Discusses how people often jump into tactics without clarifying their message or audience
*You can’t out-hustle a bad strategy
(17:15) Why Most Small Businesses Struggle
*Many don’t know how to tell their story
*They try to mimic big brands, but it backfires
*Small businesses must: sell the mission, not the product.
(55:10) Creating Safe Space for Vulnerability
*The best coaching relationships allow founders to admit fears, doubts, and confusion
*Dan believes real transformation happens when people are seen and heard first
*The most powerful thing we can do is sit with someone in their story and not try to fix it.
Thanks to Dan Grech for being on the show!
Dan’s website: https://dangrech.com/ & https://bizhack.com/
Connect with Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dangrech
Bill Gallagher, Scaling Coach and host of the Scaling Up Business podcast, is an international business coach who works with C-Suite leaders to achieve breakthrough growth.
Join Bill in the Growth Navigator Coaching Program: https://ScalingCoach.com/workshop
Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/BillGall
Bill on YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/@BillGallagherScalingCoach
Visit https://ScalingUp.com to learn more about Verne Harnish, our team of Scaling Up Coaches, and the Scaling Up Performance Platform, which includes coaching, learning, software, and summit. We share how the fastest-growing companies succeed where so many others fail. We help leadership teams with the biggest decisions around people, strategy, execution, and cash so that they can scale up successfully and beat the odds of business growth.
Did you enjoy today’s episode? If so, then please leave a review! Help other business leaders discover Scaling Up Business with Bill Gallagher so they, too, can benefit from the ideas shared in these podcasts.
Subscribe via Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3PGhWPJ
Subscribe via Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3PKe00u
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What story are you really telling; and is anyone listening? In this episode, Bill Gallagher is joined by Dan Grech, storyteller, strategist, and founder of BizHack Academy, to unpack the real reason most small businesses struggle: they skip the story and jump straight to the sell. Dan shares how storytelling builds emotional connection, why most entrepreneurs fail to clarify their message, and how safe spaces for vulnerability unlock real transformation. From strategy to execution, this conversation will help you rethink how you communicate, connect, and lead. Topics explored in this episode: (03:30) The Power of Storytelling in Business *Emphasis on emotional storytelling and the “why” behind a brand *Dan talks about how stories humanize a brand and build authentic connection. *He highlights the idea of ‘heart’ in storytelling (11:45) Teaching Strategy + Tactics *Dan explains the importance of combining big-picture strategy with technical execution *Discusses how people often jump into tactics without clarifying their message or audience *You can’t out-hustle a bad strategy (17:15) Why Most Small Businesses Struggle *Many don’t know how to tell their story *They try to mimic big brands, but it backfires *Small businesses must: sell the mission, not the product. (55:10) Creating Safe Space for Vulnerability *The best coaching relationships allow founders to admit fears, doubts, and confusion *Dan believes real transformation happens when people are seen and heard first *The most powerful thing we can do is sit with someone in their story and not try to fix it. Thanks to Dan Grech for being on the show! Dan’s website: https://dangrech.com/ & https://bizhack.com/ Connect with Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dangrech Bill Gallagher, Scaling Coach and host of the Scaling Up Business podcast, is an international business coach who works with C-Suite leaders to achieve breakthrough growth. Join Bill in the Growth Navigator Coaching Program: https://ScalingCoach.com/workshop Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/BillGall Bill on YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/@BillGallagherScalingCoach Visit https://ScalingUp.com to learn more about Verne Harnish, our team of Scaling Up Coaches, and the Scaling Up Performance Platform, which includes coaching, learning, software, and summit. We share how the fastest-growing companies succeed where so many others fail. We help leadership teams with the biggest decisions around people, strategy, execution, and cash so that they can scale up successfully and beat the odds of business growth. Did you enjoy today’s episode? If so, then please leave a review! Help other business leaders discover Scaling Up Business with Bill Gallagher so they, too, can benefit from the ideas shared in these podcasts. Subscribe via Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3PGhWPJ Subscribe via Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3PKe00u Bill on Facebook: a...