Dan Sullivan
Dan Sullivan is an entrepreneur, coach, and business author focused on entrepreneurship, strategic growth, and productivity. He co-founded Strategic Coach and wrote books including Who Not How, The Gap and the Gain, and 10x Is Easier Than 2x. His ideas have reached more than 20,000 entrepreneurs through Strategic Coach.
Biography & Author's Journey
Dan Sullivan built his career from an unusually varied early path. Raised on a farm in Ohio, he came of age through a blend of formal study, public service, and on-the-job learning. Public accounts of his early years emphasize his move to Washington, where he worked for the FBI soon after high school, followed by Vietnam-era communication and entertainment work, and then advertising in Toronto. Those experiences sharpened the habit that would define him: asking clarifying questions until complexity became usable. After leaving agency life in the 1970s to coach clients independently, he reached a major turning point in 1982 with the creation of The Strategy Circle, the planning framework that later became the foundation of Strategic Coach, the company he built with Babs Smith in the late 1980s.
Quotes
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Popular Books
10x Is Easier Than 2x
Dan Sullivan
Counterintuitive guide for entrepreneurs to achieve exponential growth by focusing on quality over quantity in key areas of business and life.
The Dan Sullivan Question
Dan Sullivan
Transform your entrepreneurial future with one revolutionary question.
The Gap and the Gain
Dan Sullivan & Benjamin Hardy
Shift focus from unattainable ideals to personal growth for happiness and success.
Who Not How
Dan Sullivan & Benjamin Hardy
Transform your business by asking 'who' not 'how' to achieve freedom and 10x growth.
10x Is Easier Than 2x
Dan Sullivan
Counterintuitive guide for entrepreneurs to achieve exponential growth by focusing on quality over quantity in key areas of business and life.
The Dan Sullivan Question
Dan Sullivan
Transform your entrepreneurial future with one revolutionary question.
The Gap and the Gain
Dan Sullivan & Benjamin Hardy
Shift focus from unattainable ideals to personal growth for happiness and success.
Who Not How
Dan Sullivan & Benjamin Hardy
Transform your business by asking 'who' not 'how' to achieve freedom and 10x growth.
Discover more
Business, Leadership & Self-Improvement Focus
Business, Leadership & Self-Improvement Focus
This plan bridge the gap between entrepreneurial theory and practical leadership excellence. It is ideal for aspiring founders and managers looking to synchronize personal growth with scalable business success.
Growth, Business, Culture & Life Mastery
Growth, Business, Culture & Life Mastery
This comprehensive guide is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs and leaders who seek to harmonize professional scaling with personal excellence. It bridges the gap between technical business mechanics and the psychological mastery required to lead high-performing teams and live a fulfilling life.
Master Self, Business & Science for Growth
Master Self, Business & Science for Growth
This plan is designed for ambitious leaders and entrepreneurs who want to bridge the gap between personal performance and organizational success. It provides a unique blend of psychological mastery, strategic execution, and scientific innovation for sustainable growth.
Books Recommended by Matt Risinger
Book recommendations by Matt Risinger to boost business, sharpen leadership, and build smarter—essential reads for builders and entrepreneurs.
BeFreed team
Success Blueprint for Entrepreneurs Inspired by Elon Musk
Explore the books that every ambitious entrepreneur needs on their shelf. Learn to think big, decide smart, and build greatness.
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Community Voices
"Dan Sullivan is the ultimate coach for entrepreneurs"
— David Bach
"Dan Sullivan changes lives"
— Keith J. Cunningham
"Dan Sullivan is a one-of-a-kind human being"
— Kathy Kolbe
"Dan Sullivan is the master of 10x thinking"
— Peter H. Diamandis
"Dan Sullivan is one of America’s great thinkers"
— Mark Young
"As a 25-year student of Dan Sullivan’s, I have experienced firsthand how his teachings have 10x’d every aspect of my life"
— Gino Wickman
"Dan Sullivan coaches the world’s greatest entrepreneurs"
— Chris Voss
"Dan Sullivan is the preeminent advisor to successful entrepreneurs worldwide"
— John Ferrell
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
