Self-Help

How to Begin

Name: How to Begin
Rating: 4.8 (1000 reviews)
Author: Michael Bungay Stanier

Michael Bungay Stanier

24 minAudio8 insights

What you'll learn

•How to identify and craft a Worthy Goal that is thrilling, important, and daunting.
•Methods to test and refine your ambition using practical feedback tools.
•How to acknowledge and overcome resistance and past setbacks.
•Techniques for committing fully by weighing the costs and benefits.
•Strategies to make progress through small, manageable steps.
•Ways to reconnect with your best self for sustained motivation.
•The importance of building a supportive network tailored to your journey.

Who should read this

✓Individuals seeking clarity and motivation for personal or professional goals
✓Leaders and managers aiming to inspire meaningful change
✓People feeling stuck or overwhelmed by ambition and resistance
✓Anyone interested in personal growth and self-mastery

About this book

A practical, step-by-step guide to defining, committing to, and making progress on meaningful, challenging goals.

Did You Know?

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Michael Bungay Stanier is also known for the bestselling book 'The Coaching Habit.'

1 more facts available in the app

Audio Summary

Section 1

Discovering the Power of a Worthy Goal: The Spark That Ignites Your Ambition

3:45

8 Sections

Preview: Discovering the Power of a Worthy Goal: The Spark That Ignites Your Ambition

Imagine standing on the edge of a new adventure, your heart fluttering with anticipation and a hint of fear. This is the moment when ambition stirs, and you begin the journey toward something that truly matters. A Worthy Goal is the spark that ignites this fire within you. But what makes a goal worthy? It's not just about setting any target; it must be thrilling enough to excite your spirit, important enough to connect with your values and the wider world, and daunting enough to push you beyond your comfort zone.

Consider the story of an aspiring podcaster who initially aimed to 'create a top-notch podcast.' While this sounded good, it lacked the edge of challenge and specificity. By refining the goal to 'launch a new podcast that is in the top 3 percent of all podcasts within 12 months,' the ambition became clearer and more compelling. This goal scored 19 out of 21 on the Voting Test, a practical tool that invites you to rate your goal’s Thrilling, Important, and Daunting qualities on a scale of 1 to 7 each. This quantitative approach helps remove the fog of vagueness and brings your goal into sharp focus.

Why does this matter? Because goals that don't excite you lead to burnout; those that lack importance feel selfish; and those without challenge become comfortable but stagnant. The perfect goal balances these tensions, like a three-legged stool where each leg supports the whole. If one leg is weak, the stool wobbles and risks collapse.

Setting such a goal requires courage and honesty. You might feel unworthy or uncertain, but remember, this process meets you where you are. It’s about finding a goal worth your time, energy, and heart. As you embark on this journey, give yourself permission to write a 'crappy first draft' of your goal. This is not failure but the vital first step toward clarity and commitment.

The path ahead will invite you to test and refine your goal, to add the right amount of 'heat' with precise words that sharpen focus. For example, adding 'professional-grade' or 'within 12 months' transforms vague aspiration into actionable ambition. One word can move your goal from lukewarm to fiery, fueling your drive.

As the sun rises on this new beginning, take a deep breath and feel the thrill of possibility. Your Worthy Goal is the beacon guiding you forward. In the next section, we will explore how to commit fully to this goal, overcoming resistance and embracing the journey ahead.