Taking the First Steps toward Your Goals with Michael Bungay Stanier

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August 2, 2022 • 35 mins

Michael Bungay Stanier is the Founder of Box of Crayons, a learning and development company that helps organizations change from being advice-driven to curiosity-led. Michael is a Rhodes Scholar and holds a Master of Philosophy degree in Modern Literature from the University of Oxford as well as a Law degree from the Australian National University. He is the author of seven books, including the best-selling coaching book, The Coaching Habit. Through his newest work, How to Begin, Michael helps people become ambitious for themselves and the world.

Michael joins us today to discuss why it’s difficult to take the first steps toward our goals. He explains the paradox of being creatures of habits and patterns and wanting to move beyond our comfort zones. He describes what makes goals important and what to do if you don’t have a life mission or vision yet. He also highlights the importance of having support from a community of people on the same journey and outlines how to keep yourself committed to your goals when you’ve become an expert at avoiding the work.

“The goal isn’t to take people to a finish line, because finish lines shift and change as you take the journey. The goal is to get people across the threshold.” - Michael Bungay Stanier

This week on Mastering Overwhelm:

How to change your life and why Michael wrote How to Begin
What it takes to unlock your potential and greatness
Why we need to rethink having SMART goals
Examining worthy habits and worthy goals
The Hero’s Journey and how to better hear your life’s Call to Adventure
Michael’s thoughts on his book, The Coaching Habit
The three things worthy goals should have
How our most important and worthy goals meet a lot of resistance
The difference between easy and hard change
Why you don’t have to worry too much about having a mission or vision
How to figure out your life’s purpose through foundational human needs
How having a community helps your commitment to your goals

Resources Mentioned:

Book: Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
Book: Daring Greatly: How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown
Book: Immunity to Change: How to Overcome It and Unlock the Potential in Yourself and Your Organization (Leadership for the Common Good) by Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey

Connect with Michael Bungay Stanier:

Mastering Overwhelm - Set Yourself Free to Enjoy Your Success

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