Reclaiming Your Ambition with Michael Bungay Stanier


In the latest episode of Minds & Mics, I chatted with Michael Bungay Stanier about his new book How to Begin: Start Doing Something That Matters and a range of topics, including the obligation we all have to be “doubly ambitious,” why SMART goals aren’t usually very smart, the case for working in 6-week cycles, and the genius of cartoonist Gary Larson.

You can listen to this episode in your podcast player of choice:

Show Notes

  • What makes a book useful?
  • The Coaching Habit
  • Being “doubly ambitious”
  • How to think about overwhelm: realistic, consistent, grace
  • Working in 6-week cycles
  • Why Michael hates SMART goals
  • Should we follow our passion?
  • Relaxing into commitment
  • Prizes and punishments of maintaining the status quo
  • The Call of the Wild (Gary Larson)
  • The value of the humble pros and cons list

Learn more about Michael and his work here:

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