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Introduction: Pathfinding Tools for Your Journey

Many self-help books are akin to trains, offering predetermined itineraries towards a specific destination. You simply follow the plotted route, and the book acts as your ticket. While this approach can be effective, it’s not always necessary to navigate your journey alone. Sometimes, the quickest path to your destination is to seek advice from experts.

For instance, consider maintaining a healthy diet. You don’t need to be a nutrition expert to make choices that keep you healthy, active, and productive. By following the advice of professionals, like opting for a spinach salad instead of chili-cheese french fries, you can reap the benefits of healthy eating.

Michael Bungay Stanier’s book, “How to Begin,” takes a different approach. Unlike many self-help specialists, he doesn’t prescribe a one-size-fits-all solution for living your life. He acknowledges that each individual’s path to fulfillment is unique. We must forge our own way, as what may lead to fulfillment for one person could be a dead end for another.

These summaries of Bungay Stanier’s book don’t provide a train ticket to some ultimate destination, as there is no single destination that fits all. Instead, they focus on helping you define your own unique objectives. Bungay Stanier identifies “Worthy Goals” based on their characteristics rather than their specific content.

Life is short, and we have only one chance to make it count. We don’t have time to go down unnecessary rabbit holes. Therefore, it is crucial to pursue significant objectives that align with our values and aspirations.

These summaries aim to guide you on your journey to achieve your Worthy Goal. Along the way, you will learn what makes a goal truly worthy of your time, how to stress-test major life decisions, and when to pivot and begin anew.

Embark on this pathfinding journey, and you’ll uncover valuable insights to enhance your life’s direction.

Chapter One: Worthy Goals: The Three Essential Characteristics

Worthy objectives are distinguished by three fundamental characteristics: they must be challenging, significant, and exciting. To gain a deeper understanding, let’s observe the life of a young man named Paul from childhood to adulthood, evaluating if his life goal possesses these traits and truly qualifies as a Worthy Goal.

Meet Paul, a kind, perceptive, and wise individual who excels academically and enjoys creative pursuits like daydreaming, playing the piano, and drawing. As he faces the decision of choosing a career path for college, his parents, being realistic, advise him to opt for a “safe” profession. Wanting to make his family proud, Paul agrees and becomes a doctor, excelling in his medical studies and embracing the challenges of his profession.

Paul’s work as a doctor is undoubtedly challenging, presenting him with daily obstacles that demand moral fortitude. It pushes his boundaries, fosters growth, and aligns with the essence of a difficult objective. Moreover, it is undoubtedly significant, as he saves lives and makes a tangible impact on others, embodying the meaning of a meaningful goal.

However, there is an important third characteristic that a Worthy Goal must possess: excitement. This aspect seems to be missing from Paul’s journey. While he finds fulfillment in helping others and being of service, there is an underlying itch suggesting that something is amiss. Two out of the three boxes are checked, but the stool remains unsteady.

Imagine a stool with three legs, one of which is shorter than the others. It can still serve its purpose, but it won’t fully support your passion and talent, and sitting on it will be uncomfortable.

To strengthen this shaky three-legged stool and make Paul’s goal truly Worthy, we need to explore how to infuse excitement into his pursuit. As we continue, let’s keep this mental image in mind and explore the possibilities of refining his life’s purpose.

Chapter Two: The Foundation of Creation: Embracing the Bad First Draft

Whether it’s building a stool or any other endeavor, everything begins with a concept or design, real or symbolic. The origin of that idea doesn’t matter; what matters is its existence.

Let’s roll up our sleeves and work together on a life project you’d like to undertake. We’ll help transform that idea from a mere thought in your mind into something tangible and impactful.

To begin, we need a drawing—an initial draft. It doesn’t have to be fully developed or a masterpiece. It just needs to be on paper, even if it appears disorganized, hazy, or awful. Embrace the imperfection, as rarely do Worthy Goals come to fruition on the first attempt.

There are many reasons for this. Like Paul, we might struggle to articulate what’s missing. But don’t dwell on it. Quickly make word connections and move forward. For example, if your objective is to “Go to bed at 10:00 p.m. every night,” associate words like “early start,” “more energy,” and “time for projects.” Spend 10 minutes on this task.

As you outline your goal, aim for something worthwhile. Ask yourself if it’s challenging, significant, and exciting. Will it push you beyond your comfort zone without being impossible? Will it connect you to the world around you? Does it excite you?

Keep making word associations, and try to summarize your entire mission in a concise statement. For instance, it could be “Create a fresh, top-notch podcast,” echoing the author’s worthy goal.

Will everything go smoothly from here? Most likely not, but that’s okay. This is just the beginning—a bad first draft that lays the foundation for what’s to come.

Chapter Three: Before you proceed, ensure your goal is realistic.

Congratulations on completing your first draft. Now, it’s time to put your Worthy Goal to the test.

Consider it a stress test – how robust is your goal? Can it bear the weight of your aspirations, or does it feel shaky? Let’s start with the spouse-ish test.

Pitch your concept to the person who knows you best, whether it’s a real spouse, sibling, lover, or best friend. This person has experienced everything with you – your jokes, hopes, goals, and hang-ups. They understand your identity, values, and position in life.

Your sketch is still on paper, an abstract concept. But that’s about to change. Holding yourself accountable and seeking a reality check are scary but essential steps. Everyone has blind spots, and early problem detection can save you from future hardships.

You might receive one of three responses from your spouse-like person: enthusiastic approval, cautious concern, or encouragement to stop talking and start doing. Pay attention to strong emotions, positive or negative, but remember they are not definitive answers.

Next comes the second test – placing your project in the Goldilocks Zone.

In the fairytale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Goldilocks tried three bowls of porridge – one too cold, one too hot, and the third just right. In astronomy, the Goldilocks Zone refers to the region around a star where planets have liquid water, essential for life as we know it.

Some goals may be too narrowly defined, while others are overly broad and abstract. The Goldilocks test aims to find the perfect balance – an inspiring yet achievable, meaningful yet realistic goal.

After the stress tests and the Goldilocks Zone evaluation, take stock of your Worthy Goal’s performance. If it still feels unsteady, don’t worry; return to your sketch and make the necessary adjustments.

Chapter Four: Your goal can become significantly clearer with a few minor changes.

Let’s recap. Your first draft is now public since you’ve shared it with someone resembling your spouse. You’ve also considered the feasibility and importance of your goal. Is it possible to achieve, and will it be worthwhile?

Did the stress testing yield positive results? Excellent! You are now ready to craft your final draft. Wondering how? Read on.

Imagine a favorite eatery in Toronto that evaluates the heat of its dishes on a scale from 1 to 20, with mild to extremely hot.

What does this chili scale have to do with your goal? Well, you can use a similar scale to gauge your Worthy Goal. It shouldn’t be overwhelmingly challenging, but it could use a little more spice. Sometimes, a single word or brief phrase can add impact to your mission statement.

Let’s get started with this task. Set aside about 15 minutes and grab a pen and paper, your phone’s notes app, or any other writing tool. Ready? Excellent, let’s begin: How can you make your draft more compelling? Consider the following categories of terms you could include.

First, think about “time.” How much time will you devote to achieving your goal? Will it be five hours per week or a full-time commitment? Set specific deadlines: until tomorrow, within four weeks, by the end of the year, by 2040, or before your lifetime ends?

Next, consider your working approach. Will you be working alone or with a group? Will you approach it willingly, joyfully, or passionately? Will you go all-in?

Now, ponder your target audience. Is your project intended for people in your local community or a global audience? Are you aiming for ten million subscribers worldwide or one thousand local customers?

Besides the outcomes, think about the attributes. Use different adjectives like profitable, sustainable, beneficial, lucrative, liberating, or fulfilling. Aim to be in the top 10%, 5%, or 3%. Seek to create something transformative or a best-seller that will be acknowledged, cherished, or treasured.

Next, consider standards. Are you striving to be exceptional, professional, or elite? Perhaps capable or simply adequate?

As you add this extra spice, observe how your mission statement transforms. The hazy descriptions from your first draft should start to solidify and become more focused. Just like the author’s first draft, “Start a brand-new, excellent podcast” evolved when he engaged in this exercise. He found that the word “new” was accurate and significant, while “top-notch” was too vague and needed to be refined.

Experimenting with more adjectives and adverbs, he crafted his final draft: “Launch a new podcast that ranks in the top 3 percent of all podcasts within 12 months.”

See how much tighter and more powerful it became? Strive to make your mission statement as compelling as possible.

Chapter Five: To assess your readiness to commit, weigh the benefits and risks of your goal.

Congratulations, you now have your completed draft—an exciting, meaningful, and challenging endeavor. Perhaps it’s a little intimidating too, and that’s perfectly fine. After all, it’s designed to be a bit daunting. Now, it’s decision time.

But before you make your final call, there’s one more test to perform.

Picture a cartoon by the American cartoonist Gary Larson, the creator of The Far Side comic strip. In the cartoon, a chubby moose is lounging in front of the TV on a worn-out old chair with a drink in hand—a moose that embodies the phrase “locked in a rut.” Then, the moose’s wife picks up the phone.

“It’s the call of the wild,” she informs him while muffling the phone’s microphone. The joke, of course, is that no creature is less likely to heed the call of the wild than Larson’s chair-bound moose. But what about you? Will you answer the call? Will you pursue this goal, or will you let this opportunity slip away?

Though it may be uncomfortable to contemplate, this question is crucial for your journey. The truth is, there are valid reasons to ignore the call. Yes, maintaining the status quo has its benefits, but it also comes with its drawbacks. Our final activity involves weighing these benefits and costs against each other.

Start with the benefits. The primary reward is that you get to keep what you already have. Each of us values different aspects of our current situation, but the themes are generally similar. Comfort, status, and the power you’ve accumulated over time are preserved. You maintain ownership. If you don’t attempt something new, you can’t fail. You won’t disappoint anyone, including yourself. It’s safe, tested, and proven—comfortable.

However, the drawback is that these things won’t help you reach your full potential. To achieve that, you need to take on challenging tasks, venture into uncharted territory. So let’s begin the exercise.

Take ten minutes to consider how avoiding your worthy goal benefits you. You might find that your current situation allows you to preserve your choices, or perhaps you fear losing money or prestige. Maybe it allows you to maintain a reassuring story that success is the result of blind luck rather than hard work. Dig deep, even if it’s tough—you’ll uncover powerful insights.

Once you’ve listed the benefits, create a second column for the costs associated with giving up on your worthy goal. What opportunities will you be missing if you ignore the call, just like Larson’s moose? Perhaps the chance to network with fascinating people or develop skills that pave the way for a more fulfilling career. Or perhaps you’ll resign yourself to the belief that you’ve already reached your peak.

Take another ten minutes for this part.

Now, examine the top three benefits and costs you’ve listed. How do they compare? Which way does the balance tilt? This part can be done mentally. You might find that the answer becomes apparent right away, and that’s perfectly fine. If the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, it’s far better to realize it now than weeks, months, or years into a project that wasn’t the right fit for you. If you find yourself in that situation, take the exit, and return to the beginning of the process. Reassess your goal. Does it need adjustments, or should you choose a different objective?

And if the drawbacks of ignoring the call outweigh the benefits, you’re ready for the final step—commitment.

Conclusion

Avoid getting trapped in excessive planning and instead, take action while monitoring your progress.

Congratulations! You’ve accomplished a lot. Your goal has been developed, refined, completed, and tested. You’ve done the necessary groundwork, and now you’re ready to move forward.

It’s time to move beyond the planning phase and start the actual work. Constantly revising to-do lists can create a false sense of progress and lead to procrastination. The key is to take real, tangible steps forward.

Whether you’re writing a novel or creating a community group, focus on making steady progress, one step at a time. Consistently dedicating yourself to small actions is what truly makes a difference. So, take those necessary steps.

Working towards your worthy goal may take time—months, years, or even decades, depending on the scale of your endeavor. Therefore, it’s essential to periodically pause and assess your progress.

To maintain momentum, consider taking a break every six weeks. This timeframe allows for significant progress without incurring significant sunk costs.

During these breaks, reflect on the past weeks. Celebrate your achievements and acknowledge what you’ve learned. Assess if you wish to continue this project and set your goals for the next six weeks, if applicable.

Breaking your worthy goal into manageable pieces makes it feel more attainable and keeps you motivated.

Making the most of our time on this planet is a personal responsibility. It involves taking meaningful action, and only you can determine what that means for you. Setting a goal, subjecting it to tests, and ensuring it is exciting, challenging, and significant is the best way to find your worthy goal.

By following these steps, you might just discover a worthy goal that brings purpose and fulfillment to your life.

About the author

Michael Bungay Stanier possesses a remarkable ability to simplify complex concepts, making them accessible and empowering for regular people, enabling them to become a force for good.

His books have enjoyed tremendous success, with over a million copies sold, and “The Coaching Habit” even topping the Wall Street Journal bestseller list. He has been featured on various prominent platforms, including ABC, BBC, CBC, Ted.com, and numerous podcasts. Influential figures like Seth Godin, Tim Ferriss, and Brené Brown have also acknowledged his work on their blogs and social media pages. Furthermore, prestigious publications like the Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Inc., and Fast Company have highlighted his contributions.

Michael Bungay Stanier founded Box of Crayons, a learning and development business that facilitates a shift from advice-driven action to curiosity-led transformation. Over 500,000 individuals from esteemed companies such as Microsoft, Salesforce, TELUS, and Gucci have received training from them.

Before establishing Box of Crayons, Michael’s journey included publishing an academic article on James Joyce and a short story in the style of Harlequin. He played a role in the development of Pizza Hut’s Stuffed Crust pizza and a not-so-successful single-malt whiskey. Moreover, he crafted the global vision that has guided GlaxoSmithKline for more than two decades.

Originally from Australia, Michael Bungay Stanier was a Rhodes Scholar in the past and currently resides in Toronto, Canada.

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