Are you ready to shake things up and make a difference?
Do you feel an itch to build something meaningful?
This page is home to all my best resources for starting something that matters.
Unleash Your Legacy
Who am I?
Hi! I’m Michael Bungay Stanier – MBS for short. I’m an award-winning author, teacher, and speaker (and have nothing to do with Saudi Arabia). I’ve taught hundreds of thousands of people around the world, in person and online, and I’m excited at the thought of working with you too.
Learn How to Begin: Right Here, Right Now
Unlock your greatness by working on the hard things
Instead of doubting yourself, fearing you’ll make a mistake, and feeling like you need to play “small” so you don’t disrupt the status quo, start showing up for yourself so you can show up for the world.
Don’t regret a life half-lived. Stepping up and pursuing your dreams is hard … and it’s exhilarating, and it’s important.
Let me show you how to get clear, get confident, and start anything that matters.
Order your copy here
ALREADY READ THE BOOK?
Try the Course!
How to Begin
Enhance your learning adventure with MBS’ online course packed with 40 high-definition lessons.
COURSE OVERVIEW
Here's what you get in the How to Begin course
The How to Begin online course is a structured, powerful way to deeply engage in your most meaningful work.
It will give you the very best chance to craft a Worthy Goal: a goal thrilling, important, and daunting, a goal that’s worthy of you giving it your attention … and your life.
And it will give you the very best chance at actually completing that Worthy Goal.
Step #1: Set a Worthy Goal
This section of the course is all about clearly articulating and refining your Worthy Goal. We go through three drafts and four tests to get your goal juuuust right.
Step #2: Commit
Now that your goal is good to go, it’s time to get *you* ready. This section is all about looking at yourself and making sure you are ready, willing, and able to commit to taking on this Worthy Goal.
Step #3: Cross the Threshold
In this third and final core section of the course, you’ll get up to and over the starting line of working on your Worthy Goal.
COMMUNITY
Join an Online Community of Likeminded Dreamers that Support Doing the Work that Matters.
Be part of a community of people who are committed to doing the same work you’re doing
A proven structure and system that will help you move your bold ideas forward so that you make actual progress
Get access to a collection of supportive tools and resources ready to support you through whatever comes up on the journey
Be part of a community of people who are committed to doing the same work you’re doing
BLOG
Does the idea of unlocking greatness strike a chord? Check out my blog
Most popular articles
How to Think Big and Live Brilliantly
The first time I heard "Think BIG!" I nodded my head enthusiastically thinking, “I have absolutely no idea what these words mean practically..."
Internal vs External Motivation: Using Both to Achieve Your Goals
Consistent motivation is difficult, even when we genuinely, deeply care about our projects. It usually starts off well. Then, you wake up late, skip your yoga, lose focus at work.
Bouncing Back From Failure: How to Fail Fantastically
Failure sucks. Failure is difficult. Failure hurts. But what if I told you that failure is also liberating, elevating… and fascinating? Hear me out...
TESTIMONIALS
Hear how our work helps unlock greatness
Brené Brown, PhD
Author, Atlas of the Heart and Dare to Lead
My favorite thing about Michael’s work is his ability to deliver actionable, tactical strategies
that are based on well researched ideas and data, then packaged in a book that I can read on a flight. And, the wisdom is real - it sticks.
Gregor Thain
former Group Learning Director, BAE Systems
A unique ability to know the fears and obstacles that we put in our own way. His guidance, tools and stories is all about helping real people in real life.
Hubert Joly
Executive Chairman and former CEO, Best Buy
Leadership is not about giving the best advice, it is about unlocking the potential of the people around you. Thank you, Michael Bungay Stanier, for reminding us of that and for providing such concrete thoughts on how to do it.
Bronwyn
I feel like I'm standing on the 10mtr diving board looking at the postage stamp pool below me. I know diving in will be thrilling and I know doing it is important to me, but it is so daunting. It will be easier to climb back down the stairs but then what will I have achieved? Committing in my mind is easy, taking that huge dive feels scary right now and somehow all the people cheering on the poolside aren't helping. Thank you MBS for the hand holding of this course.
Greg Dack
Acting Deputy Director, SPMO&TO
Michael has a real gift for using simple powerful questions to invite you to dig a bit deeper, stay curious a bit longer, and really grapple with your thoughts, goals, and ambition. The approach is wonderfully adaptable, as you can choose to dig as little or as much as is needed for your particular goal. It’s been a powerful resource for me.
William Arruda
Author, Digital YOU: Real Personal Branding in the Virtual Age
MBS instills confidence and inspires action.
Jeremy Darroch
Group CEO, Sky
To get more from your people, you need to grow their capability and engagement, and step up yourself. A great way to do that is to give less advice and do more coaching.
Elham
I’m finally starting to work on something that I’ve wanted to do for a few years - and I wouldn’t have started without How to Begin LIVE. In this program, I pivoted my Worthy Goal, took the first steps towards achieving it, and along the way met such interesting people.
Loren I. Shuster
Chief People Officer, LEGO
Michael's practical guide to cultivating keystone conversations can unlock the full potential of an individual, and that of the wider team and organization. Build healthy and resilient relationships and you begin to build a healthy and resilient culture and a resilient and sustainable business.
Steve Morrow
Global Talent, Salesforce
Michael's session was short, sharp, engaging and effective. His high-energy, high-impact style was a great match, and his clear and compelling content was well received and easy to apply. Leaders have already applied learnings (at home and at work!) and we're looking forward to the ongoing focus and impact of more coach-like leaders.
Shelley Easton
World Food Program
Michael – you were just brilliant and we received so much feedback on how much people enjoyed and engaged with your session. People have said how eager they are to use several of the techniques discussed in their daily approach. So, many take-aways there and lots of happy participants! You are a great model of how to best run an engaging virtual session – we had so much more interaction and engagement than we normally do.
Susan Reid
Your posts, videos and books are always fantastic. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your energy, ideas, insight ... and humour!!! Everything you produce is gold and such an asset in my work as an executive coach and leadership development facilitator!
Kim Scott
Author, Radical Candor and Just Work
We cannot build relationships, we cannot collaborate, and we cannot succeed unless we can put our phones in our pockets, look a person in the eye, and have a real conversation. In an era of asynchronous communication too many people have forgotten how to talk to each other. Here is a practical, tactical guide to help you rebuild this most human of skills: conversation. Essential!
Jean-Philippe Courtois
President, Microsoft Global Sales, Marketing and Operations EVP, Microsoft Corporation
Being a coach-like manager and being coached is a core part of our culture at Microsoft. It's how talented people thrive and grow. Michael Bungay Stanier has helped evolve how we think about coaching and how it can bring our growth mindset to life.
Jessica Amortegui
Head of Learning & Culture, Airtable
Michael Bungay Stainer delivers the goods. By giving us an equal dose of inspiration and action, he employs his unearthly wisdom to make our lives - and the world - better.
attendee at ATD
where Michael averages a rating of 4.98/5
like Simon Sinek—but funny..
I’ve worked with some wonderful organizations
I’ve appeared in all manner of press
5 Powerful questions to deepen trust
In yourself. In the journey. In the world.
Download a fifteen-minute audio lesson
to learn the five questions I use daily to focus my daily work and deepen the bigger game I’m trying to play.
They’ll strengthen your resolve, help you see the world a little more clearly, build courage, and unlock your greatness.