The How to Begin Course by Michael Bungay Stanier
Download The How to Begin Course for $247 $12
The Size is 9.13 GB and Released in 2025
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Key Takeaways
- I learned that the “How To Begin” course guides me to move from vague intentions to clear, actionable goals using Michael Bungay Stanier’s practical methods.
- The course helps me distinguish between superficial ambitions and meaningful objectives, ensuring my goals truly reflect my values.
- I gained tools to overcome the common fears of starting something new, building my confidence to take the first step.
- With the Care Matrix, I’m able to sort and prioritize my obligations in life and work for more balanced progression.
- …so I’m loaded with things to do to immediately dive in and keep the ball rolling.
- The course’s tactics with powerful engines of sustained development! It’s a great course for anybody who’s ready to get beyond the desire to plan and start making some real noise.
The how to begin course by Michael Bungay Stanier gives me the straightforward tools. Now I feel empowered to use these tools to launch exciting new initiatives and achieve tangible outcomes!
I employ practical, step-by-step tasks and real-world tips to help transform ambitious plans into small, manageable moves – and I make it fun! The how to begin course provides practical training on how to determine what matters, maintain my motivation, and measure my progress.
In the second installment, I’ll explain more about how the course works, and what it taught me. You’ll discover how it can start other people off on the right foot!
What Is “How To Begin” Exactly?
When I look at “How To Begin” by Michael Bungay Stanier, I see a course built for those who want to start meaningful work—whether it’s a new career, a bold project, or a simple change in routine.
What makes the course unique are the tangible steps—beyond the lofty concepts. Each lesson takes us further out of the realm of wishful thinking. It’s all about the action—real action.
MBS takes a hands-on approach. He helps me judge any new goal with three tests: Is it thrilling? Why is that such a big deal? Just how intimidating is it? This provides me with a clearer metric for judging whether a project is even worth pursuing in the first place—saving myself the time and energy.
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MBS’s Fresh Take On Starting
This is what MBS tells me to do—push back against the old way of setting goals—no more wishy-washy targets, no more pledges. He takes lofty goals and reduces them to bite-sized, manageable chunks.
Rather than say, “I’ll train for a marathon,” I focus on the behavior by committing to running five minutes daily. I try to follow this schedule for an entire week.
He introduces the “three buckets” rule: bad work, good work, and great work. This allows me to prioritize work and focus on what really matters.
Beyond Fluffy Goal Setting
He helps me see the difference between fluffy goals and the ones that actually align with my values. This course teaches me how to craft meaningful goals, goals that align with my passion and desire to be ambitious.
Instead, I learn to evaluate whether a goal is even valuable by balancing costs and benefits. I make sure to ask myself what has to be true for me to actually achieve it.
For instance, if I want to write three books in a year, I figure out what must change in my daily life.
Breaking Through Start-Up Fear
Fear of failure usually prevents me from even beginning something. MBS reminds me to take large steps and break them down into manageable tasks, so I can move forward instead of feeling paralyzed.
He encourages me to try things in smaller pieces and have faith in myself. This calm, methodical, incremental first approach allows me to build momentum and continue to build it.
Core Ideas: Your “How To Begin” Toolkit
The core of the How to Begin course is a toolkit. I use it to gauge whether an idea or goal is actually worth my time and effort. The kit is more than just a checklist, it’s a workbook. I write ideas out, measure them, and even rank them on a scorecard.
This is what really brings it home and brings it into focus. It’s designed for people who have a huge idea they want to pursue, but need help with taking that first step.
1. Uncover Your Real “Why”
Here’s how I do it. Personally, I begin by uncovering my real “why” for pursuing a goal. Instead, the course inspires me to start with the question, “What’s moving me?” This step digs deep past the stated surface level desires.
When I decided I wanted to write a book, I understood that the book needed to be about sharing what I learned. It wasn’t simply the thrill of seeing my name on a cover. Understanding my “why” has refueled me and propelled me forward during the most challenging moments.
When I have a compelling why, I persevere through the work and see it through to completion.
2. Set Goals That Truly Matter
Set Goals That Actually Align With What You Care About Most. The course has been instrumental in helping me define what actual progress would entail. Rather than simply trying to “get in shape,” I defined my goal.
I wake up every morning and run for five minutes! This is really brief but indicates I’m on the right track to continue. Finding measures of progress that are meaningful and tangible—like soon to be seeing my daily runs—holds me accountable.
3. Navigate With The Care Matrix
The Care Matrix was one of my favorite tools from the course. As a personal productivity tool, I use it to chart the course of what I need to care for in my professional and domestic lives.
I write out all the things I need to do, then prioritize them by urgency and importance. That translates into me not burning out. I find my balance, with a clear sense of where to direct my energy and what I can afford to release temporarily.
4. Make Your First Move Now
The course motto is simple—don’t delay, just do it. Whatever the action, even making a symbolic move, getting started is better than sitting still.
When I’m really at a standstill, I choose an action that is easily do-able, such as planning my week or writing just one paragraph. Six weeks is the window I’ve settled on. It’s just long enough to be able to really take on the change needed, but not so long that I’ll get burned out.
Whenever I encounter a roadblock, I pose the question, “What needs to be true for me to make this move?” This helps me stay accountable to the work that lies ahead.
Why This Course Actually Works
What makes this course unique is how it implements these approaches, which are based on actual research. The writing is straightforward and no nonsense, not just concepts without evidence. Each of the 37 short videos easily accommodates a jam-packed schedule, ranging from two to six minutes.
I personally thought the design was clean and easy to navigate, with three general sections that subdivide into three steps apiece. This new structure provides me with a straight line from beginning to end, so I can’t get off track.
This course is more than just theory. It alternates those lessons with demonstrations of actual humans working through their goals. After sitting in eight bonus demo sessions that depict the process in a real-world setting, these anecdotes motivated me to take the concepts and apply them in my life.
It shouldn’t make a difference that I work in Washington, DC, and live and work in Virginia! The tools are pretty down to earth—just basic questions that force me to really think more critically about what I want to accomplish. Through these little exercises, I’m forced to do things instead of just think.
Real Tools, Not Just Talk
Each lesson is accompanied by super useful resources and practical, hands-on activities. Instead I receive worksheets, writing prompts, and business checklists. It’s upside down from the typical education model; it’s all about the doing, not the learning to do.
For instance, I rely on guided questions to help clarify what is most important to me. These tools are essential for me in setting and maintaining new habits.
Built For Lasting Action
The course focuses on developing action-oriented habits that stick. I’m required to publicly post my goals and activities, which keeps me honest and on the hook to continue making progress.
I like the idea of a “Death Date” because it creates some urgency and forces me to prioritize.
Wisdom From Years Of Coaching
Michael Bungay Stanier has coached and collaborated with thousands of people from diverse backgrounds around the globe. His expertise is the difference that makes every stage seem tried and true.
Who Needs This Course Most?
As soon as I previewed the “How to Begin” course by Michael Bungay Stanier, I understood its universal appeal right away. It’s intended for a wide variety of audiences. It’s designed for those who are feeling stagnant, yearning to make a greater impact, or are generally just ready to change course.
The course provides actionable steps and practical tools that empower individuals to make tangible moves—starting from wherever they’re at.
For Dreamers Ready To Do
If I’ve got lofty dreams but have no clue where to begin, this course provides the jumpstart I’m looking for. I watch people like me take that first step. They come with aspirational notions of new careers, new projects, or even launching a nonprofit and they soak up these lessons.
We consistently hear from past participants that they made the leap from “thinking about it” to “working on it.” One individual, for instance, was able to use the course to transition out of a role that was making them unhappy and was able to start their own business.
The detailed, step-by-step breakdown makes it easy for me to turn my wish list into an actionable plan.
For Leaders Igniting Teams
As a leader, I want my team to be ambitious, focused, and inspired by what we are trying to accomplish. This course has really guided me in creating positive habits for myself and my team.
As I take a team through a major initiative, hands-on activities are what propel us. They provide guidance to their peers as they reenter school. I want to leave more inspired and better equipped to lead collaborative processes that are more productive, focused on outcomes and then hold people accountable to those outcomes.
For Anyone Tired Of Waiting
If I’ve been waiting for months—or years—hoping for change but not taking action, this course provides the push I’m looking for. Practical exercises in the training showed me what I was getting stuck on.
I walk away with practical strategies for how to shatter ambitious goals into manageable, achievable bites. Whether I want a happier job or just want to stop feeling stuck, the tools help me take steps that count.
Keep Growing After The Course
Completing the How to Begin course with Michael Bungay Stanier is just the beginning for me. It is my platform for take off. We’ve learned that growth can’t end with the final session. I think of every single lesson as a foundation for what is to follow.
After the course, I would like to continue my education and continue to challenge myself on a deeper level. It’s extremely helpful to have a detailed plan in place. I need to set goals that are exciting, somewhat scary, and truly meaningful. This is what fuels my journey, even when I encounter the rough patches.
Allowing myself six weeks to focus on one goal or project at a time has been a huge shift. In that limited time, I can maximize real gains and gradually develop habits that last. I plan the work in 3- or 6-month increments, breaking big goals into actionable small steps.
Every little victory counts. Be consistent and organized. I learned to block out time every week for my project, even if it was only an hour. This is so important to making my progress feel tangible and measurable.
More Wisdom From MBS
There is so much more from Michael Bungay Stanier beyond the course. Whenever I need new inspiration, I look to his books, interviews, and talks for relevant advice. This goes a long way to help me keep these ideas alive and find new ways to apply them.
I seek out opportunities to plug into online communities or cohorts that align with his philosophy. This ensures that I remain sharp and continue to learn from others similarly walking this path.
Make “Beginning” A Habit
Make beginning a regular practice. Real change takes time and constant effort. Whether it is on the job or at home, I experiment. When I run into a wall, I don’t view it as an obstacle, but an opportunity to learn.
The longer that time goes on, the easier it is for me to begin again. This practice keeps me open, curious, and able to see what wants to come next.
Conclusion
I didn’t flounder, because I received specific, tangible steps from the How to Begin course by Michael Bungay Stanier. Each lesson truly provided me with actionable tools. What I learned was how to make goals that really matter to me and follow through on them. The advice applies to any major transition, not just professional endeavors. What I appreciated most, though, was the no-nonsense approach he takes in breaking down each section. I applied his concepts to kick-off a big creative project last month—I completed it ahead of time and at high quality. Now, I choose objectives that are aligned to me and not doing them because someone thinks I should. If you’re looking to make change that sticks and works for you, then this course is the perfect match. I still find myself returning to the tools. Curious to learn about the ways you can get involved? Take it for a spin and judge for yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the “How To Begin” course by Michael Bungay Stanier?
What is the “How To Begin” course by Michael Bungay Stanier? It walks you through the process, step by step, so you can define your own, bold goals and create a plan of action.
Who is Michael Bungay Stanier?
Who is Michael Bungay Stanier? He’s a sought after keynote speaker around the world, his ideas immediately applicable to your leadership and your life.
What will I learn in the “How To Begin” course?
You’ll pick up actionable tools along the way to help you define your motivation, identify your goals, and navigate roadblocks. The course gets you out of your head and into the real world.
Is the course suitable for beginners?
Is the course really for beginners, though? It’s intended for anyone who has an idea for something new that they’d like to get started, from complete beginners to experienced change-makers.
How long does the course take to complete?
The average time to complete the course is around 2-3 hours. You’re free to learn on your own schedule, reviewing the material as often as needed.
What makes this course different from others?
This is an action-oriented course, not a theory course. It’s filled with tested techniques and applicable, real-world examples that will get you moving—and keep you moving—faster than any other program available.
Who can benefit most from this course?
Anyone who has ever wanted to launch an initiative or drive positive change will find it valuable. It’s perfect for career-minded professionals, students, and those interested in self-improvement.
