Michael’s new book How to Begin: Start Doing Something that Matters is now available at www.HowToBegin.com.Today, we're pulling one of our best episodes from the vaults, featuring the brilliant Christa Couture.We all have labels - some are given to us, and some, we give ourselves. Christa Couture says that how you word those labels can make all a difference. Christa is a brilliant woman with many labels: she’s queer, indigenous, disabled, a writer, a musician, a broadcaster, and a mother. In today’s show, she reveals how these labels do and do not define her and the pressures that come with them. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ Christa reads from ‘Brilliant Imperfection: Grappling with Cure’ by Eli Clare. [reading begins at 16:30] Hear us talk about: Acceptance and empowerment: “My body is good enough.” [23:04] | “I am not the broken one here; it’s the ideas that are broken.” [25:55] | Moving beyond shame. [29:27]

Michael’s new book How to Begin: Start Doing Something that Matters is now available at www.HowToBegin.com.What’s the language you go to when you think of resilience? Common answers include, ‘bouncing back,’ ‘bouncing forward,’ ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,’ or ‘a regathering of yourself.’ I truly believe that the words and metaphors we choose to use around resilience actually influence how accessible that resilience is, to us. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe has spent two decades researching, teaching, and advocating for simple and powerful language around resilience, and the way she puts it is beautiful; resilience is being okay. Robyne reads two pages from ‘Man’s Search for Meaning,’ by Viktor Frankl. [reading begins at 20:35] Hear us discuss: “The weight of the world becomes heavy to carry with two hands.” [4:02] | Describing resilience: “Resiliency is a verb.” [6:44] | Unlearning what’s ‘normal.’ [24:49] | What to unlearn about resilience: “Stoicism is not resiliency.” [27:36] | Getting better at falling apart: “Mistakes are not characteristics.” [29:57]

Michael’s new book How to Begin: Start Doing Something that Matters is now available at www.HowToBegin.com.Of the little reality surrounding us that our brain takes in, we can control almost none, and influence only an iota. At the same time, there’s a difference between actively engaging in our own lives, and when we’re opting out. In a strange way, I find the paradox liberating; I can control nothing, and I’m an active participant in my own life. The question is, how do we navigate that tension? Steve Morrow is a friend of mine, and his role at Salesforce is focused on coaching and effective leadership. However, he didn’t start off in the human development world - in fact, he began in sales and marketing, and soon enough, began looking inside, rather than outside, at potential clients. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ Steve reads two pages from ‘Conscious Business’ by Fred Kofman. [reading begins at 8:15] Hear us discuss: “One of life’s great challenges is living up to ourselves.” [10:31] | Having a healthy relationship with fear: “Leadership is countercultural.” [12:11] | Navigating the tension between corporate and individual values. [23:33] | Leaving behind old beliefs: “Your high standards should serve you, not rule you.” [26:35] 

Michael’s new book How to Begin: Start Doing Something that Matters is now available at www.HowToBegin.com.A famous quote by Albert Schweitzer talks about how small and obscure deeds are far more powerful than public acts that receive acclaim. It goes: ‘[The public acts] were like the foam on the waves of the deep ocean.’ Applying this metaphor to the world of leadership, what’s just foam on the waves, and what’s the sinuous currents of the deep ocean? A great podcast that I often listen to - and one that I have been a guest on four times - is Coaching for Leaders, hosted by Dave Stachowiak. This podcast is the portal for his Coaching for Leaders Academy, which helps managers and executives develop leadership excellence. Dave is someone who, I think, is a masterful surfer: he knows the foam and the waves, but he also knows the deep ocean. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ Dave reads two pages from ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ by Dale Carnegie. [reading begins at 20:55] Hear us discuss: “Talk to the people listening.” [11:21] | ‘We all think we’re more polarised than we actually are.’ [26:29] | Staying present to discomfort. [30:24] | The structure of the Coaching for Leaders Academy: “We learn best when we’re struggling with something.” [37:50] | Finding struggle to keep learning: “Seeing your mistakes is one of the most important parts of the learning process.” [40:13]

Michael’s new book How to Begin: Start Doing Something that Matters is now available at www.HowToBegin.com.If you were to summarize my corporate career, the core theme would be: discovering the ways I didn’t really fit. I didn’t become an entrepreneur for all of the conventional reasons, I had simply realized that I just wasn’t that good at having a boss. This poses the question: is there a way to be a rebel and stiff flourish within a system? Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/Gina Jeneroux is the Chief Learning Officer at the Bank of Montreal, and she’s on a mission to change how her colleagues - and eventually, the world - learn and prepare for the future. Gina reads two pages from ‘Switch’ by Chip Heath and Dan Heath. [reading begins at 12:10] Hear us discuss: “It’s not just about being different for different sake, but rather about driving a different kind of impact.” [4:02] | How to prepare for failure. [17:49] | Breaking away from formal learning. [21:27] | Different areas of skills: “The problems we need to solve in the coming years are different from the ones we’ve seen before.” [25:02] | Navigating a world full of ambiguity. [29:38] |“Our biggest limiter is ourselves.” [34:41]

Michael’s new book How to Begin: Start Doing Something that Matters is now available at www.HowToBegin.com.You might know this fable: Inside us, two wolves, fighting; two conflicting desires. Which one wins? The one you feed. I’m curious to know if you’re attuned to your two wolves right now. Who, or what, is the battle between? Obedience or rebellion, self-care or service, courage or safety, conflict or comfort? I’m Michael Bungay Stanier, and those are my wolves. Eric Zimmer hosts a wonderful podcast - one that I’ve had the pleasure of being on, twice, - called The One You Feed, where he brings a stillness and a wise curiosity to work and stories that are often rooted in this sort of inner conflict. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ Eric reads two pages from ‘The Heart of Understanding’ by Thich Nhat Hanh. [reading begins at 17:30] Hear us discuss: “Emptiness is better described as everything all at once.” [22:39] | The understanding of ‘non-self’: “The more I see it, the less afraid I am.” [23:32] | “Sometimes mood drives action, but action can often drive mood.” [26:30] | How to dance with ambition. [27:37] | Drawing wisdom and support from external sources. [35:10]

On the radio the other day, I heard something that I can’t forget: “If you’re unhappy with the state of the world, your country or your community, it is one of the greatest expressions of privilege to be able to say, ‘It’s too hard; I'll opt out. I hope somebody else sorts this out for me.’’ When I heard it, I was provoked and irritated, but also encouraged. Now, I’m really thinking hard about what it means for me to be an active part of my community - I think the times are demanding that of me. How about you? Christine Porath is a professor at Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. Previously, she wrote a book called Mastering Civility, and her new book is Mastering Community. She has written for Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and more; but if she had her way when she was young, she would have been a sports star. The reason for her shift in career might surprise you. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ Christine reads two pages from ‘Man’s Search For Meaning’ by Viktor Frankl. [reading begins at 16:10]Hear us discuss: How to be a force for good. [23:50] | What it takes to master community: “We’re very quick to point the finger at others.” [31:22] | Developing a good sense of self-awareness: “Sitting down and asking people what you need to work on is helpful.” [34:17] | “Do your best to be the example of change that you want to see.” [38:17]

Michael’s new book How to Begin: Start Doing Something that Matters is now available at www.HowToBegin.com. With so much of the world struggling, it’s deeply tempting to throw up my hands and say, ‘It’s too hard! If someone else could sort this out for me, that would be great.’ Just the other day, I heard on the radio that it is the deepest form of privilege to say, ‘This is not my problem.’ But what can one person do to change the world? How do we find the courage to do something?Todd Kashdan’s books have always intrigued me; they intertwine academic rigor with human insight. His latest is called The Art of Insubordination. To me insubordination brings to mind rule-breakers or rebels. Todd doesn’t see it as simplistically as that; to him, there’s a proper, principled way to be insubordinate. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ Todd reads two pages from ‘The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life’ by Erving Goffman. [reading begins at 19:13]Hear us discuss: Principled versus unprincipled insubordination. [8:18] | The different forms of self-presentation. [23:55] | When does efficiency take primacy over authenticity? [27:31] | Avoiding psychological exhaustion. [30:30] | Understanding your ‘dark side’: “It’s perfectly fine to experience anger and righteous indignation when we are concerned that perceived flaws in our character are the reason we’re being judged and rejected.” [33:25] | How to be a good audience member. [36:44] | Having the courage to do something: “In the long term, the suffering that accompanies the regret of inaction is so much greater than short-term moments of embarrassment and rejection.” [39:38] | “The singular acts of singular people are the cornerstones of creating large bands of people that stand up against tyranny and oppression.” [43:46]

Michael’s new book How to Begin: Start Doing Something that Matters is now available at www.HowToBegin.com. I’ve resisted therapy for almost all of my 54 years. What changed my mind was reading a book called Mindsight by Dan Siegel, which made me realize that therapy could not only be about fixing what’s broken, but also, around integration - who I am, and who I want to be.Naomi Shragai is a psychotherapist who’s been practicing for over 30 years. She is also a freelance journalist for The Financial Times, and author of The Man Who Mistook His Job for His Life, a book whose genesis is present in the work that she does. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ Naomi reads two pages from ‘See Under: Love’ by David Grossman. [reading begins at 17:37]Hear us discuss: Navigating a relationship with a traumatized or struggling partner. [25:21] | What to do when you don’t have a clue. [26:23] | Can you be human at work?: “Work needs to acknowledge that everyone’s coming in and bringing their messy lives into the workplace; people aren’t leaving them at home.” [28:28] | “Bad things happen, we can’t deny them.” [32:14] | How leaders can make work more human. [32:18] | A conversation with an overachiever. [34:06]

Michael’s new book How to Begin: Start Doing Something that Matters is now available at www.HowToBegin.com. There’s no doubt that I am a purpose-driven person, but I can’t actually pinpoint the origin of this sense of purpose. I’m both an atheist, and an existentialist, so where does this drive of mine come from? Let me ask you - where do you find your sense of purpose? Arthur C. Brooks is a thinker and a writer about leadership, and, more broadly, a good life. He holds academic positions at Harvard, he was previously head of a conservative think tank, and he writes a regular article in The Atlantic called ‘How to Build a Life.’ But, those are just his jobs. What’s Arthur C. Brooks Why? Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ Arthur reads two pages from book 4 of ‘Meditations’ by Marcus Aurelius. [reading begins at 21:00] Hear us discuss: Discernment of your purpose. [12:41] | Mastering transgressive acts: “Love your enemies; pray for those who persecute you.” [28:12] | Building I-Thou relationships: “Never use your values as a weapon, only as a gift.” [32:15] | Transitions between different strengths in life. [35:23] | What it takes to become an elder. [38:06]