Michael Bungay Stanier - How to Begin: Start Doing Something That Matters

Thrilling: 4 / 7

Honestly, it depends on what side of the bed I get out of. Sometimes its a 1, sometimes its a 7! On balance, though, Im more excited about the thought of not being CEO than I am afraid of it. But manage the transition is not a thrilling phrase for me. So, lets go with 4.

Important: 7 / 7

Its imperative that Box of Crayons has a new CEO if its going to scale, thrive, and have the impact it might. Its a little disappointing to admit, but I dont have the skills or the focus to make it happen if I stay on as CEO .

Daunting: 6 / 7

There are two levels here for me. On the one hand, I have no idea how to do this. Ive heard lots of horror stories. On the other hand, I also know that there are people who do know how to do this, people I can call on. That would make it a 4 or 5. The next level is about how hard it will be for me to actually do it. Thats a clear 7. So lets say 6 is the middle ground.

Total: 1720 / 21

One of my favourite restaurants in Toronto is the Salad King. They have a heat scale, which goes from 1 chili (mild) to 3 (medium) all the way to 20 (nuts). In my experience one word can take you further up the chili scale of your Worthy Goal. You dont need to top out the Scoville scale: way too much sweat and pain. But you do want a little more heat.

The Voting Test helps you reset how youre feeling about your Worthy Goal. It helps you step outside the subjective experience of wrestling with the details, and gives you a more clinical (but still personal) reading against the three essential criteria. No matter your scoreeven if, as I saw one person calculate, youre at 26/21the final challenge is to see if theres just one word (or short phrase) that, if added, would tighten the power and focus of your Worthy Goal.

Theres no magic, generic word, of course. But there are six different axes you might consider where theres an opportunity to fine-tune that current draft. Youll see its not always about bigger and bolder and broader. In fact, the power is often in setting more specific parameters. Setting limits can light the fuse.

Commitment: Be more specific about how much youre willing to give. This can be time, energy, or money. It can also be the spirit in which you give.

Reach: Be more specific about how wide or narrow youd like to go. It can be about the size of your audience, and it can also be about your geographic reach.

Time: Be more specific about how long this will take or when youd like it to reach a certain stage.

Scope: Be clear about how narrow or expansive this might be. It can help put an end point on what youre thinking.

Standard: Be more specific about the quality youd like to deliver. This is often an internal, subjective measure.

Outcome: Be more specific about your desired outcome. This is most often an external, objective measure.

Theres a list below that will get you started. As you think about your third and final draft, dont overload it. This isnt the Adjective Buffet. Pick one word or phrase that will make this Worthy Goal of yours zing!

Commitment: Full-time. Four hours a week. Dedicated. Every waking moment. With a team. Willingly. Joyfully. All in.

Reach: Local. Globally. Worldwide.. 10 million fans.

Time: By tomorrow. By March. Within six weeks. By the end of the year. By 2050. Before I die.

Scope: One-off. Annually. A series. A franchise. Regularly. Every full moon and new moon.

Neil Pasrichas outstanding 3 Books podcast releases its episodes on these markers. My newsletter does the same. Sign up at MBS.works.

Standard: Professional. Elite. Completed. Extraordinary. Good enough. Competent. Graciously. Handmade. Evolving. Generously. Lovingly. Committed.

Outcome: Profitable. Lucrative. Sustainable. Launched. Approved. Recognized. Helpful. Freeing. Top 3 percent. Bestseller. Classic. Transformative. Evergreen.