Michal
I live in Poland, Europe.
I’m a father of three—two sons and a daughter.
I’ve been married for over 15 years.
I work for one of the biggest media groups in Poland (I changed job in 2015) in a big consulting corporation as a database administrator.
I’ve been a church community member for more than 19 years.

I just cannot resist the urge to make this world a better place; first of all through self-improvement, by focusing on my personal growth, and then through the absolute transparency of my progress.
It’s tough to say which one is harder.
Sometimes it’s tough to wake up an hour earlier to do my morning ritual—a workout, while listening to people who live on the other side of the world—or to force myself to give up socializing on FB and work on my websites.
Sometimes it’s even tougher to write a blog post and see that people misunderstand me or worse, totally ignore me.

I truly hope my experience will bring some value to your life, that it will help you to realize that you are not really helpless as long as you breathe. No matter what your situation is, however busy you are, you can always start over and change your life.

My values (according to Innermetrix Values Index)
Values description
My values
My behavioral preferences:
Style description
My style
Things you should/ should not do, if you want me to get what you mean:

38 thoughts on “Who is Michal Stawicki

  • November 27, 2013 at 1:58 pm
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    Hi Michael
    I met you through Craig’s Web Site. I promised to check out you blog. Very impressive!!!!

    Reply
  • March 22, 2015 at 3:15 pm
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    Hi Michael – I have been reading your book Trickle Down Mindset and am truly enjoying it. I came to your website to read more about personal mission statements. I have done similar exercises in the past – but for some reason it has never stuck with me. I thought something must be wrong with me if I couldn’t stay consistent with applying it daily. Now I realize it isn’t something wrong with me it is wrong with what I wrote so it is time to revisit it and revamp it so it does resonate with me fully. You said to send an email in order to get your personal mission book. I hope this will suffice and you will send me a copy. I am looking forward to hearing from you and to continuing to work through the Trickle Down Mindset book.
    Best regards – Jude

    Reply
    • March 22, 2015 at 4:30 pm
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      Hey Jude, you are an action taker!
      The book is on its way.
      Thanks for reaching out.

      Reply
  • November 4, 2015 at 12:17 pm
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    Hello Michal
    I discovered you through the Jeff Olson book “The Slight Edge”, which is a revelation to me.
    Let me be brief, I’m in my late 40s and am trying to change career to get into IT (javascript web development). I’ve registered on a course run by Free Code Camp, which is fine in as far as it goes, but not only do I want a job as a web developer, I want to become a self-employed IT developer and entrepreneur. I want to become good at IT, I’m looking for a methodology at doing that using the “Simple Edge ” principles. Your blog interested me, I checked out your page on Amazon, you have many books. Where should I start from? (If there is a sequence of them, which ones would you recommend I read and in what order?).
    Thank you.

    Reply
    • November 8, 2015 at 4:50 pm
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      There is no particular sequence in my books. Even in the series I wrote, the volumes are only loosely related.
      So there are several points you can start from. I discovered that my personal mission statement is my foundation for every accomplishment I achieved and want to achieve.
      You can also start from “Trickle Down Mindset” or “The Art of Persistence.”
      The first one regards shaping and following one’s personal philosophy, life attitude. It’s making everything smoother if you take the wheel and put a conscious effort in forming your philosophy.
      The second is about developing consistency and perseverance is handy in absolutely everything, entrepreneurship including.
      I cannot mention a couple of my other books — “Master Your Time” which is intended to boost your productivity and “Know Yourself Like Your Success Depends on It.” This is my latest book and it teaches self-analysis. Gary Vaynerchuk said that in his opinion knowing yourself is the most basic entrepreneurial skill.

      And of course if you seek for specific solution to your specific problem, you can check out my others book about fitness, parenting, speed reading etc.

      Reply
  • December 13, 2015 at 6:31 pm
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    Hello Michael:
    Just discovered your work today. At 61, I have been a student of motivation and success all my life. My interest now is motivation for the sick, the elderly and people in recovery. As a volunteer hospital chaplain, volunteer with At Risk Kids, and volunteer SMART Recovery Facilitator, I am trying to create processes and exercises using small steps. The kaizen small steps thinking is where I’m heading. Any other thoughts or suggestions? Oh, I’m second generation Polish immigrant lady in California. Thank you. I’m excited to read your work!

    Reply
    • January 4, 2016 at 9:10 am
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      My sincere apologies for not replying sooner (I’ll save you excuses).
      I think the kaizen steps (or Slight Edge disciplines) are great way to support
      elderly and people in recovery. They don’t have strength nor resources to start
      pursue some lofty goals. They need to start and continue and small steps will
      make them believe that both things are possible.
      And this is my experience and many other people, once you start, the progress is
      inevitable, so they will progress even more rapidly than they anticipated. This
      boosts confidence and begets hope.
      I’m not particularly familiar with kaizen, but I think measuring the progress is
      an integral part of it. My only suggestion is to implement tracking system to
      every discipline. The simplest one is just marking that the discipline has been
      done on a given day.

      Reply
  • February 14, 2016 at 7:16 pm
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    Hello Michal,

    Greetings from Malaysia!

    I followed you on Quora – which I was feel connected by your answers.

    After third time seeing you coming out again with “questioning yourself and writing it down” theme on your answer, I have decided to try it out.

    Being an extrovert (although an analytical type), I must say it is very seldom I spent time on the “inside”, what more writing it down.

    Going through your suggested questions in “What are some strange questions that help you find your life purpose?”, I found my A-ha moment! It was on the question “What are the three greatest achievements in my career” and “What are the three greatest achievements in my career that was recognized by my direct superior” (I adjusted these question to suit my career stage). To my surprise, all three achievements from those two questions are not the same ! Quickly I sense something is wrong with me.

    And I have difficulty to answer the next question, “What is that so?”.

    Why do you think I have difficulty to answer that question? I can share with you my full set of the answers.

    Thanks,
    Fadzly

    Reply
    • February 15, 2016 at 1:24 pm
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      Greetings from Poland!
      You jump to conclussion. Maybe there is something wrong with your superior? 😉
      The reason is obvious. You and your superior value different things. This pair of questions have a double purpose:
      -to help you realize your values, what you think is your contribution
      -to help you realize your strenghts; often people outside are better prepared to judge our abilities than we.

      I’ll gladly take a look on your answers. Send them via email: michal[at]expandbeyondyourself.com

      Reply
  • September 1, 2016 at 9:32 pm
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    Hello Michal,
    My name is Richard. I came across your profile on Medium after browsing through the Personal Development tag.
    It seems as though we have very similar philosophies and ideologies.
    I will be following you as of now.
    I find that life is my best teacher and I am certain I can learn a few things from you.
    If you are interested in seeing what I have to offer, my Medium handle is @SpiritualGster.
    Come on over and let’s learn from each other!
    Have a wonderful day!

    Reply
    • September 3, 2016 at 7:35 am
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      Hi Richard. Thanks for reaching out.
      I’ve found you on Medium.
      Let’s learn!

      Reply
  • October 26, 2016 at 5:44 am
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    Greetings Michael,

    I wonder if you know any history of the town in Poland of which our last name is derived?

    Many synchronicities are lately becoming more and more evident

    Reply
    • November 15, 2016 at 6:39 am
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      I don’t think our last name is derived from the town. It’s apparent that it came from the commmon word “staw”: a fishing pond.

      Reply
  • January 8, 2018 at 2:49 pm
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    Hi Michael,
    I am new to your site. You have a great list of books written and I will be reading a few soon. I have been interested in Habits, Identity and Purpose, which is my website now. I believe that if we investigate all three well, our lives will be a success. I am still learning. Sometimes I catch myself wondering what my own purpose in life is. I cant seem to pinpoint but I feel close. Hope connecting with you can bring me closer to that enlightenment.

    Reply
    • January 9, 2018 at 11:06 am
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      Hi Jimmy. Enlightenment is fine to get, but uncovering your purpose may be a process. I suggest you start reading my books from “Know Yourself like Your Success Depends on It.”

      Reply
  • January 18, 2018 at 6:11 am
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    Michal, I just read your story in Jeff Olson’s, The Slight Edge, today and I loved the gratitude journals you keep about your family. You mentioned how important your family is to you and how much you love God and that you read a lot and I thought I would recommend to you my very favorite book in all the world–here is the link to read it for free:
    https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/polish/pdf/language-materials/34406_pol.pdf?lang=pol&cp=pol-pl (in Polish)
    https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm?lang=eng (in English)
    You might already have read it.:) In the Bible, the Savior says “Other sheep I have that are not of this fold, them also shall I bring and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd (John 10:16).” The Book of Mormon is a record of some of the Savior’s other sheep, the ancient inhabitants of America. You can read it for yourself and pray to know of its truthfulness. It is evidence that God has called a living prophet today, that the Church that Jesus organized when He came to earth has been restored and that the power to bind our families on earth and in heaven (Matthew 16:19, instead of until death do us part) is on the earth again today. Since you read a lot, I thought, you and your family might really enjoy this powerful book. I love it and I hope it will mean a lot to your family too!
    Thank you for your good example and what you have taught us!

    Reply
  • May 23, 2018 at 9:08 pm
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    Hi, I read one of your books (From Shy, to Hi). It has really helped me a lot. I feel like you wrote it with me specifically in mind… Thank You!

    Reply
  • August 4, 2018 at 5:30 pm
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    Michal, your writing intrigues me. I am in the state of Ohio in the USA… was working on a morning devotion from the YouVersion Bible app, when I stumbled upon your Making A Mission Statement book I had saved on my iPad . How ironic! No, rather, how like God to set the “find” in motion. I am a children’s pastor in a small church, working with approximately 30 kids. My passion is helping children find Jesus so they can become warriors in today’s generation. (sidebar: working , too, a full time job as a postmaster for the USPS…. retiring in 30 months!)
    I’ve never written my own mission statement … for me personally. But, today, is the beginning. Thank you..for making a difference in this world!

    Reply
    • August 5, 2018 at 3:00 pm
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      Thank you for sharing this man! You’ve made my day.

      Reply
    • August 18, 2018 at 3:04 pm
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      Hi micheal
      Im amir from iran
      Now i read the slight edge and read the happiness secrets in season 8.
      In this season i read your comment in this book.
      And i like found you and message for you

      Reply
      • August 20, 2018 at 8:39 am
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        Hi Amir,
        Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
        I didn’t even realize my comment appeared in “The Happiness Secrets.” Would you mind sharing the link to this book?

        Reply
  • October 16, 2018 at 2:29 pm
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    Hi Michal,
    I just finished your book Trickle Down Mindset and I feel like it’s exactly what I needed. So first : thank you !

    I would also like to know what are the online communities you are referring to in the book. The Slight Edge community seems dead indeed… And the others ones I find are either into woo-woo stuff or over-disruptive-startuping. Do you have recommandations that are more or less in line with your teachings ?

    Best

    Reply
  • May 13, 2019 at 6:36 pm
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    Shalom! out of no where from where their no where but where, anyway I am reading your book and your thoughts I relate to like Stephen Covey, So i show respect when respect is due, Your work is of the spirit I know, You done a great work and I will pass it along!

    Reply
  • June 16, 2019 at 9:25 pm
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    Michal.: I detect a kindred spirit. My wife,s family all came here from Poland about 1910. She died 4 years ago.
    Though not trained as such I was a management consultant for 16 years 1960-1976 – college degree in geology. Now 86, recovering from lung cancer – writing a book about exercise habit development based on personal case study – developed walking daily habit at age 68 – working on chapter about habits and streaks, and application of what I learned about motivation as a consultant 50 years ago. May want to quote some of what you said about such on the Internet – we agree. My focus on the aging person who has avoided exercise. Regards M
    https://m.facebook.com/listofcarbrands/

    Reply
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  • January 3, 2021 at 4:01 am
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    Michael
    I am a retail reseller. How do I get copies of your book for resale
    on wholesale bases.
    Thanks
    Gallaton Thomas-Pres.
    Command Co.
    command011@outlook.com

    Reply
  • June 2, 2021 at 3:32 am
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    Hello Michael

    I’m reading ur book Know Yourself Like Your Success Depends On It and I just wanted to tell you that I really like one of the lines you wrote about tracking activities to improve self awareness

    If you stop tracking you will feel better but you will not BE better

    Thank you for that sir.

    Reply
    • June 2, 2021 at 12:14 pm
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      You’re most welcome, Nick!
      Thanks for stopping by to tell me this!

      Reply
    • February 8, 2022 at 12:35 am
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      I am just reading this wonderful enlightening book Power up your self talk
      It’s an amazing read, which I am benefiting from.
      I am truly grateful and happy to have found these brilliant books.
      Indeed I am blessed. So thank you Michael I am grateful 🙏 Bless you.
      Elizabeth Daly
      Scotland UK

      Reply
      • February 8, 2022 at 6:02 pm
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        Thanks a lot for this wonderful heads-up, Elizabeth!

        Reply
  • February 25, 2022 at 11:49 pm
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    I just read your book, “The Art of Persistance” thanks a lot, I’m already changing, and I like it.

    Reply

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