How to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones | James Clear
The Knowledge Project
Play to Win: Avoid Talking Yourself Out
James urges acting on 'work backwards from magic' and not self-limiting by fear of failure.
James Clear is the author of Atomic Habits, a global bestseller that has shaped how millions of people think about habits, consistency, and long-term change.
In this conversation, James explains how habits shape identity, why progress often stays invisible before it compounds, and how to design your environment so good behavior becomes the default.
You will learn how to stay consistent when motivation fades, stop quitting too early, and build habits that work across different seasons of life.
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Approximate Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction
(00:56) The Role of Identity in Habit Formation
(03:38) Lack of Patience Changes the Outcome
(07:20) Seeing Invisible Progress
(09:58) Why Do We Change What's Working?
(13:46) Creating Conditions for Success
(17:44) Finding the Confidence to Start
(23:55) Playing to Win vs. Playing Not to Lose
(26:29) Internal Sayings to Live By
(30:36) Reputation
(34:32) Positioning in Business and Life
(44:36) Investment Philosophy
(47:18) Turning Reading Habits into Action
(50:31) Taking Notes While Reading...
(52:36) ...And Then What?
(56:06) Maintaining Focus on What You Want
(58:01) Lessons on Filtering Opportunities
(01:06:06) Longevity of Content
(01:07:21) Sequencing Through the Eras of Your Life
(01:11:22) What is a Habit?
(01:13:03) Is a Habit Working For You or Against You?
(01:15:20) Evaluation Framework for Habits
(01:18:32) Building or Replacing a Habit
(01:22:19) Social Media Detox
(01:25:34) The Most Important Upstream Habits to Create
(01:29:58) Relationship Check-In
(01:30:57) Thoughts on Popular Habits
(01:37:31) Become Stronger Than Your Feelings
(01:42:59) When Should You Deep Dive into an Idea
(01:48:12) Complexity vs. Simplicity
(01:54:40) Consistency vs. Intensity
(02:01:11) Learning New Subjects as an Adult
(02:06:40) Prioritization
(02:11:53) What is Success For You?
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