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#648: James Clear, Atomic Habits — Simple Strategies for Building (and Breaking) Habits, Questions for Personal Mastery and Growth, Tactics for Writing and Launching a Mega-Bestseller, Finding Leverage, and More

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Jan 4, 2023

Guest

James Clear

James Clear, author of the bestselling 'Atomic Habits,' dives into the art of habit formation and personal mastery. He emphasizes the power of self-reflection and establishing systems over goals for sustainable growth. Clear shares effective strategies for organizing ideas, optimizing email communication, and the intricacies of writing and launching a successful book. The conversation touches on navigating digital platforms and the importance of aligning habits with one's values to foster personal development. Insightful and actionable, this discussion is packed with invaluable tips!

02:22:48

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Episode notes

00:00 / 00:00

Habit of Reflection

Regularly reflect and review to course-correct in life.
Shorter review cycles, like weekly reviews, are helpful alongside annual reviews.

00:00 / 00:00

Questions Over Advice

Ask yourself empowering questions rather than seeking rigid advice.
Questions adapt to your context, unlike advice, which can be situation-specific.

00:00 / 00:00

Optimize For What?

Determine what you're optimizing for to avoid status-seeking.
Revisit this question regularly, as your focus might shift over time.

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Reflecting on Habits and Self-Assessment for the New Year

04:40 • 6min

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Mastering Self-Reflection and Habit Formation

10:30 • 19min

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Capturing Ideas with Asana

29:16 • 11min

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Navigating the Digital Distribution Landscape

40:11 • 6min

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Shaping Identity Through Digital Engagement

45:46 • 9min

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Optimizing Email Communication Strategies

55:10 • 6min

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Prioritization and Habit Formation

01:00:59 • 22min

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Crafting a Universal Narrative: Strategies for Effective Writing and Book Structure

01:22:36 • 5min

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Crafting Compelling Books and Titles

01:27:34 • 21min

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Launching a Book: Strategies for Success

01:48:45 • 27min

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Reflections and Recommendations

02:15:25 • 7min

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The Psychology of Money

Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness

Morgan Housel

In 'The Psychology of Money,' Morgan Housel delves into the psychological and emotional aspects of financial decisions. The book consists of 19 short stories that illustrate how personal history, worldview, emotions, and biases influence financial outcomes. Housel emphasizes the importance of behavior over knowledge in managing money, highlighting the power of compounding, the dangers of greed, and the pursuit of happiness beyond mere wealth accumulation. He advocates for a frugal lifestyle, long-term perspective, and a balanced approach to investing, stressing that financial success is more about mindset and discipline than about technical financial knowledge[2][3][4].

Atomic Habits

James Clear

Atomic Habits by James Clear provides a practical and scientifically-backed guide to forming good habits and breaking bad ones. The book introduces the Four Laws of Behavior Change: make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying. It also emphasizes the importance of small, incremental changes (atomic habits) that compound over time to produce significant results. Clear discusses techniques such as habit stacking, optimizing the environment to support desired habits, and focusing on continuous improvement rather than goal fixation. The book is filled with actionable strategies, real-life examples, and stories from various fields, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their habits and achieve personal growth[2][4][5].

Brought to you by Athletic Greens all-in-one supplement, Peloton Row premium rower for an efficient workout, and You Need A Budget cult-favorite money management app.

James Clear (@JamesClear) is a writer and speaker focused on habits and continuous improvement. He is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Atomic Habits, which covers easy and proven ways to build good habits and break bad ones. The book has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 50 languages. On average, Atomic Habits has sold one copy every 15 seconds since it was published.

James is also the creator of the 3-2-1 Newsletter, which is one of the most popular email newsletters in the world and has more than 2 million subscribers. Each issue contains 3 short ideas from James, 2 quotes from other people, and 1 question to consider that week. You can sign up for free at JamesClear.com.

He is a regular speaker at Fortune 500 companies, and his work is used by players and coaches in the NFL, NBA, and MLB. In college, he was an Academic All-American baseball player, and he is an avid weightlifter.

Please enjoy!

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[06:52] Annual reviews.

[13:06] Habitual accountability.

[17:24] Systemic scaffolding.

[22:03] Capturing good ideas.

[29:15] Asana.

[32:02] Leveraging maximal results from minimal scale.

[41:50] Rolling with social platform inconsistencies.

[46:45] Don’t let the algorithm dictate your identity.

[50:55] The key to building lasting habits.

[55:07] How James would promote 5-Bullet Friday.

[1:00:59] What might an outside observer believe are your priorities?

[1:02:00] Success generates opportunities — and distractions.