Ask Yourself Better Questions

Ask yourself better questions because they are resilient and adaptable to different contexts, unlike advice.
Start with questions that improve self-awareness to bring you back to center.
Ask yourself 'What am I optimizing for?' since the answer changes over time, and it helps avoid societal pressures.
Rephrase it as 'What's the real objective here?' to clarify your aims.
Determine if an activity fills you with energy or drains you, and prioritize the former.
Evaluate if the attention you give something matches its true importance to course-correct when needed.

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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.