For those of us who make New Year’s resolutions and then quickly fail at sticking to them, how can we do better? James, thanks so much for joining me.ĪLISON BEARD: As I mentioned in the intro we’re about to start a new year, a new decade even. James Clear is an author and entrepreneur and his book is called Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones. Now and anytime, our guest has some good advice on what it takes to get there. Professionally, maybe it’s to learn a new school or finish a specific project, or attend more networking events. I’m talking to him at the end of 2019, when a lot of us are thinking about our New Year’s resolutions. Today’s guest says there’s simple and easy ways to develop better habits. While most of us are slipping into bad habits doing the easiest work first, making gut filled decisions, watching TV instead of studying a new idea, or even getting enough sleep achievers are sticking to a plan and getting more out of their careers and life.

But here’s another way to frame it: they’ve developed great habits. Many of these people seem to have superhuman ambitions and work ethics. every day, read a book a week, or have a tried and true system for client outreach or interviewing. It’s something we’ve seen time and time again in the stories of great leaders. Clear is the author of the book Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results.ĪLISON BEARD: Welcome to the HBR IdeaCast from Harvard Business Review. So if you’ve made a resolution for the new year or have an idea for how to propel your career forward at any time, these strategies will help. Just like saving money, habits accrue compound interest: when you do 1% more or different each day or week, it eventually leads to meaningful improvement. Many people, he says, focus on big goals without thinking about the small steps they need to take along the way.

James Clear, entrepreneur and author, says that the way we go about trying to form new habits and break bad ones - at work or home - is all wrong.

Instal the new for mac Atomic Habits