Identity-based Habit Creation, Removing Friction and Mastering the Art of Showing Up

Inspiring Lives

James Clear (@JamesClear) is an expert on creating habits and committed to researching science-based ideas on, “How can we live better.” He is an author, entrepreneur, a photographer and the guy behind JamesClear.com, where he shares his findings on human potential to 480,000 subscribers each week.

We chat to James about a unique method in creating and fueling sustainable habits. He shares real stories and practical steps to help anyone remove friction in their life and build positive habits that can lead you to a more fulfilling life.

His work has been covered in The New York Times, Entrepreneur, TIME and CBS This Morning and his new book Atomic Habits has a 4.9 star rating on Amazon.

In this episode we cover

• Who is James Clear? [1:38]
• The best fuel for habits: identity-based vs outcome-focused habit formation [03:39]
• How one guy lost 100 pounds by mastering the art of showing up for only 2 minutes every day [07:47]
• Are goals a useful tool to form habits? [11:45]
• Re-designing your space to facilitate positive behaviors [15:10]
• Sparking joy Marie Kondo style to your iPhone [18:50]
• How to successfully sustain and create habits by breaking down them into a chain of behaviors and removing friction [19:31]
• Living life in seasons, how to say 'no' and living minimally vs optimally [22:30]
• Using mental models and habits in decision-making to help with analysis paralysis [25:43]
• James' approach to obtaining and recalling knowledge across numerous sources [31:36]
• How to overcome the resistance in forming habits [39:29]
• The impact of rituals and routines on willpower and getting in the zone [44:30]
• How James' view on habits evolved as he pieced the book together [48:35]
• The difference between being an amateur and being a professional [50:32]
• What's the biggest compliment that some would could give you? [52:26]
• Who and what has had a profound impact on James' life? [53:37]

Selected Links And Books From The Episode

• Book: Atomic Habits by James Clear
• Gym: Des Gym in California
• Link: Choice Architecture
• Link: Mental Models
• Link: Mental Models: Inversion
• Link: Feynman Technique
• Book: The Art Of War by Steven Pressfield
• Link: Nerd Fitness
• Link: Four Laws of Behavior Change

People Mentioned

• Logan Gelbrick
• Jay Ferruggia
• Charlie Munger
• Richard Feynman
• Steve Kamb
• Benjamin Spall
• Todd Henry
• Michael Gervais

Where to find James

• Twitter: @JamesClear
• Instagram: @james_clear
• Facebook: @jamesclear
• Website: https://jamesclear.com/

Other Links

• Full Transcription
• Lean more about Athletic Greens
• Subscribe To Newsletter
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Follow us on Spotify
• Subscribe on Google Podcast

If you like what you hear, we'd be grateful for a review on iTunes - click here to see how. Happy listening!