The work behind the perspective
James Clear
Author of Atomic Habits; expert on habit formation, decision making, and continuous improvement.
- Habit formation and behavior change
- Small-step / marginal gains (continuous improvement)
- Decision making and choice architecture
- Systems thinking for productivity
- Habit design and implementation strategies
- Public speaking and teaching
About James Clear
James Clear - Biography
James Clear is an American writer and keynote speaker who researches and synthesizes evidence about habit formation, decision making, and continuous improvement for business leaders and individuals. He is the author of the international bestseller Atomic Habits, a practical guide that applies insights from psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science to help people build lasting habits.
James Clear was raised in Hamilton, Ohio, and graduated from Denison University in 2008 with a degree in biomechanics, where he served as captain of the baseball team. After college, Clear began working as a performance coach for athletes and executives and started writing about habits, decision making, and improvement in 2012; his interest in small behavioral changes was influenced in part by his recovery from a serious cranial injury suffered while playing baseball. Building on years of writing and the audience he developed through a popular email newsletter, Clear published Atomic Habits in 2018, presenting a framework for making small, consistent changes that compound into major improvements over time. Since the success of Atomic Habits, Clear has been a regular keynote speaker for Fortune 500 companies and major events, teaches through online programs, contributes essays and articles, and donates a portion of income to charitable causes such as the Against Malaria Foundation.
Learn from James when you're...
- Forming a new daily habit
- Breaking a persistent bad habit
- Increasing productivity without burnout
- Launching a long-term project
- Designing team habits, culture, or processes
- Facing decision-fatigue or poor everyday choices
- Experimenting with behavior change
- Coaching others on habit change
What can you ask about James Clear's work?
In Get Mentors, James Clear can hold one of the five seats on your Chat board. Ask James's seat or the whole board a question and receive perspectives grounded in published work, with every answer cited. Separately, one idea arrives each morning from mentors selected for your focus.
Best for these goals
- ✓Habit Formation And Behavior Change
- ✓Small Step / Marginal Gains (Continuous Improvement)
- ✓Decision Making And Choice Architecture
- ✓Systems Thinking For Productivity
Core frameworks
- •Every action you take is a vote for the person you wish to become
- •You do not rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems
- •Make habit changes ridiculously small and easy to start
- •Habit Formation And Behavior Change
Sample questions
- “Which James framework applies to my current goal?”
- “What would James's published work suggest I consider?”
- “How does this James idea apply to my situation?”
- “What blind spot would this mentor framework help me notice?”
Ask about James's published frameworks, pressure-test a decision, or put the question to your whole board and see where the seats disagree.
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Ask this Chat board seat about James Clear's published work. Daily Ideas are selected separately for your focus. 7-day free trial on the annual plan, or $19.99/month.
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