What better book to review than James Clear’s Atomic Habits when we’re starting a new year and making resolutions we will almost certainly not keep? Maybe we can be more successful with the guidance of the author and his book. This book has almost become a standard in business literature, as it should be. It is excellent. The author makes clear (pun intended) how to break bad habits, how to make new habits, and much more.
Habits come in a feedback loop with four steps:
- Cue
- Craving.
- Response
- Reward.
Then, there are four rules of behavior change:
- Make it obvious.
- Make it attractive.
- Make it easy.
- Make it satisfying.
The book is mostly expanding on these things. I’ve attended a webinar by the author, and he is equally good live.
Many of you will be familiar with Atomic Habits, so let me mention two things that I found that I had not unexpected.
First, Goodhart’s Law, which states, “When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure.” Measurement is only useful when it guides you and adds context to a larger picture, not when it consumes you. Each number is simply one piece of feedback in the overall system.
I’m not sure how we square that with KPIs and Peter Drucker’s “What gets measured, get managed.” Maybe the point is like Daniel Pink’s assertion in Drive that when we set KPIs and measure everything, we make work drudgery and productivity suffers.
The second, and more intriguing thing in Atomic Habits, that I didn’t expect is Clear’s assertion that every action is a vote for the type of person you want to become. Your identity emerges out of your habits. Becoming the best version of yourself requires you to continuously edit your beliefs and upgrade and expand your identity. Habits matter because they can change your beliefs about yourself.
This really resonated with me and my life’s journey. In particular, it describes something I’ve been doing over the last several years. This isn’t a habit but more of a philosophy about how I live the remainder of my life. It covers most facets of my life but let me give you a subset as an example.
The example is related to referrals in my business. On January 14th, I will celebrate 15 years since I started my consulting business. Being a trusted advisor means that a rely on referrals and that I make referrals to other trusted advisors.
When I first started out, I hoped others would give me referrals. I learned that a good way to get referrals was to give referrals. I did the right thing hoping I would be rewarded.
After a while, and perhaps when I got busier, I made referrals and didn’t worry about being rewarded. That is, I didn’t care when I got reciprocal referrals, I’d be happy just making deposits in the karma bank and trust in the universe.
Then I decided I didn’t need an account at the karma bank, I just wanted to do the right thing because it is the right thing to do, and it made me feel better about myself.
As I evolved, I decided, I didn’t need to make it about myself, I should do the right thing because it is the right thing to do. I don’t need a reward, I don’t need to feel better, and I don’t need any other reason to do the right thing. Doing the right thing is reason enough to do the right thing.
While this example is about referrals in the consulting business, I’m trying to make this the way I do everything in my life. It’s been helpful while raising my grandson and answering the questions of a teenager.
I’m still a work in progress and always will be. Happy New Year everyone!
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