I read a lot.  This includes the LA Times daily, MSN.com, Yahoo.com, TheVerge.com and books.  My books consist primarily of science fiction, fantasy and professional books (some are self-help books).  Some notable professional or self-help books include Good To Great by James Collins, Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin and The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko, among many other great reads.   But one stands out from the pack from an impact perspective, Atomic Habits by James Clear.

Atomic Habits is a New York Times bestselling book that was published in September, 2019.  The book gets its name from the notion that small behavioral changes, when they become a habit that are demonstrated over time, become atomic in their impact.  The author makes a compelling case for habit-building and demonstrates its effectiveness through real life examples.  For example, it would benefit you to start eating healthier more often, and eating well at your next meal is certainly good – though not habit forming.  The author suggests that a habit, such as asking yourself when ordering at a restaurant what a healthy person would order, and then following through with continuous healthy ordering creates a powerful habit that can change your life.  The true power of the concept lies not in the development of the habit, but on the impact of performing these good habits over and over again.  Minute impacts, occurring daily, weekly and annually – for the rest of your life.   Tiny changes, remarkable results is the tagline on the book cover for good reason.

The author does more than just identify ways to add good habits, he provides techniques to break negative habits and offers scientific foundations as to why our habits may break down over time.  The book is also  stocked with motivational true stories about athletes, business leaders and others who have used the science of small habits to change their lives – which I found very powerful and inspiring.  And I believe this book can change your life too.

As a competitive tennis player and tennis academy owner, I understand the need for good habits and coin the term “Habits of Excellence” for habits that lead to greatness.  Certain activities need to become habits because a lot occurs in the pressure of a tight tennis match, which could lead to distraction and behaviors that are not conducive to winning.  This is certainly not a novel approach, as John Wooden spent hours and hours working on the fundamentals of his championship basketball teams.  I believe that Coach Wooden wanted these activities to become habits – which are demonstrated at the most pressure packed moments in a game.   You cannot argue with ten national championships in a 12-year period.

Whether your goal is to be the best you can be as a business professional, parent, athlete or have goals to lose weight or be a great role model – this book can help you make it happen.  Not only will it change your life, but it will change your perspective – you will begin to recognize these habits of excellence in others, and it will motivate you as it did me.  Take the plunge and become better – you have absolutely nothing to lose.  Please note that I have no affiliation with the writer or book and am merely a reader of the book.