“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
While this is an appropriately titled book, “Atomic” fills my head with images of beefcakes picking up a copy for the blueprint to the ultimate biceps or a work that could be a companion to an old X-treme Mountain Dew commercial.
Not to worry – the book is more profound and life-altering than that.
While Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit was a fascinating read that will teach you the strength of and biology behind habits (and a book I highly recommend), Atomic Habits blows the doors open to get the most out of them.
(Okay, now I’m guilty, as that last paragraph is kind of like saying the difference here is a nerd’s interpretation of habits as opposed to a jock’s, especially with “blowing the doors off.” But you get it, okay?)
A streamlined manual to utilizing habits in your everyday life, Atomic Habits reveals how to get new habits to stick, unwanted habits to drop, and refine habits over time for better outcomes. It was handy for me in getting my guitar playing up to near-daily and eating slightly smaller portions.
Heard all this before? Some concepts, like incremental changes adding up to a tremendous outcome over time, can be found elsewhere, like in the ideas of The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy.
But what I found particularly unique here is that the book helps you focus on systems rather than goals.
I don’t really like goals, even so-called SMART ones (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound). This book somewhat vindicated that belief (though I should not misquote it, it does not say goals are useless).
Another fantastic takeaway from this book is that “every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” Doesn’t just reading that quote out loud make you ready to drop the chips and up the vegetable count?
This book is so useful I’m putting it on my list of things for my son to read in case I die. Pick up a copy and you’ll be creating your own badass habit stacks in no time, nerd.
If you enjoyed this post and would like to be notified when our next one is up, you can subscribe to our newsletter below.
Hah, the title never brought me visions of beefcakes. I’m sure Arnold would approve of Atomic Habits!
Duhigg’s Power of Habit changed my life, yet Atomic Habits is the one I always recommend to people. It’s more actionable.
If you want more on “Systems vs. Goals,” check out How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big. Scott Adams created the concept.
Thank you, Steve! I will add that to my reading list.