Lifetime Book Club: Atomic Habits by James Clear
Welcome to the Lifetime Book Club! This month, we’re kicking off the new year with a game-changer for personal growth - Atomic Habits by James Clear. Whether you’re looking to save more, get fitter, or just make life a little easier, this book is the ultimate guide to creating habits that stick.
Why We Love It
Atomic Habits is all about small changes that lead to big results. Clear’s approach breaks down the process of habit formation into practical, actionable steps that anyone can follow. It’s simple, powerful, and exactly the kind of no-nonsense advice we love.
The beauty of this book is its focus on the “atomic” - tiny habits that seem almost insignificant but build up over time to create massive impact. Clear’s method is especially helpful for tackling those intimidating goals, like saving for a house deposit or improving your health, one manageable step at a time.
We also love how relatable Clear makes his advice. Packed with real-life examples and science-backed strategies, it’s an easy read that motivates you to take action right away.
Key Takeaways
1. Focus on Systems, Not Goals
Instead of fixating on the end goal, Clear encourages readers to create systems that make progress inevitable. For example, instead of saying, "I want to save $10,000," focus on automating your savings every payday.
2. The Four Laws of Behaviour Change
Clear’s four-step framework - Cue, Craving, Response, and Reward - makes building good habits and breaking bad ones achievable. He teaches how to identify triggers and design your environment to make success easier.
3. The Power of 1% Better
Improving just 1% every day might seem trivial, but over time, those small wins compound into significant transformations. This lesson is perfect for tackling long-term goals, from fitness to finances.
4. Habits Shape Identity
Clear flips the script on motivation by showing how habits reinforce your identity. By thinking, "I’m the kind of person who budgets carefully" rather than "I want to save money," your actions align naturally with who you want to become.
5. Make It Easy
The simpler a habit is, the more likely you are to stick with it. Whether it’s meal prepping to eat healthier or setting up auto-payments to manage bills, ease is the name of the game.
Why You Should Read It
Atomic Habits is the ultimate New Year’s book because it focuses on lasting change, not quick fixes. Clear’s advice is as relevant for financial goals as it is for health, relationships, or career aspirations.
Whether you want to save more, stress less, or simply get life more under control, this book gives you the blueprint to make it happen. Start small, stay consistent, and let those atomic habits do the heavy lifting for a better you in 2024.
Here’s to a year of big wins built on small changes!
Win a Copy:
To help our clients start the new year strong, we’re giving away a copy of Atomic Habits by James Clear! This life-changing book is packed with practical strategies to help you build better habits, break bad ones, and achieve your goals - one small step at a time. Click here to enter.
Market & Portfolio Update - January 2026
After strong gains in 2025, the global share market (represented by the MSCI World Gross Index) took a breather in January, returning 0.1% in NZ dollar terms. While the ‘Magnificent 7’ (the seven largest US-listed companies, including Google, Microsoft & Apple) have been large drivers behind the recent gains seen from the US share market, January told a different story. There appeared to be ‘catch-up’ trade where investors moved out of concentrated tech positions and into the rest of the market, with the Russell 2000 index (a widely regarded proxy for smaller US companies) having a strong month. This was generally seen as improving confidence in the broader US economy.
Interest Rate Averaging: A Smarter Way to Manage Mortgage Risk
When it comes to mortgages, most people focus on one thing, getting the lowest interest rate.
But the lowest rate today doesn’t always lead to the best outcome over time.
Interest Rate Averaging is a strategy designed to reduce risk, smooth cashflow, and create flexibility, rather than trying to perfectly time interest rates, which no one can do consistently.