The Complete Collection of James Clear Questions (264 Questions)

I’ve read every single one of the 264 newsletters New York Times bestselling author, James Clear has published since 2019. They’re short and live up to his description, “the most wisdom per word of any newsletter on the web.”

His format is 3 short ideas from himself, 2 quotes from others, and 1 question to ponder. (subscribe here)

With over 250 questions to dive into, it’s a freaking gold mine. So, I decided to compile every single question he’s ever shared. Click here to find the comprehensive list of every question James Clear has ever shared online. Once I had the complete list, I decided to hand-pick the ones that really resonated and do mini-dives into each of them. I shared all 38 of my favorites in this week's newsletter - subscribe here!

But here are five of my absolute favorites:

Some questions to consider before you speak:

Does this need to be said?

Does this need to be said by me?

Does this need to be said by me right now?

(November 26, 2020)

If everyone had this written on a card that sat in front of them during every meeting they attend, all of our meetings would be much shorter.

I might know more than I did 20 years ago but I speak much less.

Does the amount of time I’m giving this match its true importance?

(March 25, 2021)

How much time do you spend deciding what to watch on Netflix?

The average person spends roughly 18 minutes. (source: Reelgood and Learndipity)

If you hop on Netflix 3 times a week, you’ll spend roughly 46 hours a year deciding what to watch on Netflix.

Are you getting 46 hours worth of value out of this time?

If someone took control of your life tomorrow, what’s the first thing they would change?

(March 31, 2022)

The Hotshot Rule is the act of thinking of someone I admire, then pausing, reflecting, and asking what they would do in my situation/shoes/role, then answering what that one thing is and acting on it. The answer tends to appear quickly because it seems to be clear when you think about it through someone else's lens. (Kat Cole)

This question scares me.

And if you want to really scared, think about someone taking control of several very specific roles in your life.

Partner and Parent.

If someone stepped into my role as a partner/spouse what’s the first thing they would change?

What’s stopping you from making that change right now?

If I do nothing, what will happen? If I act right now, what will happen?

Sometimes you need to let go. Sometimes you need to get going.

(May 18, 2023)

I don’t typically ask the first question. I tend to assume action is needed. This question is a great reminder that action isn’t always the only (or best) option.

I’ve learned this with my kids over time. Sometimes they don’t need me to rush in and respond - they need me to let them sit with the problem and figure it out themselves.

Winston Churchill once said, “It is not enough that we do our best; sometimes we must do what is required.”

Think about what you are working toward this year. Are you doing what is required or are you looking for a shortcut?

(January 11, 2024)

I’ve been thinking about this question for several weeks now and someone at work actually mentioned this quote as we were talking about working with students.

Sometimes our best just isn’t enough. Don’t blame others, don’t complain, commit to improvement.

Which question hits hardest for you right now? One of these five? Another one from the list of 264?

If you know someone who loves James Clear’s newsletter, his book Atomic Habits, or just enjoys comprehensive lists like these - will you do me a favor and forward this to a friend?

That one share makes a huge difference to me as I continue to get people excited about asking more questions!