The Surprising Power of Atomic Habits (Ch.1)

Question 1

What is the “aggregation of marginal gains”?

Answer 1

It is the philosophy of improving every element of a process by 1%, which cumulatively leads to significant overall improvement.

Question 2

Why are small habits impactful in the long term?

Answer 2

Small habits compound over time. Improving by 1% daily can make you 37 times better in a year, while declining by 1% daily can bring you close to zero.

Question 3

Explain the compound interest analogy for habits.

Answer 3

Like money growing through compound interest, habits multiply their effects over time. Good habits yield exponential growth in results, while bad habits lead to compounding negative outcomes.

Question 4

What is a lagging measure, and how does it relate to habits?

Answer 4

A lagging measure reflects the cumulative results of habits over time. For example:

• Net worth reflects financial habits.
• Weight reflects eating habits.
• Knowledge reflects learning habits.

Question 5

Why is focusing on trajectory more important than current results?

Answer 5

Your current results are temporary snapshots of past habits. Your trajectory, determined by your current habits, predicts your long-term success or failure.