OHIO students gain lasting lessons from James Clear’s ‘Atomic Habits’ event

New York Times bestselling author James Clear visited Ohio University on Oct. 1 for the fifth annual Raymond A. Lancaster Executive Leadership Speaker Series, hosted by the Robert D. Walter Center for Strategic Leadership in the College of Business.

Students packed Nelson Commons for a live recording of The Learning Leader Show podcast, where Clear joined host and Ohio University alumnus Ryan Hawk ’05 for an engaging conversation on leadership, personal growth and the power of small habits to drive lasting success. This year’s event was made possible by the Lancaster Family Endowment Fund, with additional support from the Muck Family Foundation.

Clear, author of the internationally acclaimed “Atomic Habits,” spoke about the power of small actions and consistent effort — themes that have resonated with millions since the book’s 2018 release. His book focuses on the importance of building small habits to change big things in life. During his talk at Ohio University, Clear emphasized the importance of consistency, which is especially relevant to students learning how to form habits.

“The tricky thing about focus or priority,” Clear told the audience, “is that if you only do it for one day, it’s not going to give you any bonus points. You have to work on it. The real change happens when the process becomes part of who you are.”

Senior Lauren Armstrong, a strategic leadership and management major, said she learned a lot about the practice of consistency when Clear discussed how long it took him to write his book.

“Him describing the process of how he wrote ‘Atomic Habits’ really stuck out to me,” she said. “It took him years of refining his ideas and taking risks; he didn’t just jump into it right away. It took a lot of persistence to get to where he is now.”

Justin Williams, a senior studying accounting and finance, said Clear’s message couldn’t have come at a better time.

“I would say especially that it’s good because of the position we’re in right now as college students,” he said. “A lot of the habits we’re learning now are going to be habits for life.”

For Hawk, the event marked a meaningful return to his alma mater. A former Bobcat football captain turned global podcast host, Hawk has interviewed hundreds of top leaders, including Simon Sinek and Brené Brown. Recording an episode in front of an audience of Ohio University students — with one of the world’s leading authors — was a full-circle moment. Together, Clear and Hawk brought an engaging dialogue to life, exploring how small, consistent actions can lead to extraordinary outcomes. 

“Having Ryan back on campus interviewing James Clear was something truly special,” said Jen Traxler, executive director of the Walter Center. “It captured the spirit of leadership and lifelong learning that we want to instill in our students.”

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The idea to bring Clear to campus began with Ryan O’Connor, associate athletics director of revenue generation. He said the idea of inviting Clear originally came because his wife and Clear’s wife had both graduated from Ohio University.

“Having someone with his level of global influence speak directly to our students — that’s something they’ll remember for years,” O’Connor said.

“It was super engaging,” Armstrong added. “I thought the answers were really thoughtful. I thought both the interviewer and interviewee gave amazing energy that kept the audience engaged throughout the entire event.”

Overall, Clear’s visit to campus was an incredibly monumental event for the Walter Center. It allowed students and faculty alike to capture key advice he gives to young professionals looking to make their mark on the world. The Lancaster Series continues to provide a space for ambitious learners to absorb real-world insight that challenges Bobcats to lead with intention and purpose. Students walked away from this year’s event not just inspired by Clear’s insights — but ready to turn small habits into lasting impact.