The KEY HABITS All Successful People Have In COMMON! | Austin Kleon & Lewis Howes

Morning Habits

Austin Kleon emphasizes the importance of starting the day without distractions, particularly avoiding the phone for the first 30 minutes to an hour. He dedicates this time to reading or writing in his notebook, a habit that has sustained him through challenging times 1. This practice not only helps him generate ideas but also serves as a constant in his creative life. Austin also discusses the role of desire in maintaining discipline, noting that when you truly want something, discipline becomes easier 2.

Discipline with desire is easy. Discipline isn't that hard if you have real desire.

--- Austin Kleon

   

Deadlines

Deadlines play a crucial role in Austin Kleon's creative process, even if they are self-imposed. He believes that having a deadline, whether external or internal, is essential for completing and sharing work 3. This approach helps him stay productive and continuously generate new ideas. Austin also draws parallels between creativity and sports, emphasizing the importance of practice and warming up before tackling bigger tasks 4.

Having a deadline, even if it's artificial, is the only way to work.

--- Austin Kleon

   

Reading

Reading diverse materials is another cornerstone of Austin Kleon's creative process. He enjoys reading a variety of books simultaneously, allowing different ideas to interact and inspire new thoughts 5. This eclectic reading habit enriches his creative output and helps him draw connections between seemingly unrelated topics. Austin also shares how he used to draw authors during their readings, which helped him connect with other writers and understand their work more deeply 6.

I like to read a lot of different stuff at the same time, and then all the stuff kind of talks to each other.

--- Austin Kleon