Subject: 3-2-1: On the power of self-image, how luck travels, and the importance of solving mediocre problems
From: James Clear <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Thu, 14 May 2026 21:33:50 +0000 (UTC)

​
“The most wisdom per word of any
newsletter on the web.”

​

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3-2-1: On the power of self-image, how luck travels, and the importance of solving mediocre problems
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read on

​JAMESCLEAR.COM ( https://59b90e10.click.convertkit-mail4.com/lmu769opq8imhn9e363c6h8w8gd64sgh5o/p8heh9h4ovqgrgbq/aHR0cHM6Ly9qYW1lc2NsZWFyLmNvbS9tYXktMTQtMjAyNg== ) | MAY 14, 2026

Happy 3-2-1 Thursday!

Here are 3 ideas, 2 quotes, and 1 question to consider this week...

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3 Ideas From Me
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I.

"The best view of the game is probably from the stands. But that's not where the action is. And so you have to decide, do you want a nice view or do you want to be in the thick of it and playing the game?"

​II.

"Luck flows through people and travels by conversation. The people you talk to determine the opportunities you find.

Keep talking to the same people, keep finding the same opportunities. Start talking to new people, start finding new opportunities.

If you want different luck, start walking into different rooms."

III.

"You will rarely outperform your self-image."
​

​
​

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2 Quotes From Others
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I.

Entrepreneur and saleswoman Mary Kay Ash reminds us that everyone craves respect and attention:

"No matter how busy you are, you must take time to make the other person feel important. Everyone has an invisible sign hanging from their neck saying, "Make me feel important." Never forget this message when working with people."

Source: Mary Kay on People Management (paraphrased)​ ( https://59b90e10.click.convertkit-mail4.com/lmu769opq8imhn9e363c6h8w8gd64sgh5o/x0hph6he0gq9k3i5/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbXpuLnRvLzNVb3BNelg= )​

​II.

Writer and computer scientist Gurwinder Bhogal on the danger of mediocre problems:

"Often we fail to improve our lives simply because things don't get bad enough. If your new job is hell, you’ll leave it, but if it’s just unsatisfying, you’ll likely grind it out. Thus, small problems often threaten our quality of life more than big ones."

Source: Twitter ( https://59b90e10.click.convertkit-mail4.com/lmu769opq8imhn9e363c6h8w8gd64sgh5o/dpheh0hen3p8drfm/aHR0cHM6Ly94LmNvbS9HX1NfQmhvZ2FsL3N0YXR1cy8xODc0NTczNzI3NTA3Mzg2NzYx )

​
​

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1 Question For You
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Don't wait on external factors. If the thing you're waiting for never arrives or if the permission you're hoping for is never given, what's your move?

Want to share this issue of 3-2-1? Just copy and paste this link: https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1/may-14-2026

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Until next week,

James Clear ​ ( https://59b90e10.click.convertkit-mail4.com/lmu769opq8imhn9e363c6h8w8gd64sgh5o/e0hph7h7oxrqmmh8/aHR0cHM6Ly9qYW1lc2NsZWFyLmNvbS9hdG9taWMtaGFiaXRz )​
​Author of Atomic Habits ( https://59b90e10.click.convertkit-mail4.com/lmu769opq8imhn9e363c6h8w8gd64sgh5o/e0hph7h7oxrqmmh8/aHR0cHM6Ly9qYW1lc2NsZWFyLmNvbS9hdG9taWMtaGFiaXRz )​
Cofounder of Authors Equity ( https://59b90e10.click.convertkit-mail4.com/lmu769opq8imhn9e363c6h8w8gd64sgh5o/7qh7h8h95gnwdqiz/aHR0cHM6Ly9hdXRob3JzZXF1aXR5LmNvbS8= )​

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p.s. The coolest thing I've seen all week ( https://59b90e10.click.convertkit-mail4.com/lmu769opq8imhn9e363c6h8w8gd64sgh5o/z2hghnhexglp5xap/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9wL0RZRk9LQnJKNnJoLw== ).​ ( https://59b90e10.click.convertkit-mail4.com/lmu769opq8imhn9e363c6h8w8gd64sgh5o/x0hph6he0gq9kvh5/aHR0cHM6Ly9qYW1lc2NsZWFyLmNvbS93cC1jb250ZW50L3VwbG9hZHMvMjAyNC8xMC8zLTItMS1wcy1vY3QtMjQtMjAyNC5qcGc= )​

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What else am I working on?
--------------------------

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My book recommendations this week
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