University of the Cumberlands Hosts Atomic Habits Author James Clear for 2026 Excellence in Leadership Event

University of the Cumberlands welcomed Atomic Habits author and New York Times bestseller James Clear to its Williamsburg campus as the keynote speaker for the annual Excellence in Leadership event, sponsored by the Forcht Group of Kentucky.

Clear, widely recognized for his research on habit formation and behavior change, addressed an audience of students, faculty, staff, and community members. His keynote focused on practical strategies for building better habits through small, consistent improvements, an approach that closely reflects the mission and values of University of the Cumberlands.

James Clear Shares Strategies for Habit Formation and Long-Term Success

“Habits touch nearly everything we care about,” Clear said during his keynote. From academic success to personal health and relationships, Clear emphasized that daily behaviors shape long-term outcomes, and even the smallest improvements compound over time.

“If you get 1% better each day for a year, you get 37 times better by the end of the year. If you get 1% worse, you drag yourself almost all the way down to zero,” he said. 

But progress, he argued, is not driven by motivation or grit alone.

“You don’t rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems,” Clear said, encouraging attendees to focus on building sustainable, repeatable habits.

He closed by emphasizing identity as the foundation of lasting change.

“Every action you take is a vote of the type of person you want to become,” Clear added.

University of the Cumberlands President Dr. Quentin Young noted that Clear’s message reflects the kind of leadership the university seeks to cultivate.

“At Cumberlands, the kind of leadership we hope to cultivate does not happen overnight. It is formed through small, consistent steps forward… What makes James’s message especially powerful is its practicality. James helps people understand how small changes in behavior, environment, and mindset can lead to meaningful transformation in our lives, our organizations, and our communities.”

Student Experience and Applied Learning

Opportunities like the Excellence in Leadership event reflect University of the Cumberlands’ commitment to providing meaningful, real-world learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom.

Anna Jo Carey, a junior elementary education major from Barbourville, Kentucky, was among the students selected to engage directly with Clear during the event. She asked how his strategies for habit formation can be applied in everyday life. Clear emphasized the importance of consistency over intensity.

“Do not underestimate the value of five good minutes. Five good minutes can completely reset things,” he said. “People often feel like what they need is intensity, but what they really need is consistency. Intensity makes a good story, but consistency is how you make progress.”

“Having the opportunity to engage with a best-selling author like James Clear was truly incredible,” Carey said. “I really appreciated his insight on consistency, and I plan to use his advice to build lasting habits in my academic and professional life.”

Community Engagement and Regional Impact

The Excellence in Leadership Series is free and open to the public, reflecting Cumberlands’ commitment to community engagement and access to high-impact learning experiences. 

This year, Ruth Osborne, instructional coach with Gifted and Talented at Whitley County Schools, coordinated an after-school field trip for local students eager to learn and grow.

“Coming from a small, rural area, it is important for students to have opportunities to hear from successful people like James Clear, who have overcome challenges to become who they are today,” Osborne said. “I believe Clear’s strategies will ignite a flame in my students, inspiring them to get 1% better each day and become the successful individuals they desire to be.”

About the Excellence in Leadership Series

The Excellence in Leadership Series at University of the Cumberlands brings nationally recognized speakers to campus each year to engage students and community members in conversations about leadership, personal growth, and professional development.

Past speakers include Caitlin Clark, Drew Brees, Mel Robbins, Shaquille O’Neal, and Laila Ali.