Habits of High Performers: Essential principles to thrive in life and work, No.1 bestseller and new in 2025 for fans of ATOMIC HABITS and THE LET THEM THEORY

by James Laughlin

'A powerful book that decodes how the very best do it.' - Robin Sharma, #1 worldwide bestselling author of The 5AM Club


In Habits of High Performers, renowned strategist, mental skills coach, and award-winning podcaster James Laughlin uncovers the seven musts of a high-performing life.

This collection of principles is a game-changer for anyone wanting to earn more, be healthier, grow, or the best at what they do.

Habits of High Performers will show you that high performance is hormonal and plays a massive role in your ability to perform at your best. Cortisol, dopamine, and oxytocin all influence how we handle stress, stay motivated, and build connections. This book will also show you that high performers focus on their strengths, take their MEDs, supercharge their belief systems, understand that desire is to a result what fuel is to a fire, and when your why is clear, your how is easy.

Habits of High Performers is a roadmap for everyday people to achieve extraordinary things.

'A must-read for those seeking to enhance their performance.' - Samuel Whitelock, world-cup winning All Black.

'An inspiring read for anyone who wants to gain that high-performance edge.' - Sir John Key

'The journey to becoming number 1 is as much about leading oneself as it is about skill and strategy. James's book distils the essence of this journey, offering invaluable insights into the personal leadership that defines champions.' - Jason Stacy, coach to world no 1 tennis player, Aryna Sabalenka

'This book is your ticket to the inner circle of high performers.' - Scott O'Neil, CEO of LIV Golf, former CEO of Merlin Entertainments, former CEO of Madison Square Garden, the 76ers and NY Knicks

'With a compelling blend of personal anecdotes and evidence-based strategies, James equips readers with the tools to transform their approach to personal development. This book is a treasure trove of wisdom for those aspiring to craft a life of fulfillment and excellence beyond the conventional metrics of success.' - Nabeela Elsayed, CHRO IKEA USA. Former COO Walmart Canada

Genres: Leadership

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2025

Reviews

[Allie Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring and highly motivating read! I've read a lot of self-help books but I took pages of notes from this one, loved the author's philosophy and found lots of ways I could apply his principles to my own life.

[Lisa Moffat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having just finished the 28day Rewire group work James offers post his yearly High Performance Coaching Event in Christchurch NZ- I can say with full and honest enthusiasm the knowledge shared in James’s book at core will change how you see yourself, the world around you and how you can find your true purpose in life. It offers paced thoughtful steps for you to build a powerful sense of agency and autonomy and develop a personal road map to recognising meaningful and deeply personal versions of joy, fun and happiness. As a late diagnosis ADHDer I have spend a lot of time and money desperate to find help to manage my creative but often overwhelmed brain. James’s approach is kind, gentle and makes no apologies for asking you to work hard. It asks you to sit with yourself and reflect on what you really want life to look like in the future then gives you to tools to work backwards to achieve this by exploring your beliefs, your core values, strengths, wants and needs. He has helped me think big and bold but also gives the very practical incremental steps with how get things done and not get overwhelmed. My ADHD can be a huge strength with creating ideas however the action side of things often falls short. The tools in his book work to help create a cohesive holistic plan my neurodiverse brain can manage - mostly I think because James invites you to pause and really figure out what deeper drive and purpose lies underneath these actions so on days when you feel you can’t keep it all together, it’s this passion for life that helps you find the strength, courage and spark of energy to make it that you do keep showing up and don’t give up on yourself He has helped me feel pride in myself and what I have achieved and will achieve in the future. Equally he is a super nice guy and his book is ‘him’ - he walks the talk and what he has written is what he does himself -in my mind isn’t that the best vote of confidence ever… a individual who believes in what they share so much so they actually live by the rules themselves…. Something in today’s world that can be a rare find? Lisa Moffat 🌈

[Sabina-Sofia Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment I picked up "Habits of High Performers" by Jame Laughlin, I couldn’t put it down. Jame Laughlin’s book truly revolutionized my approach to personal growth and self-awareness. What I loved most about the book was the practical exercises the author incorporated — they made the concepts so engaging and impactful.

One of the most eye-opening experiences was sending messages to 8-12 close friends to gather their positive feedback. It’s a wonderfully effective way to see how the world perceives you, especially since we can often be overly critical of ourselves. The feedback was a powerful reminder to celebrate our positive qualities, as that energy influences how we show up in the world. What we put out is what we tend to receive in return, and these insights helped me align more consciously with that truth.
This exercise allowed me to gain incredible insights into how others perceive me, many of which were completely new and surprising. It helped me understand my core beliefs, clarify my priorities, and see myself through the eyes of those who know me best.

Jame Laughlin’s approach is transformative and inspiring. This book is packed with practical tools that truly work, and it’s a must-read for anyone committed to high performance and genuine self-improvement. Highly recommend!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve known James Laughlin as both a friend and a coach for the past six or so years, and I can honestly say Habits of High Performers is a true reflection of who he is and how he lives.

What I love about this book is that it’s not just about quick wins or hype – it’s about how high performers show up over the long term. The stories are real, relatable and honest, and James breaks down high performance into practical habits you can actually apply in your day-to-day life.

As someone who has transitioned from professional rugby into a second career in real estate, I’ve leaned on many of the principles in this book to keep performing at a high level without sacrificing what matters most – health, family, and being a present husband, dad and friend.

I rate this book so highly I’ve bought copies for my family, and I’ll be encouraging my kids to read it when they’re older. If you want to understand what long-term high performance really looks like – on and off the field – this book is a must-read.

— Adam Whitelock

[Sanjeev Chaudhary · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐ 5-Star Review: High Performance of Leaders ⭐

“High Performance of Leaders is an outstanding guide for anyone who wants to grow into a stronger, more effective, and more confident leader. The book breaks down leadership into simple, practical steps that you can immediately apply in real-life situations — whether you’re managing a team, running a business, or working on your personal development.

I really liked how the author focuses on mindset, discipline, communication, and decision-making. The examples are easy to relate to, and the strategies are realistic for busy people like me who are working long hours. After reading this book, I feel more organised, more motivated, and more capable of leading with clarity and purpose.

If you want to level up your leadership skills and achieve high performance in both work and life, I highly recommend High Performance of Leaders.”

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not normally an avid absorber of personal development books but James’ has become the exception. Only a quarter of the way in, I was already quoting 'common sense isn't common practice', '10 priorities are not priorities. They're a to list' and 'Don't let the important many distract from the critical few’. But perhaps most game changing concept for me was the concept of the VP decision making filter.

Historically I would have always weighed up the pro’s and con’s of various options, however, looking at this through a lens of my priorities and values has been a complete unlock. I’m now feeling excited about the future, and empowered knowing I’ll be taking steps to get closer to living a life based on my values and priorities.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mum of young child with multiple businesses, I needed something digestible that would work for my lifestyle and all of the chaos that can surround me. To be honest I was skeptical that this would be particularly helpful, but thought I’d give it a read.

I'm delighted I took a copy!

James has a talent for transferring the ethereal into a step-by-step, easy to follow method for obtaining the result you need.

Want to improve but unsure where to start?

James takes a systematic approach that provides clarity, and the privilege of keeping the big picture in mind while working on the day-to-day mahi to get there.
I’m recommending the book for my team, and working through integrating these habits into my future.

[Alice]

The ONLY “self-help” book I’ve ever finished… AND done all the exercises!! An incredibly helpful masterclass in working out who you are, what matters to you, and how to go about living a life of Purpose. It’s hard to review a book like this because the subject matter is pretty all-encompassing… But for me, it was so helpful because it summarises so many powerful concepts across the board and then puts them all in one place, with clear action steps. James writes intelligently, while also accessibly... Unpretentious, and friendly - this book feels like wisdom, support, and sometimes tough love… from a very smart mate. Thank you James. And I highly recommend this for anyone who is sick of hearing their own excuses, and who is ready to make the most of themselves.

[Helena Roza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought Habits of High Performers for my husband at a point when he was genuinely lost. He was 37, stuck in procrastination, resistant to learning NO clear direction, no momentum, nothing
This book changed everything. Completely.
He didn’t just read it once he’s now reading it for the second time and actively journaling alongside it. He’s more self aware, more driven, and more intentional. At one point he even said to me, “I don’t understand how I was living my life like that before.” That sentence says more than any marketing copy ever could. So I highly recommended this book. Awesome reading.

[Nigel Bartlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is EPIC.

Habits of High Performers is not just a read, it's a process to work through that will allow you to focus on what YOU can do to increase your performance and become better every day.

James has distilled his own learning and the engagement with high performers worldwide into a thought process that is not revolutionary, but establishes and reinforces habits that when stacked together are a change movement.

This is not a one-time read. I have read this more than once and keep finding little nuggets each time.

This builds upon James' podcasts and the continuous learning journey that he inspires.

Awesome Mahi James!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I brought this book on preorder for all our staff and they are absolutely loving it. James’s ability to make complex ideas seem simple to execute and his ideas around how to balance high performance at work or sport aswell as caring about health and family is the best I have seen. Some feedback after the first few days from the staff below.

Loving the book so far Caleb. Helpful and simple tools for narrowing down and specifying goals. quite enjoying it so far.

The book is awesome. Started it last night and already got through most of it thanks Caleb

[Stafford Houston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an encouraging and easy read. What I appreciated most is how practical the tools are.. they’re simple to understand and easy to start applying right away, without feeling overwhelming or “another thing to add to the list.” It just gently nudges you toward better habits and more intentional living.

I found it helpful enough that we picked up copies for my team, and it’s already sparking meaningful conversations about how we can grow together.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up hoping to get some practical insights into how top performers think and operate, and it delivered. The author doesn’t just throw motivational quotes at you — it’s full of actionable strategies you can actually apply at work and in daily life. What stood out to me was how relatable the examples were. Top class book and I highly recommend to everyone. Amazing James.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a total game-changer. It walks you step by step through what you need to do in order to achieve your goals and maintain wellbeing. I can't recommend it enough. It's well written and also an easy read. You can break it up into one principle a day and finish it within a month! LOVE LOVE LOVE!

[Larn Wilkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purchased this book a few weeks ago as I was looking for tools to lift my game in a few key areas. An easy read with lots of great and sensible tips that have certainly opened my eyes to what is possible. When one wants to apply themselves further. Well recommend to anyone looking to grow themselves as a person and a leader.

[Hornet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book while looking at buying atomic habits and I could see that it actually had really good reviews.

the book did not disappoint and I found it to be very informative with direction and cases which would help others become high performers.

overall I really enjoyed it and would recommend it.

[Rachael Cowie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really approachable guide to being the best you can be. I read lots of self help/psychology books but found James' tone really resonated with me and am actually working through the exercises and feeling things shifting. Highly recommend!

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're new to personal development, this provides a nice starting point. There's nothing new here, merely a collection of other people's ideas and catchphrases (with scant attribution, which pissed me off.) But the exercises are good.

[Jerika · Rating 5 out of 5]

James cuts to the core of what to do, how to prioritize, and how to stay in action from day one! Be ready to level up and join the world class leaders.

[Aaran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic book for all high performers! You have to do the work and it will certainly elevate your performance in this journey of life and you will feel more fulfilled along the way.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down best self help book I’ve read.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the broad brush you hit this one with James, a great opener for everyone wanting to get a bit of everything and the activities are masterclass. Cheers
Juan