Five seconds to change your life
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CHAPTER ONE
FIVE SECONDS TO CHANGE YOUR
LIFE
ou are about to learn something remarkable—it takes just five seconds to
change your life. Sounds like a gimmick, doesn't it? It's not. It's science. I'll
prove it to you. You change your life one five-second decision at a time. In fact, it's
the only way you change.
This is the true story of the 5 Second Rule: what it is, why it works, and how it
has transformed the lives of people around the world. The Rule is easy to learn and
its impact is profound. It's the secret to changing anything. Once you learn the Rule,
you can start using it immediately. The Rule will help you live, love, work, and speak
with greater confidence and courage every day. Use it once and it'll be there for you
whenever you need it.
I created the 5 Second Rule at a time in my life when everything was falling
apart. And by everything, I mean everything: my marriage, finances, career, and selfesteem
were all in the gutter. My problems seemed so big that it was a struggle each
morning just to get out of bed. That's actually how the Rule began—I invented the
Rule to help me break my habit of hitting the snooze button.
When I used the Rule for the very first time seven years ago, I thought it was
silly. Little did I know that I had invented a powerful metacognition technique that
would change absolutely everything about my life, work, and sense of self.
What's happened to me since discovering the 5 Second Rule and the power of
five second decisions is unbelievable. I not only woke up—I shook up my entire
life. I've used this one tool to take control and improve everything from my
confidence to my cash flow, my marriage to my career, and my productivity to my
parenting. I have gone from bouncing checks to seven figures in the bank and from
fighting with my husband to celebrating 20 years of marriage. I've cured myself of
anxiety, built and sold two small businesses, been recruited to join the teams at
CNN and SUCCESS magazine, and I'm now one of the most-booked speakers in
the world. I've never felt more in control, happy, or free. I couldn't have done any
of it without the Rule.
The 5 Second Rule changed everything … by teaching me just one thing:
HOW to change.
Using the Rule, I replaced my tendency to overthink the smallest moves with a
bias toward action. I used the Rule to master self-monitoring and become more
present and productive. The Rule taught me how to stop doubting and start
believing in myself, my ideas, and my abilities. And, the Rule has given me the inner
strength to become a better and much happier person, not for others, but for me.
The Rule can do the same for you. That's why I am so excited to share it with
you. In the next few chapters, you'll learn the story behind the Rule, what it is, why
it works, and the compelling science to back it up. You'll discover how five second
decisions and acts of everyday courage change your life. Finally, you'll learn how
you can use the #5SecondRule in combination with the latest research-backed
strategies to become healthier, happier, and more productive and effective at work.
You'll also learn how to use it to end worry, manage anxiety, find meaning in your
life and beat any fear.
And, that's not all. You'll see proof. Lots of proof. This book is packed with
social media posts and first-hand accounts from people all over the world who are
using the Rule to make some amazing things happen. Yes, the Rule will help you
wake up on time, but what it really does is something far more remarkable—it
wakes up the inner genius, leader, rock star, athlete, artist, and change agent
inside of you.
When you first learn the Rule, you'll likely start using it to stick to your goals.
You might use the Rule to push yourself to get to the gym like Margaret does
when she isn't "feeling it."