Make Good Use of 5 Seconds

It’s tough to run a business.  Often there are roadblocks and u-turns and stops and starts along the way.  Personal development and growth are an integral part of it. Let’s face it: your business takes grit and hustle and plenty of self-confidence.  Here’s a book our OSP team enjoyed that inspired us to make some changes, especially when we discovered how little time it took: ONLY FIVE SECONDS!
Mel Robbins, in her international bestseller, The 5 Second Rule, emphasizes that it truly takes such little time to change one’s life.  By using a few seconds wisely, one can pursue dreams, build confidence, make more money – and the list goes on and on.  How? This five-second rule teaches you how to change! Let’s explore this some more…
Here’s the rule itself:  “The moment you have an instinct to act on a goal you must 5-4-3-2-1 and physically move or your brain will stop you” (Robbins, 2017, p. 35).  So, how can you use it?  By retraining your brain, you can use it to change behaviors, act with courage, and control your mind.  
CHANGE BEHAVIORS
Often we have habits that we would like to break and others that we would like to start.  What are some of yours? Let’s say you tend to overthink. As soon as you catch yourself doing that, just put a stop to it by merely counting backwards to tick away those seconds:  5-4-3-2-1. Let’s say you’d like to start exercising more, but who really wants to do that?  If you find yourself avoiding those running shoes, start moving and count to five.
ACT WITH COURAGE
What about everyday actions?  Sometimes we need to be brave enough to do something – like give a presentation or deliver some bad news.  As soon as we sense that we are getting ready to duck out, envision yourself doing it – and then, you guessed it:  count for five seconds. You can shoo away any doubt you may have and not only do what it takes, but do it successfully.
CONTROL YOUR MIND
And what about the pestering voices in our minds that distract us and keep us from moving forward with confidence?  Nip those in the bud by shushing them and counting backwards: 5-4-3-2-1. Replace those nag nudges with affirmations and encouragement.  You can become your own cheerleader! Who else would be better at doing that than you?
As Robbins tells us in this book, it doesn’t take much time to change your direction and to put wind in your sails.  Try it for a week – or better yet, a month – and many will tell you that you’ll be pleased with the results.  Pick up the book if you’d like to be motivated!  Another source of inspiration can be found on the OSP site – Mindset 101 – to recharge your battery.  If you’re not an OSP client yet, use this link to sign up, and you, too, will have access to this marketing guide.
Reference
Robbins, M. 2017.  The 5 second rule:  Transform your life, work, and confidence with everyday courage.  Savio Republic. Republic, MO.