The 5 Second Rule

By: Mel Robbins

Narrated by: Mel Robbins

Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

How to enrich your life and destroy doubt in five seconds.

Throughout your life, you've had parents, coaches, teachers, friends, and mentors who have pushed you to be better than your excuses and bigger than your fears. What if the secret to having the confidence and courage to enrich your life and work is simply knowing how to push yourself?

Using the science of habits, riveting stories, and surprising facts from some of the most famous moments in history, art, and business, Mel Robbins will explain the power of a "push moment". Then, she'll give you one simple tool you can use to become your greatest self.

It takes just five seconds to use this tool, and every time you do you'll be in great company. More than eight million people have watched Mel's TEDx Talk, and executives inside of the world's largest brands are using the tool to increase productivity, collaboration, and engagement.

In The 5 Second Rule, you'll discover it takes just five seconds to:

• Become confident
• Break the habit of procrastination and self-doubt
• Beat fear and uncertainty
• Stop worrying and feel happier
• Share your ideas with courage

The 5 Second Rule is a simple, one-size-fits-all solution for the one problem we all face - we hold ourselves back.

The secret isn't knowing what to do - it's knowing how to make yourself do it.

©2017 Mel Robbins (P)2017 Mel Robbins

Count down 5,4,3,2,1... and do it

The 5-second rule is the moment you have an instinct to act on a goal, count down 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and physically move (or your brain will stop you with an excuse). This starting ritual will help to change many of your behaviors. There are 5-second moments all day long - wake up early, exercise, clean up, organize files, pay the bills, do the laundry, don't have that drink, don't smoke, update your resume, and speak up in a meeting. These are all simple actions that can be done (and you probably had these thoughts a hundred times already). Count 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... do it. This is a better alternative to sitting there and worrying or complaining about it. There is no right time or the feeling of being ready; just count down and do it.

There isn't anything earth-shattering about this advice. If you tried it and it does work for you, read the book to stay motivated and be inspired by stories of other people who have changed their lives.

183 people found this helpful

I turned it off after an hour.

It's a great tool. 54321 GO! It really does hijack your brain momentarily and get you moving.
However, the book is FULL of fluff. Her reading feedback from her fans about how they've used the '5 second rule' to make changes, over and over and over and over and over again is not my idea of a 'book'. It's a 'Ra Ra' rally and a waste of my time. In the end I found it annoying. The tool however does work to defeat procrastination. You can probably find a blog post or a TEDx talk somewhere that will give you all you need.

1,756 people found this helpful

Disappointing

After the first five minutes you don't need to continue. The rest is just examples to support this idea. I feel I wasted my credit this month

797 people found this helpful

Would have been better as a motivational poster

I tried to listen to as much as this book as I could stomach, but there was just no substance. It was the same exact statement reworded over and over again a million different ways. On top of that the author likes to laugh at her quirks, at odd times.

As I'm trying to listen to it right now, the book is telling me, again, how the rule will help me, without specifying anything else about this rule. There are "volumes and volumes of research proving that it works," which aren't cited.

I would suggest skipping over this book, because the entire book is the author counting down from 5, over and over and over with fluff in between

501 people found this helpful

unnecessarily long

it is a nice and useful rule, but I think the amount of chapters is too much for the same... it just keeps repeating the same over and over again

382 people found this helpful

Good concept but couldn't relate

They tell a bunch of stories of other people and the story is said over about 20 min per person and then says the one little instance they used the 5 second rule. It's a book with tons of filler and not much substance

383 people found this helpful

Good concept but really annoying to hear her talk

Would you try another book from Mel Robbins and/or Mel Robbins?

I found her 5 second rule from a Youtube video of her talking about it and I applied it to waking up early. It was the only self help trick that actually gave me immediate results and I was so happy that I beat my habit of waking up late for years. Naturally I thought maybe this book would as inspiring. It is not. I've managed to force myself to listen up to Chapter 12 and find her very annoying after about the first hour of listening. The book is filled with examples of how her listeners have used this rule and not much about the science behind it or how you can apply it to yourself..and if I have to hear her say "5 4 3 2 1" again, I'll shoot myself. Basically there's a lot of fluff and little substance. I believe her main points can be summarized in an article and that a book was not necessary. I haven't gained much from it than what I already know from a quick video that she's done explaining the rule. I found the way she talked really annoying and I don't know how to explain it other than she doesn't sound humble. She sounds like someone that would talk way too much about herself if you had to talk to her in real life.

157 people found this helpful

Just watch the Ted Talk

I barely got through half of this book, and I decided that I couldn’t move forward. I found it very repetitive and not extremely helpful. Just watch the Ted Talk that inspired this book, implement and move forward with your life.

13 people found this helpful

Exhorting mightily.

Good information repeated often so every one can understand. The important point is stated at the outset. A lot of everyday examples but I felt a little beaten up by the narrator at middle of the book. I think the content is important but more effective with a more subtle approach. If you feel the same way, stop for a couple of hours (or days) and return.

123 people found this helpful

Go

I just did the 54321 seconds rule, I'm writing a review...this alone is frightening for me. I think it's because deep down I always want to write, what I think and feel, but I never bother because I thought about it to much . It's simple and a small start will do, I just did. Thanks to Mel Robbins, I have re-connected within my self to force myself the "GO" push using her 54321. I recommend it to anyone, who desperately wants a change and a chance to find them self again. I totally love her tone of voice and stories she use to demonstrate her point across. The message is so clear, that I'm so glad I was listening. I hope you find my review useful, but most of all, that you find yourself doing the 54321, now Go!

400 people found this helpful

Enjoyable

I enjoyed this book immensely. I think the learning from it is simple and could be explained in a single paragraph, but the stories from people who have used the rule are truly inspiring. The author/narrator comes across so passionately right the way through and it feels like she is speaking directly to you, in an almost conversational way. On a personal note, I really like the teaching and I can't wait to start to use this rule in my every day life... in fact I just did in writing this review!!

21 people found this helpful

Really drags out a very simple concept.

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Needed to move through the points more quickly and make this book MUCH shorter.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Very American in style

Any additional comments?

The concept is simple, count down from 5 and act. It is a good concept and its useful to know the science behind it, but dragged out far too long for my liking; 7 hours! No doubt others will like this book and enjoy the emotional aspect with the examples of people putting this into practice. But from the perspective of looking for new ideas for personal development there is far too much unnecessary content. It could have been an hour or less.I would recommend this book for the concept and nothing more.

160 people found this helpful

Utter waste of time and money

Firstly, I don't think this 5 second rule works always. It is trying to ingest discipline through that recital of 5 4 3 2 1 Go. But you actually need discipline to even do that consistently.
Secondly, while I agree that overthinking and procrastination does not help with actions, being impulsive and acting without deliberation within 5 seconds are not the answers. Frankly some of the examples in the book are just silly. In fact, the fact that I regret buying this audiobook is an example on why you should deliberate over some decisions.
Finally, the narration. Lord. I have never been grateful for the 2x speed option that allowed me to get through this faster. She sounded like my over-bearing aunt, who keeps repeating the same advice until I get out of her sight.

110 people found this helpful

A long book for a quick tool.

Could not finish,
Please google the 5 second rule, which is " 54321 and physically move." Don't waste your credit.

32 people found this helpful

Extremely repetitive

Ok to listen to, narrated well. However there is only so many times you can listen to the same stories..."This person struggled...they counted 5,4,3,2,1 and changed their lives."

88 people found this helpful

Not really a book

I'm sure this contains a good idea but its not a book. Instead it's a rant. If you like to hi five the author every page then perhaps this is for you.

8 people found this helpful

Not great

A little repetitive. After reading a dozen self help books this was the worse! A very difficult audio book to listen to. Mel Robbins does a great job of blowing her own trumpet whilst fuelling her ego with example after example + sounds like every other 'Ted' talker.

The book was summed up in a short chapter in 'A Chimp Paradox' when Steve Peters talks about autonomic behaviour and how you should know when to ignore or listen to your chimp.

Just roll out of bed and don't think about it. If you want to paint it as 54321, then great! I wasn't going to post this but - 54321

23 people found this helpful

Buy this book

What made the experience of listening to The 5 Second Rule the most enjoyable?

This is the best book I have ever purchased, and I have purchased hundreds.
In my opinion, until you read, and "get" this simple concept, you'll spend a fortune seeking it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Lots of them, and mostly ordinary people.

Have you listened to any of Mel Robbins’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Nope, Mel is completely new to me. Mores the pity.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me wish I'd found her way back.

Any additional comments?

My review is genuine, and for once I felt compelled to write one. It's a great book.

35 people found this helpful

Excellent

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I already have recommended this book to friends, even while I was half way through. 'Life-changing' is a fair description in my opinion - provided you put it into practice.

Any additional comments?

Outstanding book. I listened to it in one sitting, but I will listen to it again several times until this becomes my habitual way of dealing with procrastination. I noticed several spots in the book where a mistake was made in the reading, so Mel reread it, obviously with the intention of an editor editing out the mistake, however these were not edited out. If she paid someone to edit this, then she needs to get them to put this right. I would be horrified if I was to hand a voice-over file back to a client with these errors in. Mel, if you want someone to edit your future audio books, I would be more than happy to do it. You will find me on your email list.

25 people found this helpful

5 minutes of content. 7 hours of waffle.

The basic premise of this book could be imparted in a 5 minute YouTube video, or a 300 word blog post.

somehow (mainly through copying and pasting 150 Facebook posts from her fans), Mel Robbins turns this into a 7 hour+ bore-fest.

2 people found this helpful