Have you ever thought that maybe you’re missing something? That maybe you’re not doing something you should be that would somehow spring you forward in your life, career, calling, fill in the _____? Perhaps there is something simple and tangible that you could put into practice today and radically change your life. I believe there is.

I recently had the privilege of hearing leadership expert John Maxwell speak at Regent University’s Executive Leadership Series. If you ever have the chance to hear him, don’t miss it. He dropped all sorts of golden nuggets on my dome, but there’s one practical bit of advise I’d like to share: The Rule of 5.

The Rule of 5 states you need to do 5 things every day to achieve your goals. What 5 things? That depends on your goals.

To show the power of the rule, John presented the following illustration that I’ll paraphrase:

So let’s say you want to chop down a tree in your back yard. It’s a beast of a tree and it needs to come down. Instead of whacking away at the sucker with your ax in one go, you decide to only take five swings and stop. But the next day you take five more swings. And the day after you do the same. And the day after that. And so it continues, each day you take exactly five swings.

Eventually the tree falls.

The tree will fall with what seems like little effort because you’ve been disciplined and diligent.

That’s what the Rule of 5 is all about, discipline and diligence.

Below are John’s 5 things. He says he’s been doing them since the age of 17 and it has helped him write over 50 books.

1. Every day I read.
2. Every day I file ideas.
3. Every day I ask questions.
4. Every day I think.
5. Every day I write.

Ponder the Rule of 5 for a bit. It’s not a quick fix for giant problems you face right now, it’s not meant to be. It’s about creating a lifestyle that is dedicated to 5 essential processes you determine will help you along life’s path. Cramming for exams might get you a good grade but you won’t digest the material. I believe the Rule of 5 is about becoming, and out of becoming you do.

It might take a while to discern what your 5 are, but I challenge you to mull it over. John said it took him a few years to fully realize what his 5 were. He got the first few right off the bat and added the others over time. What 5 things could you do every day to make you a better spouse, a better employee, a better person?