John C. Maxwell teaches that success comes from consistently doing five key activities every day that move you toward your desired outcome. His own Rule of 5 included reading, filling ideas, thinking, asking questions and writing – habits that contributed to his becoming a prolific author and speaker. He uses the metaphor of chopping down a giant tree with an ax; if you take five swings at the same tree every day, it will eventually fall, no matter how big it is.
Many people carry a dream in their hearts for years – a book they want to write, a message they want to share, or a business they want to launch. Yet life gets busy, fear creeps in, and the dream remains buried. It is not that they lack desire, but they lack confidence and a structure to see them through. When the dream feels too big, use this Rule of 5 to start and get into the momentum.
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin – Zechariah 4:10
How to Create Your Own “Rule of 5”
You can apply this framework to achieve your dreams:
- Identify your “tree” – having clarity on what your dream is. Example: write your book.
- Find your “ax” – this is the specific tools, skills, or resources required to achieve that dream. Example: writing skills, AI for idea generation, and accountability partner.
- Do your “swing” – define your 5 daily actions. Choose 5 small, manageable, and intentional tasks that directly move you toward your goal. Do this every day without fail. Example: write 300 words, use Ai to generate ideas, research topic, listen to podcast and update accountability partner.
My Invitation
This is my invitation to you today: if there is a dream that God has placed in your heart, identify five simple actions that will move you closer to it. Then commit to doing them daily. Your future is shaped not only by what you dream, but by what you do each day to achieve that dream.
God may have given you the dream, but you still need to sharpen your ax and take your daily swings.