I have finished reading the book. I made many notes, highlights from my Kindle. They are all available in My Notes On Goodreads. I am practicing the habit of reviewing my notes right after I finish reading. While reading the notes, I can recall my memories and connect the content in the book. I just realized that I have something in my head. I also know that I want to write them down.

Writing down the thoughts is not an easy task. However, the book has taught me a secret – the courage to do things. You guess it. By counting down 5-4-3-2-1 DO.

I, actually, do not do a book review at all. I chose that title because I have not found any word to replace. Reviewing a book is a big deal. I am not going to do that. Instead, I want to focus my energy on writing what I have learned from the book. I want to write the good part that the book conveys and wants to give to the reader. Others might have different views. They might see the opposite side of the book. I do not look for what is not good. I focus on what is good, on what is in it for me, on what I can take away and apply to my life.

The idea in the book is ridiculously simple. Everyone has 5 seconds to convert from intent to action. By counting down, yes counting down – not up, 5-4-3-2-1 DO.

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.

In my word, move your ass. Nothing happens unless you move your ass. You must move physically.

A normal, but famous, example is getting up early. “Early” means you wake up at the time you want to get up before you go to sleep. For example, many people want to get up at 6:00 AM to do exercise. Every evening, while on the bed, they tell themselves that they will wake up at 6:00 AM in the morning. When the clock alarms, a hidden voice tells you

1. Hey, you went to bed late last night
2. Hey, it is cold out there
3. Hey, com’on it is weekend
4. Hey, just stay here for 5 minutes
5. ……

The result? You wake up at 8:00 AM. And the cycle repeats.

The book tells you a simple, but powerful, tip to overcome that habit by counting down: 5-4-3-2-1 UP (use the word that you like most). Right after reaching “1”, out of bed.

I think many people will laugh at that tip and think that it will not work. Sure, it will not work if you think it will not work. Here is the simple fact

1. If you give it a try, you get 50% success, 50% failure
2. If you do NOT try, you get 100% failure

 

Another interesting thing I found from the book is the explanation of “procrastination”

For a long time, everyone believed procrastination meant poor time management skills, a lack of willpower, or lack of self-discipline. Boy, were we wrong. Procrastination is not a form of laziness at all. It’s a coping mechanism for stress.

And

Dr. Pychyl has found that the main thing driving procrastination is not avoiding work. It’s avoiding stress. Procrastination is “a subconscious desire to feel good right now” so you can feel a little stress relief.

And that is because of our default behavior of our brain

We are amazing at fooling ourselves into staying exactly where we are.

Th human being is afraid of changes. Our brain is designed to protect us, to keep us safe. It builds a self-defense mechanism.

As I mentioned in Chapter One, change requires you to do things that are uncertain, scary, or new. Your brain, by design, will not let you do such things.

That’s why we love sitting on Sofa, watching a TV show, a movie. The Sofa makes us feel comfortable and safe.

As I read through the book, I thought of many real examples I have been and I have seen. Kind of fun when you reflect on your life. You should try it.

 

Another thing I learned from the book is how people make decisions. It turns out

According to neuroscientist Antonio Damasio, it’s our feelings that decide for us 95% of the time. You feel before you think. You feel before you act. As Damasio puts it, human beings are “feeling machines that think” not “thinking machines that feel.” And that’s how you ultimately make decisions—based on how you feel.

You Make Decisions Based On How You Feel

 

I would suggest people read the book. I have started applying what I have learned in it. If I want to do something or get something done, or whatsoever I want to do, I would choose this

5-4-3-2-1 MOVE-YOUR-ASS!