How Luck Shapes Change - Insights From a Motivational Speaker

How Luck Shapes Change: The Unexpected Journey of the Five-Second Rule

Change often feels like an uphill battle. We search for the perfect strategy, the right motivation, or the ideal circumstances. But sometimes, luck plays a bigger role than we realize.

Take this story. Mel Robbins was facing financial ruin. She stumbles upon a simple coping mechanism—counting down from five to overcome anxiety and hesitation. It wasn’t meant to be a global phenomenon. It was just a trick to get out of bed. But luck had other plans.

The Chance Encounter That Sparked a Movement

In 2011, she and her husband were $800,000 in debt. Anxiety loomed large. Getting out of bed in the morning felt impossible. That’s when she discovered a way to silence the doubt: 5-4-3-2-1—go. A simple countdown helped her take action before fear could talk her out of it.

This small, personal technique could have remained just that—personal. But luck nudged it forward. A friend called, offering a free trip to San Francisco in exchange for a short talk. The catch? She had to speak in front of an audience. No professional speaking experience. No script. No plan to share the five-second rule. But at the last moment, in a wave of panic, she blurted it out.

And that should have been the end of it.

When Luck and Preparation Collide

A year passed. Then another. The TEDx talk was uploaded online—without her even knowing. Slowly, emails started trickling in. Strangers across the world were using the five-second rule to quit bad habits, start new routines, and take control of their lives. A small moment of luck—getting on that TEDx stage—transformed an idea into a global movement.

But was it really just luck?

Luck creates opportunities, but what we do with them determines their impact. She could have ignored the emails. Instead, she stayed up late answering every message. She could have dismissed the five-second rule as a one-time fluke. Instead, she leaned in, shared more, and eventually turned it into a best-selling book and a career helping others.

The Role of Luck in Change

We like to think that success is a result of careful planning, but luck often acts as the catalyst. The key is being ready when luck arrives. Here’s how:

1. Take Action, Even When It Feels Small – The five-second rule started as a personal coping mechanism. Had she dismissed it as insignificant, the world never would have benefited from it.

2. Say Yes to Opportunities, Even When You Feel Unready – The TEDx talk invite wasn’t planned. It was a lucky break—but saying yes made all the difference.

3. Recognize Luck, Then Work for It – Getting lucky once doesn’t guarantee lasting success. It’s what you do after the lucky break that counts.

Luck isn’t something you control, but your response to it is. Sometimes, change starts with a moment of luck—but real transformation happens when you act on it.

This post was inspired by A Bit of Optimism: The First Steps to Reducing Your Anxiety with author Mel Robbins, 14 Jan 2025

Listen here

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/a-bit-of-optimism/id1515385282?i=1000683901469

If your team or organization needs help building a change-ready culture, let’s talk. Julian Mather’s CHANGEABILITY keynote is designed to help leaders and teams navigate change with confidence. Reach out today to book Julian for your next event.