Bodo Schaefer's 72 hour rule. How to implement an idea

How often have you thought about changing your life for the better or implementing an idea that has been brewing in your bright head for a long time? If you think that you are separated from the successful implementation of your plan by a lack of funds, efforts, luck and other external factors and your inherent character traits, according to the 72-hour rule, you are mistaken. Bodo Schaefer – The German business consultant who formulated this rule strongly disagrees with you.

Estet-portal.com in this article will tell you how to implement even the most crazy, at first glance, idea.

The 72 Hour Rule: What Bodo Schaefer Advises

Good ideas come to everyone's mind. The difference lies only in the ability to implement them. Bodo Schaefer believes that the implementation of any good idea should be started within 72 hours (3 days) from the moment of insight. Actually, this is the essence of the rule of 72 hours.

At the same time, Bodo Schaefer, like many successful people, is of the opinion that even a small step towards bringing a newborn idea to life in the shortest possible time – a great way to keep the idea from leaving you and getting lost in the daily hustle and bustle. There is an opinion that people who start going towards their goal in the first 72 hours have as much as 99% success rate. Let's see how this theory is justified.

How to put the 72 hour rule into practice

The 72-hour rule may seem rather silly, but, as practice shows, a person who immediately starts working on his idea seems to be programming himself to achieve success. Where and how does this programming take place? Of course, in the brain.

The fact is that different thoughts are constantly rushing in our head, but when a thought is reinforced by action, the brain understands that this thought is more important to a person than the others. If it just appears in your head, not supported by your actions, it gradually fades away and is lost among the flow of other thoughts.

To make the brain believe in success, you need to at least do something. For example, you decide to open your store. What can you do in 3 days to achieve this goal?

1. Collect the necessary information on the Internet.
2. Write down your thoughts about the location of the store, goods, costs involved.
3. Consult people you know who are involved in this kind of activity.
4. Conduct market analysis.
5. Find out what documents and permits you will need, etc.

Specifying goals and breaking them down into smaller sub-goals will not only help shape your vague idea into a more precise shape, but will also help you achieve your goal without losing interest in it. Thus, by completing the next item of the plan, you will enjoy the release of your main motivator – dopamine.

So, in terms of applying the 72-hour rule in practice, it will be useful to write down the answers to the following questions in your notebook:

1. What do you want to achieve? (the more specific the answer, the better)
2. How long do you want to achieve what you want? (the more accurate the date, the better)
3. Who can help you achieve your goal?
4. What obstacles might you encounter on the way to achieving your goal?
5. Are there other ways to achieve the goal in case of failure? If so, which ones?

Fear of the unknown, fear of change and the possibility of failure – quite normal human feelings. However, don't let them slow you down. Remember that you can learn from any failure, and the more failures, the more chances that you will be lucky next time.

It's worth noting that some consider the 72-hour rule  imperfect – they say, some have ideas for a long time before implementing them, and succeed. However, the editors of estet-portal.com believe that it will not be superfluous to try out the Bodo Schaefer rule a couple of times. Who knows, maybe this method will become a lifesaver just for you and will help you realize your plans in the shortest possible time.