The 5AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life.

I've been trying to change my life for the better. Previously, I read 5+ short summaries on books on willpower, then I read the premise of this one and I decided to purchase it.

Many people who dislike this book will say the story is overstretched, and that the ideas for a morning routine were oversold. I could understand their point.

However, for me, this book was transformational. Along with this book, I also researched other routines from Bryan Johnson and Andrew Huberman. I took concepts from these people and started implementing them into my lifestyle.

At times, The 5AM Club comes off as corny and cheesy,... written with a bunch of things I knew was "right." But that was the thing. I always knew these ideas were "right" but I never actually took the opportunity to implement them to my life.

I just finished this book yesterday after starting in July - it took me a solid 3 months (I know I'm a slow reader). But during those 3 months... I followed the journey of the 5 AM club. It took me that long to transition my life into the direction I want.

I don't want to look like I'm trying to sell this book, but it really did transform my life to the direction I've always wanted. I woke up today feeling energized,... happy,.. excited. For over 20+ years I dread the morning. I've always been a night owl.

Yea... it was a transformative change. Thank you Robin, I'll be reading more of your books!

The 5 AM Club is, much like all of Sharma’s work, a book for anyone looking to breakthrough to the next level. Here’s what I love about Robin Sharma, much like Patrick Lencioni and Paulo Coelho, he uses a fable style to deliver incredible content in a way anyone can consume and enjoy. As a business owner and leader, he offers a different way to learn leadership lessons, hundreds of quotes and takeaways, and language that is compelling and different. The genius exists in telling a story about a powerful orator instead of personally taking ownership of the material himself. The entrepreneur, the artist, and the homeless man in the book go on an adventure that is closer to reality than fiction. Richard Branson and many other billionaires of our time create moments and opportunities like this for people in their lives and vulnerability, authenticity, and a little luck can create these opportunities for others. In 2013, a client in our clothing store created a moment for my wife and I that changed the course of our lives and it started from a brief conversation and simply asking a question. In 2014, I read the Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. I was an attorney who had finished law school and knew I wanted to pursue something different and I did not know what. The book helped me commit to the career path I chose, in real estate (not becoming a monk), and as wild as it sounds, like the Alchemist by Coelho, instilled hope and adventure back into my imagination. My wife read The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari in one sitting at a time where she was looking to find a path and focus. Then we read The Leader Who Had No Title and in 2015 I lost 55 pounds, took on another vertical position of growth in my company, and committed to getting up at 4:30 AM each morning to run, read, and journal. Robin’s books and his material have driven my wife and I to take the risks and challenge ourselves the way we have. Was it just Robin’s content? No, and yet his books, podcasts, and YouTube videos stick out as watershed experiences on a path to creating our life by design. So much so, that I have borrowed the phrase “with love and respect” from Robin more than a few times. Business books and leadership content could all be the same and it would be boring. A step by step how to wake up at 5 AM and live your life would have been useful and very short. The truth is, like Jim Rohn said, “when enough is enough meets massive action your life will change”. The 5 AM Club tells a story that you need to see, hear, and experience. Just surrender to how wild, crazy, and silly it can be at times to think events like this could occur because when you do allow yourself to imagine that this could be you, one day it will be. Potential mentors, gurus, and masters in your life are more available than you know and when the student is ready they will appear. Robin Sharma outlines the value of getting up at 5 AM, the value of being open to opportunity and adventure, and the value of vulnerability and connection with others. The book is laced with countless business, leadership, and life lessons. It may be the most quotable piece of material from Robin yet and that is saying a lot. This is a great book, and like all of Robin’s content, a must for anyone looking to breakthrough to another level.

I almost set this book down several times because it’s so wordy and repetitive and wasn’t adding much to my knowledge. I felt as if my time was wasted on a cheesy plot peppered with occasional words of wisdom that were repeated over and over again. The good parts were mere breadcrumbs to keep you reading and frankly I was bored. I never felt satisfied, UNTIL near the end, perhaps the last quarter of the book.

I already knew a lot of this information but there was some new info that I appreciated. Although, if you read business and self-improvement books much, you’ll likely already know a lot of this. I’m truly not that picky when it comes to books because I love reading and usually give 5 stars but after 2/3rds through it I was still not getting much value.

With regard to the writing method, teaching a bunch of lessons while engrossed in a fictional plot CAN work. If you’ve read the Ishmael series or the Celestine Prophecy, you’ll know how it’s done! This frankly would have been best if written as a smaller book, condensing the first half.

BUT, the last quarter or so of the book picked up. Sharma hit his stride! The density of valuable information greatly increased, almost totally making up for its lack in the rest of the book. The cheesy factor diminished and I even cried a little during the Mandela section. I had to chuckle at how he came right to the edge of discussing the Law of Attraction without ever actually saying the words, likely not wanting to turn off less-spiritual readers. But for those of us who know LOA, it was scattered throughout. I loved that. And the practical productivity models and techniques were really good. I did learn some new things there. In the end, I will gladly recommend this book but with the caveat that you’ll have to show some forgiveness as you read the first half. It’s worth it. 😊

"The 5AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life." is an absolute game-changer, especially for those undertaking the 75 Hard challenge. This book offers profound insights and practical strategies to harness the power of the early morning hours and set the tone for a successful day.

Through captivating storytelling and actionable advice, Robin Sharma guides readers on a journey of personal growth and transformation. Whether you're striving for physical fitness, mental resilience, or overall self-improvement, this book provides the tools to help you achieve your goals.

The principles outlined in "The 5AM Club" are particularly valuable during the demanding 75 Hard challenge. By establishing a consistent morning routine and mastering your mindset, you'll find the strength and motivation to conquer each day with purpose and determination.

If you're ready to take control of your mornings and elevate every aspect of your life, "The 5AM Club" is a must-read. It's not just a book; it's a blueprint for success, especially when paired with the rigorous discipline of the 75 Hard challenge.

As you've probably guessed the primary focus of this book is creating a routine starting with waking at 5am. The actual content of the book could easily be summarized in ten pages, but instead the author takes you on a ridiculous fictional story about a billionaire who takes two complete strangers under his wing and teaches him the values of the 5 am Club. The two strangers pretty much loath each other at the beginning of the book but over the course of the roughly week and a half that the story takes place in they are suddenly magically in love and getting married.

Basically there are some gems in the rough, but it's pretty rough to get through it.

Get up at 5am, split your first hour into working out, reflecting, and learning/growing. That's about it.