The 5-Minute Rule: Make Faster, Smarter Business Decisions

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Happy Sunday!

I hope you’re taking some time to recharge and spend moments with the people who matter most. Grab a coffee, find a comfortable spot, and let’s dive into today’s topic—one that could significantly reduce frustration in your business and unlock growth at the same time.

But before we get into the newsletter, here are some treats for you…

• In this week’s Pay or Quit Podcast, we discuss the comment dilemma of choosing success or choosing relationships, but can we have both? Listen here or click the thumbnail below!

• If you’re a big fan of learning on YouTube, like I am, check out my channel @ShawnAustinJohnson 

The Problem: Overthinking is Slowing Your Business Down

As business owners, we tend to believe that every decision requires deep analysis, team discussions, and endless back-and-forth. The result? Bottlenecks. Delays. Frustration.

But here’s the truth: Most decisions don’t need days (or even hours) of deliberation. They need five minutes. 

Jeff Bezos is famous for his data-driven decision-making approach. In his 2014 letter to shareholders, he emphasized the 70% Rule—gather 70% to 80% of the information needed, then make the decision with confidence instead of waiting for complete certainty.

Why? Because waiting for the remaining 30% of information often leads to paralysis, missed opportunities, and slow growth. Bezos credits this mindset as one of the key reasons Amazon became the powerhouse it is today.

This concept ties directly into today’s topic: The 5-Minute Rule—a simple, powerful framework that helps teams make fast, effective decisions without unnecessary bureaucracy. Let’s break it down.

The 5-Minute Rule: Make Faster, Smarter Decisions

1. Small Problems? Solve Them Now.

If a problem is small, reversible, or low-risk, make the decision immediately rather than kicking it down the road. Most day-to-day issues fall into this category, yet they often get delayed by overthinking.

Action: Create a rule in your company: If it costs less than $500 (or a number that fits your business), solve it within five minutes. No approvals, no waiting—just action.

Example: A customer asks for a minor refund due to a service issue. Instead of sending it through layers of approval, the frontline employee issues the refund immediately. Problem solved.

2. Delegate Decisions to the Right Level

If an employee has the knowledge to solve the problem, they should be empowered to decide on the spot. Many businesses lose efficiency because employees are afraid to act without approval.

Action: Define clear decision-making boundaries for different levels of your company. Frontline employees handle operational issues, managers handle exceptions, and leadership focuses on big-picture strategy.

Example: A restaurant host sees a regular customer waiting too long for a table. Instead of asking a manager, they offer a free appetizer—ensuring a great customer experience without unnecessary delay.