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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Permanence summary
Lisa Broderick, Marshall Goldsmith
Become the Person You Want to Be – and Stay That Way
20 mins
Brief summary
Permanence delves into the profound impact of understanding time on personal and professional transformation. It presents actionable insights to harness time's flow, fostering lasting change and deeper engagement in our lives.
Table of Contents
Permanence
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Questions to keep you grounded and growing
Let’s begin by debunking a very common misconception: that successful personal change comes down to some elusive combination of motivation, willpower, resources, and talent. When we think this way, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut – to think that you’re just not cut out to achieve the goals you’re after. But the truth is, it’s not a matter of willpower. It’s a matter of setting yourself up for success by laying the proper foundation.
A lot of this comes down to knowing what human beings respond to best, which is engaging in small, repeatable daily actions. In this context, that means creating a steady habit of checking in with yourself, so that you can recognize when you’ve put in an honest day’s effort and when you’re falling short – and why.
The core tool for this kind of self-awareness and growth is Daily Questions, a short set of questions focused on whether you tried your best in key areas like goals, happiness, relationships, meaning, and engagement. The wording matters. The focus should always be on behavior, effort and ownership.
For example, rather than asking, “Did I remain focused the entire day?” A good daily question could be, “Did I do my best to remain focused today?” Other good questions are, “Did I make progress on my most important goal?” or “Did I show up for the people who matter to me?”
There have been group studies on the effectiveness of using the Daily Questions method, and the results have always been promising. One year-long study involving senior leaders used the co-author Marshall Goldsmith’s recommended questions, which include, “Did I do my best to set clear goals?” “Did I do my best to make progress toward goal achievement?” and “Did I do my best to be fully engaged?” But the participants were also invited to create and answer their own questions, like “Did I do my best to avoid angry or destructive comments about other people today?” Others added personal ones about exercise and kindness to family.
The results showed that participation stayed high. The structure was intentionally judgment-free. Participants rated themselves, and the only outside pressure was a brief daily check-in call. Over time, many reported meaningful shifts: clearer purpose, less resentment, and reduced need to control others.
Perhaps most important was a pattern that showed up halfway through the year. People started adjusting their behavior in real time because they knew they would soon answer their questions. Awareness moved from hindsight to in-the-moment choice, and improvement lasted as long as the practice continued. Those who stopped often slid backward. This shows that real personal change comes from consistent, structured engagement with whatever behavior you’re trying to change.
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What is Permanence about?
Permanence (2026) reveals a simple daily system that turns good intentions into steady, lasting personal change. You’ll discover how a handful of short questions, answered honestly each day, can sharpen your focus, strengthen your follow-through, and keep your growth on track even when motivation dips. This is a practical guide for those who like structure, and small habits that compound into big results.
Who should read Permanence?
- Professionals who want a simple, structured way to follow through on their goals
- Leaders and managers looking to build stronger accountability habits
- Personal development fans who enjoy practical, step-by-step behavior change tools
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