For business owners, founders, and professionals who want to achieve more of what matters and actually enjoy the ride, this one’s for you.
Every morning, as the espresso machines hum and laptops flick open across Hub spaces, there’s a buzz of possibility. Conversations spark, ideas unfold and to-do lists begin to grow. Yet beneath that creative energy, many of us share a familiar feeling, the quiet rush of trying to keep up.
Whether you’re leading a startup, managing a team, or working toward your next big idea, it’s easy to start the day already in motion, reacting instead of leading, doing instead of being. But what if you could begin each morning with calm clarity and grounded focus? What if you could prime your mindset to work for you before the world demands your attention?
That’s the power of mindset priming, a small but mighty daily ritual that transforms how you show up, lead and create.
Why Your Morning Mindset Matters
As a psychologist, business owner and executive leadership coach for over two decades, I’ve seen the same pattern across boardrooms, classrooms and co-working spaces across countries. The most successful people, those who sustain energy, lead with purpose and build thriving teams, aren’t necessarily the ones who work the hardest. They’re the ones who start each day intentionally.
Your mindset in the morning acts like an internal compass. When it’s clear and focused, everything else flows with more ease. When it’s scattered or reactive, even simple tasks feel heavy.
Priming your mindset isn’t about adding another “thing” to your morning routine. It’s about creating a moment, just five minutes, to prepare your brain, emotions and energy for the day ahead.
Think of it as your mental warm-up. Just as athletes stretch before the race, priming helps you start strong, centred and ready to thrive.
Introducing the 5Qs Formula
To make this practice simple, I developed and trialled the 5Qs Formula, a science-backed, five-minute mindset tool designed to help busy professionals shift from daily survival to daily thriving.
It’s grounded in positive psychology and neuroscience, and it works because it triggers serotonin and dopamine, the “feel good” chemicals that elevate focus, motivation and creativity.
The formula is easy to remember with the PRIME acronym:
P = Pinpoint your emotions — Check in. How are you feeling? Calm? Rushed? Excited? Naming your emotion activates emotional intelligence and reduces stress.
R = Recognise gratitude — Acknowledge someone who inspires you to be a better version of yourself. It might be a mentor, a colleague, or even a friend who reminds you of what matters most. Gratitude builds connection and rewires your brain to look for the good, even on busy days.
I = Identify what’s working (and what could work better) — Reflection is powerful. By noticing what’s flowing and what’s friction, you can course-correct early rather than react later.
M = Make a list of three high-impact tasks — Focus on the few things that will move the needle, not the many that keep you busy. This clarity boosts motivation and momentum.
E = Envision how you want to show up today — Picture yourself handling challenges with ease, leading a meeting with confidence, or ending the day proud of how you managed your energy.
That’s it. Five questions. Five minutes. One powerful shift in how you experience your day.
Real Results for Real People
Over 100 professionals, from startup founders to senior executives, have now used the 5Qs Formula. They report feeling more grounded, more intentional and more joyful.
One client described it perfectly: “I used to start my mornings already behind. Now I start ahead, mentally, emotionally and professionally.”
This simple practice has helped leaders across industries focus on what matters most, build resilience and avoid the burnout that often comes with ambition.
And it’s not about perfection. There will still be messy days and unexpected setbacks. But when you’ve primed your mindset, you approach them with a steadier hand and a lighter heart.
The Science Behind the Shift
Neuroscience shows that the brain’s prefrontal cortex, the part responsible for decision-making and focus, is most impressionable in the first 10 minutes after waking. That’s your window to shape how you think, feel and act.
By engaging your mind with positive, intentional questions instead of social media, notifications or news, you build new neural pathways that enhance clarity and calm. Over time, these micro-moments create macro-change: better focus, stronger relationships and sustainable performance.
It’s why world-class athletes, leaders and creators all use some version of mindset priming and why it’s so powerful for entrepreneurs, innovators and teams in fast-moving environments like Hub Australia.
Making It Work in a Hub Setting
If you’re part of the Hub community, you already understand the power of environment, the way light, design and connection fuel creativity and wellbeing. Think of the 5Qs Formula as the inner architecture that complements the physical space around you.
Here’s how to bring it to life within your Hub day:
- Start with a five-minute pause before opening your laptop. Find a quiet corner, grab your favourite coffee and run through your 5Qs.
- Use it to reset midday when energy dips. Ask yourself which “Q” needs your attention, gratitude, focus, or clarity?
- Try it with your team during a morning huddle or stand-up. Many Hub businesses already use micro-rituals like this to strengthen culture and wellbeing.
Thriving workplaces don’t happen by accident, they’re built through consistent, intentional habits that put people first.
From Productivity to Joy
The 5Qs Formula isn’t just about getting more done. It’s about feeling more alive while doing it. It’s about turning your daily work into something that energises, not drains you.
When I first started developing this tool, I wanted to help busy professionals stop feeling like they were “pushing through” life. What I discovered is that joy and productivity aren’t opposites, they’re deeply connected. When you feel good, you do good work. When your mind is primed, your results follow.
So as you move through WorkWell Week at Hub, take it as an opportunity to reflect on how you start your day. Is your mind primed for creativity, focus and connection, or caught in reactivity and routine?
If you can shift just that one moment, the first five minutes of your day, you’ll transform not only your performance but also your wellbeing, relationships and sense of fulfilment.
Your Five-Minute Challenge
Tomorrow morning, before diving into emails or Slack, try this:
- Pause.
- Breathe.
- Ask yourself the 5Qs.
- Notice how different you feel.
Then share it with someone in your Hub space, because joy, like energy, multiplies when shared.
Remember: success feels better when it’s experienced with clarity, calm and connection. You don’t need to overhaul your life to feel that, you just need five intentional minutes.
