Why this matters now

We live in a world wired for negativity.

News cycles, social media, and even everyday conversations are designed to keep our brains focused on what’s wrong, not what’s possible.

According to research from the National Science Foundation, the average person has around 60,000 thoughts per day—and more than 80% are negative. No wonder so many people feel drained, stuck, and unfulfilled.

In fast-moving cities like Austin and Chicago, where high-performing professionals balance demanding careers with personal lives, mindset mastery isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential. The leaders who rise aren’t the smartest or most talented. They’re the ones who have learned to manage their minds.

The 5% Guide: How to Train Your Brain for Wealth and Happiness

What it is:

The “5% Mindset” is the belief system and daily discipline that separate the top performers from everyone else. It’s about intentionally directing your thoughts instead of living on autopilot.

95% of people operate from unconscious negativity—complaining, comparing, and criticizing.

5% choose to think on purpose.

Why it works:

Your thoughts create your reality. Neuroscience shows that repeated thought patterns strengthen specific neural pathways, meaning your brain literally becomes wired for either scarcity or success.

Shayla teaches her clients that you can’t create a 5% life with 95% thoughts. When you redirect negative thinking, you change your emotional state, which changes your actions—and results follow.

How to apply it:

Use this quick 3-step process to train your brain:

1. Notice the thought. Catch yourself in victim or scarcity mode (“I never get ahead,” “People are awful,” “Money is hard to make”).
2. Name it. Label the thought: “That’s my survival brain again.”
3. Redirect it. Replace it with something empowering: “I’m learning to create wealth with ease.” “I love who I’m becoming.”

Practice this daily. Over time, positive thoughts become your brain’s default operating system.

Who benefits?

• Executives and professionals who feel stuck in stress cycles despite success.
• Leaders ready to elevate their presence, peace, and profitability.
• Anyone who’s tired of feeling busy, reactive, or burnt out—and ready to design a life they love.

Where this exists:

The 5% Mindset is part of my Performance + Happiness formula, used by corporate executives and entrepreneurs nationwide. You can experience it inside my coaching program and podcast, The 5% Club.

Why 95% of People Stay Stressed and Broke—and How to Train Your Brain to Join the 5%

Everyday Negativity in Real Life

You don’t have to look far to see how normalized negativity has become.

• At a Friday night football game in Lake Travis, the conversation might revolve around how “busy” and “exhausted” everyone is.
• In a downtown coffee shop, professionals vent about bosses, traffic, and burnout.
• On Facebook mom groups, small issues become all-caps outrage.

In a city full of growth and opportunity, mindset is what determines who thrives and who stays stuck.

Common Questions About the 5% Mindset

1. What if I’m surrounded by negative people?

You can’t control others, but you can redirect the conversation. Shift the topic, empathize briefly, or exit gracefully. Protect your energy.

2. Isn’t it toxic positivity to ignore problems?

Not at all. The 5% Mindset isn’t denial—it’s direction. You can acknowledge reality while choosing thoughts that keep you empowered.

3. How long does it take to rewire your brain?

With consistent effort, new thought patterns can begin forming in as little as 21 days. The real transformation comes from repetition and awareness.

4. Can this actually affect my income?

Yes. Leaders with positive, solution-focused mindsets are promoted faster, trusted more, and attract better opportunities.

5. What if I slip back into negativity?

You will. Everyone does. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress. The more you redirect, the faster you recover.

Quick 30-Day Action Plan

✅ Write down three recurring negative thoughts each day and practice replacing them.

✅ Limit exposure to negative media or gossip.

✅ Start every morning with a gratitude list or mantra like “This version of me is inevitable.”

✅ Reconnect with people who inspire and energize you.

✅ Listen to The 5% Club podcast weekly to reinforce mindset training.

✅ End each night by naming one win and one thing you’re grateful for.

Do this for 30 days and notice how your mood, focus, and results start to shift.

If this resonated, don’t just read it—live it.

Train your brain. Protect your energy. Create the life you want.

Join the waitlist for The 5% Club to start rewiring your thoughts, elevating your results, and designing a life that feels as good as it looks.

👉 Join the waitlist at www.shaylaking.com

About Shayla King

Shayla King is an Executive Coach and creator of the Performance + Happiness Formula, a proven framework that helps leaders master Results, Relationships, and Rituals to reach the top 5% of performance—without burning out. Based in Austin, she’s a Brown University–certified executive coach and former C-Suite leader who now teaches others how to win at work and love their lives.

About Evolve Career Coaching

Evolve Career Coaching helps high-achieving leaders accelerate career growth, elevate performance, and reclaim happiness. Through one-on-one coaching and group programs like the PH+ Lab and The 5% Club, Evolve equips professionals with the mindset and tools to lead with confidence and live epic lives.

P.S. Join the No-vember Challenge: For 4 weeks we will practice saying no on purpose so you can say yes to the life you actually want.

You will get:
• The 3-word pause that stops auto-yes
• Copy-and-paste scripts for bosses, clients, and family
• A Boundary Map for work and home
• Weekly “say no to clutter” reset that gives you time and calm
• King mindset tools so you can hold a line without drama
• Short videos, quick prompts, and a private group for accountability

This is not about being difficult.
This is about being clear.
Clear people are easier to love and easier to promote.

More money. Less resentment. Love your whole damn life.

Your coach, cheerleader, and accountability partner, Shayla