Divorce Negotiations 101: One of the smartest moves in divorce mediation or deposition? The five-second rule. ⏱️ Before you answer any question, pause for five seconds. Why? 👉 It gives you time to breathe, check your position statement, and collect your thoughts. 👉 It stops you from reacting when you’re triggered. 👉 It creates a consistent pattern - so no one ever knows when you actually need the time to think. In negotiation, that’s power. Because if you always pause, you never give away a “