The Eight Minute Agreement
Sometimes 8 minutes is all it takes.
We all have moments when life feels overwhelming. When things aren’t quite going right, or we’re struggling with something we don’t want to make a big deal of.
And sometimes, all we really need is someone to listen.
A simple idea worth sharing
The 8-minute friend
There’s a beautiful idea shared by Simon Sinek called the 8-minute friend. It’s wonderfully simple, and we believe it deserves to be shared far and wide.
Make an agreement with a friend.
Let them know you’re each other’s 8-minute friend.
When you need to talk, send this message.
“Have you got 8 minutes?”
They make time.
As soon as they reasonably can.
No need to explain why.
No pressure to fix anything.
Just eight minutes to listen and connect.
Sometimes being heard is enough.
“Have you got 8 minutes?”
That’s it. No lengthy explanations. No awkward conversations about why you’re calling. Just a simple understanding between two friends that one of you could use a little support.
You don’t need to have the answers.
When that message arrives, you make time for each other as soon as you reasonably can. You don’t need to solve their problems. You just need to listen.
Because sometimes being heard, understood and knowing someone cares is enough to make a difficult day a little easier.
So here’s our invitation
Think of one friend.
Someone you’d like to make this agreement with. Send them this page and ask:
“Will you be my 8-minute friend?”
Make that little agreement with each other. Then perhaps encourage them to share it with someone else.
Imagine a community where reaching out is easier, where asking for a little support feels natural, and where we all know someone is there when we need them.
One friend. One conversation. Eight minutes.
Need more than eight minutes?
An 8-minute friend is there to listen, not to replace professional support. If you or someone you know is doing it tough, please reach out.
- Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support)
- Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
- In an emergency: call 000
Our team also offers one-on-one coaching and counselling if you’d like to talk things through.
Inspired by Simon Sinek’s 8-minute friend concept. We’re simply helping spread a message we believe in.