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(fearfactory @ Jul. 31 2009,12:12)</div><div id="QUOTEHEAD">QUOTE</div><div id="QUOTE">People should think of this program as one long cycle that has 8 mini-cycles that last one month. To get the most out the program, you need to increase your training max (10% less than your current max) and hit rep maxes for 5-8 months.
I'm amazed at the number of logs I've read which tried 5/3/1 for two months and moved on...</div>
I don't recall Wendler stating that he thinks there's a minimum time one should use his 5/3/1 program (at least, not in the eBook).
If you've been training a while and have good records, I actually think it could still be effective if you only did 5/3/1 for a month and made comparisons with previous load and rep PRs - but to give it a fair shot you're going to need to give it at least two cycles.
I'm ok with the idea that each cycle is set out as a month long; this way it's easy to keep an eye on progress and you get one deload/active-recovery week each month, which should help to prevent burnout and delay plateauing.
There is opportunity to make a new PR almost every session in one lift; as big Jim says: "On the last set [of the big compound of the day], however, you’ll have to reach further and grind it out – not to failure so you’re dead and can’t train the rest of the week, but it should take some life out of you." That won't be to everyone's liking.
Of course, we are all aware that actual, measurable increases in size take time and a concerted, consistent effort to achieve because they generally occur slowly once the early gains stage has been passed; they certainly take a lot longer to manifest than increases in loads lifted, or an extra rep or two with a particular load. If your squat PR has gone up by 2.5lb in a month, or you made 1 extra rep, you aren't going to look noticeably different but you are going to be spurred on because, as Wendler puts it: "Breaking personal records is a great motivator." Add up lots of 2.5lb improvements over the course of a year and you
are going to look a bit different too.