diff --git a/examples/cwd.rs b/examples/cwd.rs
index d7cc720..823b0fb 100644
--- a/examples/cwd.rs
+++ b/examples/cwd.rs
@@ -1,18 +1,20 @@
 use nu_ansi_term::AnsiGenericString;
+mod may_sleep;
+use may_sleep::{parse_cmd_args, sleep};
 
 fn main() {
     #[cfg(windows)]
     nu_ansi_term::enable_ansi_support().unwrap();
 
+    let sleep_ms = parse_cmd_args();
     let path = std::path::Path::new("./for_cwd/").to_str().unwrap();
     let cwd = AnsiGenericString::cwd(path);
     println!(
-        "{}Terminal working directory set for the next 5 seconds.",
-        cwd
+        "{}Terminal working directory set for the next {:?} milliseconds",
+        cwd, sleep_ms
     );
 
     // sleep because often prompts change this before you can see
     // the results
-    let delay_ms = std::time::Duration::from_millis(5000);
-    std::thread::sleep(delay_ms);
+    sleep(sleep_ms);
 }
diff --git a/examples/hyperlink.rs b/examples/hyperlink.rs
index b48fc21..3c17b76 100644
--- a/examples/hyperlink.rs
+++ b/examples/hyperlink.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,15 @@
 use nu_ansi_term::Color;
+mod may_sleep;
+use may_sleep::{parse_cmd_args, sleep};
 
 fn main() {
     #[cfg(windows)]
     nu_ansi_term::enable_ansi_support().unwrap();
 
+    let sleep_ms = parse_cmd_args();
     let mut link = Color::Blue.underline().paint("Link to example.com");
     link.hyperlink("https://example.com");
 
     println!("{}", link);
+    sleep(sleep_ms);
 }
diff --git a/examples/icon.rs b/examples/icon.rs
index 526aa2d..6d9338e 100644
--- a/examples/icon.rs
+++ b/examples/icon.rs
@@ -1,16 +1,21 @@
 use nu_ansi_term::AnsiGenericString;
+mod may_sleep;
+use may_sleep::{parse_cmd_args, sleep};
 
 fn main() {
     #[cfg(windows)]
     nu_ansi_term::enable_ansi_support().unwrap();
 
+    let sleep_ms = parse_cmd_args();
     // TODO add foo.icn foo.bmp or whatever is most portable
     let path = std::path::Path::new("./foo.icn").to_str().unwrap();
     let icon = AnsiGenericString::icon(path);
-    println!("{}Terminal icon title set for the next 5 seconds.", icon);
+    println!(
+        "{}Terminal icon title set for the next {:?} milliseconds",
+        icon, sleep_ms
+    );
 
     // sleep because often prompts change this before you can see
     // the results
-    let delay_ms = std::time::Duration::from_millis(5000);
-    std::thread::sleep(delay_ms);
+    sleep(sleep_ms);
 }
diff --git a/examples/may_sleep/mod.rs b/examples/may_sleep/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f0155c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/may_sleep/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+pub fn parse_cmd_args() -> Option<u16> {
+    let mut sleep_ms: Option<u16> = None;
+    let mut skip_next = false;
+
+    for (i, arg) in std::env::args().skip(1).enumerate() {
+        if skip_next {
+            skip_next = false;
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        match &arg[..] {
+            "-s" | "--sleep" => {
+                sleep_ms = std::env::args()
+                    .nth(i + 2) // next is +2 because .skip(1)
+                    .unwrap_or(String::from("5000u16"))
+                    .parse::<u16>()
+                    .ok()
+                    .and_then(|parsed| {
+                        skip_next = true;
+                        Some(parsed)
+                    });
+            }
+            _ => {}
+        }
+    }
+
+    sleep_ms
+}
+
+pub fn sleep(sleep_ms: Option<u16>) {
+    if let Some(sleep_ms) = sleep_ms {
+        let sleep_ms = std::time::Duration::from_millis(sleep_ms as u64);
+        std::thread::sleep(sleep_ms);
+    }
+}
+
+/*#[allow(unused)]
+fn main() -> Result<(),()> {
+    Err(())
+}*/
diff --git a/examples/title.rs b/examples/title.rs
index 101c5a8..c043d87 100644
--- a/examples/title.rs
+++ b/examples/title.rs
@@ -1,14 +1,19 @@
 use nu_ansi_term::AnsiGenericString;
+mod may_sleep;
+use may_sleep::{parse_cmd_args, sleep};
 
 fn main() {
     #[cfg(windows)]
     nu_ansi_term::enable_ansi_support().unwrap();
 
+    let sleep_ms = parse_cmd_args();
     let title = AnsiGenericString::title("My Title");
-    println!("{}Terminal title set for the next 5 seconds.", title);
+    println!(
+        "{}Terminal title set for the next {:?} milliseconds",
+        title, sleep_ms
+    );
 
     // sleep because often prompts change this before you can see
     // the results
-    let delay_ms = std::time::Duration::from_millis(5000);
-    std::thread::sleep(delay_ms);
+    sleep(sleep_ms);
 }