You move a lot.
You finish little.
The day ends.
You feel behind.
Busy is motion.
Useful is progress.
Use three boxes to choose.
A short story
An operations lead said yes to everything.
Inbox ruled the plan.
Projects stalled.
We tried a simple filter.
Result. Support. Park.
She sorted tasks each morning.
By Friday two key outcomes shipped.
Her day felt lighter.
The 3 boxes
Box 1: RESULT
Work that directly moves a top outcome this week.
Finish line is clear. Customers or leaders will see it.
Box 2: SUPPORT
Work that enables results.
Reviews. Info. Handbacks. Quick fixes that unblock others.
Box 3: PARK
Nice to have. Low value. Not now.
Delete, delegate, or schedule for Friday.
If it is not Result or Support, it goes to Park.
How to use the filter in 5 minutes
Minute 0–1: Set outcomes
Write your three outcomes for the week. One line each.
Minute 1–3: List your tasks
Dump every open loop on one page.
Minute 3–4: Sort
Mark each task R, S, or P. Be honest.
Minute 4–5: Plan
Put one Result task into a 60 to 90 minute block today.
Batch Support tasks into two short windows.
Move Park tasks to Friday or delete.
Start the Result block first.
What goes where
RESULT examples
- Draft the pricing page V1
- Send proposal to client A
- Run analysis and share one chart
- Record the two-minute decision note
SUPPORT examples
- Review teammate draft for 10 minutes
- Provide data requested by Sales
- Book a call to clear a blocker
- Update the status note
PARK examples
- Reformat slides that already work
- Join a meeting with no decision
- Low-impact requests with no deadline
- Any task you cannot tie to an outcome
Rules that keep it clean
- Result first. Always.
- Only two Result items active at once.
- Support in batches. Midday and late afternoon.
- Park without guilt. You chose with purpose.
- Review the boxes at noon and at shutdown.
Say it like this
To a peer
“I am on the launch Result task 9 to 10:30. I can do your Support ask at 3.”
To your boss
“Here are my three outcomes. If I add this, which current Result should drop.”
To a requester
“This is Park for now. I can revisit Friday or help with a smaller version today.”
To yourself
“Result first. Support later. Park the rest.”
The calendar setup
- Put two daily focus blocks for Result work.
- Add two short Support windows.
- Color Result blocks differently.
- Protect them. No chat. No mail.
The noon check
Ask four lines:
- Did I finish one Result slice
- What blocked me
- What Support item must I do next to unblock others
- Which Park item can I delete
Reset and continue.
Your 3-Box card (print this)
Week Outcomes (3)
1)
2)
3)
Result today
1)
2)
Support windows
12:30–1:00
4:30–5:00
Park for Friday
•
End of day note
What moved:
What blocked:
One change for tomorrow:
Keep it on your desk. Use a pen.
For managers
- Publish team outcomes by Monday 10 am.
- Ask “Result or Support” when work appears.
- Remove or merge meetings that do not serve Results.
- Praise finished Result slices, not heroic hours.
- Keep a short “What moved” log visible to all.
For remote teams
- Tag tasks as R, S, or P in the shared board.
- Use async updates. One line for Result, one for Support.
- Post a Friday Park list. Decide what to drop.
- Record a two-minute Loom to give context, not a long call.
Metrics that matter
- Impact hours: time spent in Result blocks
- Finished slices: Result items shipped per day
- Queue health: Support items waiting on you
Track for two weeks. Adjust your day to raise these three.
Common traps
- Calling everything Result
- Letting Support eat the morning
- Moving Park back onto your plate
- Starting new before finishing old
- Skipping the noon check
Pick one trap. Set one counter rule.
Seven-day reset
Day 1
Write three outcomes. Sort your tasks into R, S, P.
Day 2
Protect two Result blocks. Finish one slice.
Day 3
Batch Support in two windows. Say one clean no.
Day 4
Delete or delegate two Park items.
Day 5
Ship a visible Result. Share it.
Day 6
Review your metrics. Adjust your blocks.
Day 7
Write what worked. Keep the filter.
Tiny action now
List five tasks in front of you.
Mark each R, S, or P.
Start the first Result slice for 45 minutes.
Finish.
Share what moved.
The bigger frame
Awareness tells you what matters.
Leadership says no to the rest.
Execution puts Result work on the calendar and finishes.
Stop being busy.
Start being useful.
Three boxes. One calm day.