Choose three weekly outcomes
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The idea in everyday life
Select a small number of meaningful results after reviewing deadlines, responsibilities, risks, and current season.
Weekly outcomes are bets about what matters most within limited capacity.
One step at a time.
Use the sample or information you have permission to use. Keep your work as you go. You can pause between steps.
- 1
Review fixed deadlines, consequences, strategic goals, maintenance, relationships, health, and unresolved risks.
- 2
Estimate importance and urgency without allowing every request to become top priority.
- 3
Choose up to three outcome statements specific enough to verify by week’s end.
- 4
Create a not-this-week list and communicate any renegotiated date or reduced scope.
See how it works.
Imani chooses submit the grant, complete two medical appointments, and host the family dinner, then moves a nonurgent closet project to next month.
Did you cover these?
- Your work includes a weekly outcome card with three results, success evidence, reason, and explicit deferrals.
- Check this common mistake: Calling ten tasks top priority and avoiding the tradeoff between important work and available time.
- If the three outcomes are completed, you can explain why the week meaningfully advanced despite unfinished lower-value work.
What to finish
A weekly outcome card with three results, success evidence, reason, and explicit deferrals.
Watch for this
Calling ten tasks top priority and avoiding the tradeoff between important work and available time.
How can I tell I understand it?
If the three outcomes are completed, you can explain why the week meaningfully advanced despite unfinished lower-value work.
Quick knowledge check
Answer all 3 questions. Get at least 2 right and the lesson completes automatically.
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Answer all 3 questions above and get at least 2 right. You can review the explanations and try again.
Go to the knowledge checkOptional course overview video · same video as Lesson 1
Cal Newport's Planning System
From Cal Newport. Watch here or open it on YouTube .
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