The 3 Things Rule: The Simplest Habit That Drives Real Growth
- Cynthiana Chamber
- Jan 19
- 3 min read
Last year, I shared a concept that many of you tried—and a few fully embraced. This year, I want to come back to it from a different angle, because I’ve now seen something important:
When this habit is used consistently, it works. Every time. (On business or personal goals.)
In fact, by using this practice, I didn’t just hit my main goal last year—I shattered it. And I’ve done the same in every year I’ve committed to this rule.
It’s simple. It’s flexible. And it takes less than 10 minutes a day.
I call it The 3 Things Rule.
The Rule Is Simple (That’s Why It Works)
Every business—whether you sell products or services—depends on one thing:
Connecting with people.
The 3 Things Rule is built around that reality:
Every weekday, do three intentional things to connect with new customers or clients.
That’s it. Thriee Things (tasks, to do's, actions, whatever you want to call them).
Not someday. Not when you “have time.” Every day.
What Counts as “One Thing”?
Almost anything that creates a meaningful touchpoint:
Sending a short email
Making a quick phone call
Dropping off a note or thank-you
Sending a message or DM
Writing a personal follow-up
Posting something intentional on social media
Checking in with a past customer
Asking for a referral
Reconnecting with someone you haven’t talked to in a while
Most of these take less than two minutes. A few might take five.
None require perfection—only intention.
The System That Makes It Stick
Here’s how I make it automatic:
I have a 15-minute block scheduled on my calendar every weekday.
I receive a daily notification reminding me to do my three things.
I use ChatGPT’s scheduled task feature to send me an email each morning with five ideas for reaching new customers. (Every morning I open my email, it's sitting right there to be clicked on. It generates 5 random ideas from which I can pick or choose different actions.)
I pick three and do them.
No overthinking. No excuses. No waiting for inspiration.
Just action.
Why the Math Is So Powerful
Three things a day doesn’t feel like much—until you zoom out.
3 per day
5 days a week = 15 connections
50 weeks a year = 750 intentional touches
That’s 750 moments where:
someone hears from you
someone is reminded you exist
someone experiences your professionalism
someone remembers your name
You don’t need all 750 to turn into sales.
You just need enough of them to compound.
And they do.
Why This Works Better Than Big Plans
Most growth plans fail because they’re:
too complicated
too vague
too dependent on motivation
The 3 Things Rule works because it:
creates daily momentum
builds consistency
keeps you outward-focused
turns growth into a habit, not a hope
You’re not waiting for customers to find you. You’re intentionally creating opportunities.
Every. Single. Day.
This Is One of the Highest-Value Habits You Can Adopt
If you’re looking to get real value from your Chamber membership—connections, visibility, growth—this habit multiplies it.
You don’t need more time. You don’t need a bigger budget. You don’t need a complicated strategy.
You need three small actions, done consistently.
Final Challenge
Block 15 minutes on your calendar (now put on repeat so it blocks it every single day). Decide when you’ll do it. Then ask yourself one question every morning:
Who am I going to connect with today?
Do three things. Then do it again tomorrow.
That’s how momentum is built. That’s how goals are shattered. And that’s how growth actually happens.