The 3-Question Filter That Protects Your Time and Grows Your Business
If you feel like you’re busy all the time but never really moving forward, there’s a good chance you’re making too many reactive decisions. New opportunities, shiny tools, “you should try this” advice—it’s constant. And it’s exhausting.
Contrary to popular trope, most small business owners don’t need more hours in the day. What they need is a better way to decide where their current hours go.
That’s where the Decision Filter comes in.
What Is a Decision Filter?
A Decision Filter is a simple set of criteria you run every new idea, request, or opportunity through before you commit. The goal: Stop saying yes to things that pull you off course, and start saying yes to the things that move you closer to your actual business goals.
How to Create Yours
When something new comes your way, ask yourself:
Does this directly support my primary goal for the next 90 days?
If it’s not tied to the outcome you’re actively working toward, it’s probably a distraction.
Does it leverage my strengths or energize me?
Work that plays to your skills and lights you up is work you’ll follow through on.
Can I clearly measure the return?
“Exposure” and “it could lead to something” aren’t metrics. Look for a defined benefit.
If you can’t say yes to at least two of these, the answer is no.
Why It Works
You make decisions based on strategy, not fear of missing out.
You create more space for the work that actually matters.
You stop scattering your time across ideas that don’t have real payoff.
Try This This Week
Pick one new request, idea, or opportunity you’re considering. Run it through the filter.
If it doesn’t hit at least two yeses, decline it… and notice how freeing that feels.
This one shift - deciding with intention - can be the difference between a business that spins its wheels and one that builds steady momentum. At Rooted Authority, we teach you how to put this filter into place and then layer it with systems and strategy so your time is spent on the things that grow your business, not just keep it running.