At current prices, if your average cost is say $6

At current prices, if your average cost is say $6 or under, then 3,000 shares would be $18,000. With an approval, the price would probably be say $18. Then all you have to do to recover your principal is sell 1,000 shares, but remember, you will uncle Donald tax - 1000 cost $6,000 and you sold for $18,000 so tax on $12,000.
So basically to recover your principal,
price is up x3 sell 1/3
up 4x sell 1/4
up 5x sell 1/5