This is a summary of the book “The 12 Week Year” by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington.
The Main Idea 🎯
Instead of thinking in 12-month years, break your goals into 12-week “years” – this creates urgency and better results!
Why It Works 🤔
- Annual thinking makes us procrastinate (“I have plenty of time left in the year!”)
- 12 weeks is long enough to achieve significant things
- But short enough to stay focused and motivated
- Creates the “December push” energy every 12 weeks! 🏃♀️
The Key Parts 📋
1. Vision ⭐
- Create a compelling personal vision
- Make it emotional and meaningful to YOU
- Review it daily for motivation
2. 12-Week Planning 📝
- Set just 1-3 specific goals per 12 weeks
- Break into weekly actionable tasks
- Plan saves time – be specific but not complex
- Focus on fewer things, but execute excellently
3. Weekly Execution ⚡
- Make a plan each week
- Score yourself on completion (aim for 85%)
- Meet weekly with accountability partners
4. Daily Time Blocks ⏰
- Strategic blocks (3 hours for important work)
- Buffer blocks (30-60 mins for emails/small tasks)
- Breakout blocks (3 hours for recharging)
Accountability & Measurement 📊
- Confront reality of your performance
- Score your execution weekly (aim for 85%)
- Meet weekly with accountability partners
- Track both lead and lag indicators
- Use data to adjust quickly
Success Tips 🌟
- Daily actions must align with vision
- Focus on high-impact activities
- Shed low-value tasks
- Focus on execution over perfection
- Measure your progress weekly
- Celebrate wins every 12 weeks
- Use the 13th week to plan next “year”
Why People Fail 🚫
- Trying to do too many goals at once
- Not writing down their plan
- Giving up when it gets uncomfortable
- Thinking about annual instead of 12-week deadlines
- Not having accountability
Remember! 💪
- You control your actions, not your outcomes. Focus on doing the right activities consistently, and the results will follow.
- You don’t need to work harder!
- Be more focused and intentional with your time and energy.
- Execute on fewer things, but execute them well! 🎯