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The 12 Week Year
The 12 week year system boosts productivity by dividing goals into 12 week "years", treating each 3-month period like a full fiscal year.
This compresses goal timelines into manageable sprints. Planning is compressed into specialized 12 week plans built around weekly targets.
Execution utilizes weekly review sessions to reforecast based on progress. 12 weeks provides the perfect cycle to maintain urgency and focus.
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1.65K reads
Getting More Done in 12 Weeks Than Others Do in 12 Months
In a 12 week year, you set quarterly goals then develop a comprehensive 12 week plan to achieve them through weekly actions.
- Weekly and quarterly reviews reevaluate progress to stay on track or adjust course.
- The compressed timeline encourages focus on highest value activities.
- Clear measurement keeps you accountable week by week.
This detailed planning focuses efforts and creates urgency to execute.
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Creating Focus, Urgency, and Accountability
- The 12 week system instills focus by working plans down to weekly targets. You know what needs to be accomplished each week.
- It drives urgency through the compressed timeline. You can't put off action when the "year" ends in 12 weeks.
- Accountability results from weekly reviews of defined targets to re-forecast as needed. Progress visibility motivates action.
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Finding Your 12 Week Focus
Not everything fits in a 12 week year. Identify 3 to 7 top annual goals, determine key activities for each, then select the most critical goal with tangible targets for your first 12 week plan.
- Keep plans simple but thorough.
- Don't overreach beyond capacity.
- Assign metrics for weekly and quarterly reviews.
- Use rock (critical), pebble (nice-to-have) prioritization to focus efforts on your rocks.
- Let urgency and accountability drive achievement.
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Planning Your 12 Week Year
Effective 12 week planning breaks annual goals into 12 week targets then weekly actions. Schedule planning sessions to determine targets and key tactics.
Define measurable outcomes. Calculate required activities for each week. Determine priorities and resources needed. Include contingency plans and risk management.
Align plans across the organization. Planning rigor drives execution success. Update plans during weekly reviews.
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The physical universe will not respond to your desires, no matter how passionate or intense they are. The one thing that moves the universe is action. An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory.
BRIAN P. MORAN
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IDEAS CURATED BY
CURATOR'S NOTE
The 12 Week Year offers a proven strategy to increase productivity by treating each 12 week period as its own "year" for goal setting and planning. The authors make the case that stretching goals over 12 months dilutes focus and urgency, while setting 3 month goals creates the optimal timeframe for executional sprint. To leverage the power of the 12 week year, you select your most important annual goals, make them 12 week objectives, and break them down into weekly actions.
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Different Perspectives Curated by Others from The 12 Week Year
Curious about different takes? Check out our book page to explore multiple unique summaries written by Deepstash curators:
1 idea
Brandon Black's Key Ideas from The 12 Week Year
Brian P. Moran, Michael Lennington
16 ideas
Kai Z.'s Key Ideas from The 12 Week Year
Brian P. Moran, Michael Lennington
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