The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months

by Brian P. Moran

The barrier standing between you and the life you are capable of living is a lack of consistent execution.

Most people know how to get back in shape—eat better, exercise more—they just don’t do it. It’s not a knowledge problem; it’s an execution problem.

We lack a sense of urgency, not realizing that every week is important, every day is important, every moment is important.

It is amazing what happens when people have a goal and a deadline.

With the 12 Week Year, that will never happen again. Every 12 weeks you get a fresh start—a new year! So if you’ve had a tough 12 Week Year you can just shake it off, regroup, and start again. If you’ve had a strong 12 Week Year you can build on that momentum. Either way, every 12 weeks is a new start.

the number-one thing that you will have to sacrifice to be great, to achieve what you are capable of, and to execute your plans, is your comfort.

Without a compelling vision, you will discover there is no reason to go through the pain of change.

The personal vision should define the life you want to live in all areas, including spiritual, relationships, family, income, lifestyle, health, and community.

What that means is that you can literally train your brain to act on your vision just by thinking about it. The first step, though, is creating an inspiring vision and learning how to stay connected with it.

“The greatest predictor of your future are your daily actions.”

It’s important to remember that the process is not about being perfect, but rather about getting better and better.

Everything we do in life is a choice.

Identifying the costs before you commit allows you to consciously choose whether you are willing to pay the price of your commitment.

You are most effective when you are mentally where you are physically—when you are present in the moment.

regardless of how you’ve performed in the past or how you are performing currently, you can be great, beginning today, simply by choosing to do the things you know you need to do.

To apply the 12 Week Year will require change, and change is uncomfortable.

The 12 Week Year is not one more thing you do, it is how you get things done!

“fireweed,”

Henry Ford said, “If you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” The first step, then, to reaching your biggest dreams is to shift from impossible thinking to possible thinking.

When the task seems too difficult or unpleasant, you can reconnect with your vision. It is this emotional connection that will provide you with the inner strength to forge ahead in spite of any difficulties, enabling you to achieve your dreams and desires.

Vision, when engaged properly, is the ignition switch and power source of high performance. It is the all-important why behind the things you do.

by taking time to plan up front, the overall time and

effort to complete a task can be significantly reduced.

your plan triggers your actions.

Your action choices are made proactively at the beginning

When the how is not clearly defined you lose a sense of scope and can easily take on more than you can physically execute.

A good plan starts with a good goal. If your goal is not specific or measureable, the plan that you write will also be vague. The more specific and measureable your 12 week goals, the easier it will be to write a solid 12 week plan.

You will need to say no to some things in order to be great at the things that matter most.

Brainstorm all the tactics you can, and then select the critical few.

Without structural and environmental support, follow through becomes a constant exercise of willpower.

Faced with the imminent threat of death, an overwhelming majority of people still failed to consistently make more productive choices.

The lesson is that if you are implementing change, don’t go it alone. Your chances of success are seven times greater if you employ peer support.

A plan between your ears is not nearly as effective as a plan on paper.

The weekly plan does not contain everything you do in your job, just the strategic items from your 12 week plan. You should have a separate sheet with to-do items

Check in with your weekly plan first thing each morning, once or twice throughout the day, and before you go home.

focus more on the actions than the results. Remember, you have greater control over your actions than you do your outcomes.

Determine a time each week, either at the end of the week or the first thing Monday morning, and block this time to score your execution, track your indicators, and plan your upcoming week. For most people 10 to 15 minutes is sufficient.

Effective time use can be the difference between mediocre and great performance. The

The choices that you make on how you spend your time, ultimately create your results in life.

To be great you will need to live with intention. That will require you to be clear on what matters most, and then to have the courage to say no to things that distract you.

The important things will get done only if you allocate time to them.

To create new results you will have to be willing to pass through fear, uncertainty, and discomfort, and ultimately create new and more productive habits.

Allowing smartphones, social media, and the Internet to distract you from your higher value activities will keep you from accomplishing your goals.

The life you are currently living is a result of the choices you’ve made.

Resolve right now to never again let excuses get in the way of you achieving your goals.

If you want different results, then you need to be willing to do things differently and do different things.

Accountability is not consequences; it’s ownership. It

Forget about blame, forget about guilt, and move forward by focusing on the future and what you can do to get better results.

four keys to successful commitments; as a reminder they are: 1. Strong desire. 2. Keystone actions. 3. Count the costs. 4. Act on commitments, not feelings.

This is an important step because to be successful you will need to not only commit to your goal, but also, more importantly, commit to your keystone action!