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

by Brian P. Moran

“If we did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.” —Thomas Edison

Execution is the single greatest market differentiator. Great companies and successful individuals execute better than their competition. The barrier standing between you and the life you are capable of living is a lack of consistent execution.

“It’s not what you know; it’s not even who you know; it’s what you implement that counts.”

“You can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do.” —Henry Ford

If we can’t produce a substantial increase this week, why do we think we can do it for the entire year? The fact is every week counts! Every day counts! Every moment counts! We need to be conscious of the reality that execution happens daily and weekly, not monthly or quarterly.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit.” —Aristotle

In the long run, your actions are always congruent with your underlying thinking. When you focus on changing your actions, you experience incremental improvements; however, when your thinking shifts—everything changes.

“In God we trust; all others must bring data.” —W. Edwards Deming

you don’t know if the plan doesn’t work if you’re not working the plan.

“I just need someone to hold me accountable.” These types of statements reflect the mistaken notion that accountability is something that can and must be imposed; that’s not accountability, that’s consequences.

I like to joke that you can hold a baby and you can hold a bag of groceries, but you can’t hold someone accountable.

“Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes; but no plans.” —Peter Drucker