The 12 Week Year

People typically don't have a knowledge problem but an execution problem

People tend to think on an annual basis with regards to goals, which lacks a sense of urgencys. Instead of that think weekly and daily

December deadlines create urgency and for most industries this is a lot better financially

Only do the most important and driving towards success things

Clarify and urgency

Think on a scale 12s week year. Instead of a year as the end. Forces urgency and clarity.

Take some time off after to retro and refocus

Need a strong compelling.vision you want more than your current comfort as often the best action is uncomfortable

Personal vision, what you want from life in all areas

Goal defines success, should move towards the long term goals dev Plan, that is execution oriented Tactics, daily to do to move towards goals

Weekly plan, Daily and weekly stuffs

Keep score / measurements

Often people assume the plan was the issue not the execution. Don't fall into this trap

Combination of leading and lagging indicators (rather than just lagging typically)

Goal is 85% of the score card stuff per week for execution.

Cant be reactive and have things grab your attention and do those things. Rather block your time and say not to interruptions.

Block out time

• strategic block, 3 hr dont accept any calls or interruptions.
• buffer blocks, dealing with unplanned items, email. 30 min to 1 hr once to twice a day
• Breakout blocks, planned free time, take some time off to keep a creative edge. At least 3 hrs not work during work hours.

Ideal week, concept

Accountability isn't consequences, it's ownership

You need to be committed, keep your promises to self

Commitments Needs

• strong desire
• key stone actions
• count the costs
• act on commitments not feelings
• only 12 week commitment, then re evaluate

Be present

• discipline to do the extra minor thing makes champion
• life balance isn't balanced but a few things well for 12 weeks at a time
• to decide what to focus on, start with vision then rate on 7 areas of life balance
  • spiritual
  • partner
  • family
  • community
  • Physical
  • Personal
  • business
• 1 - 10
• either a source or drain of energy Putting it all together
• execution system
  • clarity and focus as well as urgency
  • fundamental elements
    • vision, planning, process control, measurement, greatness in the moment, time use, commitment, accountability
  • 3 principles
    • accountability, how can I personally fix
    • commitment, promise to self or others
    • greatness in the moment, doing the hard and necessary thing day to day
  • 5 disciplines
    • vision, clear picture of the future
    • planning,
    • process control, align daily actions with critical plan actions
    • measurement,
    • time use,
• change over time
  • uninformed optimism
  • informed pessimism
  • valley of despair
  • informed optimism
  • success Vision
• personal vision to help get through the hard times
  • should combine personal and professional lives
  • 3 time horizons, long, mid (3 yrs), 12 weeks
• planning
  • most important actions to hit your goal only
  • how should be defined
  • defines weekly tasks to do week by week each of the 12
  • long term capacity vs long term results
    • should target income generation in the current 12 weeks
    • capacity objectives too (long term stuff)
  • structure
    • specific and measurable goals
    • state positively (accuracy over error rate)
    • realistic stretch (if you don't need to change anything, wrong, if you have no shot at is, also bad)
    • assign accountability
    • time bound (date by which executed)
    • 2 or 3 goal
    • planning target, with tactics
    • Tactics - specific actions to take week to week. Has a verb and complete sentence
• example
  • goal
  • highest priority weekly and daily activity to reach said goal
    • brainstorm and the sort
  • specific in each of the 12 weeks where you plan on doing the action
  • ask these question
    • what actions will you struggle with?
    • how will you overcome these struggles?
• common pitfalls
  • plan and longer vision, not aligned
  • aren't staying focused (too many goals)
  • don't make the tough choices (pick the best tactics, less is more)
  • keep it simple (if you feel like it's getting to complicated it probably is)
  • plan should meaningful to you process control
• tools and events to help you make sure you execute even when unexpected things happen
• weekly plans
  • daily and weekly action
  • tactics from 12 week plan that need to be done on that week
  • peer support
    • encouraging and sharing is quite significant
    • 2 - 4 people
    • individual report out
    • results to date
    • Weekly score
    • intentions for coming week
    • feedback and suggestions from group
    • successful techniques
    • encouragement
  • weekly
    • score your week
    • plan your week
    • participate in a WAM
• measurement
  • faster feedback and lead indicators are better
  • record weekly, measure execution (did you stick to weekly plan?)
• measurement is uncomfortable but necessary
• you controll actions over results Time
• time blocking, with some buffer blocks
• get used to saying no and delegating unimportant
• align actions with your best strengths and unique capabilities
• strategic blocks - 3 hrs, in length
  • work on your business not in it
• buffer blocks - 30 min to 1 hrs, 1 to 2 times a day
  • deal with various annoying minutia
• break out - 3 hrs, once a week
  • help prevent burnout
• model work week
• have to come to terms with the idea that you cannot get to it all.
• buffer time when team knows where you are and that you're open to help / solve questions
• distractions bad, multi tasking bad, busy != Productive Accountability
• no excuses,
• no one cares about your outcomes
• you're the only one responsible for your outcomes
• if you want something that you don't have you need to do something you aren't currently doing
• team stuff
  • you can't hold people accountable
  • people need to own stuff to be accountable themselves
  • accountability != Consequences
    • accountability == ownership
  • don't wait for things to change
  • focus on what you can controll 12 week commitments
• try to be honest with yourself about the reasons your for not doing things you want to do.
  • this is the first step in resolving them
  • make sure you're aware of the costs. And okay with them as you commit to them
• be willing to say no,.over breaking promises
  • be aware of the sacrifices that promises create