The 12 Week Year

Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington

September 23, 2024

Believe it or not, there are only 14 weeks left in the year—but that’s more than enough time to achieve something extraordinary. The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months presents a powerful approach: forget the year-long resolutions and focus on the next 12 weeks. Start today, and you can still crush those big goals you’ve been putting off.

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SMARTEST TAKEAWAYS
Big Ideas in The 12 Week Year

Instead of a yearly cycle, break your goals into manageable 12-week sprints for faster, more meaningful progress.

1️⃣ Shorter Deadlines Create Urgency: A full year gives you too much time to procrastinate. By shrinking your focus to 12 weeks, you feel a natural sense of urgency to act now.

2️⃣ Focus on a Few Key Goals: Don’t scatter your energy across too many objectives. Instead, focus on 2-3 essential goals that will have the biggest impact and direct all your energy toward achieving them.

3️⃣ Measure Progress Weekly: Don’t wait until year’s end to evaluate your success. By tracking progress weekly, you stay accountable, making adjustments as needed to stay on track.

INSIGHTFUL EXAMPLE
Your Path to Crushing Big Goals in 12 Weeks

You’ve been working hard, but your big goals—whether it’s hitting sales targets, launching a project, or improving performance—still feel out of reach. One sales executive faced the same problem. Overwhelmed by yearly targets, he adopted The 12 Week Year approach.

He focused on two key areas: improving client outreach and mastering product knowledge. By tracking progress weekly and staying accountable, he hit his sales goals early and rediscovered his passion for work. Imagine what you could achieve in the next 12 weeks if you start today!

A QUOTE TO REMEMBER
More Time or Just Decide

"You don’t need more time. You just need to decide."

Brian P. Moran & Michael Lennington, The 12 Week Year

BOOK FACTS
The 12 Week Year

  • Publication date: May 15, 2013

  • Print length: 208 pages

  • Listening length: 5:17

  • Ratings: 4.7 Amazon, 3.9 Goodreads

DID YOU KNOW?
The Science Behind Short-Term Goals

  • Boost in Performance: A Harvard Business Review study found that people who set shorter-term goals see a 30% increase in performance compared to those working toward annual goals.

  • Procrastination Problem: Research from the University of Calgary shows that over 50% of people procrastinate on yearly goals, but short-term goals build urgency and drive immediate action.

  • Accountability Wins: Studies from the American Society of Training and Development reveal that having a regular accountability system (like weekly check-ins) increases your chances of success by up to 95%.

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