# Get More Done In 12 Weeks Than Others Do In 12 Months ![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZKIfEt5Kw6s/maxresdefault.jpg) ## Introduction to the 12 Week Year - Many people set ambitious goals at the start of the year, but often lose excitement and momentum by mid-year, and may even forget their goals or move on to different things by the end of the year [(00:00:09)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=9s). - The difference between those who achieve their goals and those who stay stuck is known as the "execution [[Gap Inc. | Gap]]," where people know what they need to do to reach their goals but fail to execute [(00:00:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=37s). - The 12 Week Year is a [[Goal setting | goal-setting]], life design, accountability, and productivity system that focuses on shorter bursts of execution, rather than annual goals [(00:00:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=42s). - The system aims to help people turn their plans into reality by breaking down goals into manageable, 12-week periods [(00:00:54)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=54s). - Traditional annual planning can be problematic, as it often lacks a sense of urgency and can lead to losing momentum and enthusiasm over time [(00:01:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=71s). - The 12 Week Year system involves regularly reflecting and reassessing goals to stay on track and avoid falling off course [(00:02:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=121s). ## Establishing a Vision - The first step of the system is to establish a vision, which is the most important step, as it helps keep people on track towards building a future life they enjoy living [(00:02:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=135s). - A good vision should balance both professional and personal aspirations, and should make people feel a little uncomfortable or uncertain about achieving their goals [(00:02:35)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=155s). - There are three main time horizons to consider when creating a vision: long-term, midterm, and the next 12 weeks [(00:03:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=193s). - The long-term portion of the vision involves considering what people want their life to look like in the next 5, 10, or 15 years [(00:03:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=202s). - To create a vision, start by writing down anything that comes to mind, including ideas that may seem unrealistic, and then narrow down the list to the core things that create the strongest emotional connection and desire [(00:03:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=209s). - The midterm portion of the vision involves describing what a great personal and professional life would look like 3 years from today, and then setting one to three goals to accomplish within the next 12 weeks [(00:03:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=226s). ## Creating a 12-Week Plan - When creating a 12-week plan, establish three specific and measurable goals that get one step closer to the vision, and make them a realistic stretch [(00:04:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=254s). - For each goal, list out the specific highest-impact actions that will help reach the goal, and note whether these actions are recurring or one-offs [(00:04:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=291s). - The key is to make the list of actions as short as possible, finding the minimum amount of actions needed to take to reach the goal [(00:05:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=314s). - A good way to do this is to list out everything that could possibly contribute to the goal, and then narrow it down to the bare minimum needed to reach the goal [(00:05:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=324s). - The 12-week plan should align with the overall vision, and the goals set for this period should be a component of the broader vision [(00:05:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=359s). ## Benefits of the 12-Week Plan - With a 12-week plan, there is time to regularly reflect and assess progress, and shift focus to new goals if needed, providing a "New Year's boost" every 12 weeks [(00:06:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=398s). ## Implementing the 12-Week System - To make the 12-week system work, the first step is to create a weekly plan, which is a straightforward and simple process of breaking down the 12-week plan into smaller, manageable tasks, and should only include actions that directly contribute to the 12-week goals and plan [(00:07:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=428s). - The weekly plan should be a 1/12th slice of the 12-week plan, including specific tasks assigned to that week and recurring activities, and should not include random tasks or errands [(00:07:18)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=438s). - A separate list can be kept for other random tasks that need to be done in life, and the weekly plan should be reserved for critical actions that contribute to the 12-week goals [(00:07:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=479s). - The second step is to score the previous week's progress by calculating the percentage of completed actions, with a target of at least 85% completion, and checking in on lead and lag indicators related to the goal [(00:08:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=492s). - Lead indicators are actions that can be controlled and directly contribute to the goal, while lag indicators are outcomes that cannot be directly controlled, such as subscriber count [(00:08:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=530s). - To tie things together, participating in a weekly accountability meeting with a group of people or one other person following the same system can help share progress, encourage each other, and provide motivation to stay on track [(00:09:04)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=544s). - The accountability meeting can be done anytime between Friday evening and Monday morning, and can be combined with other weekly planning and scoring tasks [(00:09:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=588s). - Consistency is key, and finding a regular time to plan and review the week, such as Monday morning, can help stay on track [(00:10:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=606s). - Adding a section to weekly vlogs to check in on the weekly plan and progress can also help with accountability and motivation [(00:10:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=623s). ## Call to Action and Conclusion - Viewers are encouraged to establish their vision and create a 12-week plan to start executing their plans together at the start of the year [(00:10:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=641s). - The current video is likely to be the last one posted in 2024 [(00:10:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=649s). - The creator expresses gratitude to viewers for watching, supporting, and commenting, as it means a lot to them [(00:10:53)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=653s). - The past year has been a time of learning experiences and trying out different things, but the creator feels good about their current mental state and the path they are on [(00:11:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=661s). - The creator is excited for big things to come in 2025 [(00:11:09)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=669s). - Viewers are invited to click on links to see the latest video and subscribe [(00:11:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=674s). - The creator ends with a motivational message, encouraging viewers to do something today that their future self will thank them for, and wishes them a Happy New Year [(00:11:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKIfEt5Kw6s&t=679s).